Senior Programme Coordinator

Founded in 1933, the mission of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is to help people whose lives and livelihoods have been shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and regain control of their future. Since 1996, IRC-RDC has been responding to the humanitarian and development needs of Congolese and refugee populations in the DRC, while striving to promote their rights and strengthen their health, security, economic well-being, education and decision-making power. IRC is currently active in the fields of health (including sexual and reproductive health), nutrition, water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH), child and women’s protection, good governance and conflict management, education, and economic recovery and development.

Job description

The Senior Programme Coordinator is fully responsible for the project in collaboration with local partners and stakeholders, which will require strong teamwork skills. The SPC will coordinate the project funded by BHA (GD029) and implemented in the provinces of North Kivu, Ituri and Tanganyika. The Senior Programme Coordinator will ensure the quality and speed of implementation of project activities in the intervention zones, the meaningful participation of clients in the design, implementation, monitoring and safeguarding of project activities. The position holder is responsible for the proper management of the budget for the BHA project.

The Senior Programme Coordinator ensures joint monitoring between the programme and support teams, of all aspects of the project (including activities, M&E indicators, purchasing and expenses, safety). Regular field visits are required to ensure quality implementation and high-level decision-making.

This is a full-time position based in Goma and reporting to the Field Coordinator for North Kivu and Ituri with matrix supervision with the Field Coordinator for Tanganyika / South Kivu and the Deputy Director of Programs.

Hierarchical positioning and internal relations

• The Senior Programme Coordinator works under the hierarchical supervision of the North Kivu and Ituri field coordinator.

• The Senior Programme Coordinator directly manages the Senior Project Manager and Deputy Project Manager based in the three provinces targeted by this programme.

• The Senior Programme Coordinator works closely with the Emergency Unit team, the Grants Unit, the MEAL Unit and the technical coordinators.

Main responsibilities

Program management/implementation and quality assurance

• Provide leadership and strategic direction for a multi-sectoral emergency program in several conflict-affected provinces; prioritize and organize program resources and activities to ensure results.

• Develop a global strategy for the implementation and monitoring of the project, based on existing tools for planning, project meetings, and technical, logistical and financial monitoring of the project.

• Facilitate regular meetings between implementation teams from different provinces to ensure project activities are on track and to share learning in order to increase overall project implementation improvement and organizational learning.

• Coordinate the timely development and implementation of detailed work plans to ensure that, in all target provinces, activities are implemented in line with IRC’s commitments to customers as well as IRC and donor requirements.

• Carry out regular monitoring and verification field visits to assess adequate progress against work plans (implementation) and results; and identify technical quality and/or other implementation problems, provide solutions and implement necessary modifications

• Oversee the development, adaptation, regular revision and refinement of the project’s quality intervention methodology, in collaboration with project teams, the emergency unit, technical coordinators and local partners.

• Identify and recommend solutions to technical, programmatic, expense and procurement problems in the program in a timely manner.

• Organize daily/weekly debriefings and regular monthly staff meetings to discuss implementation of project activities, operational context and provide support as needed.

• Ensure that activities are in line with the initial intervention strategy and that they are progressing according to the defined work plan.

Accountability in Budget Management

• Coordinate the development of, and monitor program spending and procurement plans and update monthly.

• Ensure that program budget lines are spent in accordance with spending plans.

• Ensure that purchase requisitions are made on time and in line with spending and purchasing plans.

• Ensure that IRC’s purchasing and expense management system is up to date and cleaned weekly.

• Ensure the progressive, rational and exhaustive use of the budget allocated to the program, frequently comparing the approved budget with the online BvA system, and regularly updating purchasing and expenditure plans accordingly.

• Coordinate with the Logistics and Finance departments to make any necessary corrections to the information displayed in the BvA (e.g. transactions to be recoded, duplicates to be eliminated).

• Anticipate (as far as possible), analyze and mitigate risks to program implementation.

• Coordinate with IRC operations, finance and other support teams to ensure timely delivery of quality programming.

• Ensure that lessons learned are documented and capitalized on throughout project implementation and in the design of new proposals.

Personnel management and Development

• Actively participate in the recruitment process for program staff.

• Manage the program implementation team, including direct management of the three project managers, and indirect management of other program staff.

