Deputy Fund Director, LIFT Fund

Under the direct supervision of the Fund Director, the Deputy Fund Director will bring excellent strategic leadership skills, a track record of success in managing diverse teams to achieve results in complex, conflict-affected areas; and strong grounding in food security, livelihoods, and nutrition. They will be expected to address the following key challenges: 

Leadership and Management

• The Deputy Fund Director will provide strategic leadership to LIFT’s  Fund Management Office;

• Act (ad interim) in the Fund Director’s role when required, e.g. in the absence of the Fund Director;

• In delivering on the LIFT’s strategy, provide the Fund Director and Fund Board with strategic analysis, advice and guidance for programme opportunities and associated risks;

• Provide strategic oversight to the portfolio and thematic quality assurance in the implementation of LIFT’s strategy;

• Identify and resolve bottlenecks or issues that prevent the Fund from delivering on its objectives, and initiate and lead or support adjustments or facilitations for improvement when required;

• Take responsibility for risk management, work planning, learning, and knowledge management;

• Oversee and improve programme quality and compliance, including the Fund’s approach to ‘downstream partners’ (sub-grantees) 

• Supervise, manage, and coach a large number of staff who may be geographically dispersed so that team tasks and duties are clearly linked to delivering LIFT’s strategic objectives and outcomes;

• Lead innovation in the development sphere with a particular focus on technology and private sector; fostering strategic relationships and alliances to incubate context-specific ideas for scale-up across diverse environments; 

• Manage a cadre of international specialists as well as consultants and technical experts, ensuring the provision of coordinated and consistent expert advice to key partners, stakeholders and teams; 

• Identify, share, and build on best practices and lessons learned in programming, policy, and management across the organization.

Strategy

• Lead regular and ongoing strategic reviews of LIFT’s portfolio and approaches to ensure the Fund’s investments maximize results and value for money. Together with relevant Senior Management, oversee implementation;

• Work with teams to ensure that LIFT delivers on its multi-year strategy;

• Embed the breadth of LIFT’s technical power and diverse sources of analysis for decision-making - including food and nutrition security, climate change, GEDSI, social protection, rural development and agriculture, and the integration of localization across all of the Fund’s work;

• Support or lead strategic discussions related to LIFT’s work, including in international fora when required. 

Donors-relations and Partnerships

• Under the overall authority of and delegated by the Fund Director, represent LIFT in its relations with donors and other partners, as requested.

• Lead the development of funding proposals to harness new funding sources; 

• Ensure partner calls for proposals meet the quality output required for LIFT’s mandate and donor expectations; 

• Build and strengthen strategic relations with stakeholders;  

• Build and maintain strong relations with partners;