Deputy Director of Programs Full Time

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.

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IRC opened the country program in Mali in 2012. Our programmes cover activities ranging from humanitarian to recovery activities, with a focus on protection (Child Protection, Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Protection and Rule of Law), education, economic well-being, nutrition, health, water and sanitation. We operate in the north, centre and south of Mali. Ongoing conflict and drought have displaced hundreds of thousands of people both in Mali and in neighbouring countries. Nonetheless, there is a pressing need to assist both internally displaced people (IDPs) and host communities affected by the conflict. Humanitarian access remains a continuous challenge. The IRC is actively working in northern Mali to deliver essential WASH, education, and health services at a critical time, along with child protection and economic recovery programs in some of the most remote areas.

Job Overview

The Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) provides strategic, operational, and technical leadership across the entire portfolio of humanitarian and development programs in Mali. He/she works closely with the Country Director, support departments (Finance, People & Culture, Supply Chain) and technical teams to ensure the relevance, quality, accountability, impact and compliance of interventions in an often unstable and emergency context.

The DDP is a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and plays a central role in country program governance. They are responsible for the effective implementation of the Strategy 100 Country Plan, ensuring strategic alignment, program development, adaptive management, cross-sectoral coordination, and external representation.

Main Responsibilities

1. Strategic leadership and cross-sector coordination

• Lead the implementation, monitoring and adjustment of the Country Strategy (SAP), ensuring its ownership at all levels and its translation into concrete and measurable actions.

• Ensure coherence between sectoral programs, identified humanitarian needs, community priorities and accountability commitments.

• Organize and chair strategic committees (portfolio review, SAP committee, program coordination).

2. Programme development and emergency response

• Lead the technical and strategic design of contingency projects and plans for rapid, integrated and multisectoral responses to humanitarian crises (conflict, displacement, food insecurity, epidemics).

• Oversee the preparation of strategic and innovative funding proposals in conjunction with humanitarian donors (ECHO, SIDA, etc.).

• Systematically integrate Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus approaches into programmatic frameworks.

• Ensure that all programs include data-driven, multi-sectoral analysis, theory of change, and adaptive management mechanisms.

3. Program quality, MEAL, accountability, and learning

• Ensure robust MEAL systems that are integrated into project cycles by design.

• Strengthen the culture of results through the Outcome & Evidence Framework and the active use of data for learning, continuous improvement and community accountability.

• Support the development of post-distribution monitoring plans (PDMs), KAP surveys, real-time evaluations (RTEs) and after-action reviews (AAR).

• Ensure the implementation of feedback and complaint mechanisms, including safeguarding measures against sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) and fraud.

4. Portfolio management and technical oversight

• Oversee the entire project management cycle (PMC), ensuring quality, compliance and efficiency of interventions within budget, schedule and objectives.

• Lead monthly Budget vs. Actual (BvA) reviews, procurement planning, workplans, and staffing forecasts.

• Develop and deploy tools for multisectoral coordination to promote synergies and prevent duplication.

• Proactively identify and resolve bottlenecks through solution-oriented operational leadership.

5. Resource mobilization and strategic partnerships

• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with national and international NGOs, UN agencies, state authorities and other humanitarian actors.

• Ensure the systematic integration of local partners into programmes and proposals, in line with the Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results (PEERS) strategy.

• Ensure that programs comply with donor requirements (ECHO, SIDA, etc.) and internal policies (Safeguarding, PEERS).

6. Team management and inclusive leadership

• Coach, train and evaluate sector managers, MEAL coordinators, grants and partnerships.

• Create a stimulating, inclusive and equitable work environment that promotes female leadership and diversity.

• Support the professional development and upskilling of local staff, with a particular focus on female talent and returning national candidates.

• Foster transparent communication, mutual accountability, and work-life balance.

7. Representation, Advocacy and Communication

• Represent IRC Mali with humanitarian platforms (Clusters, OCHA, thematic groups) and government authorities.

• Contribute to advocacy strategies, external visibility and the production of capitalization documents.

• Support the Country Director in the management of donor and consortium relations.

8. Security, Ethics and Compliance

• Contribute to field-level security analysis in collaboration with the Safety & Security team and the Country Director.

• Foster an ethical and safe environment aligned with IRC’s policies, including the Code of Conduct, PSEA, anti-harassment, and financial integrity.

• Report any misconduct to the Country Director or the Ethics and Compliance Unit.

Job Requirements

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (BAC+5 minimum) in International Relations, Humanitarian Action, Development, Social Sciences, or related field.

Professional experience:

• Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in managing humanitarian and/or development programs in fragile or crisis contexts.

• Proven experience in supervising multidisciplinary teams and coordinating multi-sectoral programs (health, protection, economic recovery, governance, etc.).

• Strong experience in project development, project cycle management, grant management and donor reporting.

• In-depth knowledge of humanitarian coordination systems, quality standards and accountability mechanisms.

Key competencies:

• Strategic leadership, adaptive management, and strong political acumen..

• Excellent analytical, organizational and interpersonal skills.

• Mastery of MEAL tools, project management, budget planning.

• Strong ability to work under pressure in complex and volatile environments.

• Ability to proactively solve problems, make strategic decisions quickly, and motivate teams.

• Full fluency in both French and English, written and spoken.

Work Environment

The Deputy Director of Programs will be based in Bamako (security level 3: Orange) and will be required to travel regularly to IRC bases in Mali

Accommodation: Individual accommodation in Bamako. This position is accompanied

Tagged as: International Rescue Committee, Mali