Senior ERD Manager

BACKGROUND

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people survive, recover and gain control of their future. The IRC is working to improve the safety, health, education, economic well-being and power of people in crisis-affected places. IRC’s Economic Recovery and Development programming ensures that clients meet both their short- and long-term economic needs through sustainable and ethical programs such as but not limited to, cash and voucher transfers, food security promotion, climate-smart agro-pastoral production and enterprise development and employment promotion.

 

More than 3.6 million people have fled across borders to seek safety in the 1st month since the escalation of conflict in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and over 6.5 million Ukrainians are reported to be displaced. As the vast majority of the displaced are women, girls, and boys, this could become the worst humanitarian crisis Europe has seen in decades.

 

Between February 7-23, 2022, an IRC team undertook a scoping mission covering Poland and Ukraine to better understand the context, humanitarian and civil society landscape, and anticipated service gaps in the event of an escalation of conflict in Ukraine and consequent displacement into neighboring Poland. As of February 24th, the IRC has pivoted to an emergency response, and has identified partner agencies in Ukraine and Poland to facilitate immediate assistance that can be used where it is the most needed. Simultaneously, the IRC is establishing operations across Ukraine and Poland to complement partner response services either in breadth or scale.

 

This position will be based in Warsaw, with occasional travel to other locations as necessary.

 

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior ERD Manager will support the Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) Coordinator in oversight of implementation and quality assurance of cash and basic needs and livelihoods programming in Poland, implemented with partners and directly by IRC staff.

 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision of the ERD Coordinator and with technical support from ERD Technical Advisors, the ERD Senior Manager will:

•                     Ensure the technical quality and effective implementation of a range of IRC Basic Needs Assistance and Livelihoods Programming including Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA), employment and enterprise support for refugees and third country nationals in Poland, in both partner and direct projects.

•                     Provide overall managerial oversight and leadership for the ERD Livelihoods Manager and CBN team, including overseeing operational functions for achieving the goals of the project, hiring and staff management, and budget management.

•                     Ensure that gender, diversity, and inclusion as well as protection and environmental stewardship are mainstreamed in all programming under direct responsibility.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

•                     Program quality/Management and implementation

•                     Responsible for specific project coordination and quality control with partners and directly in line with IRC international priorities, frameworks and policies.

•                     Provide technical support for ERD activities; lead various needed assessments to inform design; and define and implement activities to achieve the greatest coverage and impact possible.

•                     Develop and adhere to detailed implementation plans to ensure program implementation is on time, in program targets and budget management, using effective M&E systems and adaptive management principles to reach desired impacts.

•                     Collaborate with key staff and senior members of other technical sectors to prepare strategic work-plans with clear objectives and achievement benchmarks, long-term and short-term priorities, implementation plans, financial projections and tools for evaluation.

 

Partnerships

•                     Identify new and develop existing partnerships with local and international implementing partners as appropriate for program design and service to clients based on IRC’s PEERS standards of equal and effective partnership

•                     Strengthen relationships with national bodies including Polish local municipalities and other civic centers.

•                     Cultivate partner-led relationships based on mutual respect and understanding, shared responsibilities and empowerment with new and existing partners.

 

Team management/Staff Supervision & Development

•                     Oversee or support project implementation teams and ensure that all staff are following work plans and ERD project activities and outcomes are completed as planned

•                     Support staff technical capacity building and professional development plans to promote a culture of learning and continuous training

•                     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

•                     Assist with and as necessary lead the recruitment of ERD personnel

 

Coordination & Representation

•                     Develop and maintain effective working relationships with key collaborators, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.

•                     Support the development of partnerships with local private sector actors and municipalities.

•                     Develop partnership with local private sector actors and municipalities

 

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

•                     Ensure proper data collection and information management systems are used for projects in-line with MEAL support.

•                     Analyze relevant data and share information for projects to support learning and adaptive management.

•                     Support written program evaluations and reviews ensure documentation of lessons learned informing reporting and program development.

•                     Support the ERD Coordinator and MEAL team members in addressing complaint and feedback from clients and partners

 

Business Development

•                     Identify gaps and needs in programming areas and proactively source funding in collaboration with ERD Coordinator and Grants Team.

•                     Facilitate co-design sessions that involve potential partners and are responsive to client needs

•                     Develop evidence-based inputs to concept notes and proposals related to ERD programming expansion and continuation, including budgets, logical frameworks, relevant indicators, and written narratives.

 

Reporting

•                     Collect, compile and revise ERD program narrative reports for review by ERD Coordinator and Grants team.

•                     Collaborate with the Grants Team to assure quality of reports to be submitted to donors

•                     Provide up-to-date information on success stories to Comms and Advocacy team

 

Professional Standards

•                     Adhere to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion and humanitarian principals in all work-related duties.

•                     Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to senior management, and when liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs

•                     Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

•                     Adhere to the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies as a requirement of the IRC

 

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:  ERD Coordinator

Position directly supervises: ERD Livelihoods Manager, Cash and Basic Needs Team.

 

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: ERD technical advisors, Grants unit, Deputy Director of Programs, MEAL, and Finance teams;

External:  Represent cash and livelihoods programming and the IRC in outside meetings of importance with donors, other non-governmental organizations, inter-agency working groups, and other practitioners in the field.

 

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education:  Minimum university degree in a related field. Advanced degree in International Development, Business Administration, Economics, Social Sciences or Humanitarian Response preferred.

 

DEMONSTRATED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:

•                     At least 3-4 years of relevant work experience in cash and voucher assistance, livelihoods, social protection, and/or other humanitarian and development programmes with demonstrated experience leading a team and building partnerships to achieve results.

•                     Knowledge and experience of cash and voucher assistance, market and value chain analysis, private sector engagement, livelihoods mapping, access to finance and micro-enterprise support

•                     Fluency in English required

•                     Previous experience leading programming in complex contexts as well as ability to supervise, coach and mentor staff.

•                     Proven leadership and strategic planning capabilities, including budget management

•                     Demonstrated knowledge of gender equality topics and proficiency in managing projects that mainstream gender

•                     Demonstrated effectiveness in developing and maintaining unbiased and professional working relationships with government officials, civil society partners, and other counterparts and clients

•                     Proven ability to work well in and promote teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure with professional grace.

•                     Knowledge of all regulatory, contractual, legal and financial compliance requirements associated with international donor funding

•                     Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook

•                     Demonstrated dedication to an anti-racist and Do No Harm approach, gender equality and inclusion

 

Must have the right to work in Poland.

 

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in 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.

 

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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