The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is among the world’s leading nonprofit humanitarian relief and development organizations. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC’s mission is to assist those whose lives and livelihoods have been shattered by conflict and disaster, including the climate crisis, to survive, recover and gain control over their lives.
The Awards Management Unit (AMU)
The Awards Management Unit (AMU) is responsible for building, maintaining, and strengthening relationships with public and institutional donors and position IRC as a partner of choice for delivering programs for our clients. This means working to expand IRC’s portfolio and diversify our relationships, as well as supporting the successful and compliant management and implementation of awards, whether directly or through partners. The AMU is composed of several sub-teams: Business Development, Strategic Partnerships, Program and Grant Support, Training & Curriculum Design, Strategic Operations and Compliance & Policy.
AMU Compliance & Policy
AMU Compliance & Policy (C&P) develops and manages donor compliance-related tools, guidance, and templates; it tracks and communicates changes in donor regulations and builds knowledge of compliance throughout the IRC. The C&P team offers escalated support in case of complex donor and partnerships compliance questions and to carry out supplementary reviews of agreements where needed. C&P includes Donor Specialists, who have expertise in specific donors’ rules and regulations according to their portfolio, and Subaward & Partnership (S&P) staff, who have expertise in compliance and implementation of IRC’s internal partnership system (PEERS) and the operationalization of IRC’s partnership principles across all donors.
The Purpose of the Role
Under the direction of and in collaboration with the Senior Director of Compliance and Policy, the Compliance Director – USG awards is responsible for matters relating to compliance with US, Canadian and Australian statutory donor rules and regulations, including but not limited to USAID, HHS/CDC/ORR, BPRM, US DoJ, US DOL, US HUD, US State funding, GAC, DFAT, DFFAT. The role is responsible for US government funded assistance and acquisition awards.
The role manages a team (currently two Donor Senior Compliance Officers), that offers escalated support to staff on US, Canada and Australia statutory donor compliance questions. The Director leads the team in developing coordinated donor compliance-related guidance, tools and templates; advising on/contributing to organizational policies; building knowledge of donor compliance throughout the IRC; and tracking and communicating changes in donor regulations for IRC’s US, Canadian and Australian donors. This role provides guidance to relevant staff to improve their understanding of the terms and conditions of statutory donor awards by providing donor compliance advice and training so that programs are delivered with minimized compliance risk.
In collaboration with the Senior Director – Compliance & Policy, the Director for Contract Readiness and the US Senior Compliance Officers, the Compliance Director – USG awards plays an instrumental role in supporting IRC’s readiness to bid for and manage USG contracts.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
All AMU teams, Crisis Response, Recovery and Development (CRRD), Resettlement, Asylum and Integration (RAI), Ethics and Compliance Unit, Finance, Office of the General Counsel, Global Supply Chain, Human Resources.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Leadership
• As part of the Compliance & Policy Management Team (Senior Director of Compliance and Policy, Director for European Compliance, and Compliance Director of Subawards & Partnerships, and this role) and AMU Leaders team, serve as a key partner and relationship builder to strengthen collaboration within AMU and with IRC departments.
• Oversee recruitment, development, management and retention of high-performing Senior Compliance Officers into the US compliance team.
• Provide senior management guidance to support all aspects of the award processes.
• Set a high standard for HQ support to AMU/other IRC service departments and field support to CRRD and RAI offices, with an understanding of field constraints and the ultimate impact of IRC’s work.
• Create and maintain a results-driven, action-oriented and empowering culture that values donor compliance and understands its benefits.
• Represent IRC externally in relevant donor meetings, working groups/networks and liaise with partners as needed.
• Ensure that the team is a diverse and inclusive team that can attract talent from all backgrounds and has a supportive internal culture where people feel valued and included.
Systems development
• As part of contract readiness activities, support the development of policies, guidelines, procedures, standards, work processes, manuals, metrics and methodologies for successful and comprehensive contract management.
• Work closely with the Senior Director C&P, the wider C&P team and other IRC service departments to develop, review and update IRC policies, tools, templates and guidelines as needed to ensure optimal implementation and understanding of US/Canadian/Australian donor compliance requirements.
• Collaborate with AMU, Finance, the Ethics and Compliance Unit, the Office of the General Counsel, Operations, and IRC’s global network (CRRD & RAI) to promote a culture of compliance.
• In collaboration with the Senior Director C&P and the wider C&P team, ensure the development of relevant templates and terms and conditions for statutory donor award documents, sub-awards/partnership agreements, contracts/sub-contracts, grants under contract, and other guidance documents as needed.
Escalated US/Canada/Australia Statutory Donor Compliance Advice
• Provide sophisticated and definitive advice on the interpretation and application of US/Canadian/Australian donor regulations, processes and procedures in IRC’s work.
• Convert statutory language to workable solutions.
• Ensure Senior Compliance Officers monitor and disseminate changes in donor compliance requirements in a timely manner.
• Support, and at times lead, communications with US donors regarding compliance matters and contract negotiations.
• Assist in trouble-shooting issues as they arise.
• Ensure that the team develops and provides training on US/Canadian/Australian donors compliance matters.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the Senior Director.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Work / Educational Experience:
• Law degree in contracts and/or Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM).
• 10+ years of experience supporting US government funded contracts, grants and cooperative agreements (preferably contracts funded by USAID or the U.S. Department of State)
• 8+ years of experience addressing compliance issues on US government funded awards, including researching, and interpreting the FAR, AIDAR, and CFR
• 8+ years experience developing, updating and disseminating organizational policies and manuals related to US government compliance
• 5+ years of experience supporting contract/subcontract/grant management under USAID funded programmes
• Experience with varying contract types: fixed-price, cost-reimbursable, time and material and incentive type contracts.
• Experience with CAS compliance
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:
• Proven expertise in interpreting and applying statutory and regulatory language in executing awards and contracts from USG entities and in maintaining a current knowledge of changes in the language, application and enforcement of this language.
• Adaptability and flexibility to changing environments.
• A positive thinker and collaborative problem solver.
• Strong interpersonal relations, teambuilding and oral and written communication skills.
Desirable
• Previous experience with large international nonprofit organizations.
• Demonstrated practical skills in other award operations and management areas are a plus.
Compensation:
Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement:
In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity:
IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
US Benefits:
We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.