The Program and Award Advisor plays a vital role within the Global Program and Award Support Team overseeing an award portfolio of humanitarian relief and post-crisis recovery programs. The Program and Award Advisor liaises with country programs, Implementing Units, HQ departments and donor contacts to ensure high quality guidance and support throughout the award lifecycle. The role works with Implementing Units (Technical Excellence, Research & Innovation Lab, and Emergency Units) to ensure compliance with donor rules and regulations and IRC systems and processes and leads on the review and submission of high-quality donor deliverables. The Program and Award Advisor represents the region and country offices to internal and external stakeholders and manages donor relationships.
Scope and Authority
Line management of Program and Award Officer(s) as applicable.
Key Working Relationships
Reports to Deputy Director, Technical & Global Awards. Works closely with all Regional Program and Award Support team members, and across all teams within Awards Management Unit, Crisis Response Recovery and Development Department, Global Partnerships and Philanthropy, Global Supply Chain, Finance, Office of General Counsel, Technical Excellence, and other key departments within IRC. Donor and partner point of contact as applicable.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Awards Management and Compliance (50%)
Oversee a portfolio of awards for the Global region. Main donors in portfolio will include USG & UN but may also include other donors as assigned.
Serve as the first point of contact for country office and other Implementing Units Grants and Partnerships teams and provide guidance and support on matters related to donor compliance and communication, project management (e.g. project cycle meetings), OTIS and partnerships (PEERS).
Participate in in regular meetings with country offices and other Implementing Units to provide support and collaborate with country program teams on issues related to donor compliance, submissions of reports and other post award deliverables, and/or monitoring/awards management.
Guide country offices and other Implementing Units in managing partnerships with local or international partners, ensuring that IRC’s Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS) is being followed, review and process sub-grant/partnership agreements in alignment with PEERS, and coordinate with the compliance team in supporting compliant and effective partnerships as needed.
Review agreements and lead negotiation of award terms and conditions with donor counterparts in alignment with internal processes.
Guide country offices and Implementing Units, in partnership with other relevant departments, in the development and submission of award amendments/modifications, ensuring high-quality, compliant submissions.
Provide support to and monitoring of projects to ensure progress against objectives and compliance with donor guidelines and IRC internal requirements. Monitoring of awards can take the shape of monitoring visits, participation in project implementation meetings and other regular calls.
Facilitate and build interdepartmental relationships to address country office/Implementing Units needs and solve problems in relation to awards management, partnership management and compliance.
Maintain a strong relationship with regional and AMU leadership and escalate issues of concern as needed
Supervise direct reports in carrying out necessary functions as they relate to country program/Implementing Units support
Stay informed about programmatic issues and security and political developments and how they might affect program implementation
Coordinate with PAAs for other regions for information sharing and to establish a coherent program support and backstopping function between headquarters and the field.
Travel to country offices/Implementing Units to provide surge support and monitoring across the areas of programs, awards, and partnerships, including for gap-filling purposes as requested.
Donor Liaison and Representation (25%)
Maintain contact with donors regarding updates, amendments, or key programmatic changes.
Liaise with donors on ongoing and future opportunities.
Represent IRC externally to donors and stakeholder networks, as appropriate.
Participate in representational visits, events and meetings as requested.
Capacity Building and Training (20%)
Mentor and coach Grants and Partnerships staff on IRC systems and processes to ensure capacity is built.
As requested, develop training materials and deliver training to IRC country program staff and other Implementing Units in coordination with the Directors, Awards Management and the AMU Training and Compliance team.
In coordination with the Directors, Awards Management, develop and maintain work-processes and checklists for awards implementation and reviews, as well as record lessons learned.
Onboard new country office Grants and Partnerships staff and new Program and Award Support team to assigned donors, policies and/or IRC processes.
Other Responsibilities (5%)
Contribute to AMU and regional strategic priorities and initiatives.
Liaise with communications and external relations staff to inform IRC media products as needed.
Participate in special projects as needed and other tasks as assigned.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications:
Five years of progressive work experience in award management or business development with donors such as USAID/BHA, the U.S. Department of State/PRM and UN agencies
Two years of international field experience highly desirable, familiarity with countries in the region preferred
Project management experience preferred
Financial analysis skills preferred
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including experience in speaking on relevant issues with internal and external audiences
Proven ability to effectively manage relationships (e.g., with internal actors, peers, donors)
Effective people management skills: ability to lead staff and promote productivity in a pleasant work environment
Proven ability to manage multiple and complex tasks and thrive under pressure
Solid organizational and creative problem-solving skills: ability to be flexible and work well under pressure in a fast-paced multi-tasking team environment
Good computer skills
Fluency in English (French desirable) both spoken and written
Ability and willingness to travel internationally
Experience:
Experience in working at a distance and supporting field-based staff
Experience writing, reviewing and editing narrative and financial reports and excellent attention to detail
