Essential Job Duties/Scope of Work:
International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.
JOB SUMMARY
The Desk Officer works in close collaboration with the Regional Coordinator and the Regional Team to effect a good management, development, supervision, and support of International Medical Corps’ Country Programs within a Regional portfolio. Working under the supervision of the Regional Coordinator (RC) and within the Regional Team assist to coordinate International Medical Corps’ emergency relief and development activities and program design and development for the country programs within the regional portfolio, supports in-country teams and provides guidance to International Medical Corps field staff from its Washington, DC offices with frequent trips to the field. The Desk Officer will also assist in new business development efforts and manage the development of proposals. Additionally, the Desk Officer represents and advocates for International Medical Corps’ programs to partners in the international development community, donors and government representatives.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation.
A. Regional team membership
1.Work within the Regional Team to assist the team members to provide financial, program development, fund raising, recruitment and technical oversight, input and supervision;
2.Work with members of other International Medical Corps departments who are not assigned to the Regional Team but who provide programming, logistical, legal, security, human resource and communication oversight, input and/or supervision, including International Medical Corps-UK.
B. Regional program management
Working under the supervision of the Regional Coordinator and with the Regional Team:
1.Backstop the daily operations of the country programs to ensure continuance through appropriate response to context changes, mission, program, and beneficiary needs, donor positioning, lessons learned, and best practices;
2.Facilitate compliance with internal and external regulations (referencing internal audit quarterly reports), all applicable laws, and contractual obligations, in consultation with Legal;
3.Facilitate timely and adequate cooperation with GCM and Finance regarding review and approval of agreements (MOUs, contracts, etc.); a.Assist field team with, in consultation with GCM and Finance, sub partner relationships, including subcontract management and review/approval of subreports
4.Manage timely and proper reports (internal, financial, donor, special and other) and their flow within and without International Medical Corps including International Medical Corps-UK including review, analysis, and compliance with deadlines;
5.Act as liaison for the country programs with International Medical Corps internal departments, advocating for the needs of the program within International Medical Corps;
6.Through use of internal systems, maintain regular program evaluation tools to ensure that objectives are being achieved and quality is maintained; a.Assist in developing and implementing regional and country strategies; provide feedback on identified country program directions; Remain up to date on key donor priorities and interests, ensuring that country strategies align
7.Perform problem solving and mitigation as needed;
8.Coordinate communications between all International Medical Corps departments, including headquarters offices and the field; maintain open lines of communication with field staff ensuring that country programs are properly briefed on International Medical Corps’ mission, goals, and capacity; In addition, ensure that HQ departments, such as Communications and Resource Development remain informed of country priorities and needs
9.Assist in new program and new mission start-up as appropriate. a.Coordinate with Int’l HR as necessary to recruit and orient new hires and consultants
C. Program design and development
Working under the supervision of the Regional Coordinator and with the Regional Team:
1.Using the country strategies as a base, manage ongoing program development and design. This will include identification of needs; identification of donors, donor priorities, and donor opportunities; and program design;
2.Lead the proposal process, which may include : a.Review proposals for consistency with donor requirements (Requests for Proposals/Requests for Applications).
b.Budget development in line with implementation planning and IMC policies and practices.
c.Coordinate all aspects of new business proposals. Oversee proposal development process from kick-off through production, delivery and issues letter phase.
d.Develop the proposal calendar and ensure deadlines are met.
e.Predict and prevent bottlenecks in proposal development process by staying abreast of all proposal components and allocating extra resources where needed.
f.Responsible for ensuring client requirements of each solicitation are fully satisfied.
g.Quality-control proposal documents and components prior to production.
h.Coordination of International Medical Corps departments, including from the Technical Unit, Nutrition & Food Security department, finance, Grants & Contracts Management.
i.i.(Pre) teaming agreement processing, recruitment efforts, shortfall/exposure approvals, preparation for submission, submission, following through the approval process, and assisting in start-up activities;
3.Expand International Medical Corps horizons and ensure sustainability through the use of new funding mechanisms, new program concepts, and the adaptation of new program techniques using consultants as necessary;
4.Participate in exploratory missions/assessments both within and without current country missions. a.Assist Legal department with registration efforts as necessary
D. Supervision
Working under the supervision of the Regional Coordinator and with the Regional Team:
1.Facilitate human resource oversight of country teams including administration matters, mentoring, coaching and identification and resolution of problems, concerns, legal issues, and conflicts;
2.Assist in identify staffing needs, interviewing applicants, and orienting new country mission staff, including consultants following appropriate International Medical Corps procedures;
3.Visit the country missions regularly for management and operational assessment; Coordinate visits to the mission by Regional Team members and others;
4.Through monthly (at a minimum), programmatic and pipeline calls, communicate regularly with mission staff, especially the country director;
5.Be accessible to mission staff;
6.Assist in the provision of applicable training of new and current staff through the identification of staff training needs and training opportunities and through ongoing training in International Medical Corps’ policies and procedures; a.As requested by the field, promote technical support from HQ departments, whether in the form of site visits or calls.
7.Provide leadership, guidance and promote professional working relationships with all International Medical Corps’ departments to International Medical Corps’ staff members.
E. Representation
Working under the supervision of the Regional Coordinator and with the Regional Team:
1.Have a thorough understanding of the mission and regional contexts;
2.Maintain substantial relationships with donors and partners (governmental, NGO, and companies) both current and potential;
3.Raise the profile of International Medical Corps, its work and country missions through active participation in Interaction forum, conferences, workshops, outreach events, and communication opportunities;
4.Document all contacts;
5.Represent International Medical Corps as well to the field and mission;
6.Serve as advocate for the missions both to internal as well as external parties.
Benchmarks
A. Regional team leadership and management
1.Minutes of the team meetings distributed promptly.
B. Manage regional programs
1.Maintain up-to-date mission data – site descriptions, maps, contact lists, security plans, organizational charts, etc.;
2.All reports submitted following donor regulations.
C. Program design and development
1.High quality proposals are submitted on time and following donor regulations.
2.Country strategy documents are developed on an annual basis
D. Supervision
1.Job descriptions, staff requests, travel and other human resources procedures are followed correctly;
2.Each mission is visited at least once per year by the Desk Officer.
Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed above are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and are not necessarily inclusive.
Qualifications:
REQUIREMENTS:
•Bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years of relevant work experience or Master’s degree (e.g. Public Health, Social Work, International Relations, Business Administration, International Development, etc.) plus 1-2 years of relevant experience required;
•Ability to read, analyze, and interpret USG/EU/UN donor regulations and requirements;
•Ability to write reports;
•Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from management and field programs;
•Understanding of health and development concepts in developing countries;
•Outstanding organizational skills;
•Excellent communication skills, both oral and written;
•Excellent self-motivation skills;
•Experience in effectively dealing with international and headquarters staff, and the ability to deal with a broad spectrum of people;
•Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions independently;
•Excellent ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast paced and constantly changing environment;
•Be flexible possess the ability to cope in stressful situations;
•Be creative and possess the ability to work with limited resources;
•Proven knowledge of USAID RFA and proposal development procedures;
•Strong analytical and research skills;
•Ability to assess field program needs;
•Strong computer skills;
•Willingness and ability to travel extensively.
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