Senior Area Manager at the International Rescue Committee (IRC)

JOB TITLE: Senior Area Manager

JOB LOCATION: Katsina

JOB DETAILS:
Operational functions:

• Ensure the IRC national staff personnel policy, IRC mandatory reporting policies, state and Local Government regulations are respected and practiced appropriately.
• Working with the respective HR lead for the location, ensure that all local staff policies, contracts, and disciplinary documents conform to local laws.
• Along with the Operations Technical leads, create an enabling environment for Management in Partnership for operations functions (Supply Chain, HR, Finance, Administration, Information Technology, HASST).
• In collaboration with Operations technical leads, conduct PME exercises and assist the office in developing a framework for staff career development and training and coaching.
• Provide counseling and support in resolution of employee relations problems. Report and escalate any misconduct that contravenes IRCWAY policy.
• In collaboration with technical leads, maintain system and IRC best practices for staff evaluation, and standard procedures for identifying capacity and performance gaps in the field locations.
• Working with respective SC lead per location with support from operations technical leads, ensure all IRC assets and warehouse management; control and monitoring tools are in place and properly implemented, identify and flag areas which require escalation to FC with possible mitigating measures.
• Working with Operations technical leads and respective Operations leads to ensure that field operations are adequately staffed, equipped, and supported to effectively deliver field programing.
• Work closely with the finance lead for the location to ensure timely payments.
• Work with and escalate to the FC any operational needs, gaps, and challenges for immediate resolution.
• Together with the finance responsible person, monitor budget expenditure against workplan and expected outcomes.
• Together with HASS officer/HASST lead for the respective location, monitor security, and update the HASS coordinator on any arising issues around safety and security.

Programmatic Functions:

• Provide coordination support and oversight on program implementation and assist staff to develop sector specific Monitoring and Evaluation plans.
• Be proactive in facilitating regular surveys on the provided services; collected data are analyzed, documented, and accessed by relevant staff.
• Oversee all programs implementation and ensure the service provision or program implementation is going well in close consultation with the program managers and integrated manager/s and other relevant program technical lead.
• Mobilize and ensure the beneficiary communities are involved in the design, implementation, monitoring, review, and evaluation of all IRC programs.
• Work closely with all programs staff and ensure planned trainings, workshops and awareness raising events are organized in a timely, systematic, and coordinated manner.
•  Ensure the inclusion of vulnerable children, women and elderly including disabled and people living with HIV/AIDS to have access to all IRC program interventions and other service deliveries.
• Contribute to IRC’s institutional learning, new ways of working and planning. Advice management to assess, design, and implement different ways and means of improving the overall IRC implementation areas.
• Communicate and escalate program progress, constraints, needs identified and any other matters pertaining to management the need may be.
• Actively participate in project design, monitoring, and evaluation for possible intervention.
• Actively participate in business development process and contribute actively to consideration of programming and intervention needs for the field office.

Coordination, Collaboration and Representation Functions:

• Draft monthly management field reports and submit them to the FC for review and action as necessary.
• Contribute towards the solid integration of operations services, program implantation in context of the field location.
• Strengthen inter-departmental collaboration through facilitation of sector specific meetings and regular staff meetings in the respective field office.
• Actively pursue good coordination and working relationships with all key stakeholders, Local Government Administration, Host community, Humanitarian Coordination, NIF and other INGOs.
• Represent IRC in the field office in the forums when the CD or designate is unable to attend.
• Attend relevant meetings with partners and stakeholders and solicit possible collaboration and advice and update the FC in an organized manner.
• Organize and cofacilitate monthly management meetings and responsible for documentation of the meeting minutes.
• Represent IRC in all nontechnical meetings and share relevant information that may impact program implementation to both the TC and Program Manager in a timely manner.
• Establish relationships with the community leaders as well as other organization.
• Facilitate access to the project sites.
• On weekly basis meet with the individual project teams to for updates on implementation, progress, challenges, and support needed.
• He/she coordinates and collaborates with project team and technical coordinators to ensure that the projects are to be implemented as per agreed conditions, budget, and timeframe; oversees risk control and is responsible for ensuring the internal reports reach the relevant teams.
• Work closely with programs and operation heads to ensure sustainability of projects and proper handover mechanisms are in place and implemented accordingly.

Projects and Grants Management Functions:

• Budget Holder rights for projects being implemented in respective locations. Working closely with respective finance leads per location and Country office budgeting team, ensure effective budget management and tracking including but not limited to mini BvA tracking, activity plan tracking, procurement plans tracking, IF tracking (reviews and approvals) etc.
• Working with the Senior projects Coordinator, ensure all location specific projects per location have appropriate project management tools and are adequately implemented.
• Working with the senior Projects Coordinator and in coordination with the respective program managers Co-facilitate project cycle meetings – POM, PIM, PLM, PCM opening, quarterly, mid-term and ensure action points of the meetings are properly implemented and flag issues which needs the field coordinator’s attention.
• Work with program TCs and PMs to support with project design meetings, project reports, project planning meetings and proposal developments as the case may be and need arises.
• Responsible for analyzing the situation pertaining to field office and sector of work (in terms of the geopolitical, humanitarian, socio-economic, cultural, legal and protection landscape) by identifying the various entities in operation and programs in their geographical locations.
• Responsible to put forward and contribute an operational strategy consistent with people’s needs and IRC Country Action Strategy in collaboration with relevant leadership team members.
• Ensuring projects are implemented as per workplan and targets and within allocated budget.
• Work in close collaboration with both the technical coordinator as well as the project team in geographical location of assignment.
• Conduct meetings with the project manager for update on the project implementation progress and processes.
• Together with the PM and respective location Finance lead, Procurement, track all required items for successful project /program implementation.
• Together with the PM and respective location Finance lead follow up and understand the overall key project information and performance, to include budget, procurement, progress as well as the challenges.

Security, Health, and Safety Functions:

• Conduct regular discussions with key stakeholders to identify and determine approaches to address staff’s stress levels and sense of security.
• Works closely with the Emergency Coordinator and Emergency Response Unit to monitor key indicators and local changes/ developments, and to ensure that IRC responds in a timely and appropriate way.
• In collaboration with the HASST lead, ensure the key HASST protocols as per IRC safety and security standard procedures such as field security management plan (FSMP) and safety risk assessment (SRA), security briefings, monthly HASST meetings etc. for the respective field location are in place, all staff trained and procedures for adherence installed for all staff to follow and comply with.
• In collaboration with the safety and security lead for the respective location, stay up to date and abreast of the most current and contextually relevant safety and security information that is paramount to the health, safety and security of staff, IRC’s field interventions.
• Advocate for adequate safety and security and human capital to effectively deliver IRC interventions in the respective field offices.

Key working relationships:

• The role reports: Field Coordinator
• Supervises: Respective location operations, finance and programs leads in MiP with CP’s Technical leads. Key contacts: Senior Projects Coordinator, Projects Coordinator, DDO, HCT etc.

Qualifications
Education:

• Undergraduate Degree or master’s degree in management and public administration, Economics, Sociology, and social Administration, Regional and Local Development Studies, International Leadership.

Work Experience:

• 3+ Year in a similar role or equivalent.

Preferred skills:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time.
• Strong analytic problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.

HOW TO APPLY
To apply for the ongoing International Rescue Committee (IRC) job opening, visit the  APPLICATION PORTAL to submit your application!