The International Rescue Committee (IRC)  offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to people affected by 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. 

POSITION : Senior Consortium Manager

Description

• The IRC Nigeria is currently expanding its education portfolio in the northeast of the country in line with its five-year Strategic Action Plan (SAP). A priority outcome for the country program is that 6-14 year olds have literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills, according to their development potential. 
• The IRC aims to rebuild, reequip, and staff damaged school infrastructure and enhance the quality of education through curriculum improvements in formal and non-formal institutions, with a particular focus on social and emotional learning.
• In partnership with Creative Associates, the IRC intends to implement a 20- month project under the Education in Emergencies (EiE) component of DFID’s North-East Nigeria Transtion to Development Program (NENTAD) that aims to deliver an effective response to the basic needs of vulnerable people impacted by the crisis in northeast Nigeria. The EiE project will reach more than 100,000 children and adolescents in Borno and Yobe states with quality formal and non-formal education services, including literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills.
• The Senior Consortium Manager will be responsible for the overall coordination and management of the DFID EiE project and serve as the consortium focal point.
• The Coordinator will ensure quality program implementation, including providing strategic guidance to consortium staff and overseeing budget management, performance management, M&E, partnership management, and relationships with external actors including government authorities, humanitarian working groups, and project partners.
• S/he will be responsible for maintaining regular contact with all consortium partners and the donor.
• S/he will report to the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) and will receive technical guidance from an in-country Education Coordinator and the IRC’s Education Technical Unit.

Responsibilities
Program Management:

• Oversee that program activities are conducted in a timely and professional manner in line with the program work-plan and in full coordination with national and local authorities as well as other partners.
• Coordinate with local authorities to facilitate the participation of local communities in the planning and implementation of activities and undertake periodic reviews of program activities to assess effectiveness, efficiency, achievement of results and compliance with procedures.
• Represent the consortium and the IRC to DFID and other external stakeholders, effectively communicating challenges, successes, and contextual changes throughout the course of the project.
• Take the lead in project planning and coordination to ensure timely and quality implementation of all program activities
• Provide strategic guidance in unifying approaches between programs and consortium members in different geographical areas
• Organize periodic meetings in order to discuss program progress; record and follow up on the execution of agreed action points
• Provide managerial direction and guidance in line with the program’s expected outcomes
• Oversee key project planning deliverables using results based management approaches and tools
• With the support of the Education Coordinator and DDP, develop specific strategies for cross-cutting themes (capacity building, gender equality, environmental sustainability) for the program
• Maintain open and effective communication amongst the consortium and project team members
• Oversee day-to-day coordination and delivery of project activities in conjunction with staff and partners
• Compile portions of program narrative and financial progress reports in coordination with the grants unit and finance to share with the donor.

Financial & Office Management:

• In conjunction with the finance team, develop and monitor the project budget and ensure regular reporting to the donor

Human Resources Management:

• Work with the technical leads to provide adequate HR oversight to the project team and consultants as maybe relevant

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to: Deputy Director of Programs
• Supervisory responsibilities:  Dotted administrative line to the project Finance Manager, M&E Manager, Partnerships Manager, Program Manager
• Other internal and/or external contacts: grants unit; finance, M&E, HR and supply chain departments; Education Coordinator

Professional Standards

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

Requirements

• University Degree in Development Studies, Education, Sociology, or other related field
• 8 years of relevant professional humanitarian or development experience with an international organization, including extensive exposure to education programming
•  4 years of experience in a managerial position and demonstrated capacity in office management, including capacity building of staff
• Strong verbal communication skills and effective in representation and liaison with external actors
• Excellent spoken and technical writing ability in English, including report writing
• Promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle stress and pressure with professional grace
• Previous experience in an insecure or conflict-affected setting strongly preferred
• Experience with remote management preferred.
• Familiarity with DFID or other international donor guidelines strongly preferred
• Excellent budget planning and management skills, previous experience effectively managing multi-million dollar grants required
• Previous experience managing diverse teams to deliver results on short timelines, including the development of spending plans, procurement plans, and work plans

Specific Security Situation/Housing

• The Senior Consortium Manager will be based in Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria with travel throughout Borno and Yobe States.
• The security situation in the North-East Nigeria continues to be volatile in with the security level at 3 (orange).
• The candidate should be prepared to implement programming in insecure environments.
• This is a non-accompanied position. The Senior Consortium Manager will live in shared housing.