IRC Summary:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC), responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people survive, recover and gain control of their future. The IRC is working to improve the safety, health, education, economic well-being and power of people in crisis affected places.
The Economic Recovery and Development Technical Unit (ERD TU) is responsible for supporting the development, implementation, and monitoring of client-centered programs such as, but not limited to, cash and voucher assistance (CVA), rural & agricultural livelihoods, and enterprise development and employment promotion. The TU’s technical assistance to this wide variety of programs ensures quality and use of evidence-based practices; promotes innovation, diversity, equity, and inclusion; and drives data-based management and decision making.
Job Overview:
The Livelihoods & Program Development Officer will play a critical role in supporting two functions within the ERD TU: the Livelihoods pillar and the Strategic Initiatives pillar. Working with Deputy Director Strategic Initiatives, the Livelihoods & Program Development Officer plays an instrumental role in supporting the development and roll-out of strategic initiatives, program development, and global tools and resources. The position will also work closely with the Deputy Director Livelihoods to plan, coordinate and implement administration and global resources support for the livelihoods team.
ERD Partnership Approaches, Development & Support (30%):
• Contribute to the development and dissemination of tools and resources for partner research, cultivation, and engagement.
• Support ERD country programs in private sector mapping exercises, including leading desk research, project management, and capacity building of country program staff in engaging private sector stakeholders.
• Add to the development of design concepts and proposals to fund established private sector partnership models promoting livelihoods outcomes.
• Lead efforts to document and share lessons learned across IRC’s network of country programs in private sector engagement work.
Strategic ERD Business Development Support (30%):
• Provide dedicated support (including project management during capture, pre-design, and design phases, input collation, partner engagement, and drafting) to strategic livelihoods business development opportunities, as coordinated by the Deputy Director, Strategic Initiatives, and Deputy Director, Livelihoods.
• Develop and manage library of concept note templates, program designs, narratives, and stock language to be saved, refined, and used to streamline future business development opportunities.
Livelihoods Communications and Knowledge Management / Resource Development (30%):
• Support the livelihoods team with capacity statements, technical briefs, presentations, newsletter and external materials, and lead on knowledge management, organization, and dissemination of relevant materials.
• Further the development and dissemination of the ERD Newsletter, a bi-monthly newsletter shared within IRC.
• Support ongoing intra- and inter-departmental projects such as the ERD Community of Practice, a monthly meeting that convenes global IRC ERD colleagues to share findings and implementation experiences, working closely with the ERD Program Assistant and Cash & Markets Assistant.
• Produce resources on the work of the ERD/livelihoods sub-unit, for internal and external dissemination.
Livelihoods Team Operations (10%):
• Lead scheduling of key livelihoods team meetings and maintain related documents (scheduler, workplan, meeting notes, etc.) as needed.
• When needed, assist the livelihoods team in planning and logistics of workshops, conferences, meetings, team retreats, in collaboration with the ERD Program Assistant.
• Conduct other administrative tasks as needed in support of the smooth operations of the livelihoods team.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in social science, business, nutrition, agriculture, or other relevant field required; Masters level degree or equivalent lived experience encouraged.
Work Experience: 3-5 years of work experience in the humanitarian or development sector with progressive management and decision-making responsibility, preferably with at least 2 years of international experience implementing humanitarian and/or development programs with livelihoods components. Experience working in diverse emergency, recovery, post-conflict or development contexts preferred.
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:
• Proven organizational skills: proficiency in working productively under remote team and management structures across teams.
Language: Demonstrated excellence in English is required, one of the other three IRC working languages – Arabic, French, or Spanish highly desirable.
