International Rescue Committee (IRC): Head of Office-Moldova



Job Title: Head of Office, Moldova
Position: International
Location: Chisinau, Moldova
Grade: 5A
Employee Category: Full Time
Duration: 12 months with possibility of extension
Position Reports to: RAI Europe Regional Director

Job Description:
The IRC Head of Office for Moldova is responsible for overall leadership and supervisory management of IRC office and operations in the country, including stewardship of resources, staff safety and security, program quality and accountability, and performance management. The Head of Office in Moldova is IRC’s principal representative to the government, donors, international organizations, and other NGOs. The Head of Office is expected to respond effectively to a constantly changing environment for refugees and host populations in Moldova with programs via direct implementation and with national partner organizations. The Head of Office will develop a clear vision for the country program, bringing the staff team together to deliver high-quality programs and advocacy.
Success in this position requires an individual with demonstrated team leadership abilities; representational (including media relations), communications and risk management skills; and a facility for developing networks to build partnerships and diversify program resources. The candidate will be directly responsible for the overall coordination and strategic direction of the country program; providing supervision 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 high-quality, timely reporting; and oversight of financial management systems.

Based in Chisinau, the Head of Office oversees all IRC operations in Moldova. The Head of Office directly supervises six positions. This position requires extensive in country and occasional regional travel.

Major Responsibilities:

Leadership and Representation

  • 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.
  • Develop and carry out strategies that result in strong representation with Moldovan government authorities; donors; NGOs; and other networks.
  • Ensure that the IRC remains a partner of choice for major international donors.
  • Develop and maintain a high level of understanding of donor priorities and planned funding.
  • Initiate and sustain strong, mutually beneficial, and authentic partnerships with local organizations.
  • Seek out and pursue opportunities to raise the profile of the work of the IRC and its partners in Moldova, as well as the lives and the needs of the people the IRC seeks to serve.
  • Take active part in all relevant humanitarian response coordination fora in Moldova.
  • Lead country program collaboration with colleagues in other programs across Europe (Greece, Italy, Serbia, UK, and Germany) to deliver regional programming and advocacy.
  • Maintain an excellent contextual and geopolitical understanding, allowing for the early identification of new developments and trends
  • Strategic Direction, Program Quality and Growth:
  • Develop IRC’s Moldova strategy, setting out a vision for the country program, to deliver the highest quality programming possible and secure the resources necessary for realization.
  • Align programming to the IRC’s global mission, strategy, and technical standards.
  • Ensure program quality through consistent use throughout the country program of: rigorous assessment, design, and proposal development and review processes; comprehensive monitoring & evaluation, accountability and learning systems; staff development investments; and partner organization capacity strengthening.
  • Remain current on national and regional issues impacting the country program and partners, and develop responsive strategies to ensure the IRC mission can be carried out appropriately in rapidly changing contexts.
  • Ensure country program alignment with and involvement in meeting regional objectives.
  • Identify opportunities for appropriate expansion and growth of programs, supported by the acquisition and investment of human resources.
  • Ensure timely submission of competitive, responsive and high-quality proposals, and support colleagues in negotiations with donors.

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 comply with IRC and donor requirements.
  • Provide timely and effective oversight of the Moldova country program’s financial position.
  • Maintain effective and coordinated budget monitoring processes for grant funds and discretionary funds.

Advocacy

  • Lead the development of an advocacy strategy.
  • Identify and pursue opportunities to advance IRC’s advocacy objectives.
  • Staff Performance Management and Development
  • Supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and leading documented semi-annual performance reviews.
  • Provide constructive feedback and counsel on appropriate career paths and professional development for IRC staff.
  • Oversee the management, coaching and development of staff to build a cadre of skilled, committed and motivated personnel.
  • Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs.
  • Offer leadership support for successful adherence by all staff to IRC’s global and country-level HR operating policies and procedures.

Safety and Security Management

  • Take primary responsibility for overall management of safety and security for the country program.
  • Oversee management of all security issues, including appropriate response to emergency situations.
  • Create and maintain a culture of safety and security throughout the country program, including trainings and briefings that prepare all country program staff for security incident prevention and response.

Communications:

  • Model and encourage active practice of the principles of the “IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct” throughout the Moldova 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 communications with regional management staff and other colleagues throughout the IRC network.

Position Reports to: Regional Director, RAI Europe 

Job Requirements:

  • Postgraduate degree in Political Sciences, Social Sciences or in another relevant field
  • At least ten years of progressively responsible relevant work experience, including leadership at the Head of Office level of multi-site, multi-sectoral operations in a complex operating environment
  • Experience of building personal networks at a senior level, resulting in securing new opportunities for the organization
  • Demonstrated successful leadership and management experience with a multi-disciplinary team, including active mentoring and coaching
  • Proven experience delivering appropriate levels oversight of a portfolio consisting of a variety of complex, high-value donor-funded projects
  • Extensive representation and fundraising success, including prior experience with European donors
  • Proven ability to negotiate and work with partner organizations. Experience with organizational capacity strengthening and partnership building helpful
  • Strong budget and fiscal oversight capacities
  • Established capacity to deal with ambiguity in stressful situations
  • Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes
  • A keen understanding of political complexities in Moldova and its Eastern European neighborhood
  • Romanian, Russian and/or Ukrainian language skills would be a definite advantage.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

To apply please address the link: https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/29917?c=rescue 

Articol adaugat de: Ludmila Caraman