MEAL Specialist, Emergencies

International Rescue Committee

IRC’s Emergencies & Humanitarian Action Unit

The IRC’s Emergencies & Humanitarian Action Unit (EHAU) oversees IRC’s global emergency preparedness and response activities. The mission of the EHAU is to expand and improve IRC’s ability to help affected communities survive in acute emergencies and hard to reach contexts by investing in people, systems, and solutions to complex humanitarian challenges. The EHAU team achieves this mission through ongoing risk analysis, investing in capacity strengthening of frontline humanitarians, partnership with local actors, offering collaborative support and technical assistance to teams working in emergencies and hard to reach places, and deploying and supporting world class emergency response staff as they help people affected by acute crisis situations!

Job Overview

The MEAL Specialist will sit within EHAU’s Quality in Emergencies (QiE) section, comprised of MEAL, protection, education, health, and cash teams working in new and ongoing emergencies. The section is tasked with ensuring the direct implementation of high quality, integrated emergency response programming as well as the development of resources to support such implementation by country team staff, partners and other collaborators.

The Specialist will report to the MEAL Senior Technical Advisor (STA) for Emergencies to ensure EHAU’s ability to develop and meet its MEAL commitments, within the IRC’s Strategy100 and three-year Strategy Action Plan for Emergencies. Central to this is the harmonization of MEAL efforts across EHAU’s Emergency Response Team-led and existing country program emergency responses. This role involves up to 30% travel to provide technical support, particularly around rapid multi-sector needs assessments in new emergency contexts.

Major Responsibilities

• Coordinate and provide substantive inputs into the redesign of the rapid multi-sector needs assessment toolkit in collaboration with colleagues.

• Support with the restructuring of MEAL in Emergencies framework to ensure clarity around minimum standards for MEAL in new country responses, that is harmonized with global tools, guidance and standards.

• Stay up to date on the evolution of new MEAL related tools being implemented at the global level and work on contextualization for use in the acute emergency phase. Represent EHAU in these conversations, as requested.

• Support the development and implementation of a new Learning Agenda for emergencies, as well as knowledge management structure.

• Provide orientations on MEAL processes and resources for emergencies to new Emergency staff.

• Provide project management support to the redesign of Emergency Technical Package Toolkits being developed by the QiE team.

• Collaborate with the QiE team to develop a systematic program quality approach/framework for IRC’s emergency responses.

• Develop a socialization and roll-out plan for new MEAL in Emergency resources.

• Support QiE’s planning and eventual tracking of Program Quality related SAP indicators.

• Contribute to the QiE workplan, driven by the SAP for Emergencies and its corresponding Implementation Plan.

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to: Senior Technical Advisor, MEAL in Emergencies

Works closely with: Global Crisis Data & MEAL Analyst, ERT and EER MEAL and Assessment Coordinators, broader Quality in Emergencies Team, EHAU section directors, Measurement Unit and Client Responsiveness team colleagues.

Requirements:

• Experience serving in MEAL related functions, 5 years preferred

• At least two years field experience in humanitarian settings

• Experience work on the development of concise user-friendly tools and guidance preferred

• Experience conducting multi-sector needs assessments (both design and implementation) a strong asset

• Excellent project and task management skills

• Strong capacity to establish and maintain lasting, collaborative professional relationships

• High-energy and a proactive nature — positive can-do mindset, exceptional problem-solving

• Effective interpersonal skills; can work seamlessly across countries, cultures, and organizational units

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Proficiency in written and spoken English required. Multiple language skills, including in one of IRC’s other core languages (Arabic, Spanish or French) preferred.

EHAU strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a unit and deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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

Narrowing the Gender Gap: The International Rescue Committee is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including flexible hours (when possible), maternity leave, transportation support, and gender-sensitive security protocols.

US Benefits:
We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. 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.

How to apply

https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/28150?c=rescue


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