Overall, the USAID IHP Team Leader is a project director level position, but within a large complex consortium which will require strong teamwork and partner relationship skills. The Team Leader will guarantee the quality and timeliness of the project implementation, the provision of technical support from IRC to the consortium in areas of technical leadership, as well as the overall compliance with the contract terms, including the USAID rules and regulations. The team leader will monitor IRC’s deliverables and ensure that IRC meets its contract commitments, including the fee-based performance indictators, and document thoroughly any deviations. The team leader will have overall oversight responsibility for up to 50 employees, albeit with complex, indirect, supervisory lines in 5 different provinces. S/He will ensure coordination between all partners and stakeholders. This position is based in Kinshasa and reports to the IRC Country Director. S/He will frequently travel to the intervention areas.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
1.Quality Project Management:
•Create and oversee the application of all required project management tools by staff members, including compliance-related tools;
•Develop and oversee timely implementation of detailed work plans to ensure activities are implemented in line with IRC’s commitments made in writing and in project-wide meetings with the prime Contractor and other partners as in compliance with IRC, Abt, and USAID requirements;
•Oversee the development, adaptation, regular review and refining of the project’s quality intervention methodology, in conjunction with the USAID IHP leadership, technical teams and HQ Technical Units.
•Develop and update budget spending plan and ensure compliance with budgetary and logistical requirements by IRC, Abt, and USAID;
•Ensure activities comply with the intervention strategy initially established and that they advance according to the defined work plan;
•Collaborate with the prime contractor on an accessible feedback/grievance mechanism, including a systematized timely response process and regularly review feedback from all stakeholders to inform program improvements through the program cycle, and ensure the functioning of the mechanism within IRC, including any necessary follow up of complaints of feedback by the relevant parties;
•Coordinate program with IRC logistics and finance to ensure timely delivery of quality programming;
•Coordinate program planning and implementation with other relevant USAIDIHP stakeholders, especially with the project’s Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, and Regional Directors, and focal points of other project partners.
2.Team Supervision and Management:
•Supervise and assess performance of the core project management team of the Contracts Coordinator, the IHP Finance Lead, the WASH Advisor and the Nutrition and Child Health Advisor and ensure strong guidance and firm sense of cohesion within the IRC team as well as with the wider consortium staff members
•Coordinate the timely and adequate technical unit support from IRC’s HQ technical units, as well as other management and compliance support, and constructively document any constraints or challenges;
•Proactively problem-solve quality issues, and implementation delays in coordination with the Country Director, the prime Contractor, and any relevant IRC HQ stakeholders.
3.Contract Compliance and Oversight
•Ensure overall compliance with IRC, Prime Contractor, and USAID requirements;
•Oversee timely delivery of project commitments according to project documents and agreed workplans, highlighting differences with contract documents in a timely manner;
•Propose timely and constructive solutions to any constraints or challenges that arise, maintaining constructive and respectful relationships between IRC and all project staff.
•Hold regular check-ins with relevant stakeholders for the Prime Contractor as well as other key consortium partners to ensure positive, constructive working relationships.
4.M&E, Research & Knowledge Management
•Contribute to and oversee the quality and timely donor reports using the Abt templates provided, in collaboration with the USAID IHP Contract Coordinator, IRC project Technical Advsiors, and IRC HQ Technical Units;
•Ensure detailed documentation of the project’s methodology, processes, learnings, costs and outcomes throughout the life time of the project;
•Serve as the focal point for operational research activities that IRC undertakes in collaboration with the Prime Contractor and relevant IRC HQ and in-country technical focal points.
5.Program Representation
•Reinforce strong sense of cohesion within the consortium through consistent collaboration, communication, and strategizing with consortium partners particularly the Prime Contractor
•Implement the program’s overall communication and branding strategy in compliance with the Prime Contractor’s and donor’s communications and visibility policy on communication platforms, on visibility tools and digital content;
•Accurately represent the program, its activities and its strategy when dealing with donor, implementing partners, the press, public institutions or other third parties;
•Attend all relevant meetings concerning the program implementation, partner coordination, or program development;
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Position Reports to: Country Director
Position directly supervises: USAIDIHP Contract Coordinator, USAIDIHP Finance Team Lead, WASH Advisor, and Child Health and Nutirition Advisors
Other internal and/or external contacts: Deputy Director Operations, Deputy Director Programs, Senior Health Coordinator, Regional Community Engagement Managers and Service Delivery Managers in areas where IRC is leading geographical implementation, IRC HQ Technical Advisors,, and the HQ Contracts focal points; with significant contact with Abt COP, DCOP and Regional Directors for the USAID IHP Project as well as other Consortium Partners.
