Program Officer, RAI Europe
- Organization
- Posted
- Closing date
***THIS ROLE IS ELIGIBLE TO BE FULLY REMOTE WITH 20-25% TRAVEL***
Background/IRC Summary:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries, the IRC seeks to be an operational and inspiring leader in matters of resettlement, asylum, and integration, demonstrating its credibility and expertise as a leading service provider, partner and advocate across the arc of the global displacement crisis.
Resettlement, Asylum and Integration (RAI)
The RAI department creates opportunities for refugees and other vulnerable migrants and groups to survive and thrive in the US and Europe. In Europe, IRC operates across 9 countries and provides technical assistance to more than 10 other countries in Central and Eastern Europe to ensure that the most vulnerable asylum-seekers and migrants have the necessary support to feel safe and well, get the services they need day to day, and become financially independent from the time they arrive, throughout their journeys, and in their new homes. Since the conflict in Ukraine started and consequent displacement into neighboring countries from February 2022, the programs are established to address the most pressing needs of people on the move across the Southeast Europe. The programs are implemented in close partnership with local non-governmental organizations and governmental institutions.
Resource, Acquisitions and Management (RAM) team
RAM liaises between donors, IRC development departments, and program teams to provide expert technical advice on grants management while maintaining portfolio-level visibility to ensure consistency, compliance and manage risk. This unit ensures that donor compliance policies and procedures are implemented consistently and supports all staff working across the grants management cycle for all restricted funding from global government sources.
Job Overview/Summary:
The Program Officer (PO) for RAI Europe will report directly to the Senior Director for Resource Acquisition and Management. The PO will provide business and proposal development for all countries in Europe as well as for regional initiatives. The PO will coordinate closely with NY HQ departments, External Relations, and the rest of the regional team (including the Regional Grants Director and Regional Grants Advisor). This role will be expected to travel to the region 20-25% of the time.
Major Responsibilities:
Business Development
- Establish and maintain a working knowledge of the IRC’s EU regional context, including stakeholders, programs, clients, and staff and partner capacity, to inform business and grants development
- In coordination with the RAI Europe grants teams, evaluate offices and program readiness for new funding streams and opportunities, including maintaining awareness of existing partner relationships, finance, HR, and additional funding requirements for success
- Map and evaluate potential private funding opportunities’ benefits, requirements, and obligations to meet the funding needs of the EU region and capacity of country offices
- Serve as a primary point of contact for IRC’s private fundraising department, External Relations, on funding needs in the EU region. Provide content, information, and support for donor stewardship, including supporting development of relevant concept notes, proposals, presentations, and other materials.
- Maintain a strong relationship with the Europe Post-Award officer, the RAI Europe grants teams, and RAI Europe Regional and Deputy Regional Directors to support the strategies and targets for funding ambitions.
- Maintain OTIS grant database workflows in coordination with the Europe Post-Award Officer, country program grants teams, and External Relations; ensure quality information management through other Grant Unit tools
- When appropriate, represent the region in private donor meetings
Proposal Development & Country Program Support
- Coordinate between IRC HQ teams, including External Relations, Program Quality and Innovation, HR, Awards Management Unit, Legal, and Finance, to support proposal and budget development, submission, and the award review process
- Liaise with the Europe Post-Award Officer and RAI Europe grants teams to coordinate inputs on award design, proposals, and budgets
- Draft and/or review proposals and budgets for private awards as needed
- Coordinate with the Europe Post-Award Officer and RAI Europe grants teams to transition awards from pre- to post-award, ensuring program timelines, deliverables, budgets, reporting requirements, and other critical award information is communicated and documented.
- Provide support to Grants staff (including training and mentoring to new Grants staff on pre-award processes), country leads, and Regional leadership and increase level of involvement and tracking of pre-award issues;
- Familiarity with IRC’s partnerships management systems
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Senior Director, Resource Acquisition & Management
Indirect Reporting: Regional & Deputy Regional Directors, RAI Europe
Other Internal and/or external contacts:
Internal: External Relations; Finance; HR; Office of General Counsel; CRRD counterparts as relevant; Technical Excellence (CRRD) & Program Quality & Innovation (RAI)
External: Donors where relevant.
Job Requirements:
- Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree preferred, in a related field or at least 5 years comparable related experience;
- Minimum 3 years progressive NGO work experience;
- Knowledge of donor compliance for US and European donors
- Familiarity with refugee policy and political context in Central and Eastern Europe a plus;
- Excellent written and oral communication skills including great attention to detail;
- Ability to think and plan strategically to meet Regional needs & ambitions;
- Proven ability to effectively manage donor relationships;
- Experience preparing and/or managing budgets
- Solid organizational skills: ability to be flexible & work well under pressure in a fast-paced team environment;
- Good Computer skills: MS Word, Excel, and email/internet software.
- Previous experience with IRC and/or in a similar position a plus
- English language fluency required; fluency in another IRC programmatic language strongly preferred (Italian, Greek, German)
*Working Environment:***Standard office work environment. 20-25% travel
The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, 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.
IRC et les employés de IRC doivent adhérer aux valeurs et principes contenus dans le IRC WAY (normes de conduite professionnelle). Ce sont l’Intégrité, le Service, et la Responsabilité. En conformité avec ces valeurs, IRC opère et fait respecter les politiques sur la protection des bénéficiaires contre l’exploitation et les abus, la protection de l’enfant, le harcèlement sur les lieux de travail, l’intégrité financière, et les représailles.
Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirement.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.
Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.