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.
**This is an in-person role based in Darfur, Sudan. Remote work arrangements are not possible. Location details, living arrangements, and security management will be discussed during interviews.**
The Emergency Cash and Basic Needs Senior Manager will support the management of IRC’s emergency response to deliver multipurpose cash assistance (MPCA) and other basic needs assistance. S/he will support the IRC to respond to an immediate crisis with speed and quality interventions.
S/he will engage in clear communication, orientation, and coordination with relevant stakeholders to implement the projects on the ground, ensuring that project indicators are achieved in alignment with IRC’s policies and internal regulations and grant agreements.
The position will report to the Emergency Cash & Basic Needs Coordinator.
Responsibilities
Program Strategy
• Provide technical and operational support for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of cash and basic needs programs, Emergency Business Grants and Group Cash Transfer programs, with a focus on timely and effective emergency response.
• Support program design and development by contributing to the drafting of concept notes, technical proposals, activity plans and budgets as required.
Program Quality, Management and Implementation
• As delegated by the Coordinator, manage and support program teams through day-to-day oversight, onboarding, ongoing training, performance feedback, and technical guidance ensuring high staff performance, accountability, and collaboration.
• Support the Coordinator in leading needs assessments, market analyses, and sectoral studies in collaboration with IRC teams and partners to ensure that program design is informed by local context and emerging needs, and to contribute to broader humanitarian response efforts.
• Collaborate in strategic planning, working with key internal stakeholders to develop detailed work plans with clear objectives, implementation timelines, benchmarks, financial forecasts, and evaluation tools.
• Ensure timely and effective program implementation, with close oversight of target achievements, budget utilization, and compliance applying adaptive management approaches and strong M&E systems to optimize impact.
• Maintain program quality and accountability by ensuring all activities follow established SOPs and include rigorous quality control mechanisms, while integrating client feedback into ongoing improvements.
• Coordinate program delivery and partnership engagement, ensuring all interventions align with IRC’s emergency response strategy, global frameworks, and donor requirements, while building strong relationships with implementing partners and stakeholders.
• Ensure that ethical and sound data collection and information management systems are in place for appropriate program analysis, planning, evaluation, and advocacy.
• Collect, compile and revise quality cash and basic needs program reports and ensure timely submission in collaboration with the Grants team.
Effective Budget Utilization
• As delegated by the Coordinator, submit monthly cash projections to the FC/TC for review, ensuring accuracy and alignment with program needs.
• Ensure budget utilization remains within acceptable variance levels (+/-5%) of the approved forecast through continuous monitoring and timely adjustments.
• Lead the timely review of Budget vs Actual (BVA) reports with the team on the day of receipt, and communicate any concerns or variances in writing to ERD TC for further action.
• Initiate all item forecasts using Integra system and payment requests in compliance with IRC financial policies and procedures, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Maintain an up-to-date departmental PR tracker, proactively identifying and escalating delays or inefficiencies to the FC and ERD TC to support advance planning and prevent implementation delays.
• Participate actively in monthly spending plan reviews led by the Field Coordinator or ERD TC, contributing to informed decision-making and financial oversight.
• Contribute to budget development and realignment discussions as needed, ensuring alignment with program priorities and operational realities.
• Review activity-specific budgets for ERD interventions, including trainings, ensuring cost-efficiency and value for money across all expenditures.
Human Resources Administration and Management
• Conduct weekly meetings with C&BN staff to review progress against set targets, provide performance feedback and provide technical guidance on how the staff can overcome the obstacles observed.
• Resolve disciplinary issues that arise with C&BN staff and inform Field Coordinator and C&BN Coordinator the same day of the incident.
• Ensure advance leave scheduling for staff and inform Coordinator ahead of time.
• Ensure that all staff complete and submit their time sheets by the 5th day of the subsequent month.
• Foster the spirit of cohesion, teamwork, professionalism, and mutual respect within the team.
Coordination & Representation
• As delegated by the Coordinator, represent the IRC’s cash and basic needs programming at the authorities’ meetings, stakeholders’ meetings, and other inter-agency forums.
• Regularly attend relevant cluster and working group meetings at appropriate levels as required.
Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, agriculture, economics, international affairs or related field required.
Job Requirements
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in cash and voucher assistance with demonstrated experience leading a team to achieve results.
• Knowledge and experience of livelihood projects, Emergency Business Grants and Group Cash Transfer programs in complex emergency and post-conflict contexts.
• Previous experience leading programming in a complex emergency as well as ability to supervise coach and mentor staff.
• Strong cross-cultural communication skills and comfortable working as part of a diverse team.
• Excellent spoken and written English. Fluency in Arabic is required.
• Willingness to live in a complex security environment and remote location with basic living conditions.
Demonstrated Technical Skills:
• Strong program/technical and budget management skills, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills.
• Strong technical and operational knowledge of Economic Recovery and Development projects in a remote context.
• Proven experience in grants management.
• Experience in donor reporting and proposal development.
Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies:
• Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively represent IRC at forums and with donors.
• Strong negotiation skills essential with experience in conflict resolution desirable.
• Superior oral and written communication skills, with ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to design and lead training engagements with staff and partners to enhance skills and adapt to changing program demands.
• Positive attitude to work, self-reflective, motivated, inspired, collegial.
• Proven ability to work well in and promote teamwork, thrive in a multi-cultural environment, be flexible and handle pressure with professional grace.
Competencies
• Strong cross-cultural communication skills and eager to work as part of a diverse team. Sensitive to interpersonal differences and a range of viewpoints.
• Exceptional advance planning and organizational skills. Able to effectively prioritize and follow multiple activities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Analytical, strategic, and able to proactively develop solutions to complex challenges.
• Reliable, patient, and able to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly resilient and comfortable working in an insecure environment with restricted personal freedoms.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.