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.

The IRC currently has country programs in six Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries – Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Libya and in 2025 will add 2 new countries; Ukraine and oPt (occupied Palestinian territory). Over a decade of conflict in Syria has pushed millions from their homes and into poverty, and millions more have become refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and further afield. Inside Syria, 6.1 million people are internally displaced and 13.1 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, with three million in hard-to-reach areas. Lebanon is struggling to cope with a so-called ‘triple crisis’, consisting of a pre-existing refugee crisis, near financial and economic collapse and a global pandemic, exacerbated by a devastation caused by the Beirut explosion in 2020, leaving 78% of the wider population below the poverty line and 89% of Syrian refugees below the extreme poverty line. In Jordan, which hosts almost 1.3 million refugees, the economic challenges pre-date the Syrian crisis which further exacerbated the pressures on public services and the high unemployment rate, COVID-19, and water scarcity. Equally complex are the emergencies in Libya and Iraq, where waves of fighting and displacement have overwhelmed infrastructure and services and pushed communities to the brink. The economic, social, and health effects of these crises have impacted the entire region.

The IRC responds to people’s acute and longer-term needs with integrated programs that improve health and safety, prioritize women and children’s protection, foster economic wellbeing, and empower communities to regain control over their lives. Our work gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, conflict sensitivity, coordination, and impact.

Job Overview

Providing regular support on program quality implementation to country programs, As we expand the region to 8 countries and focus on creating impact and scale in the second phase of IRC strategy 100 (S100), this role is critical in maintaining focus, quality, innovation and learning.

The Regional Program Quality Director is a new position reporting to DRD and will be a key member of the MENA regional team providing a range of program support services to country programs and the MENA regional team to ensure program quality. S/he will lead cross-learning, and innovation (including roll out of pilot projects) to drive key regional strategic initiatives. S/he will oversee regional projects ensuring a well-defined regional added value and ensure effective coordination with CPs, AMU, MEAL and TU.

Responsibilities:

• Regional Value Add

o Define the value add in regional projects by working with country program directors (DDPs), and regional technical leads on supporting the design including engagement with partners.

o Work closely with country program and regional MEAL and technical staff and advisors to coordinate internal cross-country learning opportunities and evaluation initiatives related to regional awards; facilitate application of common approaches to achieve shared objectives, program adaptation and quality improvements, and support the application of learnings to new business development.

o Assist the country program and regional finance and MEAL departments in responding to internal and external evaluations, and monitoring exercises.

• Innovation and learning

o Be the focal point for ensuring cross learning in the region amongst the CPs

o Facilitate collaboration between country programs and relevant regional and HQ functions and departments to drive learning and bringing best program practices to scale including but not limited to program quality, strategic partnership, business development, awards management, multi-country design and implementation, measurement, and client responsiveness initiatives.

o Explore with CPs innovations that drive strategic aims and priorities or drive solutions for challenges and support pilot projects where appropriate

• Program Quality

o Work with the Regional Technical Leads/ focal point on developing holistic integrated program models with integrated Theories of Change (ToCs)

• Regional & Country Strategy Support:

o Work with regional teams and country programs to drive prioritized strategic initiatives in line with IRC’s global, regional, and country program strategies to improve program quality and achieve greater impact for our clients.

o Support country programs in setting plans, adapting, and implementing prioritized strategic initiatives.

o Create, adapt, and monitor metrics and reports to measure the effectiveness and performance of country programs against their prioritized strategic initiatives.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: MENA Deputy Regional Director

Position directly supervises: N/A

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Deputy Director of Programs; country grants, finance, programs, partnership, MEAL and operation teams; awards management unit, technical units, finance, operations, partnership and MEAL team.

External: Donors; Local partners

Job Requirements:

Work Experience: 7-10 years inter-agency, partner and donor coordination and representation, preferably for a multi-sector regional response or consortia; and/or program quality/coordination/management including partner/donor relationship management.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies: Demonstrated knowledge of driving strategic planning processes, strong coordination skills, Experience in leading innovation and learning initiatives. Knowledge of major institutional donors’ (including Global Affairs Canada) regulations, procedures and requirements strongly preferred;; Coordination and program management; Representation and presentation skills; Excellent oral and written communications skills and demonstrated ability to write and produce documents (proposals, reports) with tight deadlines; ability to respond to changing priorities; ability to work independently, be proactive, self-initiate and problem solve; ability to influence without authority.

Language Skills: Fluent in English, verbally and in writing. Arabic language proficiency is preferred.

**Standard of Professional Conduct:**The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.