Senior Program Coordinator – Safety, Education & Economic Wellbeing at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Sector: Program

Employment Category:Full Time

Employment Type: Fixed Term

Open to Expatriates: NO

Location: Maiduguri Nigeria

Job Description

Job Overview/Summary

The Senior Program Coordinator (SPC) for safety, education and Economic Wellbeing outcomes is a strategic role for IRC Nigeria and works closely and under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) to design and deliver high quality, innovative programs in close coordination and collaboration with the Senior Program Coordinator for health outcome, Field Coordination, Finance and Operations. The role has a particular focus on driving strategy implementation, leading the technical coordinators in designing high quality projects with particular attention to enhance program integration, supporting expansion into newly accessible geographic areas, and increasing IRC’s work on early recovery across the humanitarian and development nexus S/he will ensure timely and effective program delivery, coordination and technical coherence and support, monitoring, evaluation, and accountability. The SPC will provide a focus on outcomes and client responsiveness, and will represent IRC programs to major stakeholders, relevant government authorities and other program partners
The SPC is a member of Country Leadership Team and reports directly to Deputy Director of Programs (DDP), with close working relationships with the Nigeria Senior Management Team, Senior Program Coordinator Health, Grants Coordinator, Field Coordinators, sectoral Technical Coordinators, Technical Adviser’s, MEAL Coordinator, Consortium Leads, operations and finance leads, Compliance Coordinator, and grants management and partnership team.

Major Responsibilities

Support Business development

• To participate and contribute to the go-no-go decision for new funding opportunities
• To provide leadership and coordination to the program technical coordinators of safety, education and wellbeing outcomes to design high quality proposals, drawing lesson learnt from past evaluations; meetings donors needs and requirements
• Promote and socialize the use of IMPACT standards and frameworks in program designs and proposal developments in line with the IRC Nigeria Country Program Strategic Action Plan
• Ensure that program design is evidence based and aligns with the revised theories of change that place crisis-affected people and their voice at the centre of IRC's response designs, and lead program integration to support this.
• Provide leadership to program technical coordinators in setting priorities and delivering outcome focused programs which align with the Nigeria Strategy Action Plan.
• Lead and coordinate the integration of gender and protection mainstreaming across IRC programs designs and proposal developments processes
• Work closely in collaborations with grants, field coordination, finance, and operations in identifying needs and proposal developments

Program Quality Development & Oversight

• Provide leadership to Program Technical Coordinators in setting priorities and delivering outcome focused programs which align with the Nigeria Strategy Action Plan.
• Ensure that program design is evidence based and uses theories of change that place crisis-affected people and their voice at the centre of IRC's response, and lead program integration to support this.
• With HQ-based Technical Advisers, ensure that program implementation is aligned to relevant standards and makes use of tools, systems and procedures that are in place.
• Work closely with the Senior Grants Coordinator and the Grants and Partnerships Team to shape concept papers and grant proposals for submission to donors.
• Work with the M&E coordinator to build and foster a culture of learning and reflection that uses data to design and adapt programs.
• Monitor changes in the context and ensure that IRC responds where necessary.
• Alongside our existing focus on humanitarian programming, analyze gaps and needs, and help to drive a new focus on early recovery programming in appropriate geographic areas, working across the humanitarian-development nexus.
• Support Program Coordinators in creating and maintaining up-to-date briefings, factsheets and updates for external stakeholders.

Program Implementation oversight and coordination

• Provide leadership to program technical coordinators in ensuring effective grant start-up, implementation review and close-out meetings are planned and conducted in a timely manner with full participation of all relevant stakeholders from programs and support teams, and that actions are taken as a result.
• Ensure that technical coordinators have development and utilizing project management tools for each grant – work plan, procurement plan, spending plan, distribution plan and M&E plan from the start of the grants and reviewing often
• Providing leadership to the technical coordinators/project lead in reviewing sector budget every month and provide update and come up with project BVA analysis with clear recommendations on improving project spent
• Provide leadership for Program Coordinators in the timely and high-quality implementation of programs and promote regular reviews - both internal and external - and other learning events.
• Provide support to the Country Emergency Team during the scale up of a sudden onset humanitarian response and during the deployment phase
• Ensure program coordination, and that managers and technical coordinators for cross-cutting themes work together effectively according to program work plans.
• Conduct frequent field visits to all project sites for monitoring, quality control and program staff mentoring and coaching.
• Coordinate high-level reporting on country-level indicators such as beneficiary numbers, design for impact indicators, cluster data and other information as needed.
• Ensure that donor reports produced by the programs team effectively demonstrate the impact of IRC’s interventions.
• Liaise with Violence Prevention and Response Unit technical experts at HQ to ensure program quality
• Representation and Advocacy
• In coordination with the DDP, DDFM and Senior Advocacy Manager, actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders in Nigeria including local communities, donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.
• Ensure IRC active representation and participation in the relevant clusters/sectors coordination
• Develop strategic partnerships with local organizations.
• In coordination with the DDP and DDFM, assist in organizing donor visits by supporting staff in the smooth design and running of field visits.

