Deputy Director, 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 40 countries and 29 U.S.

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JOB OVERVIEW The DDP leads, oversees, and ensures the compliance of IRC’s program portfolio, while ensuring alignment with organizational and donor guidelines. The DDP ensures internal and external coordination to develop high-quality proposals and deliver effective, timely programs.

The DDP collaborates with all departments and partners, reports to the Country Director (CD), and is a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT). We are looking for a dynamic leader with strong cross-departmental collaboration skills, able to drive strategic success and support an inclusive, motivated team, in particular by empowering women to exercise leadership.

In coordination with the Country Director, the DDP establishes and maintains strong relationships with donors, as well as with DRC government entities and authorities. The DDP directly supervises the senior program coordinators/managers responsible for proposal development, program quality, and implementation.

The incumbent is expected to spend at least 40% of their time supporting programs and teams in the provinces and in the field. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Program Implementation Oversee and ensure that programs are implemented to high quality standards and within the required timelines, including by supporting Program Coordinators and Technical Coordinators in the use of structured and realistic project management tools (including work plans, procurement plans, and spending plans), in coordination with the Operations teams.

Closely monitor budgets, expenditures, and program progress to ensure that grants are implemented within budget and closed on time, ensuring consistent Project Cycle Management (PCM) routines and taking prompt, structured corrective action when needed. Ensure clear accountability, well-defined roles and responsibilities, and highly effective communication and coordination channels between teams within the Programs Department.

Provide the CD with accurate, up-to-date advice on developments and opportunities in programming and project implementation, accompanied by recommendations for action. Support the MEAL Coordinator in implementing the country office MEAL strategy, ensuring that information from MEAL systems and client feedback mechanisms, including donor reporting, informs every stage of the project cycle.

Ensure that appropriate technical assistance is provided by IRC Technical Units, external consultants, or partner agencies, as needed. 2. Strategic Planning and Implementation Lead the development, review, and implementation of the Strategy Action Plan (SAP) and the SAP-IP, fostering ownership of the strategy across all programmatic departments, ensuring delivery of strategic commitments, and applying IMPACT quality standards.

Ensure that programming is aligned with the strategic priorities of the IRC DRC SAP and with Impact at Scale (I@S) priorities (where applicable), including program planning, project design, and staff communications. In coordination with the CD and other colleagues, update the country program and sector strategies annually, as part of the SAP process, so that they remain relevant and operationally effective in the face of changing contexts.

Lead the development and rollout of strategic initiatives such as research and innovation, and ensure that cross-cutting issues (gender, climate change, and disaster risk reduction) are integrated into sector programming. 3. Grants, Partnerships, and Business Development Foster a partnership-driven, equality-based culture and working environment that reflects partnership principles and values and celebrates partnership successes (including risk sharing with partners and holding leadership accountable for a safeguarding culture in safe partnership).

Ensure that IRC’s role in the DRC focuses on how we can add the most value to government actors and systems at the central and local levels, as well as to civil society and the private sector, within the framework of the SAP and of program planning and implementation. Provide overall direction and leadership to the IRC DRC Grants and Program Development teams by ensuring that a robust business development strategy, processes, and systems are in place, and that adequate funding is secured to deliver the intended results for clients.

Oversee sound program design and proposal strategy for each new funding opportunity, including needs- and evidence-based program design, strong technical and operational engagement in design processes, and rigorous, competitive budgeting. Ensure that the Program, Grants, and Finance teams produce high-quality financial and narrative reports for donors.

Lead the implementation of the IRC DRC Partnership Strategy and sector partnership plans, advancing localization commitments while maintaining high-quality, efficient services for clients; conduct stakeholder analysis and develop long-term partnerships with local civil society, government authorities, and private sector actors to promote locally led decision-making.

Lead the implementation of IRC’s PEERS framework, ensuring cross-departmental collaboration, effective management of partnership risks, and responsive feedback systems with partners, while strengthening internal capacity through structured training, recruitment, and performance management aligned with partnership principles.

Lead engagement with consortium partners, including strategic direction and coordination of program design or implementation. Increase the impact of IRC programming by maintaining and strengthening the trust of donors, partners, and key collaborators, while proactively positioning IRC for new program development opportunities.

4. Human Resources and Staff Development Recruitment and Performance: In coordination with the People & Culture team, ensure that the IRC DRC Program team is made up of high-quality staff who embody the organization’s values. Participate in recruitment and manage individual and collective performance, including development plans, performance standards, and evaluations, in line with organizational standards.

Team Cohesion: Ensure that the Program team collaborates effectively, with clear mutual expectations and priority support for field teams. Foster collaboration, accountability, and staff well-being through quality management practices, performance monitoring systems, and leadership suited to the dynamics of remote work.

5. Liaison/Representation and Coordination Maintain a solid understanding of IRC programs in order to represent the organization and its interests externally in a professional manner, including with donors and government authorities, to ensure the sustainability of programs across the portfolio.

Encourage and support greater program cohesion through coordination initiatives and information sharing among key country program staff. Actively contribute to advocacy initiatives, platforms, and external coordination forums, providing data from IRC programs to strengthen the protection of beneficiaries’ rights Participate actively in the Senior Management Team and serve as acting CD when necessary.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS Position reports to: Country Director and technical to Deputy Regional Director (Management in Partnership) Positions under direct supervision: - Technical sector program coordinators - Senior Grants and Business Development Coordinator - Partnership Coordinator - MEAL Coordinator Indirect reporting: N/A Other internal and/or external contacts: E-SMT Members and different partners and leaders of other NGOs JOB REQUIREMENTS Education: Bachelor’s degree in International Development, International Relations, a relevant social science, or equivalent experience in related fields Experience: Experience in a refugee context or a complex humanitarian and development environment with: More than 10 years of experience, including at least 5 years at program management level Excellent budget management and experience managing a wide range of donor contracts, including large-scale programs with substantial budgets Experience leading programs through both a direct operational approach and partnerships with local NGOs Skills and Abilities: Excellent leadership, people management, interpersonal and negotiation skills, with a proven ability to build gender-balanced, harmonious, high-performing teams Strategic thinking, prioritization and ability to meet deadlines in a demanding environment Flexibility to adapt to changing needs Ability to work effectively and efficiently within a culturally diverse team Strong diplomatic skills to establish and maintain good working relationships with partners, donors and peers in a sensitive environment Excellent command of English and French, written and spoken Commitment to IRC’s core values: Integrity, Equality, Accountability and Service Working environment: Location: Goma Security: The DDP will be based in Goma and will be required to travel regularly to the provinces of South Kivu, North Kivu, Ituri, Haut-Katanga, and Tanganyika.

Goma is the capital of North Kivu and has a population of approximately one million. The city is rated Orange 4 on the MONUSCO security scale. As in any large city in the world, it is advisable to take precautions