Deputy Project Director

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees required to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure.

The IRC leads the humanitarian field by implementing high-impact, cost-effective programs for people affected by crisis and by using our learning and experience to craft policy and practice. To achieve that vision, the Technical Excellence Unit provides technical assistance to country program staff and shares what we learn to influence global health.

Specific Responsibilities:

The Deputy Project Director (DPD) will oversee operational and program management support for a $50 million immunization consortium project to reach zero-dose children in conflict areas across four countries, supporting the project director to ensure program performance through monitoring of activity progress, financial status, and contract compliance. The DPD will be responsible for ensuring capacity sharing between global and local consortium partners to achieve contract milestones in a compliant manner. The DPD will liaise with country program and partner staff and support them to put in place systems to ensure project performance and contract compliance.

Key roles and responsibilities:

• Lead excellent cooperation with and between Gavi REACH consortium partners, partner organizations and government officials ensuring alignment as well as instituting clear processes and protocols for surfacing any issues or challenges in a timely manner

• Work closely with country SMT members, specifically Deputy Directors for Program and Operations, to support troubleshooting of key issues, push forward key priorities and management of the project

• Responsible to manage subaward, partnership, and finance team and to oversee the functions of these team members

• 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.

• Track budget utilization, procurements, and coordination mechanisms both at PMU and country level and course correct as needed

• Responsible for all other management of project operations and recruitments

• Ensure the risks the project faces in its work are correctly identified and mitigated against to the degree feasible in the context.

• Responsible to ensure that Project Cycle Meetings (PCMs) are held at country and regional levels regularly

• Be the focal point for communications with the partners and the country program teams

• Represent the project in internal and external meetings of importance in consultation with the Project Director

• Track MoUs between IRC and relevant government offices in each country program and identify and coordinate support needed

• Support country level engagements with MoH authorities in the target countries, and oversee and support project coordination mechanisms both at country and regional level

• Coordinate reporting to donor (both narrative and financial) in a timely manner

• Review existing project management system and communications across the consortium and take corrective actions if needed

• As member of the core management team, serve as interim project director when needed

• Manage other tasks assigned by the PD.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Project Director

Position directly supervises: Snr Contracts Adviser, Finance Coordinator, and Subaward & Partnership Coordinator

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Regular communication with Project Management Unit (PMU), in-country project staff and project technical team. Close relationships with regional teams. Interacts with IRC internal departments, including global supply chain, finance, awards management.

External: Engage with partners’ leadership, administrative and finance teams for consortium management

Job Qualifications:

Education: Masters degree, preferably in public health/administration/management/finance.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrated expertise in project and/or operations management, with specific expertise in either finance or contract management with multiple partners/sub-contractors. Experience in public health programs would be a plus.

• At least 7 years experience working in conflict-affected contexts, with at least three years in management roles

• Experience producing donor reports in a timely manner

• Able to work with remote, multi-cultural, and multi-disciplinary teams

• Expertise in developing risk management and mitigation plans

• Strong interpersonal verbal and written communication skills and ability to facilitate teamwork

• Ability to transfer technical knowledge and skills.

• Excellent organizational skills

Language Skills: Fluency in English required;

Working Environment: Up to 40% travel may be required. This position will be based in Nairobi.

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.