Senior livelihoods coordinator

Description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Scope of Work

The Senior Livelihoods Coordinator will be responsible for the strategic leadership and development of IRC Pakistan’s economic recovery and development (ERD) programs, working in close collaboration with senior program management and livelihoods project staff. S/he will play a key role in the direct technical oversight and monitoring of program activities and staff in field sites and serves as key technical liaison on economic recovery programming, including food security program issues, with relevant local authorities and in sector coordination forums. S/he will be involved with short term emergency and longer term resilience-building programs. The Senior Livelihoods Coordinator reports to the Deputy Director Program Implementation (DDPI).

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

- Work closely with senior program management staff and Livelihoods Coordinators in KP and Sindh in strategic planning and program development for livelihoods and food security programming in emergency and early recovery situations.
- Develop/update the Livelihoods strategy for IRC Pakistan in consultation with Country Director, Director of Programs and other senior program management staff as well as senior ERD technical staff in the region.
- Assist the country office in assessment of humanitarian needs in the areas of economic and livelihoods recovery in Pakistan, as needed and in coordination with other Senior Coordinators as necessary.
- Lead assessment process, including planning and reporting, to determine capacities and ERD needs of affected communities.

Program Quality

- Responsible to ensure that IRC Pakistan ERD programs meet stated objectives within the timeframe and on budget
- Ensure IRC Pakistan ERD programs demonstrate adherence to recognised best practises and international and national standards, including SPHERE.
- Ensure the development of detailed program logframes, workplans, and monitoring tools and support their implementation in coordination with SPCs, Deputy Director Programs Design and Quality, Grants Unit and Livelihoods Coordinators
- Liaise with other relevant IRC Pakistan staff on cross cutting issues in program design and implementation (e.g. Gender Advisor/Deputy Gender Advisor for gender mainstreaming, Partnership Advisor for working with local/national NGO partners or Senior Protection Coordinator for protection issues )
- Assist in the development of budgets, procurement and spending plans and conduct a monthly review of expenditures to ensure efficient budget management and donor/IRC compliance
- Conduct regular field visits to verify quality and progress of ERD project interventions and provide technical guidance and advice
- Ensure technical quality and accuracy of program reports
- Review all technical designs, feasibility reports, assessment reports, with Livelihoods Coordinators and Deputy Coordinators
- Ensure adequate and timely reporting on program activities to all donors, program partners and IRC staff

Staff Management & Leadership

- Ensure recruitment of qualified Livelihoods program staff to complete program objectives and activities of specified grants
- Provide technical oversight of Livelihoods Coordinators, through regular feedback and guidance through coaching sessions and interaction in the field.
- Provide input to the Senior Program Coordinators in the preparation of Livelihoods Coordinator’s Performance Management System objective setting and evaluations.
- Monitor program staff and activities at field sites to assess technical quality of activities; provide technical assistance, feedback and recommendations to support implementation of program activities and staff capacity development around ERD program interventions.
- Contribute to building the capacity of Livelihoods Coordinators to assess target community needs and in strengthening their resilience.

Program Development

- In collaboration with DDPDQ, Grants Unit, and relevant Livelihoods Coordinator and Senior Program Coordinators act as the technical lead on project proposals
- In collaboration with Operations and Finance, ensure the development of sound budget proposals
- Seek adequate technical input and review from the ERD technical unit
- Integrate ERD principles and practices into IRC Pakistan’s disaster risk reduction strategy
- In collaboration with M&E Coordinator, provide technical assistance and leadership for quality M&E of all ERD program activities

Coordination

- Represent the IRC to relevant clusters, agencies and ministries on ERD issues, as and when required.

Requirements

- Masters level qualification in the following topics or related subjects: Development Economics, Development Studies, Social Development and Sustainable Livelihoods, Agriculture and Rural Development.
- 5 to 7 years of experience in leading/managing economic recovery, food security or livelihood initiatives with NGOs and INGOs, including the design and implementation of cash transfer programming.
- Strong knowledge of economic recovery emergency standards (Sphere)
- Strong leadership, management, planning, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills
- Ability to live and work in stressful and insecure environment
- Able to work under pressure and good at timely decision making
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Competent in Microsoft Office and Outlook
- Knowledge and/or experience in disaster risk reduction, conflict management, climate change adaptation or other related fields
- Excellent professional approach and strong team building skills
- Excellent understanding of ERD issues across a breadth of emergency and recovery contexts
- Strong coordination and confident representation skills

Specific Security Situation/Housing

The security situation in Pakistan remains fluid and unpredictable. Candidates may expect periods of insecurity, periodic suspensions of, or restrictions in, program operation and/or field travel, and high levels of volatility in the operating environment. The position is based out of Islamabad, which currently faces tension but lower levels of insecurity. Portions of the city and its environs remain restricted in terms of access for international staff. This is an unaccompanied post. Candidates can expect to live in shared housing, which is generally of high standard, according to the IRC Pakistan housing policy.