Deputy Team Leader

The IRC is seeking a qualified Deputy Team Leader for the anticipated five-year FCDO-funded Health Systems Strengthening in Sierra Leone (HSS-SL) project. The budget for the project is TBC but the FCDO have indicated that it will be up to GBP 65million. The Deputy Team Leader will be responsible for providing contract management, operational, financial management and partner management oversight and support. Working in close collaboration with the Team Leader and key project staff, the Deputy Team Leader will ensure that HSS-SL delivers to time and cost against forecasts and budgets. The Deputy Team Leader will work under the oversight of the IRC in Sierra Leone, and will be based in Freetown, with frequent travel to project locations.

Background:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a leading humanitarian and development organization working in more than 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future.

Present in Sierra Leone since 1999, the IRC supports Sierra Leonean institutions – government, civil society, community-based organizations and private sector – to provide improved social services. Our work is designed to improve the life of women, youth and children through high quality Health, Education, and Women’s Protection and Empowerment programming.

The IRC – along with its consortium partners – is planning to bid for the upcoming FCDO-funded Health Systems Strengthening in Sierra Leone (HSS-SL) project. The IRC is the incumbent lead of the NGO “Unite” consortium for the FCDO Saving Lives in Sierra Leone (SLiSL) phase II programme (2018-2022), which is the predecessor of HSS-SL. The HSS-SL project will support the Government of Sierra Leone to improve the quality, availability and accessibility of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services through a comprehensive systems strengthening approach at district level and national level.

Scope of work:

The Deputy Team Leader will provide contract management, operational, financial and partner management oversight and support for HSS-SL. They will support the Team Leader to ensure project performance through monitoring of activity progress, robust financial management, partner management and contract compliance. The Deputy Team Leader will be responsible for supporting the team (including partners) to achieve project targets in compliance with FCDO and IRC requirements, policies and best practices relating to subcontracts and grant management, project implementation, and contract close-out. Grant and partner management are a key part of the role.

The Deputy Team Leader will conduct regular monitoring visits to the districts to ensure compliance, coordination, and management of project activities. They will develop, review and monitor – in coordination with key project staff – annual workplans and performance plans to ensure that priorities are on track. They will also work closely with the project’s Finance Manager to develop annual budgets, monitor project expenses, and prepare budget forecasts and financial reports for the donor. In addition, the Deputy Team Leader will play a key role in Risk Management for the project.

The Deputy Team Leader will work closely with the Team Leader and Finance Manager to deliver to time and cost against forecasts and budgets. They will support donor reporting through both formal and informal debriefings, as well as consolidating and editing annual and quarterly reports – working closely with the Team Leader and other key project staff. Finally, they will liaise directly with the donor to provide project updates, discuss obstacles, performance plans, and progress against targets, deputizing for the Team Leader as needed.

The Deputy Team Leader will support and mentor project staff, creating a work environment that promotes teamwork, trust, mutual respect, and empowers staff to take responsibility.

This position reports to the HSS-SL Team Leader. It is contingent on the IRC being awarded funding; we anticipate that the project will begin in 2023.

Requirements:

• 10 years+ of increasingly responsible experience of programme management for large and complex multi-partner, multi-year development projects (at least $20million in value)

• Excellent working knowledge of FCDO projects, regulations, compliance and reporting requirements; experience of working on FCDO contracts (as well as grants) is desirable

• Advanced degree from an accredited university in public health management, social sciences, international development or related field

• Demonstrated experience overseeing and managing programmatic budgets (at least $20million in value) for institutional donors such as FCDO, USAID, EU, World Bank

• Substantial partner management experience, including experience of managing partnerships with INGOs, local partners and private sector actors

• Experience working in the Sierra Leone and/or West Africa context is desirable

• Adept in work-planning, budgeting, adaptive management and risk management

• Outstanding leadership, communication, analytical, and organizational skills

• Demonstrated innovation and success in staff capacity-building

• Strong written, oral presentation and facilitation skills in English required

• Highly motivated, possesses strong sense of integrity and a positive attitude

• Willingness to travel within Sierra Leone, as needed

Safety & Security Situation

All staff must comply with all IRC Sierra Leone security policies and procedures.

Standards for Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, 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.

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.