Strategic Project Manager at International Rescue Committee

BACKGROUND

Over the past 80 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.

The International Rescue Committee UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its headquarters in New York and London. The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief, relocating refugees and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster. Through over 20 regional offices in cities across the United States, the IRC also helps refugees resettle in the US and become self-sufficient.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

IRC UK

IRC UK was established in London in 1997 to support the organisation’s global activities and particularly to diversify its donor base and be able to better advocate with European policy-makers on behalf of the people we serve. Since its establishment IRC UK has grown rapidly and is now acknowledged for its high-quality project management, technical expertise in governance and rights and economic recovery, and innovative thinking on early recovery and gender based violence. IRC UK comprises approximately 100 staff.**

The Awards Management Unit (AMU)

Established in January 2016, the Awards Management Unit (AMU) is a global unit spanning New York, Washington DC, London, Bonn, Berlin, Brussels, Stockholm, Nairobi and Amman. It has responsibility for identifying, securing and managing all funding from statutory donors. The Unit is organized into five pillars: Strategic Partnerships, Programme and Grant Support, Compliance and Policy, Programme Development, and Training & Curriculum Design.

The AMU is a bridge between donors and the field: providing expert technical advice to the field, while maintaining portfolio-level visibility to ensure consistency and compliance, and manage risk. This unit ensures that donor compliance policies and procedures are implemented consistently, and supports all staff working across the grants management cycle for all restricted funding from global government sources.

The Purpose of the Role

Based in the IRC London Office the Strategic Project Manager, AMU will have day-to-day responsibility for the smooth and effective running of AMU projects and initiatives, to ensure the successful and effective management and coordination of related activities. The Strategic Project Manager will work closely with the Deputy Vice President of AMU to support the AMU in driving progress and achieving success against the strategic goals and priorities as outlined in the delivery letters for AMU and Europe while ensuring smooth coordination with other IRC Units in Europe.

Key Working Relationships

Deputy Vice President AMU, AMU Strategic Operations team, AMU Senior Management team. Line management of Unit Support Manager (Europe) and AMU Project Manager.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• Support AMU leadership in delivering and handling key strategic AMU initiatives in accordance with AMU Delivery Letters and priorities
• Work with AMU leadership to identify challenges and develop solutions to efficiently implement the AMU priorities in close collaboration with relevant partners
• Help to define project approach (including outcomes, objectives, scope, deliverables, resources and approach) and obtaining buy-in to the approach from key partners
• In conjunction with project sponsors, teams and key partners, leading in problem solving and identification of solutions in a structured way, with a focus on the case for change and measurable benefits
• Deliver the project to the agreed business case to time, cost and quality and in accordance with the agreed project management framework and processes
• Lead improvement projects collaboratively using best practice approaches and a wide range of improvement tools
• Increase project management capacity within AMU through the development of training and project management supervision
• Support AMU leadership in developing AMU’s knowledge management, supporting solutions to increase and retain institutional knowledge

Requirements:

• Experience working as a project manager
• Proven experience of portfolio project management
• Experience working in Agile project management and/or service design
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, including shown experience influencing at senior management level
• Proven experience of facilitation
• Problem solver with a can do approach
• Able to work independently with minimal supervision
• Solid understanding of Microsoft Office 365, including Sharepoint and Teams
• A flexible work attitude and a calm manner able to function effectively under pressure
• Supervision and/or line management experience