• Maintain open and professional relationships with team members, promote team spirit and provide supervision and guidance to enable staff to perform their duties effectively.

• Train and coach staff to build technical capacity, share knowledge within the team and provide professional development advice.

• Manage the performance of the program’s technical teams dedicated to this project and ensure a strong sense of direction and cohesion within the team.

• Coordinate timely and appropriate technical coordination support from IRC regional and headquarters technical support units, as well as other management and compliance support, and constructively document any constraints or challenges.

Grant compliance and monitoring

• Ensure overall compliance with IRC and donor requirements.

• Oversee the timely delivery of project commitments in accordance with agreed project documents and work plans, highlighting discrepancies with contract documents in a timely manner.

• Propose timely and constructive solutions to any constraints or challenges that arise, maintaining constructive and respectful relationships between IRC and all project personnel.

Monitoring – Evaluation – Learning; Reporting and PCM

• Ensure that monitoring – evaluation and learning systems are developed (including indicator tracking sheets and complaints and feedback/feedback mechanisms) and implemented in the different intervention areas in collaboration with the MEAL team and project managers; and that data relating to activities, outputs and outcomes are captured accurately and efficiently, and that the project is continually adapted to optimize quality.

• Collaborate with all stakeholders on an accessible feedback/grievance mechanism, including a timely systematized response process and regularly review feedback from all stakeholders to inform program improvements throughout the program cycle, and ensure operation of the mechanism within the IRC, including any necessary follow-up of feedback complaints by relevant parties.

• Ensure that M&E reports based on data collected and analyzed by the MEAL team are drafted and filed on hand for any useful purpose.

• Coordinate with the Grant team and consolidate IRC and donor reports according to established schedules (monthly, quarterly and annual) on grant activities, indicators and results, and submit them on time and to the required quality.

• Participate in all project-related meetings according to the PCM (on a monthly basis) and send information to prepare these meetings on time.

Communication and external relations

• Ensure the team’s participation in coordination forums for humanitarian actors in the project’s areas of intervention.

• Maintain a good working relationship with the technical departments involved in the project sectors.

• Participate on a regular basis in the collection of success stories, photos and videos to share with the donor and other stakeholders to strengthen engagement with the donor.

• In liaison with the Deputy Director of Programs and the Senior Grants and Business Development Coordinator, participate in key meetings with the donor to foster long-term collaboration and commitment.

• Participate in visits by the donor or any other external person within the framework of project activities.

• Provide consistent support in the internal and external audit process, including the implementation of recommendations where appropriate.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in public health, economics, education, social sciences or development sciences, or equivalent practical professional experience.

• At least 5 years’ professional experience, mainly in field positions with increasing responsibilities, including planning and implementation of multi-million donor-funded programs, will be a plus.

• Proven experience in managing large, complex consortia-based programs (an asset), particularly in the fields of public health, nutrition, protection, community engagement and other community health activities.

• Proven experience in supervision, mentoring and staff development.

• Proven leadership qualities, commitment to the principles of diversity and inclusion, communication skills, sound judgment and team spirit, particularly with different organizations.

• Ability to adapt to a different context in terms of safety, culture, climate or health.

• Demonstrated ability to organize, plan and prioritize work tasks, and to document clearly and concisely in order to promote good communication between multiple stakeholders.

• Excellent command of French and English will be an asset.

• Willingness to travel at least 35% of the time.

Standards of professional conduct: IRC employees must respect the values and principles set out in the IRC WAY – Standards of professional conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality.

Safeguarding: Strictly adhere to IRC’s child and adult safeguarding policy and all other policies, particularly those relating to security and fraud prevention. In line with the Safeguard, IRC applies policies on the protection of beneficiaries/customers against exploitation and abuse, child protection, Anti-harassment in the workplace, fiscal integrity and anti-retaliation.

Equal opportunity employer: IRC is an equal opportunity employer. IRC considers all job applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, gender, color, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law.

Diversity, Inclusion and Gender Equality: IRC recognizes and honors the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. We are an equal opportunity employer and consider all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status or disability. IRC is also committed to reducing the gender gap in management positions. We offer benefits that provide a supportive environment for women to participate in our workforce, including parental leave, gender-sensitive safety protocols and other supportive benefits.

How to apply

https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/42999?c=rescue