International Rescue Committee
Location
Jordan | India
Job description
Requisition ID: req49300
Job Title: Country Director, Occupied Palestinian Territory
Sector: Emergency Response
Employment Category: Fixed Term
Employment Type: Full-Time
Open to Expatriates: Yes
Location: Palestine
Work Arrangement: In-person
Job Description
The IRC launched an emergency response in Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt) in 2023, responding to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. Prior to October 7th, in June 2023, we conducted a scoping mission to the oPt in West Bank, and subsequently developed a strategic plan to initiate programming in West Bank. Since then, and in the context of catastrophic fighting and renewed violence, the IRC has initiated an emergency response in Gaza and developed a response plan with partners which includes Gaza and West Bank. Implementing a diverse, integrated program of health, protection, cash and scaling up in WASH and nutrition s, these programs prioritize local partnerships with both public institutions and civil society, and span emergency, humanitarian, recovery, and development modalities, while serving vulnerable Palestinians in oPt.
Job Overview
The IRC Country Director sets the vision and strategic direction for operations in oPt. The Country Director will support the set-up of a fully-fledged country program as it evolves from an emergency program to a full country program considering humanitarian, reconstruction, stabilization, and peacebuilding support in oPt. Strategies will be in alignment with relevant civil society, and in alignment with the United Nations coordination structures and IRC s Strategy 100, our organization s strategic plan to guide our work as we approach the 100th anniversary of IRC s founding in 1933.
The Country Director is responsible for developing staff structure to fit for purpose and the overall leadership and supervisory management of IRC s staff as well as all programming and operations, including program quality and accountability, stewardship of resources, staff safety and security, performance management, and external representation. The Country Director is IRC s principal representative on behalf of the oPt country program to government officials, non-governmental actors, oPt civil society, donors, international organizations, and the media.
Success in this position requires an individual with exemplary, demonstrated leadership abilities who deploys strong communications and interpersonal skills effectively, both internally and externally. The successful candidate will enjoy contextual analytical skills with an ability to translate the impact of geopolitical events to our program and operational strategies. They will build a network of partnerships and diversify program resources. They will be directly responsible for the overall coordination and strategic direction of the country program; providing oversight and coaching for directly supervised senior managers; leading country program teams to identify, design and deliver responsive, high-quality programs; ensuring efficient management of public grants and private funds for results, compliance, and focused, timely reporting; and oversight of financial management and compliance systems.
Locations: Amman, Jordan; or Ramallah, West Bank
Major Responsibilities:
Leadership and Representation
Develop a vision and carry out strategies that result in contextualized high-quality programs that meet the identified needs of clients.
Lead the country program by maintaining open and professional relations with colleagues, promoting a strong team spirit and providing guidance, oversight and resources to enable staff to perform successfully.
Initiate and sustain strong, mutually beneficial, and authentic partnerships with oPt organizations.
Ensure that the IRC remains a partner of choice for major international (institutional and non-institutional) donors.
Seek out and pursue opportunities to raise the profile of the work of the IRC and its partners, as well as the lives and the needs of the people IRC seeks to serve.
Play a leadership role in efforts to improve humanitarian response coordination in oPt.
Staff Management, Learning and Development
Supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, and providing regular and timely performance feedback.
As part of a succession plan, identify, train, and develop the capability and capacity of staff to successfully transition roles and responsibilities, by end of the assignment.
Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices.
Stewardship and Operational Management
Drive operational excellence to achieve optimal efficiency and cost-effectiveness in all functions and operations of the country program.
Oversee the development, deployment and utilization of financial and operational policies, procedures, and systems to deliver compliance with IRC and donor requirements.
Ensure responsiveness and appropriate levels of in-person and remote support to all offices, especially in the areas of HR, finance, and supply chain.
Provide timely and effective oversight of the oPt country program s financial position.
Maintain effective and coordinated budget monitoring processes for grant funds and discretionary funds.
Communications
Model and encourage active practice of the principles of the IRC Way Global Standards for Professional Conduct throughout the oPt country program.
Maintain a healthy and empowering office environment that encourages open, honest, and productive communication among IRC staff and with partner organizations.
Maintain open communication with regional management staff and technical advisors, and HQ departmental staff.
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Regional Vice-President - MENA
Position directly Supervises: A senior management team responsible for programs, operations, finance, HR, and security.
Key Internal Contacts:
Country Program: All staff
Region: Middle East and North Africa Regional Team
HQ: Crisis Response and Recovery Department (CRRD), Ethics & Compliance, Operations and Strategy, Finance, Global Philanthropy & Partnerships, Technical Excellence and General Counsel
EHAU: SMT
Key External Contacts:
Partner organizations
Host country government officials.
Public and private donor agencies
International and national NGOs
UN agencies
Foreign governments.
Job Requirements:
Education and Work Experience:
A university degree in a relevant field and/or 12 years of progressively responsible international work experience,
Job tags
Salary
