The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Since 2017, IRC has supported Rohingya Refugees and Bangladeshi nationalities communities in Cox's Bazar, Khulna, Barisal, and Chittagong with integrated services. The organization also addresses climate change impacts by building resilience and promoting economic recovery, education, and protection.

Purpose of the Role

The DDP provides leadership, decision-making and oversight of the IRC Bangladesh’s program portfolio, ensuring a strategically coherent program direction and compliance with IRC and donor regulations. The DDP assures strong collaboration and coordination on programmatic issues both internally and externally, including the development of quality proposals and the delivery of high quality and timely programs for our clients. The DDP is also responsible for supervising Grants, Partnerships, MEAL, Technical and Program implementation functions. This position will work closely and collaboratively across departments of the Country Office and with other IRC Partners including Technical Advisors and awards management colleagues. The DDP is a senior member of the Bangladesh Country Office leadership, reporting directly to the Country Director and a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT).

For this role, we are seeking a dynamic leader who can drive continued success across our strategy, deliver on priorities, and motivate a diverse and inclusive team with a joined vision and shared goals. You will be skilled in fostering collaboration across departments and across sectors, and empowering staff and leaders to succeed.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program Implementation

• Oversee and ensure high-quality and timely implementation of all programs. Support Program Coordinators and Technical Coordinators in using structured and realistic project management tools—such as workplans, procurement plans, and spending plans—in coordination with the Operations team.

• Closely monitor program budgets, expenditures, and progress to ensure grants remain within budget and are closed on time. Ensure consistent Project Cycle Management routines are followed, and take timely, well-structured corrective action as needed.

• Ensure clear accountability, well-defined roles and responsibilities, and effective communication and coordination across all teams within the Programs Department.

• Guide the implementation of the IRC Bangladesh Partnership Strategy and sectoral partnership plans, ensuring alignment with IRC’s localization commitments while maintaining high-quality, efficient services for clients.

• Provide the Country Director with accurate, up-to-date insights on program implementation developments, along with recommendations for timely decision-making.

• Support the Head of MEAL and Program Quality and Senior Coordinator for Grants, and Partnerships in executing the MEAL strategy, ensuring that data from MEAL systems and client feedback informs all stages of the project cycle.

• Ensure timely, high-quality donor reporting in line with IRC and donor requirements.

• Facilitate access to appropriate technical support from IRC’s Technical Units, Airbel Impact Lab, RAI, external consultants, or partner agencies as needed.

• Lead strategic engagement with consortium partners, including in program design and implementation, and actively participate in coordination and advocacy platforms.

2. Strategic Planning & Implementation

• Lead the development, review, and implementation of the Country Strategy Action Plan (SAP), with a focus on driving ownership across program departments, delivering against strategic goals, and embedding IMPACT quality standards.

• Ensure all programming aligns with the IRC Bangladesh SAP priorities and the IRC Outcomes and Evidence Framework (OEF), including during program planning, project design, and internal communications.

• Coordinate with the Country Director and other senior colleagues to annually update country and sector strategies, ensuring relevance to evolving contexts and organizational effectiveness.

• Lead the rollout of strategic initiatives such as localization through expanded partnerships, research and innovation, and the integration of cross-cutting priorities like gender, climate change, and disaster risk reduction.

3. Grants and Program Development

• Provide overall leadership to the Grants and Program Development teams, ensuring sound strategy, processes, and systems for securing adequate funding to achieve targeted client outcomes.

• Oversee the development of compelling, evidence-based program designs and competitive proposals for new funding opportunities. Ensure strong coordination between technical, operational, and budgeting teams throughout the proposal development process.

• Ensure timely and high-quality financial and narrative reporting to donors. Ensure program and MEAL teams contribute proactively and meaningfully to all reporting requirements.

• Grow the impact and reach of IRC programming by ensuring excellent program delivery, maintaining strong donor and partner relationships, and proactively positioning the IRC for funding opportunities.

4. Human Resources and Staff Development

• Provide daily support for the success and development of team members by setting clear expectations, offering timely feedback, and motivating staff to reach their full potential.

• Foster a team culture of collaboration, mutual accountability, adaptability, and client-centered service delivery.

• Actively support the implementation of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan by modeling inclusive leadership and cultivating an empowering workplace culture.

• Collaborate closely with the Deputy Director, HR on workforce planning, including succession planning, talent development, timely recruitment, and improving gender diversity in management positions.

5. Liaison/Representation and Coordination

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of IRC programs in order to effectively represent the organization to external stakeholders.

• Support the Country Director in building and maintaining strong, strategic relationships with donors and government counterparts to ensure sustainability of programs.

• Encourage and support improved program cohesion through coordination initiatives and information-sharing among key staff across the country program.

• Contribute actively to advocacy efforts by bringing evidence and perspectives from IRC’s programs into dialogues aimed at strengthening protection of the rights of clients and communities.

• Serve as an active member of the Senior Management Team and deputize for the Country Director when required.

Major Challenges/Difficulties of this Role

• Balancing multiple, high-priority demands in a fast-paced, high-pressure operating environment.

• Coordinating and communicating effectively with multi-cultural, multi-sector teams composed of both national and international staff, often dispersed across multiple locations.

• Ensuring consistent program and support service quality amid dynamic operational and contextual challenges.

• Navigating a fluid safety and security environment marked by a range of risks, including civil unrest, road safety concerns, and extreme weather conditions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (candidates with master’s degree will be preferred): International Development, International Relations, relevant social sciences or equivalent experience in relevant fields.

• Over 10 years of experience (including 5 years at programmatic leadership level), preferably in a refugee context or complex humanitarian and development environment.

• Experience in leading Refugee Resettlement programs, including managing strategic program modality, compliance, and coordination with government and humanitarian agencies to ensure effective service delivery.

• Excellent leadership, people management, interpersonal and negotiation skills and demonstrated ability to develop gender balanced, harmonious and impactful teams.

• Ability to think strategically, prioritize and meet deadlines in a challenging environment; flexible to adapt to changing needs; must work effectively and efficiently with a culturally diverse team.

• Excellent budget management skills and experience of diverse range of donor contract management, especially experience in managing large scale programs with high value budgets

• Experience of leading programs through both direct operational approach as well as in partnerships with local NGOs.

• Strong diplomacy skills: ability to establish and maintain good collaboration with partners, donors and other peers in a sensitive environment. Excellent command over English, Bangla language highly preferred.

• Committed towards IRC’s core values Integrity, Equality, Accountability and Service.

Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

How to apply

https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/job/req59235/Deputy-Director-Programs