Deputy Director of Programs

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 50 countries and more than 25 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.

In response to the influx of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, in 2012 the IRC has launched a multi-sectoral relief program in Lebanon. The program provides assistance to refugees and host communities in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, the North, the South and Bekaa Valley in the fields of child protection, education, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, and economic recovery and development. IRC’s work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary

The Deputy Director for Programs (DDP) provides strategic leadership, decision-making and coordination for program development and delivery, overseeing the effective implementation and technical quality of IRC’s programs in Lebanon. The DDP ensures that programs are evidence-based and needs-driven, monitored closely, and funded appropriately. Reporting to the Country Director and a member of the Senior Management Team, s/he will supervise technical program coordinators as well as Grants and Partnership Coordinator and MEAL and a Program Support Coordinator. The DDP has a close working relationship with the MENA Deputy Regional Director, and the Regional Emergency Director, and other MENA DDPs. Overall, the DDP is responsible for ensuring programmatic strategic direction of the Lebanon Country Programme, high quality implementation of a wide range of programming across emergency to early recovery and development contexts and conducting day to day team management.

Major Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Representation

• Provide overall leadership and management of IRC Lebanon programs, maintaining & enforcing strategic direction & growth.

• Champion IRC’s Strategy 100 and lead the development of Lebanon’s Strategic Action Plan (SAP) in coordination with the Country Leadership Team.

• Lead the development, follow up and progress review of the SAP-implementation plan (SAP-IP), in line with organizational guidelines and country program needs.

• Work with the senior management team to develop fit for purpose operational budgets, which reflect a a strong understanding of situational parameters, beneficiary needs, program needs and available resources.

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

• Actively liaise with IRC DDPs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region and the regional team to maximize synergies and application of best practice across the region.

• Represent IRC and IRC’s interests to government officials, donors, the UN and other operational and implementing partners.

• Support the Country Director in cultivating strategic partnerships or relationships with new/existing donors, potential consortium partners and other stakeholders to further strategic development opportunities.

• Build productive relationships with donors, national/regional/local government authorities, private sector actors, and local/international organizations in Lebanon, in close coordination with the Country Director.

• Ensure that IRC Lebanon’s program interventions are planned & coordinated within the broader humanitarian effort.

• Ensure IRC is represented at national and regional sector coordination groups.

Business development and program design

• Remain abreast of ongoing contextual and funding trends, and provide regular updates and analysis of how they may affect IRC programming.

• Provide cohesive leadership to IRC’s program teams in Lebanon, ensuring that priorities and opportunities identified are in line with and contribute to achievement of IRC’s objectives in MENA and the Lebanon strategic action plan with strong partnerships focus.

• In conjunction with the Country Leadership Team (CLT), lead the development, implementation and review of IRC’s country program business development strategy to ensure that individual sector programs, overall strategy and operations are adequately funded.

• Lead on the development of innovative concept notes and funding proposals in collaboration with Country and regional technical leads, Finance, M&E, Supply Chain and HR teams.

• Ensure the highest level of quality in program design through robust and in-depth context analysis, development of theories of change and sector level strategies.

• Ensure that IRC’s programs are responsive to community needs and are built and delivered to enhance community resilience.

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

• Ensure that rigorous M&E processes and results-based management, periodic and systematic learning inform program design and adaptation

Program Quality and Delivery

• Liaise with HQ technical advisors & ensure technical coordinators apply relevant guidance & best practices in new program design & implementation.

• Support the development of measurement tools to assess program impact & involvement of client groups in program design. Ensure the alignment of the IRC Lebanon programs with the MEAL Handbook & the use of established stringent monitoring & evaluation systems.

• Champion an organizational culture where data & client input are routinely used for decision-making & program adaptation. Promote systems that ensure that evidence is used to inform proposal design & theories of change.

• Identify & pursue opportunities to improve client feedback mechanisms to ensure responsive programming.

• Ensure IRC Lebanon consistently promotes & effectively uses IRC’s Partnership Excellence for Equality & Results System (PEERS) & that partnership decision-making & action is driven by IRC’s partnership principles.

• Actively contribute to and/or chair Project Cycle Meetings (PCMs) as required to review progress of programs, including but not limited, progress indicators, work plans & spending. When required, coordinate the development of corrective measures to ensure projects finish on time & on target, ensure timely follow-up on any agreed actions.

Staff Performance Management and Development

• Supervise and mentor direct-report staff, 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.

• Develop cohesive teams through regular department meetings, individual meetings, and the promotion of a collaborative working environment.

• Maintain open and professional relations with team members 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.

• Work with regional 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 Lebanon country program.

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.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Eight direct reports including the Economic Recovery and Development Coordinator, Protection and Rule of Law Coordinator, Women’s Protection and Empowerment Coordinator, Child Protection Coordinator, Early Childhood Development Coordinator, Education Coordinator, Health Coordinator and Senior Program Support Coordinator.

Key Working Relationships

Internal: Country Director; Lebanon Senior Management Team; Lebanon Field Coordinators; HQ and Regional staff in various departments

External: Public and private donor agencies, international and national NGOs, UN agencies, partner organizations, foreign governments.

Requirements

• Graduate degree in Psychology, social work, human rights, or related degree preferred

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience managing complex humanitarian and development programming.

• Strong familiarity with IRC Lebanon’s core programming areas including integrated protection, Education, and Economic Recovery and Development.

• Demonstrated successful leadership experience managing a multi-disciplinary team and cross-cultural dynamics

• Superior diplomatic and coordination skills are essential, both for internal coordination and for working with key stakeholders

• Demonstrated ability for rapid, accurate analysis of complex issues, strong decision-making, and translation of programmatic priorities into operational strategies

• Repeated, successful experience delivering appropriate levels oversight for a portfolio consisting of a variety of complex, high-value donor-funded projects

• Politically astute, with well-developed diplomatic and negotiating skills

• Fluency in spoken and written English; working knowledge of Arabic is an asset

• Strong oral and written communication skills, with ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders

• Extensive representation and fundraising success, including prior experience with European, US and international donors

• Experience of managing programs in a complex and rapidly changing contexts

• Established capacity to deal with ambiguity in stressful situations

• Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes

• A keen understanding of political complexities in the Middle East region

• Strong commitment to IRC’s vision, mission and core values

• Motivated, positive individual who excels at taking initiative and is able to motive team members to produce results under pressure while maintaining a sense of humor.

Travel: This position is based in Beirut, Lebanon with regular travel to all IRC Lebanon field offices.

Working Environment: The overall security situation in Beirut is relatively calm.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.