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 40 countries and 29 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.
Background
Across two refugee camps, Dadaab and Kakuma, and four counties (Garissa, Turkana, West Pokot and Nairobi), the IRC implements programs in the sectors of health, Nutrition, governance & rights, and women’s protection & empowerment, Economic Recovery and Development, as well as providing emergency response through a network of four field offices and a range of institutional and community-based partnerships.
Scope
The Deputy Director for Grants and Accountability (DDGA) is a central figure within the IRC country program management and support infrastructure and a member of the senior management team (SMT). Under the supervision of the Country Director (CD), the DDGA leads a team of approximately 20 staff with a portfolio focusing on effective awards and donor relationship management, oversight of business development processes, partnerships, monitoring, evaluation, and learning and client accountability. The DDGA is responsible for significant elements of IRC’s SAP100 strategy implementation including leading on achieving partnerships and client accountability goals, as well as management of key humanitarian donor relationships together with the CD. The DDGA collaborates closely with all SMT members, but particularly the Deputy Director for Programs (DDP) to ensure effective delivery on all awards.
Responsibilities
Awards Management and Business Development (40%)
The DDGA is the lead of IRC Kenya’s Grants & Partnerships unit. This unit is responsible for ensuring effective and efficient management of all awards and sub-awards including leading award reviews, ensuring timely and accurate submission of all required technical and financial reporting, coordinating Project Cycle Meetings (PCM) and budget vs. actual (BVA) reviews, and ensuring compliance on key elements of the awards. This component of the work is led by the Grants Coordinator with direct oversight from the DDGA. This unit is also responsible for implementing IRC Kenya’s fundraising strategy including developing engagement strategies with key donors, reviewing funding calls and leading go/no go meetings, coordinating the proposal development process and ensuring submission of responsive and quality proposals. Specific tasks for the DDGA include:
- Provide direct oversight and mentorship to Grants Coordinator to effectively manage the Grants & Partnerships unit to complete the following tasks:
- Review grant agreements and contracts to identify compliance issues and contribute to the implementation of appropriate solutions as necessary.
- Ensure proper post-award management of grants based on both donor and IRC policies.
- Development, review and submission of all donor reports by Grants Managers is monitored and supported to ensure high quality, accuracy and timeliness. Donor reporting requirements are understood and met, reporting calendar is maintained and distributed, financial & management tracking occurs, and reporting tools exist and are updated regularly
- Develop a deep understanding of donor policies, regulations and procedures and train other country team members in these areas
- Ensure an information management and filing system exists and is maintained by Grants Managers; this ensures all donor contractual documents, reports, key correspondence etc. are appropriately filed in up-to-date soft and hard libraries available as meaningful in IRC Kenya offices
- Review all funding opportunities and schedule go-no go meetings with key stakeholders
- Coordinate the proposal development and submission process including developing the proposal calendar and work plan, scheduling key meetings, coordinating the review process, ensuring relevant and timely inputs, and reviewing the proposal for compliance with the call
- With Grants Coordinator, serve as interlocuter with Regional Awards Management Unit (AMU) and International Philanthropy and Partnerships (IPP) units and mobilize regional and HQ resources in support of Country Program priorities, particularly for proposal development support and training.
- Lead grant portfolio reviews and ensure SMT is informed of spending trends and any other awards management issues that could impact future funding.
- Ensure effective and professional communication with donors on any award or implementation issues.
- Develop and maintain a Kenya-focused Business Development Strategy and Pipeline for tracking business development and fundraising opportunities based on the established SAP strategy and other identified gaps. Identify new donors for engagement and fundraising opportunities.
