The Regional Program Delivery Advisor for the West Africa and Central Africa Region (WACAR) serves as the primary focal point for program delivery support across the region, working closely with the Regional Vice President (RVP), Deputy Regional Director (DRD), and Director of Awards Management (DAM). This role is instrumental in ensuring that programs remain responsive to changing contexts through adaptive management and the implementation of global standards. The Advisor works closely with regional leadership and country teams to strengthen project management capacity, oversee financial performance, and lead innovative pilot initiatives to improve delivery effectiveness.
Major Responsibilities
Regional Coordination and Strategic Support
- Serve as the primary focal point for program delivery support across the region.
- Coordinate with the Delivery Support Deputy Director at HQ to ensure regional alignment with global program delivery standards, systems, and innovations.
- Champion adaptive management approaches across the region, ensuring programs remain responsive to changing contexts and emerging needs.
Country Program Support and Project Management
- Provide targeted technical support to Senior Program Coordinators and Project Leads of highly complex projects or projects at risk.
- Strengthen country teams' project management capacity through assessment of staffing structures, skills gaps, use of tools, and performance routines.
- Support implementation of Data & Performance Routines for large-scale projects, including quarterly status monitoring and bi-annual HQ PIMs.
- Provide hands-on advice and mentorship to country program teams on adaptive project management approaches.
- Help country teams analyze and use data for learning and adapting through Project Cycle Management (PCM) routines.
- Collaborate with regional leads on restructuring discussions to optimize delivery capacity.
- Foster a culture of learning and accountability among project leadership.
- Participate in Project Steering Committees for high-value or highly complex sub-regional awards.
Financial Management and Oversight
- Partner with the Regional Finance Director to ensure strong financial management across priority projects.
- Support teams in addressing financial risks by monitoring performance and implementing corrective actions.
- Participate in Regional Finance Reviews, providing program delivery perspectives.
- Streamline financial processes and resolve implementation challenges.
Innovation and Piloting
- Design and pilot innovative project management approaches, tools, and systems with HQ.
- Lead pilot initiatives on adaptive management practices and delivery models.
- Document and share lessons learned from pilots to inform regional and global rollout.
- Support the uptake of Project Learning Meetings (PLM) as part of the PCM approach.
Coordination and Quality Assurance
- Work with Regional Technical Leads to ensure technical quality and program delivery excellence are mutually reinforcing.
- Monitor operational, financial, reputational, and strategic risks across priority projects, escalating concerns as needed.
- Ensure projects maintain quarterly status updates using standardized templates (OTIS Portfolio Dashboard, Program Indicator Dashboard).
Capacity Building and Training
- Develop and deliver training programs on adaptive project management practices.
- Enhance existing training packages and create guidance materials on organizational design for optimal delivery.
- Build capacity of country teams in data analysis and evidence-based decision-making.
- Foster a regional community of practice on project management excellence.
Skills, Experience, and Qualifications
Essential:
- Master's Degree in a relevant field (MBA/MSc/MA).
- Minimum 8-10 years of progressively responsible experience within the humanitarian and/or development sector, including significant regional-level experience.
- Demonstrated expertise in project management best practices, including Project Cycle Management (PCM) and adaptive management.
- Strong experience in program delivery support, systems strengthening, and quality assurance.
- Experience with financial management systems, budget monitoring, and donor compliance.
- Proven ability to provide technical capacity building and deliver training programs.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to use data for performance management.
- Experience with program monitoring systems and dashboards (OTIS, Power BI, or similar).
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online via the International Rescue Committee career portal. Follow the link provided to access the official application page: Apply on International Rescue Committee Career Portal. This link will redirect you to the official Workday recruitment site for IRC.
