The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 30 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in six regions in Ethiopia, implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

JOB OVERVIEW

The Senior Program Quality Coordinator (SPQC) ensures that IRC technical programs deliver maximum impact for our clients by ensuring strong program integration and solid project management. S/he supports the Program Director and works in close collaboration with technical sector leads and Grants and Partnerships Unit, to ensure on time, high quality program and service delivery.

In addition, the SPQC will seek opportunities to integrate programs and that they are designed and implemented in accordance with IRC Ethiopia Strategic Action Plan (SAP), the Outcome Evidence Framework (OEF) and related Theory of Changes (ToC) and National and International Health/Nutrition protocols, guidelines and best practices.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Grant Implementation Oversite:

• Troubleshoot reasons for under/over-spending of program grants (Watchlist monitoring).
• Ensure that acceleration plans, procurement and spending plans are put in place and monitored and acted on.
• Utilize available tools (Budget versus Actuals, Indicator Tracking Tables, Quarterly Budget Analyses etc) to anticipate lags in program delivery and help to implementing mitigation measures.

Project Cycle Management:

• Participate in all project opening, implementation and closing meetings, and ensure that action points are acted on.
• Ensure that lessons learned through out project cycle are incorporated into project modifications and new proposals.

Program Quality and Integration:

• Ensure that existing multi-sectoral programs are truly integrated and leverage strengths of each sector.
• Review and revise integrated program proposals and reports and ensure that synergies of program integration are highlighted.
• Seek opportunities and innovative ways to integrate complementary programs to develop new integrated program concepts and proposals that deliver multiple facets of our portfolio to our clients.

People Management and Capacity Strengthening:

• Maintain open and professional relationships with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Support technical program leads in recruitment and onboarding.
• Identify program support and capacity strengthening needs, progress and risks to the PD.
• Organize and deliver relevant project management training for key program staff based on need.

Qualifications

Required:

• Degree in Development Studies, International Relations, Development Economics, Project Management or a similar field (Master’s degree preferred)
• A minimum of 4 years’ work experience, of which at least 3 in project management/coordination positions.
• Experience in delivering project management and project management tools training.
• Adaptable to working with remote, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams.

Desired:

• Experience in project management strategy development and working across sectors or disciplines in humanitarian/development setting.
• Expertise in working with donors, project design, proposal development, and monitoring and evaluation, with the ability to turn concepts and strategy into measurable action.
• Experience in technical tools and materials development and monitoring and evaluation.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Strong interpersonal verbal and written communication skills and ability to facilitate collaboration.
• Outstanding capacity to quickly understand the evolving country context, portfolio, and overall programmatic needs.
• Ability to transfer technical knowledge and skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to staying informed and up to date with best practices.
• Language Skills: Fluency in spoken and written English.

Working Environment: Up to 35% travel will be required.