Technical Specialist, Continuous Improvement 55 views

This opportunity can be based globally in any IRC office.

The Crisis Recovery and Response Department (CRRD) houses all of the IRC’s Country Programs that implement our work, as well as the sector-specific Technical Units (TUs), which are the teams of experts that support IRC’s shift to more outcomes-driven and evidence-based programs. Technical Unitss collaborate closely with Country Program staff on the frontlines of program delivery, and provide technical support to staff to help ensure our programs are high-quality and deliver results for the people we serve.

The Strategy, Learning, & Innovation team sits alongside the Technical Units and works directly with them to support strategic Initiatives focused on:

(1) improving the quality of our programs to achieve better outcomes for the people we serve,

(2) facilitating more collaborative, effective, and data-driven ways of working,

(3) advancing learning and innovation for the CRRD department.

The team currently consists of a Senior Director, Deputy Director, Program Quality Standards Officer and 50% of a Policy and Budget Officer.

Location: Can be based globally in any IRC office,

Length of Assignment: 12 months, potential to extend.

The Purpose of the Role

The IRC has many of the key foundations for program quality in place, including: standards, guidance resources and most importantly, high capacity Country Teams supported by technical experts. However, as an organization that strives for excellence, there are still improvements that can be made. The Technical Specialist, Continuous Improvement will introduce a field responsive approach to cross cutting program quality innovations, which will direct the innovation and improvement priorities of the team. She/he will build on the existing program quality foundations and will help bring simple solutions to complex problems.

The Technical Specialist will report to the Senior Director, Strategy, Learning & Innovation and will work closely with other team members, and collaboratively with colleagues in Technical Excellence, Strategy & Performance and Program Delivery teams.

KEY ACCOUNTABLITIES AND MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop and manage a consultation and continuous improvement process for field responsive innovation & improvement, empowering country, technical excellence and program delivery colleagues to identify gaps and redundancies, share solutions and recommend potential improvements to IRC’s program quality ecosystem;

Responding to country and/or Technical Unit led innovation, capture and disseminate learning on cross cutting program quality approaches;

Responding to demand, lead collaborative projects that will bolster and/or simplify IRC’s program quality ecosystem; and

Provide surge support to the roll out of the IRC’s new project management routines and program quality standards.

Work collaboratively and with a spirit of kindness and humility, especially with country program colleagues

Requisition ID: req7244

Job Title: Technical Specialist, Continuous Improvement

Sector: Evaluation & Learning

Contract: Fixed Term (12 months)

Working Hours: Full-Time

Location: Kampala, Uganda

Job Description

This opportunity can be based globally in any IRC office.

The Crisis Recovery and Response Department (CRRD) houses all of the IRC’s Country Programs that implement our work, as well as the sector-specific Technical Units (TUs), which are the teams of experts that support IRC’s shift to more outcomes-driven and evidence-based programs. Technical Unitss collaborate closely with Country Program staff on the frontlines of program delivery, and provide technical support to staff to help ensure our programs are high-quality and deliver results for the people we serve.

The Strategy, Learning, & Innovation team sits alongside the Technical Units and works directly with them to support strategic Initiatives focused on:

(1) improving the quality of our programs to achieve better outcomes for the people we serve,

(2) facilitating more collaborative, effective, and data-driven ways of working,

(3) advancing learning and innovation for the CRRD department.

The team currently consists of a Senior Director, Deputy Director, Program Quality Standards Officer and 50% of a Policy and Budget Officer.

Location: Can be based globally in any IRC office,

Length of Assignment: 12 months, potential to extend.

The Purpose of the Role

The IRC has many of the key foundations for program quality in place, including: standards, guidance resources and most importantly, high capacity Country Teams supported by technical experts. However, as an organization that strives for excellence, there are still improvements that can be made. The Technical Specialist, Continuous Improvement will introduce a field responsive approach to cross cutting program quality innovations, which will direct the innovation and improvement priorities of the team. She/he will build on the existing program quality foundations and will help bring simple solutions to complex problems.

The Technical Specialist will report to the Senior Director, Strategy, Learning & Innovation and will work closely with other team members, and collaboratively with colleagues in Technical Excellence, Strategy & Performance and Program Delivery teams.

KEY ACCOUNTABLITIES AND MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and manage a consultation and continuous improvement process for field responsive innovation & improvement, empowering country, technical excellence and program delivery colleagues to identify gaps and redundancies, share solutions and recommend potential improvements to IRC’s program quality ecosystem;
• Responding to country and/or Technical Unit led innovation, capture and disseminate learning on cross cutting program quality approaches;
• Responding to demand, lead collaborative projects that will bolster and/or simplify IRC’s program quality ecosystem; and
• Provide surge support to the roll out of the IRC’s new project management routines and program quality standards.
• Work collaboratively and with a spirit of kindness and humility, especially with country program colleagues

Skills, Experience, and Qualifications:

Essential:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field; Master’s Degree a distinct advantage
• Progressively responsible experience within the humanitarian or development sector, including experience working at both the country and global level;
• Experience in innovation and/or change management;
• Demonstrated ability to find simple solutions for complex problems;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively manage a variety of multi-level relationships in a multicultural environment;
• Excellent written communications and ability to develop simple and accessible communications materials;
• Excellent project management skills, including organizational aptitude and attention to detail;
• The ability to work productively and accurately while under pressure in a fast-paced, demanding environment;
• A flexible work attitude, meaning the ability to work in a team environment or independently, and the ability to meet unexpected demands;
• Ability to prioritize effectively;
• Ability to travel (up to 20%) to IRC country program locations.

Desirable:

• Product development experience
• Research and/or learning experience
• Mastery of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• The ability to work (read and write) in French, Spanish or Arabic

This role is Fixed term: 12 months, with
extension anticipated but contingent on funding.

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