Deputy Regional Director of Operations, Asia and Caucasus / DRC Job Vacancy: International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Closing date: 22 Feb 2010

Location: Kenya

Position Summary

The DRDO supports the Regional Directors in ensuring quality program delivery by improving the integration, management and planning of country operations.

The DRDO will provide remote support through review of documentation and monthly report packages and regular in country support to:

• Work with country office teams to develop, promote &/or maintain integrated and co-operative support operations and assist operations teams in developing/improving linkages between operations and programs.
• In consultation with Regional Directors, DVP for Field Operations and country staff develop:
  

1. standard reporting package focusing on operations planning and management;
2. a core set of metrics to measure and assess operational efficiency and success.

• Assist country offices to develop action plans to improve operations support and monitor progress to objectives.
• Review organization structures and staffing levels to ensure effective and cost-efficient support to programs. Assist county management in preparing for and implementing changes in structure or staff levels in line with anticipated funding or programmatic changes
• Review grant opening, mid-term and closing meeting notes and provide input to improve operations input to and support of program implementation
• Act as “first line” advisory resource for senior country operations staff.
• Assist in the roll-out of policy changes, providing guidance or training as needed.
• Provision of training to teams during visits, as well as facilitate more structured sessions on a regional level.

Specific Activities

Administration & Human Resource Management (in coordination with HR Partners)

1. Verify that country office administration and staff policies are documented, disseminated and required monitoring processes are effective.
2. Ensure that support units are appropriately structured and staffed at the optimum levels and capacity; conduct HR reviews of staff and structure in comparison to demands.
3. Review job descriptions for senior level operations staff to ensure accuracy and appropriateness.
4. Work with country offices to implement effective national staff training programs and nationalization strategies to maximize use of national capacity and resources.
5. Work with country offices, regional unit and technical units to promote regional training for national staff and identify creative training options.
6. Assess staff orientation and evaluation processes and, if required, assist country offices to develop more effective materials and processes.
7. Provide guidance to country offices on staff retention and development
8. Within Operations, identify staff knowledge areas that require strengthening and work with the requisite supervisors, staff, and HQ departments to provide the appropriate training or guidance.
9. Tracking of country level action plans for the Prevention of Abuse and Exploitation, HIV/AIDs, Pandemic Flu and/or Security Management Plans.

Logistics (in coordination with the IPD Field Operations Technical Advisor and GPU)

1. Verify that country office logistics policies are appropriate, documented, disseminated and required monitoring processes are effective.
2. Assist logistics staff in working effectively with other units to improve planning and resource utilization
3. Undertake periodic system reviews of country office procurement, vehicle & fuel, asset, warehouse/inventory and communication systems to identify areas for improvement and compliance with IRC policy.
4. Review key/routine reports, (PR/PO tracking, fuel consumption, Procurement plans) and provide feedback and recommendations.
5. As required assist in implementation and verification of new systems or reporting.

Finance (in coordination with the Regional Controller)

1. Verify that country office finance procedures are documented, disseminated and understood by non-finance staff/users and monitoring processes are effective.
2. Assist finance staff in understanding program needs/concerns to ensure effective working relationships.
3. Provide input to Regional Director and Country Director on potential areas of concern related to: program spending; effectiveness of in-country reporting and planning systems; and Field/Program Coordinators oversight of expenditures and adherence to financial requirements.
4. Review operating budget and planning strategy as part of the annual fiscal year process prior to HQ submission and periodically throughout the fiscal year;
5. As requested by the Regional Director, provide input to audit issues and corrective action plans.

Program (in coordination with the DRDP)

1. Provide support and training to program staff to understand operations requirements and needs to ensure effective working relationships and timely delivery of services
2. Work with program staff to ensure procurement planning, identification of operational support needs and transition planning.
3. Participate in the development and/or review of new proposals, operating plans and strategic plans.
4. Assist in oversight of multi-county grants and regional resource usage and expenditures.

Reporting & Supervision

• This position reports to the Regional Director, Asia and Caucasus for all administrative purposes. It is supervised by the RD, DRC, for all matters pertaining to DRC.
• The DRD Operations maintains key relationships with: the DVP Field Operations, Regional Controller, and Field Operations Technical Advisor.
• This position also maintains relationships with counterparts in the Human Resources, Information Technology, Finance, Contracts, BDU, GPU and IRC-UK departments;
• The DRDO directly supervises the A+C Regional Safety and Security Advisor

Location & Travel

• The DRDO will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.
• Estimated travel time 40%

Requirements

1. 5-7 years in an operational management role, with several of these being in an international NGO.
2. Experience working in areas of constricted humanitarian space, including a demonstrated appreciation for the complexities entailed in working in under high degrees of insecurity.
3. Experience working with a complex donor portfolio and/or large scale project management roles
4. Strong interpersonal and training skills, ability to work in multi-cultural environments, with demonstrated cultural sensitivity requisite for working in this portfolio of countries.
5. Diverse background in operations, with strong understanding of finance, administration logistics, human resources, and business processes.
6. University degree required; MBA or comparable advanced graduate degree preferred.
7. Interest in and ability to think and plan at the ‘big picture’ level.
8. French language skills a strong advantage

How to apply

www.ircjobs.org

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