Jobs at International Rescue Committee

Major Responsibilities:

Emergency Preparedness, Anticipatory Action (AA), and prepositioning response capacity (50%)

• Continuously improve and adapt emergency preparedness frameworks and tools based on learning and feedback and ensure any tools are aligned with wider IRC processes and standards
• Proactively lead preparedness technical assistance to Watchlist countries and coordinate EmU support and engagement across country program teams as outlined in preparedness action plans.
• Facilitate preparedness planning and transition strategies with country programs facing imminent risks or dynamic shifts due to emergency contexts, as requested
• Collaborate with Global Crisis Analysis (GCA), Humanitarian Access (HA), and Safety and Security (S&S) to define and provide a modular service offer to manage complexities in regions and country programs (this includes defining the model, facilitating calls/meetings on complexity, providing strategic guidance around requests for support, aligning tools, reflection and learning).
• Coordinate and support anticipatory action with activated contexts that have a high likelihood of emergency response.
• Support the QiE and the AA teams to finalize ways of working, coordination and tools/resources that better integrate anticipatory action into the program cycle of IRC emergency program priorities. Participate in and coordinate EmU and QiE engagement in anticipatory action’s strategic direction, inclusive of upcoming joint/shared business development between EmU and TechEx and participate in the AA community of practice with regular coordination between leadership teams.
• Support the Finance and Fundraising team to document crisis modifiers and other preparedness / emergency response funding across global portfolios and to develop a systematic and sustainable way to maintain this database.
• Lead cross-functional analysis and learning around areas for improvement of emergency preparedness and anticipatory action. 
• Coordinate QiE STAs to design and maintain emergency preparedness/ tools and resources as part of the S100 Phase 2 workstream.

Quality in Emergencies Response Leadership (30%)

• Support and coordinate the QiE contributions to the Emergencies Roadmap, and coordinate the design and finalization of the Sector Toolkits for Emergency Programs (STEP).
• Contribute to the MEAL plan for the S100 Phase 2 workstream and the Emergencies SAP work, where relevant or assigned.
• Support response management coordination for ongoing qualifying emergencies, including tracking and following up on programmatic actions agreed by the Emergency Response Management Team (ERMT). This also includes collaborating with the MEAL team to support SAP reporting requirements and ensuring key decisions (such as global go/no-go determinations) are properly documented and communicated.
• Support and coordinate the design and strategy for response prioritization decision making guidance and tools for S100 Phase 2 workstream. 
• Backstop and support response leadership as assigned (CD / DDP / TL) and in coordination with EmU SMT, including:    
• Support the development of emergency response strategies and design. 
• Continually monitor response quality and provide guidance, coaching, and mentorship on management / leadership and alignment with IRC response standards   
• As needed deploy for maximum of 6 weeks for emergency response start-up in complex or large-scale emergencies
• Leadership Support and Learning (20%)
• Work closely with the POPs team and ERT CDs to develop a learning package for new IRC frontline leaders, with a focus on emergency protocols and the Emergency Roadmap.
• Host or co-host capacity-building workshops for staff around EmU and the emergency protocols and the Emergency Roadmap.
• Conduct ongoing training for key stakeholders on IRC’s existing emergency processes and tools.
• As needed, provide strategic support and oversight of capacity strengthening and sharing on humanitarian and emergency competencies among country response teams. 
• As needed, support business development and grants management focusing on emergency preparedness and anticipatory action. 
• As required, support QiE MEAL with the development of thematic regional or global learning agendas and promote new resources developed as a result of that learning process.
• Contribute to the annual QiE work plan and project prioritization in collaboration with the MEAL team and EmU STAs that is driven by the EmU SAP ambitions and Implementation Plan.
• Participate in the QiE Leadership Team to ensure cohesive decision-making and learning. 
• Other strategic projects within QiE as assigned.
• Team Culture
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with EmU colleagues and continually promote a culture of partnership and collaboration.
• Cultivate and maintain a positive, inclusive, safe and caring work environment, while additionally setting an example of ‘One IRC’-way of working within the team, EmU and the wider organization
• Advance efforts across EmU to promote gender equality, diversity and more inclusive practice across our programming and our ways of working.
• Engage in effective power-sharing practices and ensure colleagues have the knowledge, support, and power to do their work with autonomy. 

