Cash and Basic Needs Manager

OBJECTIVES:  

The Cash and Basic Needs (CBN) Manager will oversee the day-to-day implementation of cash and basic needs programming in the Odesa Field Office and relevant areas of responsibility region (Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts), including supporting strategic planning, decision making, program implementation and supervision of staff. This position is based in Odesa (with regular visits to program implementation locations)

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The CBN Manager is responsible for project coordination of Cash and Basic Needs programming delivered both with partners and directly by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in line with the IRC Ukraine country program strategy and IRC’s global priorities, frameworks and policies. Key responsibilities include:

Program Quality / Management and Implementation

Provide technical support for CBN activities; define and implement activities to achieve the greatest coverage and impact possible.
Provide mentoring, quality control and coordination to strengthen program outcomes.
Develop and adhere to detailed implementation plans to ensure program implementation is on time, achieving targets and within budget, using effective M&E systems and adaptive management principles to reach desired impacts.
Collaborate with key staff and senior members of other technical sectors to prepare strategic work-plans with clear objectives and achievement benchmarks, long-term and short-term priorities, implementation plans, financial projections and tools for evaluation.
Ensure the integration of cash and voucher assistance activities across outcomes mainly with health, MHPSS, and protection (including activities provided by partners).

Partnerships
Identify and develop partnerships with local and international implementing partners as appropriate for program design and in service to clients based on IRC’s PEERS standards of equal and effective partnership.
Strengthen relationships with local municipalities in project sites.
Build relationships with private sector partners and linkages to support livelihoods and employment programming.

Team Management / Staff Supervision & Development
Oversee project implementation teams based in Odesa and Mykolaiv and ensure that all staff are following work plans.
Support staff technical capacity-building plans that promote a culture of learning through systematic analysis and reflection of program data and lessons learned and ensure staff receive training accordingly.
Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
Assist CBN staff in identifying professional development needs and opportunities.
Provide continuous performance feedback to staff; identify performance issues and work with staff and Human Resources to document and address issues in a timely manner.
Assist with and as necessary lead the recruitment of CBN personnel.

Coordination & Representation
As directed by the ERD coordinator and Field Coordinator, develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.
As directed, attend relevant cluster and working group meetings at appropriate levels.
Support the development of partnerships with local private sector actors and municipalities.

Monitoring, Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL)
Ensure proper data collection and information management systems are used for projects with support of MEAL teams.
Analyze relevant data and share information for projects to support learning and adaptive management.
Support written program evaluations and reviews and ensure documentation of lessons learned informing reporting and program development.
Support the ERD Coordinator and client responsiveness officers in addressing complaints and feedback from clients and partners.

Business Development
Support the development of concept notes and proposals related to CBN programming expansion and continuation, including budgets, logical frameworks, relevant indicators, and written narratives.
Facilitate co-design of programming with potential partners that are responsive to client needs.

Reporting
Write ERD program narrative reports for review by ERD Coordinator and Grants team.
Support the provision of up-to-date information on success stories to Communications and Advocacy team

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Education:  minimum university degree in International Development, Business Administration, Economics, or Humanitarian Response preferred.

Required skills and competencies:

At least 3 years of relevant work experience in cash and voucher assistance, livelihoods, social protection, and/or other humanitarian and development programs with demonstrated experience in both direct implementation and working with partners.
Knowledge and experience in cash and voucher assistance, market and value chain analysis, private sector engagement, livelihoods mapping, access to finance and micro-enterprise support.
Previous experience managing programming in complex contexts as well as ability to manage, supervise, coach and mentor staff.
Experience in effectively managing program budgets and work plans.
Demonstrated knowledge of gender and proficiency in managing projects that mainstream gender

Proven ability to work well in and promote teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure with professional grace.
Willingness to travel to different cities within Ukraine and stay overnight if needed.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook

Language Requirements: Fluency in Ukrainian and English. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present to groups of all sizes.
Self-starter with ability to work independently and part of a team.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively under pressure and handle multiple simultaneous tasks and demands coming from multiple sources.
Hard-working, sharp and detail-oriented.
Exceptional interpersonal skills; tact, patience, diplomacy, and appropriate assertiveness.
Proficiency in MS Office software suite – including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
Experience working with databases and/or other tracking systems.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION
•            This role requires full-time work in the office or hybrid type of working is possible after probation period
•            Applicants must have a home or alternate workspace they can effectively complete their work from during regularly scheduled work hours.
•            Travel to other locations is needed up to 30% of time
•            Exempt from overtime
•            Sometimes work on weekends may be required
•            Work in the matrix organization
•            Fast pace of working, multitasking and stressful work
•            The organization cares about staff and provides flexible working options (start early-finish early, start later-finish later, remote work)
Staff can ask for accommodation of a workplace. Specific requests can be discussed with HR.

IRC employees are eligible to the following benefits:
•            Competitive salary
•            Purposeful job and development opportunities
•            English classes and unlimited online training courses
•            Life Insurance
•            Medical insurance for staff and family members
•            Free psychological support to employees and their family members
•            30 calendar days of annual vacation with flexibility beyond the legally set minimum requirements
•            Up to 10 days of paid medical leave