Deputy Director of Programs, West

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

BACKGROUND:

Sudan is enduring one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, remaining at the top of the IRC’s emergency watchlist for two consecutive years. Since war erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, the country has plunged into sustained violence, institutional collapse, and mass displacement, with over 12 million people uprooted across all 18 states. Despite repeated ceasefire announcements, the conflict has persisted for nearly two and a half years, crippling health services—over 70% of facilities are non-functional or overwhelmed—and leaving 30.4 million people in need of humanitarian aid. Acute food insecurity affects 25 million people, including 770,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, while damage to infrastructure, supply shortages, and restricted humanitarian access continue to obstruct relief efforts.

In response to increasing needs, the IRC has scaled up its humanitarian efforts despite immense challenges. We are supporting Sudanese communities, both within the country and across national borders and now seeking a Deputy Director of Programs to lead and support its program delivery and strategic direction in the western part of the country.

JOB OVERVIEW/SUMMARY:

The position of Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) is a member of the West Senior Management Team and is integral to the successful implementation of IRC's programs in Sudan. Working under the joint direction of the Director West and Program Director, the DDP is responsible for overall program direction and implementation within the program framework and in compliance with donor regulations, specifically in the areas of a) grant management b) program development, quality and implementation

The DDP will support the execution of the Country Strategic Plan and be responsible for supervising the Program Coordinators in the area of responsibility.  This position will work closely and collaboratively with the different departments within the country program, particularly the Sudan Program Director and measurement, partnership and grants Coordinators.

The DDP will be based in a roving capacity in western Sudan, with frequent travel to national sites across Darfur and South Kordofan, where IRC designs and delivers programming.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Program Strategy, Design and Fundraising

• Lead the operationalization of the current IRC Sudan West response strategy and actively engage in strategic planning processes for the longer term.
• Ensure, with Coordinators, and HQ-based Emergency Unit and Technical Unit staff, that project design reflects IRC program quality standards and industry best practices.
• Lead efforts for sustainable program growth, proactively identifying opportunities for new programming initiatives and emphasizing multi-year funding to support them.
• Provide leadership support to the program and grants teams to develop competitive, evidence-based and cost-effective funding applications.
• Provide guidance, strategies and tools to ensure that program choices are based on needs assessment findings (primary & secondary data) and analysis, input from communities, a thorough understanding of context, technical best practices, and operational viability.
• Formulate integrated program initiatives so that technical sectors complement each other and promote mainstreaming of protection principles and gender-responsive approaches.

Program Management - Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Provide overall leadership and management of IRC Sudan West program portfolio, ensuring strategically coherent program direction, well-managed growth, and compliance with IRC and donor regulations.
• Continually seek ways to build the capacities of the program team members, individually and collectively.
• Ensure that detailed, realistic and feasible project implementation plans are developed, and modified as needed, in collaboration with the Program Coordinators and Operations team.
• Coordinate with other members of the Senior Management Team, appropriate management, compliance and performance standards, as well as effective systems for budget management, knowledge management and risk management.
• Support programming staff to collect, document and disseminate lessons learned and best practices, incorporating these into new project designs.
• With program staff, develop effective and appropriate monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plans, including methodologies and tools to strengthen the quality of data collection, analysis and reporting.
• Review M&E and accountability data with program staff to identify and address areas for operational improvement.
• Lead and champion IRC’s ‘partner first’ approach, fostering strategic, respectful, and empowering relationships with local Sudanese organizations. Ensure partners are actively engaged in decision-making, program design, and service delivery, positioning IRC as a partner of choice.
• Ensure high-quality, accountable, and collaborative partnership management, including oversight of partner-led program delivery, adaptive technical support, and consistent application of IRC’s PEERS framework and partnership principles across all programming.

