Deputy Director of Programs Colombia

The Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) is a senior leadership role responsible for leading program strategy, management, and compliance for IRC programs in Colombia and partner-led outreach in Ecuador. The DDP supports business development, ensures program quality and donor compliance, and leads a multidisciplinary team to deliver humanitarian and development services in complex contexts.

Responsibilities

• Lead efforts for sustainable program growth, identifying new programming initiatives and prioritizing multi-year funding opportunities
• Implement IRC’s business development strategy in Colombia, identifying donors and expanding the donor base
• Coordinate with regional team, technical advisors, staff, and partners to submit innovative, high-quality proposals
• Collaborate with Communications, MEAL, and Grants to implement IRC’s positioning strategy
• Ensure project design reflects IRC’s program quality standards and industry best practices
• Provide guidance to ensure programming decisions are based on needs assessments, community input, and context analysis
• Formulate integrated program initiatives promoting protection principles and gender-sensitive approaches
• Provide overall leadership and management of IRC’s program portfolio in Colombia and Ecuador
• Support Country Director in designing and updating the Strategic Action Plan
• Strengthen capacities of program team members
• Ensure realistic and feasible project implementation plans are developed and adapted as needed
• Coordinate with SMT members on management, compliance, and performance standards
• Collaborate with Security Coordinator to ensure security-conscious program implementation
• Support program staff in documenting lessons learned and best practices
• Develop effective MEAL plans reflecting program impact
• Review M&E and accountability data to identify operational improvements
• Work through IRC’s Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS) for partnership management
• Serve as liaison with partner organizations and support partnership staff
• Lead country program’s localization strategy and support local partners
• Ensure safeguards risks are addressed consistently throughout the program cycle
• Model accountability and commitment to safeguards among staff, partners, and clients
• Ensure quality grants management and compliance with donor requirements
• Oversee internal and external reports ensuring quality and timeliness
• Ensure routine monitoring visits to implementation sites
• Coordinate with program, grants, and finance teams for budget management and financial reporting
• Ensure program staff are trained in project budget management
• Lead monthly grant review meetings
• Mitigate risks by collaborating with finance and operations departments
• Ensure timely and compliant closure of all grants
• Represent IRC professionally to partners, government, and donors
• Support Country Director in donor relationship development and advocacy
• Build and maintain cooperation with partner organizations
• Act as focal point for program-related communication between country programs and global offices
• Oversee programmatic input into advocacy efforts
• Identify, recruit, and onboard new IRC staff
• Lead or support recruitment for key program positions
• Create a supervisory environment focused on client-centered work, collaboration, accountability, and recognition
• Comply with IRC’s performance management system and provide feedback and professional development
• Strengthen capacities of program staff in project management principles and tools
• Support high-performing staff in taking on greater responsibilities
• Provide leadership support for compliance with IRC’s Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Development Studies, International Relations, Social Sciences, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years managing teams in Latin America
• Minimum eight years of management experience working in a humanitarian or development setting, with at least five years of program management experience at international NGOs
• Demonstrated experience successfully leading multidisciplinary teams in cross-cultural settings, including active mentoring and coaching
• Strong leadership, motivation, and team-building skills
• Experience managing security in complex and rapidly evolving security contexts
• Demonstrated ability to handle stressful situations in a healthy and constructive manner
• Experience managing protection, ERD, and/or health programs, a plus
• Proven ability to negotiate and work with partner organizations
• Experience in strengthening organizational capacities and building partnerships is valued
• Proven ability to develop winning proposals aimed at public and private sector donors
• Prior experience managing programs funded by U.S. government agencies, DFID, the EU, foundations, and private donors is required
• Prior experience in competitive environments is valued
• Proven ability to manage projects through to completion, on time, within budget, and with the expected results
• Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner while producing high-quality results
• Strong budgetary and fiscal oversight capabilities
• Proven oral and written proficiency in English and Spanish, required
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

Skills

• Programme Management
• Team Leadership
• Cross-cultural Team Management
• Coaching and Mentoring
• Security Management
• Protection Program Management
• Emergency Response and Disaster Management
• Health Programme Management
• Partner Negotiation
• Organizational capacity building
• Partnership Development
• Proposal Development
• Donor Relations
• Project Completion
• Budget Management
• Fiscal Oversight
• MS Word
• MS Excel
• MS PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook
• Bilingual Proficiency English Spanish

Languages

English, Spanish