Deputy Director Programs

The IRC’s programmatic response in Libya has evolved since 2016 from an emergency effort to fill gaps in the state’s primary health care system – essentially, replacing the state – to a more comprehensive program balancing direct service delivery with developmental approaches aimed at strengthening Libya’s public health system. The IRC has also launched a robust protection program centered in Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Rule of Law, and Child Protection, both through an integrated approach with health and also in stand-alone programming. More recently, the IRC has rolled out a ground-breaking Governance project, designed to guide young people in their effort to reduce violence, strengthen productive youth social networks, and promote civic participation in three cities in Western Libya. IRC Libya is also exploring opportunities in Economic Recovery and Development programming.

This programmatic evolution is playing out in a highly fractured society, with foreign powers exacerbating and weaponizing local conflicts for their own gain. A key priority for IRC leadership is to develop a new multi-year strategy in line with the global IRC strategic plan, and to manage the challenges that come with a fast-growing operation in such a volatile and potentially violent context.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) is IRC Libya’s senior leader responsible for overall program development and implementation, coherence with the evolving Strategy Action Plan, and compliance with donor regulations, government policies and strategies, and multilateral assistance plans by the UN, EU, and other policy actors active in Libya.

She or he is a key member of the Senior Management Team, and will work with the Country Director and other senior leaders to roll out, operationalize, and continuously adapt the Country Strategic Plan and will play a key role in supporting business development for the Libya program.

The DDP is also responsible to represent the IRC Libya program to line Ministries, donor agencies and local and international stakeholders.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Representation

· Provide leadership and supervisory management for all IRC programming in Libya, including mobilization and stewardship of resources, program quality and accountability, and performance management.

· Participate actively in country program management, coordination, and strategy meetings with other members of the senior management team.

· Work closely with Finance colleagues to ensure timely budget development, financial planning and cost management.

· Actively engage with donors, partner agencies and the humanitarian community in Libya and Tunisia to ensure IRC is strongly represented in coordination and advocacy efforts.

· Participate actively in country program management and strategy meetings.

· Conduct regular field visits to support program teams.

· Actively liaise with IRC programs in the Middle East & North Africa Region and the regional team to maximize synergies and application of best practice across the region.

Strategic Direction, Program Quality and Growth

· Provide cohesive leadership to IRC’s program teams in Libya, ensuring that priorities and opportunities identified are in line with and contribute to achievement of IRC’s objectives in the Middle East & North Africa region and the Libya Strategy Action Plan.

· Provide guidance to the program team regarding tools and strategies to ensure that programming is based on input from communities, a thorough understanding of the context, and technical best practices.

· Work with colleagues in the country program, region and HQ to identify funding opportunities and develop competitive, responsive proposals that meet internal standards, apply IRC’s global strategy, and are donor compliant; meet with donors to discuss current and potential funding opportunities.

· Work with the senior management team to develop operational budgets, which reflect a detailed understanding of situational parameters, beneficiary needs, available resources and technical possibilities.

· Lead and support the Libya grants team, and cooperate with the Finance Team, to develop cost-effective grant proposals and other applications that align with the IRC’s Outcome and Evidence Framework.

· Ensure programs collaborate across sectors on outcome-based programs for greater impact.

· Manage Program Coordinators to ensure partnership plans that maximize the opportunities for collaborative partnerships in Libya are maintained and updated, consistent with the IRC’s Strategy Action Plan.

· Ensure new business development and program design are consistent with those partnership plans and the Strategy Action Plan (including through the Go/No-Go review process).

· Work closely with operational support departments to ensure systems are regularly reviewed and in place to support ongoing program operations and strategic growth.

· Remain current with humanitarian response and funding trends in the region and provide regular updates on these trends and analysis to Country Director and other leaders.

· Support the Libya MEAL Coordinator to develop, adapt and implement appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems that enhance program quality, increase effectiveness and measure results.

· Identify and pursue opportunities to improve client feedback mechanisms to ensure responsive programming.

Staff Performance Management and Development

· Supervise and mentor direct-reports, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, establishing a supportive environment while emphasizing accountability, providing regular and timely constructive performance feedback, and leading documented semi-annual performance reviews.

· Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.

· In keeping with nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition roles and responsibilities of select coordinator positions.

· Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.

· Work with Libya and MENA HR staff to identify and implement recruitment and retention strategies.

· Model and encourage active practice of the principles of the “IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct” throughout the Libya country program.

Grant Monitoring & Partner Management

· Supervise the Grants Coordinator in the development of quality concept notes and proposals for all IRC Libya programs.

· Support Grants Coordinator and Grants Unit with development of a funding strategy, diversifying and strengthening donor base.

· Ensure a close coordination and collaboration with the support departments to ensure an adequate synergy between programs and operations;

· Support and supervise implementation of finance controls for program expenditures in accordance with global and country program policies and procedures;

· Actively participate in grant meetings, including all Project Cycle Management meetings and ensuring follow-up on action points.

· Ensure Program Coordinators budget accurately and realistically, and consistently spend and implement in a timely fashion, including procurement of program supplies in accordance with approved procurement plans, while meeting targets.

· Support the Grants Coordinator to ensure that all IRC Libya programs are compliant with their respective donor regulations.

· Coordinate with Program Coordinators, operations leads, and Grants Unit on all grant modifications, with a focus on identifying and troubleshooting potential issues well in advance

· Work through the IRC’s Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS), a comprehensive set of compliance tools to set up, manage, and close out partnerships and subawards.

· Ensure program staff proactively maintain positive relationships with partners, including ongoing capacity building and mentoring, as well as a culture of mutual learning.

Communications

· Maintain a healthy and empowering office environment that encourages open, honest and productive communication among IRC staff and with partner organizations.

· Maintain open communications with regional management staff, regional technical advisors, and HQ departmental staff.

Qualifications

· Master’s degree in Development Studies, International Relations, Social Sciences or a similar field;

· Minimum five years of management experience working in a humanitarian or development setting;

· Experience in managing health and protection programming is strongly desired;

· Proven ability to develop winning proposals to public and private-sector donors;

· Familiarity and experience with US and European donors;

· Previous experience managing programs financed by DFID, EU, UN, foundations and private donors, with previous experience in competitive environments;

· 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;

· Ability to rapidly and accurately analyze complex issues, taking decisions and develop operational strategies

· 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; Motivated and positive attitude to produce results under pressure while maintaining a sense of humor.

· Proven fluency in English; Arabic skills strongly desired.

This position is based in Tunis with 30% travel to Libya. The role is partially accompanied with private accommodation.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the 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, and Anti-Retaliation.

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 or disability.

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