International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee (IRC), responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people survive, recover and gain control of their future. The IRC is working to improve the safety, health, education, economic well-being and power of people in crisis affected places. IRC’s Economic Recovery and Development programming ensures that clients meet both their short- and long-term economic needs through sustainable and ethical programs such as, but not limited to, cash and voucher transfers, food security promotion, climate-smart agro-pastoral production and enterprise development and employment promotion.
IRC Ukraine seeks a dynamic leader and program strategist to fill the role of the Cash and Basic Needs (CBN) Coordinator. The CBN Coordinator will lead and oversee cash, basic needs, and support to strategize on livelihoods programming in Ukraine, including directing strategic planning, decision making, and supervision of staff. The CBN Coordinator will identify specific opportunities for local partnerships with municipalities, governments, and NGOs; steer IRCs direct programming to complement this partner-first approach; and develop strategic directions for the country program for cash-based programming including cash across sectors and NFI response. They will serve as the key liaison with local and international implementing partners, Cash and Basic Needs Working Group, Cash Working Group, Shelter/NFI Working Group, municipalities and governmental partners, the Private Sector and other stakeholders.
As this is a fluid and rapidly changing context, the location of this assignment may change based on the needs of the program, but will be based either in Kyiv or Dnipro with regular travel to field locations in Kharkiv, Odesa, Kherson and Mykolaiv. Housing will be in hotels, or shared, IRC accommodation.
Main responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Programmes (DDP) and with technical support from ERD Technical Advisors, the CBN Coordinator will:
• Ensure the technical quality and effective implementation of a range of IRC Basic Needs Assistance and Livelihoods Programming including Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA), non-food item (NFI) in-kind distributions, and emergency employment and enterprise support for people displaced or otherwise affected by the conflict, in both partner and direct projects.
• Design and seek funding for CBN and emergency livelihoods programming that bridges immediate support to the large-scale emergency needs as well as future recovery/resilience needs, enabling people to protect their livelihoods during conflict and while displaced.
• Lead extensive partner mapping and labor, value chain, and market assessments to inform activity design and ensure programs are contextually appropriate and reflect community-based design considerations.
• Provide overall managerial oversight and leadership for the CBN department, including overseeing operational functions for achieving the goals of the project, hiring and staff management, and budget management.
• Ensure that gender, protection and environmental stewardship are mainstreamed in all programming under direct responsibility.
• Lead IRC’s Cash and Basic Needs strategy in Ukraine and support overall counterprogram strategic direction.
Program quality/Management and implementation
• Responsible for the overall project coordination with partners and direct program implementation in line with the IRC Country Strategy Action Plan and IRC international priorities, frameworks and policies.
• Provide technical leadership and direction for all CBN activities; define and implement context-appropriate activities to achieve the greatest coverage and impact possible for both immediate support to people displaced by the conflict in Ukraine and for future recovery and resilience needs.
• Ensure regular communication with Technical Coordinators within IRC Ukraine, and globally-based Technical Advisors for Economic Recovery & Development, Protection and Health to integrate appropriate technical unit priorities in program design and implementation.
• Collaborate with key staff and senior members of other technical sectors to prepare strategic work-plans with clear objectives and achievement benchmarks, long-term and short-term priorities, implementation plans, financial projections and tools for evaluation.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, with target goals and budget management, using effective monitoring and evaluation systems and adaptive management principles to reach desired impacts.
• Ensure the integration of cash assistance activities across outcomes mainly with health, and protection (including activities provided by partners), in-line with the IRC’s ‘cash first’ approach.
• Ensure programming is client and needs-based, using evidence-based modalities and approaches, and contextually appropriate for different areas of Ukraine.
• Ensure payment delivery mechanisms for CVA programming are fit for purpose and meet the needs and preferences of clients, and explore new Financial Service Provider opportunities and mechanisms as needed.
Partnerships
• Identify and develop partnerships with local and international implementing partners as appropriate for program design and service to clients based on IRC’s PEERS standards of equal and effective partnership and a ‘why not partner’ approach.
