Job Description

Requisition ID: req2221
Job Title: Deputy Director of Programs
Sector: Program Administration
Employment Category: Fixed Term
Employment Type: Full-Time
Location: Lebanon-Beirut

Job Description

Background/IRC Summary:
In response to the influx of Syrian refugees to Lebanon in mid-2012, IRC opened a country office and launched humanitarian assistance programming. IRC operates throughout Lebanon, with the main office in Beirut and field offices in Qobayat, Zahle, Tripoli, Tyre and Mount Lebanon. IRC’s programs assist Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese in host communities across multiple sectors: education, livelihoods, protection, women’s protection and empowerment and child protection. IRC Lebanon’s current portfolio amounts to $35M, with further growth anticipated.

SCOPE OF WORK
The Deputy Director for Programs (DDP) is the leader of the Programs team and as such plays a key role in maintaining a strategic vision for the Country Program, maintaining constructive relationships both inside and outside of the organization and ensuring overall program quality and impact. Reporting to the Country Director and a member of the Senior Management Team, the DDP supervises a total of seven staff including four technical program coordinator, as well as the heads of the Grants, Partnership and MEAL units. The DDP is additionally expected to actively support the Country Director and Advocacy Advisor in defining and delivering IRC’s public advocacy positions.

The DDP has five main objectives:
* Strategic Direction: Develop, oversee and maintain a coherent strategic vision for the Program team and the broader country program;
* Leadership and Representation: Represent IRC inside Lebanon at strategic meetings and events in close coordination with the Country Director;
* Research, Learning and Analysis: Support a strategy and plan for impactful learning and research goals across program sectors;
* Partnerships: Establish and strengthen productive relationships with relevant organizations and networks, technical experts, government agencies and donors within Lebanon in coordination with the CD;
* Advocacy: Support define and deliver, together with the CD and Advocacy Advisor, the advocacy strategy and priorities for Lebanon.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Direction, Program Quality and Growth
* 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 for the Middle East region and the Lebanon Strategic Action Plan (SAP).
* Ensure that the Lebanon SAP Implementaiton Plan (IP) is up to date and that the Programs team is on track to meet milestones.
* 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 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.
* Through the provision of leadership support to the in-country grants team, and in close collaboration with the Finance Team, develop evidenced based and cost-effective funding applications.
* Work closely with operational support departments to ensure systems are regularly reviewed and in place to support strategic growth.
* Remain abreast of ongoing humanitarian response and funding trends in the region, and provide regular updates on these trends and analysis of how they may affect IRC programming.

Leadership and Representation
* Provide leadership and supervisory management for programs in Lebanon, 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.
* Actively engage with donors, partner agencies, and the humanitarian community in Lebanon to ensure IRC is strongly represented in coordination and advocacy efforts.
* Regularly coordinate with internal program and operational stakeholders, the Protection/Rule of Law Technical Advisors, Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Children’s Protection, Economic Recovery and Development, Education and other IRC colleagues.
* Represents IRC in inter-agency forums and discussions to ensure IRC’s Program and mission is sufficiently known and respected within the response.
* Actively liaise with IRC programs in the Middle East Region and the regional team to maximize synergies and application of best practice across the SRR.

Partnerships
* Guide the Partnership unit’s strategic direction across all outcome areas and actors including Local Organizations, CSOs and Government.

Program Management and Quality Oversight
* Ensure Program Coordinators develop, adapt and implement appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems that enhance program effectiveness and quality.
* Work with the Program Coordinators, ensure appropriate and timely grant spending to achieve program goals, including procurement, use and distribution of supplies and resources.

Staff Management and Human Resources
* Supervise and mentor direct-report staff, 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.
* 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 the Senior Management Team to ensure that the Progream team maintains a high work engagement.
* Work with 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.
* 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.

Advocacy
* Together with the CD and Advocacy Advisor, support efforts to define and deliver the advocacy strategy and priorities for Lebanon.

Supervisory Responsibilities
* Seven direct reports including the Senior Coordinator for Integrated Protection, Economic Recovery and Development Coordinator, Education Coordinator, ECD Coordinator Grants Coordinator, MEAL Advisor, Senior Partnership Manager.

Key Working Relationships
Internal: Country Director; Lebanon Senior Management Team; Advocacy Advisor, WPE, CP and Protection Coordinators, Middle East regional team; HQ staff in various departments.
External: Public and private donor agencies, international and national NGOs, UN agencies, partner organizations, foreign governments.

Professional Standards
IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
* Graduate degree in a relevant field.
* At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience managing complex humanitarian programming. Previous experience in an emergency or conflict-afflicted setting is required.
* Strong familiarity with IRC’s core programming areas in Lebanon, including 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.
* Proven track record of leading multi-location teams.
* Repeated, successful experience delivering appropriate levels oversight for a portfolio consisting of a variety of complex, high-value donor-funded projects.
* Professional experience crafting and delivering policy and advocacy work responding to complex humanitarian crises and/or post-conflict situations.
* Politically astute, with well-developed diplomatic and negotiating skills.
* Fluency in spoken and written English; working knowledge of Arabic strongly preferred.
* 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.
* 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.

This position is based in Beirut and is fully accompanied with an estimated 33% of the Deputy Director for Programs’s time spent in other locations in Lebanon and the region.

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.

About the Organization

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 27 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure.