Job Information
International Rescue Committee Field Coordinator Northwest in Gusau, Nigeria
Requisition ID: req52525
Job Title: Field Coordinator Northwest
Sector: Operations
Employment Category: Regular
Employment Type: Full-Time
Open to Expatriates: No
Location: Gusau, Nigeria
Work Arrangement:In-person
Job Description
CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND:
The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian agencies, provides relief, rehabilitation, and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of natural disaster, oppression and violent conflict in 42 countries. The IRC is committed to bold leadership, innovation and creative partnerships. Active in public health, education, livelihoods, women's empowerment, youth development, and protection and promotion of rights, IRC assists people from harm to home.
The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict-affected populations. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri, Monguno, and Gwoza of Borno state, Damaturu of Yobe State, and a current extension to Zamfara and Katsina states, northwest Nigeria. Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs for primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, economic recovery, and development.
Job Overview
The Field Coordinator for the Northwest region, covering all states in the Northwest, will ensure compliance with IRC personnel policies and local government regulations in collaboration with respective Consortium Team Leader(s). This role involves coordinating and interfacing programs and operations functions creating an enabling environment for program implementation and operations support, including but not limited to Programs managers/outcome managers, Supply Chain, People and Culture, Finance, Administration, Information Technology, and Safety and Security, and maintaining best practices for staff evaluation and asset management.
He/she will support program implementation by coordinating monitoring and evaluation plans, organizing training, and ensuring vulnerable groups have access to services. They will oversee all stages of IRC programs implementation, contribute to institutional learning, and effectively communicate program progress and constraints. Additionally, the field Coordinator will draft monthly management reports, facilitate sector-specific meetings, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including local government and humanitarian organizations. They will manage budgets, track project progress, ensure compliance with safety and security protocols, and advocate for adequate safety measures and staff well- being in field offices. Collaboration with respective NW Consortium Team (S) Leader will ensure cohesive and integrated program delivery.
Major Responsibilities:
Operational functions
Ensure the IRC national staff personnel policy, IRC mandatory reporting policies, state and Local Government regulations are respected and practiced appropriately.
Working with the respective People and Culture lead for the location, ensure that all local staff policies, contracts and disciplinary documents conform to local laws.
Along with the Operations Technical leads, create an enabling environment for Management in Partnership for operations functions (Supply Chain, HR, Finance, Administration, Information Technology, HASST).
In collaboration with Operations technical leads, conduct PME exercises and assist the office in developing a framework for staff career development and training and coaching.
Provide counseling and support in resolution of employee relations problems. Report and escalate any misconduct that contravenes IRC WAY policy.
In collaboration with consortium (s) leadership (TLs and DTLs), Sector manager, technical leads, maintain system and IRC best practices for staff evaluation, and standard procedures for identifying capacity and performance gaps in the field locations.
Working with respective SC lead per location with support from operations technical leads, ensure all IRC assets and warehouse management; control and monitoring tools are in place and properly implemented, identify and flag areas which require escalation to DDO with possible mitigating measures.
Working with Operations technical leads and respective Operations leads to ensure that field operations are adequately staffed, equipped, and supported to effectively deliver field programing.
Work closely with the finance lead for the location to ensure timely payments.
Work with and escalate to the DDO any operational needs, gaps and challenges for immediate resolution.
Together with the finance responsible person, monitor budget expenditure against workplan and expected outcomes.
Together with HASS officer/HASST lead for the respective location, monitor security and update the HASS coordinator on any arising issues around safety and security.
Programmatic functions
Work closely with Consortium(s) project leads (TLs/DTLs), outcome managers to provide coordination support to the Northwest sector managers, oversight on program implementation and assist staff to develop sector specific Monitoring and Evaluation plans.
Be proactive in facilitating regular surveys on the provided services; collected data are analyzed, documented, and accessed by relevant staffs.
Oversee all programs implementation and ensure the service provision or program implementation is going well in close consultation with the program managers and integrated manager/s and other relevant program technical lead.
Mobilize and ensure the beneficiary communities are involved in the design, implementation, monitoring, review, and evaluation of all IRC programs.
Work closely with all programs staffs and ensure planned trainings, workshops and awareness raising events are organized on timely, systematic and coordinated manner.
Ensure the inclusion of vulnerable children, women and elderly including disabled and people living with HIV/AIDS to have access to all IRC program interventions and other service deliveries.
Contribute to IRC’s institutional learning, new ways of working and planning. Advice management to assess, design, and implement different ways and means of improving the overall IRC implementation areas.
Communicate and escalate program progress, constraints, needs identified and any other matters pertaining to management the need may be.
Actively participate in project design, monitoring, and evaluation for possible intervention.
Actively participate in business development process and contribute actively in consideration of programming and intervention needs for the field office.
Coordination, Collaboration and Representation functions
Draft monthly management field reports and submit them to the DDO for review and actioning as necessary.
