Program Development and Award Advisor, Asia

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.

This position will support business development and award management for institutional donors in the IRC’s Asia region, which includes programs in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Thailand. Candidates who are from these countries and/or have significant experience in the region are strongly encouraged to apply.  Candidates in IRC hub locations with overlapping time zones (London, Berlin, Nairobi) who have significant experience working in IRC Asia countries are also encouraged to apply.

Background

Over the past 80 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC’s mission is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster, including the climate crisis, to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster. In addition, through 28 regional offices in cities across the United States, the IRC also helps refugees resettle in the US. The IRC is committed to a culture of inclusivity and empowerment, humanitarian leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve.

The Purpose of the Role

The Program Development and Award Advisor (PDAA), Asia will support country programs to submit high-quality proposals, ensure compliance to donor rules and regulations and IRC systems and processes, lead on the review and submission of high-quality donor deliverables and ultimately support awards management in the Asia region. The PDAA also manages donor relationships with HQ donor counterparts as needed and advises country programs in relation to the implementation of IRC’s partnership management approach and system - the Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results (PEER) System.

The successful candidate will have a strong track record of working on humanitarian and international development programming with a range of multilateral and bilateral donors, as well as experience collaborating with local partner organisations.

The PDAA will support business development and award management for institutional donors in the IRC’s Asia region, which includes programs in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Thailand. Candidates who are from these countries and/or have significant experience in the region are strongly encouraged to apply.

Scope and Authority

This position does not have any line management responsibilities.

Working Locations

This position is open for recruitment in Pakistan, Thailand, or other locations where IRC has an office presence. Candidates based in Asia are especially encouraged to apply.

Key Working Relationships

Reports to Director, Awards Management. Works closely with all Regional Program and Award Support team members, and across all teams within Awards Management Unit, Crisis Response Recovery and Development Department, Global Partnerships and Philanthropy, Global Supply Chain, Finance, Office of General Counsel, Technical Excellence, and other key departments within IRC. Donor and partner point of contact as applicable per region.

Key Accountabilities:

Awards Management and Compliance

• Manage a portfolio of awards for the Asia region. Main donors in portfolio will include USG, UN, GAC, World Bank, Australian DFAT, and Gulf donors, but may also include other donors as assigned.

• Review, provide substantive feedback and ensure timely submission of reports, collaborating with and ensuring input from relevant technical and financial staff.

• Guide country offices in partnership with other relevant departments in the design, production, and submission of and revise and quality assure award amendments and modifications.

• Serve as first point of contact for country program staff, to guide and advise country teams on all post-award issues and to act as a connecting point between country program and other HQ teams to facilitate the timely flow of key information between them.

• Review and lead negotiation of award agreements with donors, other IRC entities and partners according to IRC policies and internal processes.

• Guide and coach country offices in understanding policies, guidance and tools vis-à-vis working and managing local or international partners, ensuring that IRC’s PEER System is being followed and compliance rules from donors are cascaded to partners. Coordinate with compliance team as needed.

• Review and help processing sub-grants/partnership agreements in alignment with internal processes.

• Provide support to and monitoring of projects to ensure progress against objectives and compliance with donor guidelines and IRC internal requirements. Monitoring of awards can take the shape of monitoring visits, project implementation meetings and targeted calls following specific donor internal guidelines and IRC established processes.

• Provide technical advice to country offices on ad-hoc queries on donor compliance issues in coordination with the Compliance and Policy team on non-routine and high-level compliance matters and escalate to leadership for support as needed.

• Take part in regular meetings and calls with country teams to provide regular support and updates and collaborate closely on specific issues related to donor compliance, submissions and/or monitoring/award management.

• Ensure lessons learned from finalised projects are fed into the Business Development team.

• Stay informed about programmatic issues and security and political developments in the region and how they might affect program implementation.

• Advise and lead country programs appropriately to enable them to successfully follow internal IRC policies and procedures (e.g. OTIS, PEERS).

• Travel to provide additional support to or cover short-term gaps for awards and partnerships teams in the countries.

• Respond to data requests from other departments and accountability for portfolio-wide data needs.

• Coordinate with other members of the Program and Award Support Team and other AMU members for information sharing and to establish a coherent awards support.

Proposal Development

• In collaboration with the regional Business Development team, support business development in the region by providing effective proposal support, ranging from proposal management to comprehensive support and quality assurance.

• Provide quality assurance and quality compliance support on proposals, leading proposal development and coordination as needed. Ensure responsiveness to and compliance with solicitation documents and with IRC’s requirements.

• Review and advise on internal policy and donor requirements, budgets and supporting documentation for proposals in coordination with AMU and HQ Finance Department.

• Facilitate and/or participate in internal post-submission debrief sessions with country teams, technical units, regional team and other relevant stakeholders to collect lessons learned as needed.

• Maintain complete and accurate electronic files, including final submission packages and internal trackers, in coordination with the regional Business Development team.

Donor Liaison and Representation

• Manage donor relationships by maintaining communication on contractual issues, updates on program implementation and following up on compliance queries and securing changes and approvals as needed.

• Represent IRC externally at country/region-specific meetings, with donors and stakeholder networks.

Capacity Building and Training

• Support training of IRC in-country staff, as required and in coordination with PAS Leaders.

• In coordination with the DAM, develop and maintain work-processes and checklists for award implementation and report review, as well as record lessons learned.

• Support onboarding of country program Grants focal points and new Program and Award Support team to assigned donors, policies and/or IRC processes.
   

Other Responsibilities

• Contribute to AMU and regional strategic priorities and initiatives.

• Actively participate as a member of the Regional Team, engaging in strategy development and other initiatives as needed.

• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Person Specifications

Essential

Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Degree, preferably in a subject related to IRC’s work (International Relations, Refugee or Migration Studies, Development Studies, Public Policy) or equivalent experience

• Fluency in English, both spoken and written

• Experience with and a strong understanding of USG and UN donor requirements strongly preferred

• Understanding of other public donors is a plus

• Good understanding of humanitarian aid and development programming

• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a diverse team and handle a multifaceted workload

• Good financial management and budgeting skills

• Ability to analyze and synthesize information

• Proven organizational skills, detail-oriented, ability to prioritize tasks, and to learn quickly

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: the ability to successfully and effectively liaise with people within and across departments in a multi-cultural environment.

• Ability to work independently in a very fast paced environment

• A flexible work attitude and a calm manner

• International work experience in the Global South is a plus

• Excellent IT skills (Word, Outlook, Excel)

• Ability to travel internationally, sometimes on short notice and to insecure areas
   

Experience:

• Experience in working at a distance and supporting field-based staff

• Experience writing, reviewing and editing narrative and financial reports and excellent attention to detail

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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