Program Development Director, Kenya

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.

BACKGROUND: The IRC is one of the leading providers of high quality programming in conflict and post-conflict settings in Africa. In order to advance its mission of serving communities impacted by conflict and displacement, the IRC is committed to developing innovative, context-specific programs in response to strategic funding opportunities with a range of government and multilateral donors. This new business development is led by the IRC's Business Development Unit (BDU) in close collaboration with Regional and Country management structures, the IRC's Technical Units and a range of headquarter specialists based in the USA and Europe.

SCOPE OF WORK: The Program Development Director, working in close coordination with the BDU Director, Regional Units, Country Offices and senior staff in IRC's headquarter offices, will be responsible for building relationships with key donors and monitoring, managing and coordinating IRC's response to strategic funding opportunities with such government and multilateral bodies such as the World Bank, USAID, USDOL, EuropeAid, DFID, Sida and UN agencies in the IRC's Africa regions. The incumbent will be responsible for influencing donor strategies and raising awareness of IRC as a key post-conflict actor.

While the post's geographic remit is the ensemble of IRC's programs in Africa, the Program Development Director will focus attention and effort on a subset of key strategic countries. This list will be reviewed and adjusted periodically. In relation to this shortlist of priority countries, the incumbent will work closely with country and regional management to design and implement appropriate, tailored business development strategies , including deployment to the countries in question to lead responses to specific business opportunities.

Based in Nairobi, Kenya, the Program Development Director will report to the BDU Director in New York.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

General Business Development

    * Support the development and implementation of the IRC's global business development strategy;
    * Raise awareness of IRC as an effective and innovative post-conflict agency with key funding partners;
    * Represent IRC and liaise with donor agencies and partners, in Africa and at their headquarters, for intelligence gathering purposes and to influence funding policies;
    * Work with the BDU's Program Manager to maintain proposal development information;
    * Interview prospective team leader/proposal writer consultants or COPs for the relevant rosters;
    * Other responsibilities as assigned by the BDU Director

      Country-Specific Program Development

      Strategy
    * Support country offices in developing business plans which support their overall program strategies (Country Program Strategic Plans and Country Sector Strategies);
    * Assist country offices to improve donor mapping and enhance intelligence gathering efforts to support strategic planning and program design;

      Program Development
    * Assist country and regional teams to design innovative program approaches to implement their country strategies;
    * Manage responses to strategic funding opportunities, including serving (depending on the context) as proposal team leader, writer, primary negotiator with partners and prospective partner agencies, coordinator with technical, regional and headquarter support teams, etc;
    * Review competitive proposals for adherence to all solicitation requirements;
    * Facilitate post-submission processes up to and including award negotiations;
    * Facilitate institutional learning around both successful and failed funding submissions;
    * Other responsibilities as assigned by the BDU Director.

      REQUIREMENTS:
    * Bachelors Degree plus advanced degree in international development, political science , or other related field;
    * Minimum 7 years progressive experience with a special focus on proposal development and donor negotiation;
    * Previous experience of major USG and European donor funding;
    * Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including superior writing skills;
    * Proven management skills and ability to negotiate effectively with donors and partner agencies;
    * Solid organizational skills: the ability to work productively and accurately while under pressure in a fast-paced, demanding environment;
    * Ability to work in a team environment and independently;
    * Ability to meet unexpected demands and remain flexible;
    * Ability to multi-task and prioritize effectively;
    * Ability to travel, at times with minimum notice and for prolonged periods of time.

How to apply:

To apply, submit resume and salary requirements on-line: www.ircjobs.org or http://tbe.taleo.net/NA2/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=IRC&cws=1&rid=7197 .