• Strengthen relationships with national bodies including Ukrainian social protection schemes.
• Identify potential private sector partners and linkages to support livelihoods and employment programming.
Team management/Staff Supervision & Development
• Oversee project implementation teams and ensure that all staff are following work plans and CBN project activities and outcomes are completed as planned
• Oversee the development and implementation of staff technical capacity building and professional development plans that promotes a culture of learning and continuous training
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions
• Provide continuous performance feedback to staff; identify performance issues and work with staff and Human Resources to document and address issues in a timely manner
• Assist with and as necessary lead the recruitment of CBN personnel
Coordination & Representation
• Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key collaborators including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.
• Regularly attend and actively participate in relevant cluster and working group meetings at appropriate levels. Increase profile of IRC in Ukraine as a strong cash actor.
• Represent the IRC’s cash and basic needs strategy in Ukraine with donors and advocate for opportunities in line strategy and priorities.
• Develop partnerships with local private sector actors and municipalities.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)
• Ensure that ethical and sound data collection and information management systems are in place for appropriate program monitoring, analysis, planning, evaluation, and advocacy – for both direct and partner implemented activities.
• Maintain an effective monitoring, evaluation, and planning system to measure scale and impact of programs.
• Coordinate program evaluations and reviews ensure documentation of lessons learned informing reporting and program development, analyzing and sharing relevant information with the MEAL Coordinator, DDP and other colleagues as relevant.
• Support the MEAL Coordinator and client responsiveness officers in addressing feedback from clients and partners, and proactively trend-analyze feedback to adapt program in real time and incorporate feedback into future program design.
Business Development
• Identify gaps and needs in programming areas and proactively source funding.
• Facilitate co-design sessions that involve potential partners and are responsive to client needs.
• Develop concept notes and proposals related to CBN programming expansion and continuation, including budgets, logical frameworks, relevant indicators, and written narratives.
Reporting
• Collect, compile and revise CBN program narrative reports and ensure timely submission.
• Collaborate with the Grants Team to assure quality of reports to be submitted to donors.
• Provide up-to-date information on needs and success stories to Comms and Advocacy team.
Professional Standards
• Ensure that gender, protection, and environmental stewardship are mainstreamed in all programming under direct responsibility.
• Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to senior management, and when liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.
• Adhere to the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies as a requirement of the IRC
Job requirements
Education: Minimum university degree in a related field. Advanced degree in International Development, Business Administration, Economics, or Humanitarian Response preferred.
Demonstrated skills and competencies:
• At least 5-7 years of relevant work experience in cash and voucher assistance, NFI, livelihood programming, social protection, and/or other humanitarian and development programmes with demonstrated experience leading a team and building partnerships to achieve results.
• Knowledge and experience of cash and voucher assistance, market and value chain analysis, private sector engagement, NFI programming, livelihoods mapping, access to finance and micro-enterprise support
• Fluency in English required; Ukrainian and Russian fluency will be an asset
• Previous experience leading programming in complex contexts as well as ability to supervise, coach and mentor staff.
• Proven leadership and strategic planning capabilities, including budget management
• Demonstrated knowledge of gender equality topics and proficiency in managing projects that mainstream gender
• Demonstrated effectiveness in developing and maintaining unbiased and professional working relationships with government officials, civil society partners, and other counterparts and clients
• Proven ability to work well in and promote teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure with professional grace.
• Knowledge of all regulatory, contractual, legal and financial compliance requirements associated with international donor funding
• Willingness to travel to different cities within Ukraine, especially in the east.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook. Experience in data management and collection software (ONA/ODK, Commcare, etc.) and cash delivery mechanism software a plus (Financial service provider portals, electronic payment management, digital wallets, etc.)
• Demonstrated dedication to an anti-racist and Do No Harm approach, gender equality and inclusion
Female candidates are highly encouraged.
Ability to work or travel through Schengen Area is highly preferred
The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.
How to apply
https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/37511?c=rescue