Senior Advisor, Delivery - President's Office

Job Overview:

One of IRC’s critical challenges is collecting, monitoring, and surfacing organization-wide performance data to the IRC’s CEO and the executive team (known internally as our ‘Leadership Board’ and the ‘Senior Leaders Group’) to drive better transparency and decision-making. Using data for decision-making and driving towards outcomes is at the heart of the IRC 2020 Strategy.

To support this, IRC has established a Delivery Unit in the President’s Office, which reports jointly to the Chief Strategy Officer and the Senior Director of Policy and Planning in the President’s Office. The Delivery Unit’s mandate sharpen focus on areas where performance is falling behind, highlight where it is going well, and bring out interdependencies between different projects that need to be reconciled. The Delivery Unit supports the President and the Leadership Board on critical performance-related questions including the Quarterly Strategy Review, Delivery Letters and the creation, analysis and use of performance data.

Since the Delivery Unit was established in 2019 it has been successful in increasing the amount of data that flows to senior decision makers. At the same time, a critical challenge that has been highlighted is the amount of real outcome data that is available from the organization.

The Senior Advisor will work closely with the Delivery Manager, the Chief Strategy Officer and the Senior Director for Policy & Planning, to identify the best and most relevant data, analyze this and present it to senior leaders, based on issues that are of relevance at any given time. The Senior Advisor will also have responsibility for leading the thinking for how to track and monitor implementation of the 20XX strategy, which is currently under development.

This is a 6 month contract with the option of extension.

Major Responsibilities:

• Work with the Delivery Unit team to identify areas where improved data gathering and analysis could improve decision making and performance

• Undertake specific projects related to improved data, governance and decision making in particular at the Leadership Board level

• Engage with other parts of the organization (e.g., Measurement team, Technical Excellence, CRRD Senior Director of Strategy and Performance) on data gathering and use and ensure data from these units are best put to use at LB and CEO level

• Advise on the development of a delivery methodology for the 20XX strategy and work with the Strategy Unit to ensure performance management of the Strategy is appropriately addressed throughout the strategy process

• Any special projects as assigned by the president’s office or strategy team

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with demonstrated high performance
• At least 8 years of experience in roles requiring strong critical thinking and project management. Experience in IRC field programs strongly preferred
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders with highly varied backgrounds and contexts and to collaborate with them on an ongoing basis
• Experience in facilitating review processes or executive-level meeting routines, and in interacting and communicating effectively with all levels of an organization
• Strategic mindset and approach to solving problems and identifying creative solutions
• Ability to see the “big picture” and prioritize appropriately by focusing on work that will deliver the highest impact to the organization
• A results-driven approach to work, personal initiative, and an ability to work proactively and with a strong sense of urgency
• Demonstrated ability to rapidly absorb and master new content
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills (i.e. day-to-day discussions, team meetings, presentations, written status updates, etc.), as well as, an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Capability to handle multiple demands and to adapt to new challenges and shifting priorities
• Understanding of the challenges related to implementing strategic and organizational change

• A strong focus on personal growth and development, and a willingness to regularly receive and act on performance feedback in pursuit of continuous professional growth
• Knowledge of French or Arabic preferred

Working Environment:

• Standard office work environment