Deputy Team Leader – GAVI DSI At International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee’s mission is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded over 80 years ago, the IRC is a leading humanitarian and development organization with presence in more than 40 countries. Across contexts, the IRC is committed to delivering innovative, high-impact programs tailored to the needs of communities affected by crisis.

Position Summary:

IRC is seeking a Deputy Team Leader for a GAVI-funded 3-year global project to find low-cost Demand -Side Incentives (DSI) approaches that: Increase vaccination coverage and reduce the number of zero-dose children; Reach poor children and those living in isolated areas or facing other challenges accessing services; Improve timeliness of immunization; Improve the knowledge and attitudes of caregivers towards immunization.

The Deputy Team Leader will be responsible for supporting the Team Leader in project management, management of staff, capacity building and stakeholder engagement. He/she will coordinate the development, implementation and reporting on detailed management plans that may include implementation plans, deliverable tracking, etc., in assigned area of responsibility. The Deputy Team Leader will also serve as the Technical Director and will manage implementing partners and oversee technical excellence supported by and in coordination with the relevant IRC Technical Units.

Recruitment is contingent upon successful award of the project, and selection of final applicant is subject to GAVI approval. The project is anticipated to begin in April 2023.

Job Responsibilities:

• Support the Team Leader in providing strategic and technical leadership and direction, defining and implementing activities to achieve the greatest impact toward project goals and objectives; serve as Acting Team Leader in the Team Leader’s absence.

• Provide technical guidance, technical assistance and mentoring in the delivery of immunization services, DSI; identify learning needs of project staff and troubleshoot technical issues related to project implementation.

• Work with Technical Specialists in Immunization, SBCC and Cash programming and provide technical leadership and expertise in one of those core areas.

• Closely monitor the implementation of project activities against approved work plans and budgets and ensure timely completion of results and achievement of objectives.

• Ensure project delivery meets all standard operational policies and procedures.

• Support the Team Leader in managing consortium partnerships and maintain collaborative partner relations, ensuring that all partners are aware of the project’s expectations and are actively involved in achieving the objectives while using the project management tools developed or adapted for the consortium.

• Support reporting to GAVI through both formal and informal debriefings, annual and semi-annual reports; lead review of periodic programmatic reports and their ensure timely submission to the Team Leader

• Assist Team Leader in maintaining active and cooperative relationships with all key stakeholders, including government officials, project partners, other implementing agencies, and related institutions.

• Work closely with project staff and partners to identify, document and disseminate best practices.

• Represent the project and the organization in public, as assigned, and support the distribution of information about project achievements and lesson learned.

• Support project staff by creating and maintaining a work environment that promotes teamwork, trust, mutual respect, and empowers staff to take responsibility.

• Conduct other activities as assigned by the Team Leader

Requirements:

• Advanced degree (MA from an accredited university in public health, global health, medicine, international development, or other related field; equivalent experience may be substituted for graduate degree.

• At least 10 years of experience in managerial roles on comparable programs in developing countries, including substantial supervisory experience; previous experience as Deputy Team Leader, or DCOP on Institutional Donor funded programs preferred.

• Technical expertise or work experience implementing Immunization programs difficult to reach or low resource settings. Additional SBCC expertise or cash in health programming would be an advantage.

• Experience with DSI projects required, specific experience with conditional and unconditional cash transfers is an additional advantage

• Significant knowledge of GAVI compliance, rules and regulations required.

• Substantial experience managing diverse sub-grantees/sub-contractors, including INGO, NGO, local FBO and private sector actors.

• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to develop relations with local counterparts, donors, and other stakeholders.

• Demonstrated innovation and success in staff capacity-building and in participatory, flexible, and gender-sensitive programming and implementation.

• Strong communication skills, both oral and written;

• Fluency in English required.

Standards of professional conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of 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, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.