Department Manager, AMU

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.

The IRC’s Crisis Response, Recovery & Development department (CRRD) leads and delivers the IRC’s work in crisis-affected contexts around the world. This is achieved by over 16,000 staff across 350 offices in 40+ countries, working to deliver more than 600 individual grants and contracts and an annual budget of more than $830M. Last year, our efforts served more than 38 million crisis-affected people with high quality humanitarian programming.

The Awards Management Unit (AMU) is responsible for identifying, securing and managing all funding from government donors for the IRC. AMU is a bridge between donors and the IRC’s work on the ground. The team provides expert technical advice to colleagues delivering our services around the world, ensures consistency and compliance with our donors’ policies and procedures, and manages risk. The unit also supports all IRC staff working on awards from government donors and partnerships.

Key Working Relationships

This position will report to the Senior Director, Strategy & Transformation, AMU, and provide process, operations, communications, and administrative functions for the AMU VP, Senior Leaders team, and the broader department to help AMU operate as an effective pillar within CRRD. This is a Fixed term (parental leave cover) for 6 months with potential to extend to 1 year.

Responsibilities:

• For the VP of AMU:
  • Manage the VP’s complex, high-volume calendar, prioritizing to optimize time and impact
  • Coordinate domestic and international travel, including visas and compliance, to ensure smooth and efficient arrangements
  • Ensure timely and accurate processing of travel & expense reports in line with local finance policies

• For AMU Senior Leaders:  
  • Serve as a trusted partner to the VP and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) by anticipating needs, solving problems proactively, and ensuring smooth daily operations
  • Organize and manage internal leadership meetings, workshops, off-sites, and team-building events, including logistics, budget monitoring, and participant experience
  • Prepare leadership and departmental meetings, including research, data collection, report drafting, and presentation formatting
  • Partner with SLT to design and implement effective communication strategies to keep AMU staff engaged and informed of departmental priorities

• For AMU department:
  • Lead and coordinate core financial, procurement, and operational functions, including purchase orders, consultant payments, subscriptions, and IT procurement, and develop and roll out relevant internal policies/processes to ensure consistency and compliance across teams
  • Manage departmental contract approvals, databases, and IRC UK signature workflows to ensure compliance and accountability
  • Act as the primary liaison for important cross-departmental needs (IATI, etc.) and develop and implement streamlined processes in areas where coordination is lacking (donor portals, translation, etc.)
  • Manage AMU people-related operations such as tracking staff changes, maintaining up-to-date departmental tools including organizational charts, distribution lists and other related items
  • Facilitate project management activities for AMU strategic initiatives or specialized sub-team projects, ensuring deliverables are completed on time, to a high standard as agreed with Senior Director, Strategy & Transformation
  • Conduct data-driven analyses as needed and contribute to reporting and knowledge management efforts
  • Perform other duties as assigned and provide flexibility by being deployed to AMU teams and other CRRD pillars as needed, ensuring continuity of operations and timely coverage

Job Requirements:

Experience

• Proven experience supporting senior executives across administration, operations, communications, and financial functions**
• Demonstrated ability to manage initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, ensuring timely delivery and alignment**

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Strong organizational skills and high attention to detail
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide array of people with diverse backgrounds throughout a complex organisation
• Proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time**
• Responsive and proactive to all requests
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and ability to be clear and concise in all communications**
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite**
• Highly collaborative and able to work independently in a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure
• Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive and positive manner
• Ability to maintain diplomacy and confidentiality
• Committed to a positive team culture in which equity, diversity and inclusion are at the core

Recruitment Process

The process for this role will be as follows:

• Screening call online
• Panel interview online
• Panel second round interview may occur depending on number of applicants
• Please submit your CV and cover letter by midday UK time on Monday 15th December. Interviews are expected to be held between Thursday 18th and Monday 22nd December. 
• Fixed term (parental leave cover) for 6 months with potential to extend to 1 year  

Compensation: (Pay Range: £38,126 - £42,363) Posted pay ranges apply to UK-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget.  Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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