Head of Programmes

BASE LOCATION: Amman, Jordan with frequent travel to field offices across Jordan.

REPORTING TO: Country Director

LINE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES: Programme Manager with matrix management of Programme Support Unit

PURPOSE OF DIVISION:

Through capacity building and through technical and programme support, the International Programme Division keeps the organisation focused on the socio-economic and humanitarian needs of vulnerable people.

The division reinforces IR’s implementing structure to enable these people and their communities to develop themselves sustainably and ensures that the organisation is prepared to respond promptly and effectively to humanitarian crises.

The division increases the organisation’s ability to tackle poverty by developing and fostering partnerships and institutional relationships effectively and proactively, and by ensuring transparent and timely reporting to the organisation’s donors.

JOB PURPOSE:

1. To provide strategic leadership and expertise to the programme in Jordan
2. Design, implement, monitor and report high quality and high impact programming in Jordan
3. To ensure IRJ’s programmes division meets Islamic Relief Quality Standards
4. To ensure the development and utilization of best practice for technical interventions
5. To network with, and represent Islamic Relief to partners (government authorities, donors, INGOs, local NGOs, CBOs etc)
6. Represent Islamic Relief Jordan at relevant forums
7. Lead and effectively contribute to Country/Regional Strategies and yearly plans
8. To ensure capacity building and growth of programmes staff capacities and skillsets

Our values and commitment to safeguarding:

IRJ is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom IRJ engages. IRJ expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organization.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records checks. IRJ also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Applicants should be sympathetic to the values of Islamic Relief:

(Sincerity, Excellence, Compassion, Social Justice and Custodianship)

Islamic Relief is an equal opportunities employer.

1. Key Accountability 1: Programme Design and Development

• Provide strategic direction to the programme, in line with country context and IRW global strategy
• Take a lead role in the annual strategic planning process, implementation of Country Office Strategy and achievement of annunal targets
• Designs programs and projects based on the Country Strategic Plan Maintains sign-off and oversight on project design, bid documents including budgets in collaboration with IRJ finance.
• Proactively identifies opportunities to build key stakeholder relationships with internal and external donors. Providing strategic input and guidance on engagements with institutional donors.
• Develops timely and high quality donor proposals seeking to expand IRJ’s programme, using a participatory approach involving all relevant stakeholders
• Work with the Country Director to diversity the funding base through developing existing or new relationships with donors

1. Key Accountability 2: Implementation and Quality of the Programme

• Make key decisions in relation to the programme implementation, and offer solutions to problems that arise during the implementation of programmes
• Ensure the programme meets Islamic Relief Worldwide Quality Standards and international Codes of Conduct
• Ensure the programmes are implemented and evaluated in a consultative and participative manner through regular field visits
• Ensure the timely submission of high-quality reports to HQ and donors, according to the appropriate guidelines and informed by strong MEAL data
• Ensures MEAL is embedded into project cycle management
• Identifies potential local partners and leads on capacity building. Engages and monitors local partners during implementation, ensuring compliance to IRW partnership policies and procedures

1. Key Accountability 3: Management

• Actively participate in the Country Management Team (CMT)
• Facilitate team building across the Programme, Islamic Relief Jordan and the wider organization
• Motivate the programme team and ensure they have clear objectives and receive meaningful feedback on their performance
• Ensure active capacity building (including technical capacity building) of programmes team
• Provide HR Management to ensure the short and long-term success of the programme, including recruitment, staff development, security etc.
• Deputies for the Country Director whenever requested to do so (it is estimated this task will involve up to 15% of the Head of Programmes time)
• Arrange regular program and budget review meetings with desired outputs
• Develop productive and healthy competitive environment among program team through rewards / accountability tools.

• Key Accountability 4: Networking and Communication
• Build relationships with donors, UN agencies, authorities, clusters, INGOs and NNGOs, communities and other stakeholders in Jordan
• Ensure regular and effective communications are maintained within the programme, and with the Regional Desk at HQ
• Ensures active IRJ attendance, influence and contribution to relevant clusters and forums, including technical clusters and coordination meetings
• Proactively identifies opportunities that raise the external in-country profile of IRJ,
• Undertake an influencing role with institutions, engaging in external relations and advocacy

1. Key Accountability 5: Budgetary Responsibility

• Assist the programme team to develop, finalise and closely monitor the programme budget
• Work closely with the Finance Department to ensure effective financial and budgetary control of the programmes, according to IRW’s policy and procedures
• Ensure corrective measures are taken to address over/under spends in the project budgets