Strategic Delivery Manager

BACKGROUND

Over the past 80 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.

The International Rescue Committee UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its headquarters in New York and London. The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief, relocating refugees and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster. Through over 20 regional offices in cities across the United States, and in Europe the IRC also helps refugees resettle and become self-sufficient.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

IRC UK

IRC UK was established in 1997 to support the organisation’s global activities and particularly to diversify its donor base and be able to better advocate with policymakers on behalf of the people we serve. Since its establishment IRC UK has grown rapidly and now comprises approximately 170 staff. In Europe, the IRC also has offices in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Geneva and Stockholm.

Awards Management Unit (AMU)

Established in January 2016, the Awards Management Unit (AMU) is a global unit spanning New York, Washington DC, London, Bonn, Berlin, Brussels, Stockholm, Geneva, Nairobi, Dakar and Amman. The AMU is a bridge between donors and country programs: providing expert technical advice to the country teams, while maintaining portfolio-level visibility to ensure consistency and compliance, and manage risk. The Awards Management Unit is responsible for building, maintaining, and strengthening relationships with public and institutional donors and position IRC as a partner of choice for delivering programs for our clients. This means working to expand IRC’s portfolio and diversify our relationships, as well as supporting the successful and compliant management and implementation of awards.

The unit is made of up of multiple departments working in collaboration including Strategic Partnerships, Business Development, Compliance & Policy, Training, and Program & Award Support (PAS). PAS provides solutions-oriented technical expertise in award management across the award life cycle, leading coordination between organisational units and offering direct support to implementing teams to maximize impact for IRC’s clients.

The Purpose of the Role

Based within AMU Program & Award Support (PAS) department, the role works closely with the Vice President AMU leading all aspects of the department to successfully deliver on the goals of the team and maintain alignment with the priorities of the wider unit. Working alongside the PAS Leaders, the Strategic Delivery Manager is responsible for strengthening oversight, prioritization, collaboration, and execution within PAS. The role focuses on successfully ensuring strategic priorities are translated into progress and leading strategic change within the department to ensure PAS is able to deliver effectively as the organisation evolves.

Key Working Relationships

• Reports to Vice President AMU
• Line Manages the Delivery Officer, Program & Award Support
• Works closely with: Program & Award Support Leaders, Program & Award Support department, AMU Planning & Strategic Operations team, CRRD, other IRC departments

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategy and Planning (35%)

• Work closely with PAS Leaders to identify strategic direction and priorities and translate these into annual workplans, in alignment with AMU and CRRD
• Responsible for effective departmental design and leading strategic change within the department to ensure PAS can deliver effectively and collaboratively as it evolves
• Ensure successful delivery of PAS workplans, including governance, resourcing, monitoring, and reporting and budget management
• Maximise the impact of PAS’ work through identifying and capitalising on connections with other initiatives within AMU and IRC and ensure interdependencies are effectively managed

Coordination and Delivery (35%)

• Responsible for coordinating Program and Award Support (PAS) team’s management activities to support effective running of the department and ensure delivery of the agreed annual priorities
• Coordinate and support PAS Leaders through key delivery processes, including establishing key strategic priorities, business planning, and culture and people management within PAS
• Design, facilitate and lead PAS Leaders workshop and retreats
• Establish cohesive PAS staff engagement approaches and standards, including PAS meetings and internal comms
• Maintain and improve PAS’ knowledge management to increase institutional memory including management of online collaboration tools
• Provide support, guidance and leadership to the Delivery Officer so they are able to excel in their role, this includes providing mentoring and coaching opportunities for them to grow and develop professionally.

Project Management (30%)

• Manage strategic initiatives from inception to completion
• Support PAS Leaders with implementation of strategic initiatives
• Promote effective project management approaches within PAS and lead on key strategic PAS initiatives where required
• Working closely with PAS Leaders support effective risk mitigation and budget management to support PAS commitments.
• Standardise and optimise departmental procedures and processes ensuring they are successfully embedded across PAS

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Experience

• Management consulting or equivalent experience, preferably with pre-existing knowledge or experience in humanitarian/development/nonprofit sector
• Proven experience working in a complex global organisation with experience supporting at senior management level to translate strategy into action
• Demonstrable ability to manage a portfolio of business improvement projects with strong understanding and competencies in change management approaches
• Experience of coordinating and managing effective stakeholder relationships to work in unison towards a clear goal and the ability to drive outstanding performance and gain commitment
• Proven background in planning, strategy and project management, third sector preferred
• Line management experience

Skills Knowledge and Qualifications

• Strong ability to think creatively and pragmatically about changes to services and related initiatives at both big picture and implementation levels
• Ability to anticipate and assess situations accurately and recommend/implement effective courses of action required
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to influence with diplomacy where needed
• Excellent ability to manage ambiguity, undertake forward planning and demonstrate ability to work effectively under pressure and to deadlines autonomously
• Confident with technology and strong working knowledge of online collaboration tools

Working environment

This position requires occasional flexibility to attend workshops and meetings overseas including travel over weekends when needed.

IRC UK strives to be an equal opportunities employer. IRC UK is committed to equality of opportunity and to non-discrimination for all job applicants and employees, and we seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs, nationality, ethnic/national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.