Deputy Director Operations (DDO) 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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Since the early 1980s Niger has consistently been ranked at the bottom of the UN’s Human Development Index. Over half the population suffers from chronic food insecurity and one in ten are extremely food insecure. Niger is also a disaster-prone country, regularly hit by food crises and vulnerable to flooding, cholera and locust swarms. Access to health care and education for women and girls are very limited. In addition to the vulnerability of a significant proportion of Nigeriens, Niger also hosts refugees from neighboring Mali and Nigeria.

IRC’s vision for Niger is that individuals, households and communities are resilient, self-reliant and able to thrive in a changing context. IRC Niger is present in the regions of Tillabery, Agadez and Diffa with projects in the following areas: Environmental Health (EH) and Non-Food Items (NFI) including Emergency – Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM), Protection (SGBV, Child Protection, Monitoring Protection and Protection Integration), Education, Nutrition, Health and Livelihoods.

The Deputy Director of Operations (DDO) is a member of the senior management team (SMT) (along with the deputy Director of Programs (DDP), Deputy Director of Finance (DDF) and Country Director (CD)). She/he is responsible for leading and managing the operations teams in the Country Program ensuring they are fit-for-purpose and respond to the needs of IRC’s programs and IRC facilities. The DDO is expected to contribute to high levels of teamwork and inter-departmental and cross-sectorial collaboration. Through her/his leadership, operations teams will be supportive of results-driven program delivery and facilities management and guided by data analysis, problem identification and problem solving.

Major Responsibilities

Ethics and Integrity

• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Way (code of conduct) and other Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicate through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

Management and Strategy

• Actively contribute to and participate in management and leadership platforms such as the senior management team, the country leadership team and the country management team.

• Be a champion for the implementation of the Niger Strategic Action Plan and ensure quality and meaningful participation of operations teams in strategy related activities.

• Lead the development and implementation of IRC Niger annual operation strategy drawing from annual assessments with SWOT analysis, regional and global annual workplans and strategies

• Represent IRC in all inter-INGOs, government and other institutional operations meeting advocating for the interest of IRC with relevant stakeholders and advise the SMT accordingly.

• In collaboration with relevant regional leadership ensure the full roll out, understanding and utilization of all new and existing organizational policies, procedures, guidelines and tools across IRC Niger.

• In collaboration with the relevant regional stakeholders, support the initiative of expanding IRC’s Niger impact through partnership and localization, GEDI, Safeguarding, duty of care and climate disaster response

• Directly supervise the Supply Chain Coordinator, IT Coordination and Admin Manager.

Administration and Facility Management

• Provide leadership to the administration team and ensure the application of best practices and adherence to national and state level NGO and other relevant compliance regulations.

• Oversee the administration functions especially as they relate to rental agreements, visas and registration.

• Ensure operational efficiency and proper maintenance of IRC facilities, including offices, warehouses and guest houses.

• Managing pooled Facilities budgets and ensuring optimization of resources.

Supply Chain

• Lead an efficient and responsive supply chain system that meets the needs of quality program delivery. Ensure that all processes from procure to pay meet IRC and donor compliance requirements.

• Working closely with the DDP, ensure that program and operations staff are jointly preparing, implementing and monitoring appropriate tools such as.quality project delivery through effective procurement cycle management (PCM) system including quantification, forecasting, procurement and distribution plans.

• In collaboration with the relevant regional stakeholders ensure adequate, efficient and transparent procurement system is in place, including vendor prequalification and framework agreements from appropriately vetted vendors.

• Ensure relevant supply chain plans are in place for End of Fiscal year activities, end of grants activities, asset disposals and replenishment, adequate storage facilities etc..

• Review Power BI reports to identify success stories for celebration and appreciation and identify gaps, propose mitigative actions to address them and facilitate strategic data driven decisions.

Information Communications Technology

• Based on comprehensive needs assessments ensure that all digital data and information needs of operations and program teams are catered for.

• This will involve the provisioning of hardware, software and ongoing training. Given the remote and insecure location of field sites, particular attention should be paid to ensuring robust connectivity and communication channels both between field teams and offices and between offices.

Finance and Compliance

• In close collaboration with the DDF and the DDP, ensure operating costs are included in operating budgets and funding proposals and that programmatic scale up and retrench are factored into operations planning.

• In cooperation with the DDF, ensure that all support systems and operations teams are operating in accordance with IRC and donor compliance regulations and have necessary risk mitigation strategies in place.

• The DDO has a key role in oversight of the pooled budgets and cost allocations.

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to: Country Director

Position directly supervises: The Deputy Director of Operations will directly supervise three positions: the Supply Chain Coordinator; IT Coordinator and the Admin Manager. The supervision of the first two positions is jointly through Management in Partnership, a type of matrix management used at the IRC to ensure effective and efficient management and supervision of multi-facing and cross-departmental roles.

The DDO also provides support to Field Coordinators for Diffa and Tillabéri in their management of field operations.

Other key contacts:

Country Program: Senior Management Team members, People & Culture Team, Grants Coordinator, Finance Department, Safety & Security Team.

Organizationally: Regional Vice President, Deputy Regional Director, Regional Safety and Security Advisor, Regional Supply Chain Director, Regional People and Culture Director, Global Supply Chain Quality Assurance Team, and others.

Job Requirements

• University degree required (management-related or general operations preferred).

• Minimum of 6 to 8 years’ experience managing operations and/or projects in fragile and insecure locations, preferably in the Sahel.

• Demonstrated ability to manage field staff and remote field offices.

• Experience in logistics, HR/Admin, facilities and security management

• Experience having managed operations (including security) in conflict-impacted setting

• Excellent cross-cultural communication skills

• Excellent staff capacity building and training skills

• Strong problem-solving, analytical and decision-making skills.

• Flexibility, ability to work independently and meet deadlines

• Strong problem-solving, analytical and decision-making skills.

• Strong budget management skills.

Languages Required/Preferred:

• Fluency in French is required

• Working knowledge of English and/or local languages in Niger strongly encouraged

Computer/Other Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Tagged as: International Rescue Committee, Niger