Grants Management

• Provide strategic leadership to develop and implement a comprehensive funding strategy, expand and strengthen the donor base, ensure excellence in grants management and compliance, drive robust information systems for programs and grants, and contribute to high-quality proposal development and reporting processes.
• Supervise all internal, external and reporting with Program Director across programs and finance, ensuring high-quality, well-written and timely reports meet donor and IRC and partner requirements; conduct thorough reviews and/or revisions of all external reports compiled by the Grants Coordinator.
• Ensure that Program Coordinators conduct routine monitoring visits to implementation sites to ensure donor compliance and quality program implementation.
• Coordinate with the Program Coordinators and Grants and Finance teams to ensure sound budget management, expense control and timely contractual documentation.
• Coordinate with and support the Grants Coordinator to lead Grant Opening and Grant Closing Meetings with all relevant departments to ensure they take place on time. Also ensure that programming staff are well trained to properly manage project budgets.
• Ensure that the program coordinators review Budget vs Actual on a regular basis; provide leadership and management support to ensure effective monthly grant review meetings.
• Mitigate any potential risk by collaborating with the Finance Department to ensure that programming staff fully understand financial and administrative processes involved in project budget cycles.
• Ensure strategic partnership considerations are integrated into program design and Go/No-Go funding decisions, with proactive engagement of partners throughout program development and project design.

External Representation and Advocacy

• Develop and support a sound understanding of the IRC's programs in the West and across Sudan to be able to professionally represent the IRC to coordination forums and implementing partners, authorities and donors;
• Assist the Director West, and Sudan Program Director in developing strong relationships with donors, assisting with visits and in the development of appropriate advocacy actions;
• Forge and maintain solid cooperation with partner organizations through regular communication, cooperation and, where appropriate, joint decision-making.
• Act as the focal point for program-related communication between IRC country programs in the region and worldwide offices.
• Identify funding opportunities and track them in collaboration with the technical teams.
• Oversee programmatic inputs to advocacy and communication efforts both in-country and globally.

Staff Management and Development

• Provide guidance and supervision to the Program Coordinators, and Program Staff; to discuss job expectations, set objectives and provide appropriate and timely feedback on performance of direct reports, including timely implementation of performance management system.
• Create and foster an inclusive team climate focused on the achievement of team and individual results that emphasizes the importance of mutual respect, trust, listening, ownership, learning, productivity, accountability and openness.
• Adhere to IRC's performance management system, providing regular, timely and thoughtful coaching, feedback, performance assessment, and professional development for all direct reports, while making sure that they do the same for their direct reports.
• Build capacities of programming staff in key project management principles, tools and approaches and ensure that these new skills are utilized on the job.
• Manage recruitment, hiring and development of high-performing staff to assume greater levels of responsibility.
• Provide leadership support for the successful implementation of and adherence to the IRC Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures.
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least bi-weekly, focusing equally on interpersonal exchange, as well as work.
• Promote and monitor staff well-being by modeling and reinforcing systems and practices that support a healthy work-life balance, ensuring that work supports life;

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Position Reports to: Management in Partnership (MiP) between Director West and Sudan Program Director
• Position directly supervises: West Program Coordinators (8)
• Internal: Senior management team members, Deputy Regional Director, RMAC, Regional RPAS team, Finance department, Comms & ER, Regional and HQ Support Departments. Close collaboration with HR on People matters; and the Emergency Unit through transition phase
• External: Other humanitarian organizations operating in Sudan West, authorities, UN agencies, community stakeholders and donors

REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum eight years of leadership experience working in emergency and conflict settings with a minimum of five years of NGO program management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and prioritize effectively under pressure, with a proven capacity for rapid, accurate analysis of complex issues, strong decision-making, and translating programmatic priorities into actionable operational strategies.
• Experience in managing: nutrition, protection, water, sanitation and hygiene, cash, and primary health, and experience working in partnership with local organizations, is required.
• Successful experience delivering programs in a rapidly changing and complex security environment is required.
• Proven ability to develop winning proposals to public and private-sector donors;
• Demonstrated experience and ability to lead and supervise a cross-cultural team of people, coach for performance and development and create an inclusive organizational climate
• Familiarity and experience with US and European donors;
• Previous experience managing programs financed by US government agencies, FCDO, ECHO, foundations and private donors a must, with previous experience in competitive environments a plus.
• Proven ability to manage projects to completion on time, within budget, and with the anticipated results.
• Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes.
• Demonstrated successful leadership experience with a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural setting, including active mentoring and coaching. Strong leadership, motivational and team-building skills;
• Proven fluency in English is required and knowledge of Arabic is an advantage.
• Willingness to work in a roving capacity with ongoing travel internally within Sudan,

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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