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: Senior Director, Quality in Emergencies 
• Position directly supervises: Emergency Response Team, Deputy Director of Programs

Requirements:

• 8-10 years’ experience providing advice and support to country teams in the setting up and implementation of emergency responses.
• Extensive experience planning, leading and delivering large-scale, cross functional projects, and managing change in a complex, global organization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to anticipate and assess situations accurately and recommend/implement effective courses of action required.
• Proven track record of advancing multiple critical initiatives and a myriad of complex details on a concurrent basis.
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external collaborators with tact, both orally and in writing, including working with all staff levels and diverse personalities.
• Proven ability to build influence and alignment between diverse cohorts.
• Consistent record of serving as a role model, empowering others to translate vision into results; effective at supporting the power sharing and power building of team members.  
• High integrity and ethical standards, collegial and collaborative behavior, high energy, resiliency, and creativity.
• Experience leading and inspiring leaders toward the achievement of joint goals.
• High dedication to fostering a working environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Ability to expand on own initiative in performance of duties.
• Excellent judgment, tact, initiative, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, organizational skills, and self-motivation.
• Ability to travel up to 25-30% of the time.  

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Key Accountabilities 

Partnership agreements and subcontracts drafting

• Develop compliant sub-agreement templates based on the donors' rules and requirements (private and institutional donors), and leading the review process with Donor Compliance Specialists and IRC departments, as needed
• Regularly maintain and update partnership agreement templates. Ensure precise PEERS references, standardized notes, and unified formatting for country office use. Generate accurate and multi-lingual templates.
• In collaboration with OGC and other collaborators, develop subcontract templates for newly awarded contracts, ensuring templates have clear guidance notes and follow the prime contract terms and conditions.

Sub-agreements and subcontracts review and approval – private and statutory donors 

• Working through the OTIS system (i.e. grants management application system) and as per PEERS approval thresholds, review and approve:
• Escalated partnership packages, including due diligence documentation and the sub-award/partnership agreements, for compliance with IRC’s internal procedures;
• subcontracts and supporting documents for completeness and, if incomplete, work with teams to revise the submission accordingly.

Advice, mentorship and capacity-building 

• Ensure overall compliance to IRC systems and policies by providing direct day-to-day support and assistance on the development, review, and execution of subcontracts and sub-grant agreements. Act as a compliance focal point for partnerships under private funding, and other statutory donors, by providing guidance and advice on the processing/implementing of PEERS, IRC internal policies and sophisticated donor rules and regulations.
• Build IRC staff knowledge and provide mentorship on the subcontracting and partnership agreement due diligence and PEERS processes with a focus on developing complete contract/agreement packages to ensure IRC staff efficiently identify and mitigate risks associated with specific partnerships. Strengthen IRC staff capacity on agreement review processes by providing ad hoc mentorship and facilitating PEERS specific info sessions and induction training to improve their skills. Developing an internal library of resources and regularly update training material resources and partnership processes.

Systems strengthening

• Collaborate across departments (e.g. C&P Donor Specialists, Finance, Ethics and Compliance, and Office of the General Counsel) to find broader solutions as they relate to subcontracts and partnership agreements
• Provide response to partners’ questions and concerns. Coordinating and engaging other departments (e.g. OGC) for input as needed. In close collaboration with other AMU departments, assist in the ongoing refinement and updating of PEERS and develop partnership tools and training, keeping in mind practicality of implementation and major donor guidelines to ensure a consistent application of PEERS.
• Explore opportunities for more data analysis and data-informed decision-making with other teams (finance, RPAS, donor specialists, etc.).Facilitate community of practice on compliance, partnerships, and partner support across country offices
• Participate and engage in contract readiness activities and lead or support in the development of Subcontracting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and update/revise Subcontracting manuals.
• When needed and upon request, assist with other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Demonstratable professional experience working on contracts and subcontracts in the context of USAID or FCDO funded projects**
• Solid understanding of USAID and/or FCDO policies and procedures, specifically in contacts and subcontracts
• Demonstrated experience developing subcontracts and partnership agreements
• Excellent attention to details
• Demonstrated ability to communicate sophisticated topics, related to donor or legal compliance, finance, contracts management, and procedures to a wider audience (e.g. across cultures and staffing levels)
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to optimally and efficiently converse with donors, partners, and other internal departments**
• Ability to learn and roll-out new systems and operating procedures. Previous experience in developing compliance tools, templates, and/or trainings for multicultural settings a plus.
• Ability to problem-solve in a fast-paced team environment and prioritize accordingly;
• Ability to travel up to approximately 20% of time;
• Excellent digital literacy: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and email/internet software.**
• Excellent written and verbal command of English, French