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, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. IRC has been working in Ethiopia since 1999 and is implementing coordinated, community-managed programs aimed at improving the quality of lives and recovery of livelihood of the disaster-affected population, including host communities, through promoting individual participation, strengthening institutions, and emergency response.
Position overview
As a member of the IRC Ethiopia Senior Management Team, the Deputy Director, Emergencies (DDE) will provide leadership and strategic direction to all aspects of IRC’s emergency response programs, those implemented directly and those implemented by partners. The DDE will manage IRC’s emergency team and two donor funded emergency rapid response mechanisms, working with national and international partners.
Specific responsibilitiesinclude, but are not limited to:
Rapid Response Mechanisms
Lead IRC’s emergency rapid response funding mechanisms, encompassing direct responses by IRC and responses implement by partners.
Lead on the selection of partners to implement projects funded by rapid response mechanisms, including development and application of partner/project selection criterion and the review and appraisal of partner’s response proposals.
Ensure adherence to IRC’s policies on monitoring actions funded by rapid response mechanisms,
Work closely with the Steering Committees of the IRC managed rapid response mechanisms.
Ensure response funding mechanisms donors and stakeholders are proactively kept informed of developments related to the mechanisms and the operating environment.
Identify response gaps and ensure the rapid response mechanisms respond in a timely manner and supports the implementation of contextualized emergency responses.
Lead on the development of new proposals and on the modification of existing awards.
Coordination, trigger monitoring and mobilizing
Lead coordination with the UN clusters, humanitarian forums, working groups, and the government.
Ensure close coordination with other emergency response funding mechanisms operating in Ethiopia.
Ensure that IRC is represented in all relevant emergency forums, working groups and donor meetings.
Lead on the development and renewal of trigger thresholds for response, based on most likely scenarios.
Identify gaps in emergency response and as appropriate mobilize resources to respond.
Collaborate with the Partnership Unit to conduct NGO partner identification, vetting and selection in accordance with IRC Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS) procedures.
Supervise the submission of partner’s proposals for donor review, ensure the proposals are in line with the donor’s requirements and expectations.
Ensure monitoring of partners performance through, regular meetings / check-ins, review of project technical and financial reports and field monitoring visits.
Direct interventions
Lead the IRC emergency response as emergencies arise, including deploying to support assessments, implementation, and monitoring.
Adhere to (and update, as needed) the IRC’s emergency preparedness and response priorities, ensuring that programming is in line with IRC Ethiopia’s Strategy Action Plan.
Collaborate with program technical teams, Grants and Finance, to ensure projects are designed based on sound assessments to address the identified needs and take into consideration best practice and lessons learnt.
Oversee the implementation of the IRC emergency response programs and ensure that stated goals and objectives are met in a timely manner and deliver agreed outputs/outcomes.
Collaborate with Supply Chain to ensure the timely propositioning of relief items.
Monitoring
Collaborate with the MEAL Department to ensure ongoing monitoring and active engagement with feedback/accountability mechanism.
Facilitate knowledge and data management, including identification and documentation of lessons learned.
A continual focus on adapting projects to reflect lessons learned on earlier intervention and changes to on-the-ground realities to maximize program quality.
Ensure high quality and timely donor reporting.
Job Requirements
6 plus years related experience with Postgraduate or with first degree, respectively.
At least 5 years demonstrated experience at a senior level, in emergency response program management, coordination in emergencies, and emergency program design
Oversees/international experience with an international NGO is advantageous.
Demonstrated experience, at a senior level, in emergency response program management, coordination in emergencies, and emergency program design.
Demonstrated experience in managing large, multi-sectoral grants, including monitoring budgetary spending and devising course-correction strategies, indicator tracking, detailed donor and internal reporting, coordinating clear program modifications, and sub-granting.
Demonstrated experience in representation and ability to interact professionally with donor and external program stakeholders.
Proven ability to convene/chair high profile meetings and ability to productively interact with a wide range of organizations.
Demonstrated experience in managing and capacity strengthening of staff.
Strong ability to communicate concisely and with impact in English.
Consistent track record of proactively identifying and communicating potential problems and proposing solutions.
Must be able to function effectively in a sophisticated work environment and to set appropriate priorities and deal effectively with competing priorities and pressure.
How to Apply
Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply only through the below IRC On-line recruitment website:
Please include 3 references from current and former employers.
Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.
Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.
Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.
Name of the position you have applied for
Date of application
Summary of your qualifications and experience
Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job
Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible, also email address
Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees.
IRC is an equal employment 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 or disability.
Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, 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 Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons
Gender Equality: IRC 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 parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances
Equal Opportunity Employer: 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, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.