Deputy Director of Programs

Job Overview

The Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) provides strategic, operational, and technical leadership across the entire portfolio of humanitarian and development programs in Mali. He/she works closely with the Country Director,  support departments (Finance, People & Culture, Supply Chain) and  technical teams to ensure the relevance, quality, accountability, impact and compliance of interventions in an often unstable and emergency context.

The DDP is a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and plays a central role in country program governance. They are responsible for the effective implementation of the Strategy 100 Country Plan, ensuring strategic alignment, program development, adaptive management, cross-sectoral coordination, and external representation.

Main Responsibilities

1. Strategic leadership and cross-sector coordination

• Lead the implementation, monitoring and adjustment of the Country Strategy (SAP), ensuring its ownership at all levels and its translation into concrete and measurable actions.

• Ensure coherence between sectoral programs, identified humanitarian needs, community priorities and accountability commitments.

• Organize and chair strategic committees (portfolio review, SAP committee, program coordination).

2. Programme development and emergency response

• Lead the technical and strategic design of contingency projects and plans for rapid, integrated and multisectoral responses to humanitarian crises (conflict, displacement, food insecurity, epidemics).

• Oversee the preparation of strategic and innovative funding proposals in conjunction with humanitarian donors (ECHO, SIDA, etc.).

• Systematically integrate Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus approaches into programmatic frameworks.

• Ensure that all programs include data-driven, multi-sectoral analysis, theory of change, and adaptive management mechanisms.

3. Program quality, MEAL, accountability, and learning

• Ensure robust MEAL systems that are integrated into project cycles by design.

• Strengthen the culture of results through the Outcome & Evidence Framework and the active use of data for learning, continuous improvement and community accountability.

• Support the development of post-distribution monitoring plans (PDMs), KAP surveys, real-time evaluations (RTEs) and after-action reviews (AAR).

• Ensure the implementation of feedback and complaint mechanisms, including safeguarding measures against sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) and fraud.

4. Portfolio management and technical oversight

• Oversee the entire project management cycle (PMC), ensuring quality, compliance and efficiency of interventions within budget, schedule and objectives.

• Lead monthly Budget vs. Actual (BvA) reviews, procurement planning, workplans, and staffing forecasts.

• Develop and deploy tools for multisectoral coordination to promote synergies and prevent duplication.

• Proactively identify and resolve bottlenecks through solution-oriented operational leadership.

5. Resource mobilization and strategic partnerships

• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with national and international NGOs, UN agencies, state authorities and other humanitarian actors.

• Ensure the systematic integration of local partners into programmes and proposals, in line with the Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results (PEERS) strategy.

• Ensure that programs comply with donor requirements (ECHO, SIDA, etc.) and internal policies (Safeguarding, PEERS).

6. Team management and inclusive leadership

• Coach, train and evaluate sector managers, MEAL coordinators, grants and partnerships.

• Create a stimulating, inclusive and equitable work environment that promotes female leadership and diversity.

• Support the professional development and upskilling of local staff, with a particular focus on female talent and returning national candidates.

• Foster transparent communication, mutual accountability, and work-life balance.

7. Representation, Advocacy and Communication

• Represent IRC Mali with humanitarian platforms (Clusters, OCHA, thematic groups) and government authorities.

• Contribute to advocacy strategies, external visibility and the production of capitalization documents.

• Support the Country Director in the management of donor and consortium relations.

8. Security, Ethics and Compliance

• Contribute to field-level security analysis in collaboration with the Safety & Security team and the Country Director.

• Foster an ethical and safe environment aligned with IRC’s policies, including the Code of Conduct, PSEA, anti-harassment, and financial integrity.

• Report any misconduct to the Country Director or the Ethics and Compliance Unit.

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