- Ensure proposal development systems are in place for management, programs, finance and operations departments to produce timely and quality submissions
- Provide quality assurance for the proposal development process and conduct final reviews of all proposals before submission. Work with the CD, Deputy Director for Programs (DDP), technical coordinators, and grants team to lead proposal development, writing, editing and coordinating and consolidating technical input
- With the mentorship of the Country Director, conduct strategic engagement with donors and other funders and represent the IRC Kenya with humanitarian donors including accompanying strategic donors on field site visits
Partnerships (25%)
IRC Kenya has committed in its SAP to spend 8% of funding through local partners by FY2024. The Grants & Partnerships unit facilitates this process bringing together the programs, finance, HR, and operations departments to ensure effective partner management. The DDGA serves as the strategic leadership and focal point within the country program for achieving the Partnerships ambition. Specific tasks under this component of the role include:
- Ensure achievement of goals related to the SAP partnerships ambition including funding and identification and onboarding of Strategic Partners
- Embody and model IRC values related to partnerships (partner as equals, partner first etc.) and lead organizational change process related to partnerships
- Understand IRC partnerships processes outlined in the Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results (PEERS) system and mentor other country program members on the approach
- Mobilize resources from IRC’s HQ Partnership Unit in support of country program needs, including training
- Provide troubleshooting support to partnerships team to address any partnership management challenges
- Regularly report to SMT on progress towards partnership goals and work with other DDs to clear any inter-departmental obstacles
- Manage and mentor the Grants Coordinator and partnerships team to complete the following tasks:
- Identify potential partners and maintain a tracker of partner interactions
- Ensure timely onboarding of new partners following the process outlined in PEERS including conducting due diligence and vetting, coordinating organizational capacity assessments, drafting partnership agreements and facilitating internal review processes
- Management of existing partners in alignment with all sub-awards, ensuring timely submission of narrative and financial reporting
- Oversee drafting and implementation of capacity sharing plans working with other departments to provide requested trainings for partners
- Ensure an information management and filing system exists and is maintained
- Ensure regular meetings of Partnership Working Group (PWG)
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (25%)
The DDGA oversees the MEAL unit which includes responsibility monitoring and evaluation, learning and client accountability roles. Under this unit sit responsibility for IRC Kenya’s ambitions related to client centeredness and data utilization for program quality. The DDGA will provide strategic leadership for the unit including the following tasks:
- Lead efforts related to the Client Accountability SAP ambition and Client-Centered IMPACT standard. Create systems and processes to ensure feedback from clients is effectively integrated into program design and delivery.
- Coordinate closely with the DDP to manage the transition of Client Accountability responsibility from the Protection Unit to MEAL
- Ensure MEAL data is reviewed and used by program leadership for better decision making and for program adaptations as needed
- Advocate for MEAL resources during budget development processes
- Manage and mentor the MEAL Coordinator to complete the following tasks:
- Lead the M&E team and work with them to revise the way IRC Kenya measures quality programming and responds to stakeholders
- Oversee MEAL staff at all field sites to ensure quality MEAL data is collected
- Regularly review MEAL systems and processes to ensure they are effective and efficient
- Conduct regular data quality audits (DQAs) and joint monitoring visits
- Maintain program assessment tracker and regularly consult with DDP to align planned assessments with program needs
- Lead the design, implementation, and analysis of all assessments and surveys including the bi-annual Client Satisfaction survey
- Compile and review Annual Statistics
- Lead on uptake of Program Indicator Dashboard (PID) and other MEAL-related technology
Country Program Management (10%)
- Serve as SMT member and contribute to resolution of management challenges identified during SMT meetings
- Actively participate in and contribute to strategy discussions, including SAP revision processes
- Stay updated on new IRC priorities, policies, or process updates and ensure Grants & Partnerships and MEAL units are informed of any changes
Requirements
- Master’s degree or equivalent experience in international development or related subject
- At least 8 years of experience working in grants management and business development, ideally in a humanitarian and development context
- At least 3 years of experience leading M&E functions within a humanitarian organization
- Sound knowledge of donor regulations (in particular ECHO, US Government donor, UN agencies, FCDO).
- Fluency in English in addition to superior writing/editing and budget skills
- Good communicator with strong organizational, time management and analytical leadership skills
- Excellent inter-personal, cultural and diplomatic skills
- Working in a Non-governmental organization will be an added advantage.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.
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