Openings at International Rescue Committee

Job Overview:  

The IRC is looking for an Emergency Communications Officer to lead our communications activations around humanitarian emergencies and reactive storytelling. This position will surge into a portfolio and sometimes lead communications during humanitarian emergencies. They will be responsible for emergency preparedness work, building the department’s emergency action plan, and training country teams and country-based communications professionals to be ready to act quickly and effectively during an emergency to raise the IRC’s profile, income and influence. They will also lead the development and execution of IRC’s digital first, reactive storytelling strategy ensuring IRC teams are able to quickly develop and collect content to respond to relevant news cycle moments and trending conversations. They will sometimes deploy on quick notice to report from the frontlines of IRC’s response, act as a spokesperson and collect compelling content that showcases IRC programs.  

Major Responsibilities: 
Emergency Communications Preparedness

•  Update and improve the team’s communications emergency action plan, outlining the steps taken at the onset of an emergency to ensure when relevant that IRC is seen as a leading responder and voice on the crisis. 
•  Play a strategic role in the department’s overall approach to emergencies, serving as a key member of the External Relations Emergency Action Group and supporting the overall development of the department’s emergency protocol.
•  Conduct trainings with key stakeholders, including country program staff, to ensure they understand External Relations strategy and are able to support the organization’s profile, income and influence goals.

Emergencies

•  Offer surge support to regional communications leads during humanitarian emergencies by writing press releases and talking points, pitching to the media, producing content and stories, and approving adapted messaging. Travel to frontline programs as needed.
•  Serve as lead communications focal point during new emergencies where IRC does not have existing programming. Immediately deploy to the site to collect content and serve as a spokesperson for media and digital and fundraising content.
•  Serve as focal point for ongoing emergencies, offering crisis updates and context changes, updating messaging and talking points, developing new media angles, hosting journalists to visit programs, and collecting content and stories for fundraising and digital channels.

Reactive Storytelling

•  Develop and lead the execution of IRC’s approach to reactive storytelling. Taking a digital first approach, training country program staff and communications professionals to produce content in reaction to news cycle moments and trending conversation. 

Job Requirements: 
Work Experience:

•  3-4 years experience working as a communications professional with a humanitarian organization
•  Experience visiting crisis contexts and producing compelling stories and media work 

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

•  Media skills include writing press releases and talking points, landing media coverage and feature stories with top tier outlets, acting as a spokesperson with media and at events, and navigating complex situations and reputational risks 
•  Experience visiting crisis contexts and producing compelling stories and media work that show people with dignity and agency

Language Skills:

• English required. French and/or Arabic preferred

Preferred experience & skills:

•  Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as, an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications
•  Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time
•  Strong analytic problem solving skills
•  Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure
•  Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.

Working Environment:  

•  Standard office working environment
•  Some international travel as needed up to 40%
•  This role may require working remotely full or part time and part time remote employees may be required to share workspace.  

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Job Description

Across two refugee camps, Dadaab and Kakuma, and five counties (Garissa, Turkana, Samburu, West Pokot, and Nairobi), the IRC implements programs in the sectors of health, Nutrition, governance & rights, Education, and women’s protection & empowerment, Economic Recovery and Development, as well as providing emergency response through a network of four field offices and a range of institutional and community-based partnerships.

Scope

The Deputy Director for Grants and Accountability (DDGA) is a central figure within the IRC country program management and support infrastructure and a member of the senior management team (SMT). Under the supervision of the Country Director (CD), the DDGA leads a team of approximately 20 staff with a portfolio focusing on effective awards and donor relationship management, oversight of business development processes, partnerships, monitoring, evaluation, and learning and client accountability. The DDGA is responsible for significant elements of IRC’s SAP100 and Kenya strategy implementation plan including leading on achieving partnerships and client accountability goals, as well as management of key humanitarian donor relationships together with the CD. The DDGA collaborates closely with all SMT members, but particularly the Deputy Director for Programs (DDP) to ensure effective delivery on all awards.

 Responsibilities
 Awards Management and Business Development (40%)

• The DDGA is the lead of IRC Kenya’s Grants & Partnerships unit. This unit is responsible for ensuring effective and efficient management of all awards and sub-awards including leading award reviews, ensuring timely and accurate submission of all required technical and financial reporting, coordinating Project Cycle Meetings (PCM) and budget vs. actual (BVA) reviews, and ensuring compliance on key elements of the awards. This component of the work is led by the Grants Coordinator with direct oversight from the DDGA. This unit is also responsible for implementing IRC Kenya’s fundraising strategy including developing engagement strategies with key donors, reviewing funding calls and leading go/no go meetings, coordinating the proposal development process and ensuring submission of responsive and quality proposals. Specific tasks for the DDGA include:
• Provide direct oversight and mentorship to Grants Coordinator to effectively manage the Grants & Partnerships unit to complete the following tasks:
  • Review grant agreements and contracts to identify compliance issues and contribute to the implementation of appropriate solutions as necessary.
  • Ensure proper post-award management of grants based on both donor and IRC policies.
  • Development, review, and submission of all donor reports by Grants Managers is monitored  and supported to ensure high quality, accuracy, and timeliness. Donor reporting requirements are understood and met, reporting calendar is maintained and distributed, financial & management tracking occurs, and reporting tools exist and are updated regularly.
  • Develop a deep understanding of donor policies, regulations and procedures and train other country team members in  these areas
  • Ensure an information management and filing system exists and is maintained by Grants Managers; this ensures all donor contractual documents, reports, key correspondence etc. are appropriately filed in up-to-date soft and hard libraries available as meaningful in IRC Kenya offices
  • Review all funding opportunities and schedule go-no go meetings with key stakeholders
  • Coordinate the proposal development and submission process including developing the proposal calendar and work plan, scheduling key meetings, coordinating the review process, ensuring relevant and timely inputs, and reviewing the proposal for compliance with the call.
• With Grants Coordinator, serve as interlocuter with Regional Awards Management Unit(AMU) and International Philanthropy and Partnerships (IPP) units and mobilize regional and HQ resources in support of Country Program priorities, particularly for proposal development support and training.
• Lead grant portfolio reviews and ensure SMT is informed of spending trends and any other awards management issues that could impact future funding.
• Ensure effective and professional communication with donors on any award or implementation issues.
• Develop and maintain a Kenya-focused Business Development Strategy and Pipeline for tracking business development and fundraising opportunities based on the established SAP strategy and other identified gaps. Identify new donors for engagement and fundraising opportunities.
• Ensure proposal development systems are in place for management, programs, finance, and operations departments to produce timely and quality submissions
• Provide quality assurance for the proposal development process and conduct final reviews of all proposals before submission. Work with the CD, Deputy Director for Programs(DDP), technical coordinators, and grants team to lead proposal development, writing, editing, and coordinating and consolidating technical input
• With the mentorship of the Country Director, conduct strategic engagement with donors and other funders and represent the IRC Kenya with humanitarian donors including accompanying strategic donors on field site visits

Partnerships (25%)

• IRC Kenya has committed in its SAP to spend 8% of funding through local partners byFY2024. The Grants & Partnerships unit facilitates this process bringing together the programs, finance, HR, and operations departments to ensure effective partner management. The DDGA serves as the strategic leadership and focal point within the country program for achieving the Partnerships ambition. Specific tasks under this component of the role include:
• Ensure achievement of goals related to the SAP partnerships ambition including funding and identification and onboarding of Strategic Partners
• Embody and model IRC values related to partnerships (partner as equals, partner first etc.) and lead organizational change process related to partnerships
• Understand IRC partnerships processes outlined in the Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results (PEERS) system and mentor other country program members on the approach
• Mobilize resources from IRC’s HQ Partnership Unit in support of country program needs, including training
• Provide troubleshooting support to partnerships team to address any partnership management challenges
• Regularly report to SMT on progress towards partnership goals and work with other DDs to clear any inter-departmental obstacles
• Manage and mentor the Grants Coordinator and partnerships team to complete the following tasks:
  • Identify potential partners and maintain a tracker of partner interactions
  • Ensure timely onboarding of new partners following the process outlined in PEERS including conducting due diligence and vetting, coordinating organizational capacity assessments, drafting partnership agreements, and facilitating internal review processes
  • Management of existing partners in alignment with all sub-awards, ensuring timely submission of narrative and financial reporting
  • Oversee drafting and implementation of capacity sharing plans working with other departments to provide requested trainings for partners
  • Ensure an information management and filing system exists and is maintained
  • Ensure regular meetings of Partnership Working Group (PWG)

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (25%)

• The DDGA oversees the MEAL unit which includes responsibility monitoring and evaluation, learning and client accountability roles. Under this unit sit responsibility for IRC Kenya’s ambitions related to client centeredness and data utilization for program quality. The DDGA will provide strategic leadership for the unit including the following tasks:
• Lead efforts related to the Client Accountability SAP ambition and Client-Centered IMPACT standard. Create systems and processes to ensure feedback from clients is effectively integrated into program design and delivery.
• Coordinate closely with the DDP to manage the transition of Client Accountability responsibility from the Protection Unit to MEAL
• Ensure MEAL data is reviewed and used by program leadership for better decision making and for program adaptations as needed
• Advocate for MEAL resources during budget development processes
• Manage and mentor the MEAL Coordinator to complete the following tasks:
  • Lead the M&E team and work with them to revise the way IRC Kenya measures quality programming and responds to stakeholders
  • Oversee MEAL staff at all field sites to ensure quality MEAL data is collected
  • Regularly review MEAL systems and processes to ensure they are effective and efficient
  • Conduct regular data quality audits (DQAs) and joint monitoring visits
  • Maintain program assessment tracker and regularly consult with DDP to align planned assessments with program needs
  • Lead the design, implementation, and analysis of all assessments and surveys including the bi-annual Client Satisfaction survey
  • Compile and review Annual Statistics
  • Lead on uptake of Program Indicator Dashboard (PID) and other MEAL-related technology

Country Program Management (10%)

• Serve as SMT member and contribute to resolution of management challenges identified during SMT meetings
• Actively participate in and contribute to strategy discussions, including SAP revision processes
• Stay updated on new IRC priorities, policies, or process updates and ensure Grants &Partnerships and MEAL units are informed of any changes

Requirements

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in international development or related subject
• At least 8 years of experience working in grants management and business development, ideally in a humanitarian and development context
• At least 3 years of experience leading M&E functions within a humanitarian organization
• Sound knowledge of donor regulations (ECHO, US Government donor, UN agencies ,FCDO).
• Fluency in English in addition to superior writing/editing and budget skills
• Good communicator with strong organizational, time management and analytical leadership skills
• Excellent inter-personal, cultural, and diplomatic skills
• Working in a Non-governmental organization will be an added advantage.