International Rescue Committee, Livelihoods & Program Development Officer Career Opportunity in Kenya

Position Title: Livelihoods & Program Development Officer

IRC Summary: The International Rescue Committee (IRC), responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people survive, recover and gain control of their future. The IRC is working to improve the safety, health, education, economic well-being and power of people in crisis affected places.

The Economic Recovery and Development Technical Unit (ERD TU) is responsible for supporting the development, implementation, and monitoring of client-centered programs such as, but not limited to, cash and voucher assistance (CVA), rural & agricultural livelihoods, and enterprise development and employment promotion. The TU’s technical assistance to this wide variety of programs ensures quality and use of evidence-based practices; promotes innovation, diversity, equity, and inclusion; and drives data-based management and decision making.

Job Overview: The Livelihoods & Program Development Officer will play a critical role in supporting two functions within the ERD TU: the Livelihoods pillar and the Strategic Initiatives pillar. Working with Deputy Director Strategic Initiatives, the Livelihoods & Program Development Officer plays an instrumental role in supporting the development and roll-out of strategic initiatives, program development, and global tools and resources. The position will also work closely with the Deputy Director Livelihoods to plan, coordinate and implement administration and global resources support for the livelihoods team.

Responsibilities:

ERD Partnership Approaches, Development & Support (30%):

  • Contribute to the development and dissemination of tools and resources for partner research, cultivation, and engagement.
  • Support ERD country programs in private sector mapping exercises, including leading desk research, project management, and capacity building of country program staff in engaging private sector stakeholders.
  • Add to the development of design concepts and proposals to fund established private sector partnership models promoting livelihoods outcomes.
  • Lead efforts to document and share lessons learned across IRC’s network of country programs in private sector engagement work.

Strategic ERD Business Development Support (30%):

  • Provide dedicated support (including project management during capture, pre-design, and design phases, input collation, partner engagement, and drafting) to strategic livelihoods business development opportunities, as coordinated by the Deputy Director, Strategic Initiatives, and Deputy Director, Livelihoods.
  • Develop and manage library of concept note templates, program designs, narratives, and stock language to be saved, refined, and used to streamline future business development opportunities.

Livelihoods Communications and Knowledge Management / Resource Development (30%):

  • Support the livelihoods team with capacity statements, technical briefs, presentations, newsletter and external materials, and lead on knowledge management, organization, and dissemination of relevant materials.
  • Further the development and dissemination of the ERD Newsletter, a bi-monthly newsletter shared within IRC.
  • Support ongoing intra- and inter-departmental projects such as the ERD Community of Practice, a monthly meeting that convenes global IRC ERD colleagues to share findings and implementation experiences, working closely with the ERD Program Assistant and Cash & Markets Assistant.
  • Produce resources on the work of the ERD/livelihoods sub-unit, for internal and external dissemination.

Livelihoods Team Operations (10%):

  • Lead scheduling of key livelihoods team meetings and maintain related documents (scheduler, workplan, meeting notes, etc.) as needed.
  • When needed, assist the livelihoods team in planning and logistics of workshops, conferences, meetings, team retreats, in collaboration with the ERD Program Assistant.
  • Conduct other administrative tasks as needed in support of the smooth operations of the livelihoods team.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Management in Partnership to Deputy Director, Livelihoods, and Deputy Director, Strategic Initiatives

Position Directly Supervises: Interns (when applicable)

Indirect Reporting: N/A

Other Internal/External contacts:

Internal: ERD TU, ERD Country Program staff, other Technical Excellence Technical Units

External: Peer agencies, partners, donors

Working Environment: Standard office work environment with occasional travel when appropriate

Job Requirements:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in social science, business, nutrition, agriculture, or other relevant field required; Masters level degree or equivalent lived experience encouraged.

Work Experience: 3-5 years of work experience in the humanitarian or development sector with progressive management and decision-making responsibility, preferably with at least 2 years of international experience implementing humanitarian and/or development programs with livelihoods components. Experience working in diverse emergency, recovery, post-conflict or development contexts preferred.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

  • Knowledge of livelihoods programs in humanitarian or development contexts, and/or experience working in the private sector highly preferred.
  • Outstanding relationship management, writing, and presentation skills.
  • Experience leading or supporting proposal development and fundraising a plus.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills involving listening to, interacting with, and communicating clearly with people from diverse nationalities and backgrounds with a high degree of professionalism and pro-activity.
  • Proficiency with Windows-based software (MS Office, Teams) and cloud-based storage systems such as BOX.
  • Excellent Microsoft Teams, Zoom and similar remote work platforms skills.
  • Skills for, and interest in, providing creative means of training and developing staff in organizational systems and procedures.
  • Demonstrated dedication to an anti-racist and Do No Harm approach, gender equality, diversity and inclusion.
  • Capacity to work flexible hours, as appropriate to accommodate for different time zones.
  • Proven organizational skills: proficiency in working productively under remote team and management structures across teams.
  • Language: Demonstrated excellence in English is required, one of the other three IRC working languages – Arabic, French, or Spanish highly desirable.

Standards for professional conduct and commitment to equality:

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality, and Accountability. 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.

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 or disability.

We offer benefits that help promote an empowering work environment, including parental leave, medical insurance, counseling services, gender-sensitive security protocols, and more.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Language preference and/or interpretation to interview for the role can be made available upon request for the IRC’s working languages (Spanish, French, Arabic, English).

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement:

In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity:

IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

Compensation:

Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

How to apply

https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/38381?c=rescue