The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) began its operations in Burundi in 1996, amid a prolonged civil war and widespread instability. From the outset, the organization committed to emergency interventions aimed at saving lives by providing immediate assistance to refugees and internally displaced people. The sociopolitical and security crisis led to significant population movements.
Today, Burundi hosts more than 130,000 refugees, primarily from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). At the same time, over 250,000 Burundians have been forced to flee their country and are currently living in exile, mainly in Tanzania, Rwanda, and the DRC. Within Burundi itself, approximately 100,000 people have also been displaced, largely due to the impacts of climate change, such as flooding.
In response to these challenges, the IRC has progressively expanded and adapted its programs to meet the growing needs of affected populations. The organization implements integrated interventions focused on emergency humanitarian response, while also strengthening community resilience through initiatives in protection, health, economic well-being, and education. The Burundi Country Program is currently implementing 9 projects with a total yearly operating budget of roughly $10M. The IRC Burundi is looking for a Deputy Director, Programs (DDP) to coordinate its program interventions.
Purpose of the Role
The DDP leads, oversees, and ensures compliance for IRC Burundi's program portfolio while aligning with organizational and donor guidelines. S/he coordinates internally and externally to develop quality proposals and deliver timely, effective programs. The DDP collaborates across departments and with partners, reports to the Country Director, and is part of the senior leadership team. We seek a dynamic leader with strong cross-departmental collaboration skills, able to drive strategic success and support an inclusive, motivated team—especially empowering female leaders.
Key Responsibilities
1. Program Implementation
· Oversee and ensure programs are implemented to high quality standards and on time, including supporting Program Coordinators and Technical coordinators use structured and realistic project management tools in coordination with Operations teams, including workplans, procurement plans, and spending plans.
· Closely monitor budgets, spending, and program progress to ensure grants are run within budget and closed on time, assuring consistent Project Cycle Management (PCM) routines and taking well-structured and timely corrective action as needed.
· Assure clear accountability, roles and responsibilities, and highly effective communication and coordination channels across teams within the Programs Department
· Guide the implementation of the IRC Burundi’s Partnership Strategy and sectoral partnership plans to assure the IRC is delivering on localization commitments while also maintaining high quality and efficient services for clients.
· Provide the CD with accurate and up to date advice on developments and opportunities in programming and project implementation together with any necessary recommendations for action.
· Support the MEAL Coordinator in delivering on the country office MEAL strategy, and assuring use of information collected through MEAL systems and client feedback mechanisms inform all stages of the project cycle.
· Ensure the provision of appropriate technical assistance from IRC’s Technical Units, external consultants or partner agencies as necessary.
2. Strategic Planning & Implementation
· Lead the development, review and implementation of the Country Strategy Action Plan (SAP) and SAP- IP focusing on driving ownership of the strategy by all program departments, delivering against strategic commitments, and implementing the IMPACT quality standards
· Ensure programming is aligned with the IRC Burundi SAP priorities and IRC Outcomes and Evidence Framework (OEF), including program planning, project design, and communications with staff.
· In coordination with the CD and other colleagues, annually update country program, and sector strategies while remaining relevant to evolving contexts and operational effectiveness.
· Lead the development and roll out of strategic initiatives such as expanding the IRC’s partnership model to drive localization agenda, research and innovation, and assure integration of cross-cutting issues of gender, partnership climate change and disaster risk reduction in sectoral programming.
3. Grants, Partnership and Business Development
· Provide overall guidance and leadership to the IRC Burundi Grants and Program Development teams, assuring sound business development strategy, process and systems are in place and adequate financing is secured to deliver the targeted outcomes for clients.
· Oversee strong program design and proposal strategy for each new funding opportunity, including need and evidence-based program design, strong technical and operational engagement in design processes, and sound budgeting and competitiveness.
· Ensure program, grants and finance teams produce high quality financial and narrative donor reports, including assuring program and MEAL teams provide timely and quality contributions addressing all reporting requirements.
· Grow the impact of IRC programming by assuring excellent and high-quality program delivery, maintaining and strengthening the trust of key donors, partners, collaborators and proactively positioning the IRC for program development opportunities.
· Spearheads the integration of program design and implementation with robust stakeholder analysis, fostering strategic, long-term partnerships with local civil society, government, and private sector actors to drive locally led decision-making and service delivery.
· Lead the implementation of IRC’s PEERS framework, ensuring cross-departmental collaboration, effective partnership risk management, and responsive partner feedback systems, while building internal capacity through structured training, staffing, and performance management aligned with partnership principles.
· Lead engagement with consortium partners including strategic direction and coordinating program design or delivery.
4. Human Resources and Staff Development
· Staffing: In coordination with the People & Culture management team, ensure that the IRC Burundi Program team is composed of quality staff, living the values of the organization. He/she participates in the recruitment, development and retention of qualified individuals in all necessary positions of the Program to support effective, efficient and high-quality programs/projects.
· Team building: he/she ensures that the Program team is consistent and that colleagues work in good collaboration with each other, with an excellent understanding of mutual expectations; and that support for field teams is prioritized. He/she establishes and evaluates performance standards / objectives and the behaviors of team members.
· Leads and support the program teams through qualitative management practices, fostering collaboration, accountability, and staff well-being, performance monitoring systems, and adaptive leadership tailored to remote work dynamics.
· Individual Development and Performance Management: He/she manages and develops the performance of Program teams across the country to ensure the quality of the Program. This includes monitoring and evaluation of individual performance and professional development plans in accordance with the organization's standards.
5. Liaison/Representation and Coordination
· Command a sound understanding of our programs in order to professionally represent the IRC and its interests externally.
· Assist CD in establishing, developing and sustaining strong relationships with donors / Govt counterparts to ensure sustainable programs in the portfolio sectors.
· Encourage and support improved program cohesion through coordination initiatives and information sharing with and between all key country program staff.
· Actively contribute to various advocacy initiatives and platforms by bringing the perspective and evidence from IRC programs to foster evidence-based advocacy dialogue towards strengthening protection of rights of beneficiaries
· Serve actively in Senior Management Team and deputize for the CD as necessary.
· Ensure proactive engagement in external coordination and advocacy forums.
Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree (candidates with master’s degree will be preferred): International Development, International Relations, relevant social sciences or equivalent experience in relevant fields.
• Over 10 years of experience (including 5 years at programmatic leadership level), preferably in a refugee context or complex humanitarian and development environment.
· Excellent leadership, people management, interpersonal and negotiation skills and demonstrated ability to develop gender balanced, harmonious and impactful teams.
· Ability to think strategically, prioritize and meet deadlines in a challenging environment; flexible to adapt to changing needs; must work effectively and efficiently with a culturally diverse team.
· Excellent budget management skills and experience of diverse range of donor contract management, especially experience in managing large scale programs with high value budgets
· Experience of leading program through both direct operational approach as well as in partnerships with local NGOs.
· Strong diplomacy skills: ability to establish and maintain good collaboration with partners, donors and other peers in a sensitive environment. Excellent command over English and French language highly preferred.
· Committed towards IRC’s core values Integrity, Equality, Accountability and Service
· Strong proficiency in English and French, spoken and written.
Working Environment:
Security & Housing situation: Deputy Director, Programs will be based in Bujumbura with frequent travel throughout field where IRC is implementing its projects. The security situation in Burundi is stable even if sometimes there are some minor alerts related to the ongoing conflict in DRC. This is an accompanied position. He/she will reside in individual housing.
Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.
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