Contribute towards the solid integration of operations services, program implantation in context of the field location.
Strengthen inter-departmental collaboration through facilitation of sector specific meetings and regular staff meetings in the respective field office.
Actively pursue good coordination and working relationships with all key stakeholders, Local Government Administration, Host community, Humanitarian Coordination, Nigerian INGO Forum (NIF) and other INGOs.
Represent IRC in the field office in the forums when the CD or designate is unable to attend.
Attend relevant meetings with partners and stakeholders and solicit possible collaboration and advice and update the DDO in an organized manner.
Organize and co-facilitate monthly management meetings and responsible for documentation of the meeting minutes.
Represent IRC in all nontechnical meetings and share relevant information that may impact program implementation to both the Technical Coordinators (TCs) and Program/Outcome Managers (O/PM) in a timely manner.
Establish relationships with the community leaders as well as other organization.
Facilitate access to the project sites.
On weekly basis meet with the individual project teams to for updates on implementation, progress, challenges, and support needed.
He/she coordinates and collaborates with project team and technical coordinators to ensure that the projects are to be implemented as per agreed conditions, budget, and timeframe; oversees risk control and is responsible for ensuring the internal reports reach the relevant teams.
Work closely with programs and operation heads to ensure sustainability of projects and proper handover mechanisms are in place and implemented accordingly.
Projects and Grants Management functions
Budget Holder rights for projects (with the exception of consortium led projects) being implemented in respective locations. Working closely with respective finance leads per location and Country office budgeting team, ensure effective budget management and tracking including but not limited to mini BvA tracking, activity plan tracking, procurement plans tracking, IF tracking (reviews and approvals) etc.
Working with the Senior projects Coordinator, ensure all location specific projects per location have appropriate project management tools and are adequately implemented.
Working with the senior Projects Coordinator and in coordination with the respective program managers Co-facilitate project cycle meetings – POM, PIM, PLM, PCM opening, quarterly, mid-term and ensure action points of the meetings are properly implemented and flag issues which needs the field coordinator’s attention.
Work with program TCs and PMs to support with project design meetings, project reports, project planning meetings and proposal developments as the case may be and need arises.
Responsible for analyzing the situation pertaining to field office and sector of work (in terms of the geopolitical, humanitarian, socio-economic, cultural, legal and protection landscape) by identifying the various entities in operation and programs in their geographical locations.
Responsible to put forward and contribute an operational strategy consistent with people’s needs and IRC Country Action Strategy in collaboration with relevant leadership team members.
Ensuring projects are implemented as per workplan and targets and within allocated budget.
Work in close collaboration with both the technical coordinator as well as the project team in geographical location of assignment.
Conduct regular meetings with the consortium(s) leadership (TLs/DTLs), outcome managers and program managers for update on the project implementation progress and processes.
Together with the Consortium (s) leadership, OPM (Out Program managers) and respective location Finance lead, Procurement, track all required items for successful project /program implementation.
Together with the Consortium (s) leadership, OPM (Out Program managers) and respective location Finance lead follow up and understand the overall key project information and performance, to include budget, procurement, progress as well as the challenges.
Security, Health, and Safety functions.
Conduct regular discussions with key stakeholders in collaboration with NW leadership to identify and determine approaches to address staff’s stress levels and sense of security.
Works closely with the Emergency Coordinator and Emergency Response Unit and Consortium(s) leadership to monitor key indicators and local changes/ developments, and to ensure that IRC responds in a timely and appropriate way.
In collaboration with the HASST lead, ensure the key HASST protocols as per IRC safety and security standard procedures such as field security management plan (FSMP) and safety risk assessment (SRA), security briefings, monthly HASST meetings etc. for the respective field location are in place, all staff trained and procedures for adherence installed for all staff to follow and comply with.
In collaboration with the safety and security lead for the respective location, stay up to date and abreast of the most current and contextually relevant safety and security information that is paramount to the health, safety and security of staff, IRC’s field interventions.
Advocate for adequate safety and security and human capital to effectively deliver IRC interventions in the respective field offices.
Key working relationships:
The role reports: Deputy Director Operations.
Supervises: Respective location operations, finance and programs leads (with the exception of consortium led projects) as the case may be in MiP with CP’s Technical leads, NW SAMs at respective IRC offices in NW.
Key contacts: TLs & DTLs for Consortium Led projects, Senior Programs Coordinator, Senior Projects Coordinator, SMT, HCT etc.
Travel: Between Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi etc. as the case may be and depending on business needs.
Qualifications
Work Experience:
5+ Year in a similar role or equivalent
Education
Undergraduate Degree or master’s degree in management and public administration, Economics, Sociology and social
Administration, Regional and Local Development Studies, International Leadership.
Preferred skills:
Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications.
Excellent project management skills.
Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time.
Strong analytic problem-solving skills.
Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure.
Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.
The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.
