Myanmar: Economic Recovery and Development Coordinator

Requisition ID: req964

Job Title: Economic Recovery and Development Coordinator

Sector: Economic Recovery & Livelihood

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: Myanmar-Yangon

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world's leading agencies working in post-conflict and development contexts, supporting communities in over 40 fragile, failed and developing states. In this capacity, we work to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted, struggling to endure and wishing to advance on a path of development. The IRC began working in Myanmar in May 2008 with emergency response and early recovery interventions for communities affected by Cyclone Nargis. Since then, the IRC has broadened its portfolio with health, protection, livelihoods, and social development programs aiming to employ a holistic approach to meeting the needs of crisis affected and vulnerable communities to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. In conjunction with longer-term programs working in system strengthening, participatory community-driven development, and local stakeholder capacity development, the IRC works in emergency preparedness and response, supporting its staff and its partners to be able to become more resilient and responsive to shocks and respond quickly when they occur. IRC Myanmar operates an annual portfolio of approximately $15 million, through the implementation of over 18 grants country-wide funded by 10 different international donor agencies. In addition, IRC prioritizes partnership with local civil society organizations, and manages on average about 20 sub grantees.

SCOPE OF WORK

The IRC seeks an Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) Coordinator to lead and coordinate its ongoing ERD programming, and provide technical oversight in the development and delivery of opportunities to expand that work. The ERD Coordinator plays a key strategic and technical leadership role in the overall development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the IRC's livelihoods programs which include e.g. emergency cash transfers, food security and livelihoods recovery, and development-focused interventions across diverse and complex settings including camps, host communities, remote rural communities, and areas of return/resettlement. The ERD Coordinator will liaise with other technical coordinators within IRC to identify and develop responsive integration strategies across sectors (e.g. women's protection and empowerment); other NGOs, government, private sector, and community partners, as well as relevant working groups within interagency coordination structure; and with IRC's headquarter-based ERD Technical Unit to ensure coordination and complementarity of programming, as well as appropriate technical rigor in project design and implementation.

The ERD Coordinator is responsible for overall management of the IRC ERD livelihoods portfolio, providing any and all support necessary to ensure successful implementation of ERD livelihoods assistance programming and proposal development/project design for prospective projects, including contextually appropriate and feasible enterprise development and employment initiatives, cash/voucher programming, financial inclusion, micro-franchising, agro-pastoralism, market-relevant skills building/certification programs, and other related activities. The successful candidate will demonstrate her/his capacity to be a key decision-maker, adept manager, and technical expert in ERD, and effectively coordinate diverse stakeholder groups and implementing partners to ensure operational and programmatic efficiency and success.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Quality and Program Development

• Provide direction and technical oversight of and monitor staff in their implementation of project workplans and quality of technical activities, including program budget oversight
• Ensure appropriate methodologies and technical approaches are developed for all program activities - working with IRC's ERD Technical Advisors to ensure global best practices are applied to programming
• Ensure alignment of livelihoods programming with IRC global strategy plan and relevant theories of change
• Identify opportunities for growth of livelihoods programming portfolio including existing gaps/beneficiary needs and areas for innovation and expansion, including through market assessments and private sector partnership development
• Contribute to development of country office's sector-relevant strategic direction and plans including ongoing development of livelihoods programming staffing and management structures
• Along with program staff and the Technical Unit/Advisors, support the development of Standard Operating Procedures and Guidance Notes for program activities - focused on cash transfer programming, food security programming, value chain development and SME and employment promotion

Project Planning & Monitoring

• Support proposal development process for livelihoods-related programming as needed
• Ensure regular monitoring and modification of ongoing programming as required
• Prepare relevant and quality IRC and donor reports as per agreed-upon schedules (monthly, quarterly and/or annually) on grant activities, indicators and achievements
• Work closely and coordinate with IRC supply chain, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and compliant program activities and expenditures; including active participation in procurement, supply chain, grant and other meetings and ensuring timely and consistent spending tracking and budget management. Has budget authority to pre-approved limits and responsibility for budget development and compliance under the direction of the Deputy Director of Programs
• Together with the Grants team and the Measurement, Accountability & Learning Coordinator, develop and implement a full monitoring and evaluation framework for all livelihoods activities as well as learning strategies, and adapt them to the different program methodologies

Human Resources Management

• Provide technical direction and managerial oversight of livelihoods staff, and provide technical guidance and support to staff across other sectors (e.g., women's empowerment, protection and governance, etc.) on integrated programming inclusive of ERD activities
• Set specific goals and expectations and provide regular, positive and constructive feedback to direct reports
• Build capacity of the team under his/her supervision in basic assistance and livelihoods support methodologies, as well as project management capacity, both individually and through conducting/coordinating staff training exercises
• Help to recruit and screen livelihoods project staff as program portfolio growth requires
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions
• Ensure timely completion and submission of interim and annual employee performance reviews
• If/as required, identify staff performance issues and works with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies
• Responsible for adhering to IRC's Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures

Coordination & Representation

• Develop and maintain effective coordination and long-term relationships with external stakeholders including fellow agencies/NGOS, government departments and ministries, community-based organizations and partners, donors, and others in accurately; professionally represent IRC positions, promoting long-term strategies and resolving problems/conflicts
• Actively advance IRC's connections to economic actors/private sector at a local, regional and national level, seeking avenues for partnership, collaboration and coordination of activities to ensure sustainability of interventions and an increasingly systems strengthening approach in ERD programming
• Lead technical/program coordination with consortia partners' technical/program staff and support effective management of IRC's relationship with consortia implementing partners; support the identification of new partners as it relates to new programming
• Regularly engage with the ERD Technical Advisor and other Technical Unit Advisors and Specialists to benchmark programming to IRC standards and ensure application of best practices
• Participate in IRC and external working groups and communities of practice around livelihoods to advance livelihoods strategies, disseminate research and program successes, discuss implementation challenges, and share best practices
• Support the sharing of information and learning across livelihoods-related programs based in other country programs.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor degree in international relations, economics, social science, human rights or related field required. Master Degree in related field preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years professional experience in economic or related programming, applying technical expertise in agriculture, livelihoods, and economic recovery. Protection experience is an advantage.
• Strong managerial experience required.
• Demonstrated private sector experience, or experience supporting business and skill development
• Experience with market-based emergency responses strongly desired.
• Prior experience working in emergency settings, insecure environments, or remote-management situations preferred.
• Strong program/technical and budget management skills, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills, including experience developing funding proposals.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties.
• Must be capable of applying their skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others.
• Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.
• Fluency in English required

Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=YXN0cmlkLm1hdGhldy44NzM0MS4zODMwQGlyY2NkLmFwbGl0cmFrLmNvbQ