Additional qualities a successful candidate should possess

• Must be able to function effectively in complex work environment, set appropriate priorities and deal effectively with numerous simultaneous requirements
• Problem Solving & Judgment effectively uses critical thinking in solving problems;
• Results Driven: sets challenging and clear expectations to meet organization priorities
• Committed to the mission of the IRC, is sensitive to both the political, social and cultural ramifications of decisions
• Diplomatic both within the organization and with external interactions.
• Copes well with pressure and adapts and learns from adversity.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
• Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths of your team.
• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing 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.
• Approve and manage all time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly.
• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.
• As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
• 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.
• 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.
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train, and develop capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

Coordination & Representation

• Participate in Field level coordination forums, as relevant.
• Participate in consortium partners coordination, as relevant.
• Work with the DDP to coordinate any donor visits and facilitate any reasonable requests from funding affiliates and governing bodies
• Serve as a member of Country Leadership Group and ensure full participation in the forum.
• Represent the organizations to donors and to other humanitarian organizations where applicable and as need arises.

Key Working Relationships

Position reports to: 

Deputy Director of Programs (DDP)
Position directly supervises: Program Technical Coordinators in the sectors of Child Protection, Women Protection and Empowerment, Protection and Rule of Law; Education and Economic Wellbeing.
Other internal contacts: SMT, Deputy Director Field Management (DDFM), SPC for (health, nutrition and Environmental Health/WASH, M&E Coordinator, Grants Team, Consortium Coordinators, Finance, HR, Supply Chain, Safety and Security, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Field Coordinators and Senior Area Managers.
Key External Contacts:  Consortium Partners, Local Partners, government officials etc

Qualifications

Education:
Master’s degree preferably in Education, Peace and Conflict Studies, International humanitarian Law orHumanitarian Assistance

Work Experience:

• Experience managing programs in a relevant technical area(s) including in education, economic recovery and development, livelihoods, child and women protection, and general protection and the rule of law
• Possesses at least 7 years of field-based experience managing staff and programs, particularly in complex emergencies and insecure environments
• Experience managing humanitarian relief and/or transitional programs in areas affected by large scale displacements due to conflict and chronic food and nutritional insecurity
• Demonstrated experience in program management, project design and use of project design tools
• Demonstrated experience in supervising expatriate and national staff, and in mentoring of national staff and with a strong commitment to staff capacity development; Demonstrated qualities of leadership, sensitivity to cultural settings, communication skills, commitment, and sound judgment
• Aptitude to adapt to a different context regarding security, culture, climate or health issue, demonstrated by experience outside of the country of origin
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Willingness to travel in the country at least 50% of your time

Demonstrated Technical Skills:

• Excellent oral and written reporting skills and demonstrated ability to write and edit reports and proposals and to meet required deadlines
• Working knowledge of budget development, monitoring and management
• Experience conducting assessments, preferably using participatory approaches
• Experience in Cash Voucher Assistance programming
• Ability to work in unstable security environments

Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies:

• Excellent inter-personal, cultural, and diplomatic skills
• Good communicator with strong organizational, time management, and analytical skills
• Strong capacity to mentor and build capacity of staff
• Ability to juggle competing priorities, meet demanding deadlines, and work under pressure in unstable security environments
• Good stress management

Languages:
Fluent written and spoken English is a MUST.

Computer/Other Tech Requirements:

Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Excellent database, data management and data analysis skills, with strong experience using software applications such as Microsoft Excel, Access.

Ability to Travel: 50% field travel to locations where IRC has presence in Nigeria

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of 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, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.
Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Working Environment
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, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.