Job title:              Orphans Program Manager

Status:                 Full-time

Division:              Programs

Location:             Alexandria, VA

 

Position Summary:

The position is dedicated to advancing Islamic Relief USA’s Orphan Sponsorship Program (OSP) by overseeing grant management activities tailored to this program. This position includes managing a small team, reviewing and evaluating program developments, ensuring adherence to child rights and relevant policies, and serving as a central point of contact for program-related matters internally and externally. The ideal candidate should demonstrate a deep commitment to IRUSA’s faith-inspired values and principles, along with a dedication to the organization's vision and mission.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

 

Field and Sector Expertise

  • Specific knowledge and experience in managing orphan sponsorship programs or similar child-focused initiatives. This includes understanding the unique challenges, requirements, and ethical considerations associated with supporting vulnerable children and orphaned populations.
  • Maintain a deep knowledge of international humanitarian standards, child protection, and safeguarding.
  • Understands the complexities of operating in conflict, post-conflict zones, ensuring feasibility assessments align with program objectives.
  • Serve as the internal and external point of contact for orphan related requests.

 

Team Management

  • Supervise and lead a small team responsible for the day-to-day operations of the OSP.
  • Delegate tasks, provide guidance, and ensure that the team meets its objectives and deadlines.
  • Conduct regular team meetings to discuss progress, address issues, and align on goals.

 

Strategy Input

  • Contribute to strategic development and operational planning for international programs and the organization.
  • Expand the orphan sponsorship program with external partners and new countries.

 

External Representation

  • Attend relevant training and conferences on vulnerable children and orphans, child rights, and child protection.
  • Participate in annual global OSP working groups.
  • Conduct research on industry best practices and incorporate those into programs.

 

Program Management

  • Ensure efficiency and accuracy with the reconciliation of quarterly invoices and any external partnerships for the facilitation of payments to orphan households, additional monetary gifts, and complementary orphan support related to the program.
  • Coordinate meetings and reconciliation sessions between Programs, Finance and Donor Services and Stewardship teams for OSP quarterly invoices, ensuring alignment with the number of IRUSA-sponsored orphans per country.
  • Proactively reach out to field offices to address requests such as updated on annual progress reports, report issues, estimated payments, donor inquiries, and other related matters.
  • Conduct regular checks and balances of the IRUSA pool to prevent over-allocation of orphan sponsorships.
  • Maintain and update the orphan sponsorship tasks sheet on a weekly basis to ensure accurate allocation of sponsorships.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders on issues related to the Alyateem platform, field office matters, program updates, and other pertinent topics.
  • Maintain and organize all OSP information and documentation received from partners into designated databases.
  • Ensure reports are received on time from the field and review monthly partner reports for any information directly impacting OSP activities, make necessary adjustments, and inform necessary stakeholders.
  • Responds promptly to internal requests related to OSP, providing requested information such as the number of sponsored orphans, OSP data, etc.
  • Keep all departments and staff informed about available and unavailable OSP countries for sponsorship.
  • Generate monthly reports on all IRUSA-sponsored orphans and compile data for organizational reporting purposes.
  • Monitor and handle all field office terminations received and incorporate them into the workflow of the Donor Services and Stewardship team.
  • Perform any other responsibilities as assigned by the Assistant Director of International Programs & Partnerships.

 

Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Run reports to identify overage orphan sponsorships within the Alyateem system and take appropriate actions to rectify discrepancies.
  • Ensure that IRUSA transferred funds reach the orphans.
  • Ensure that field offices comply with IRUSA’s child protection policy and all relevant international norms and conventions related to child rights concerning IRUSA-sponsored orphans.
  • Commission third-party evaluations of the OSP
  • Ensure compliance with the OSP grant agreement.
  • Conduct regular field visits globally to orphan households to ensure program quality, compliance, and safeguarding.  

 

Qualifications and Competencies:

  • Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Nonprofit Management, Social Sciences or a related discipline is required, a Master’s degree in a related field is preferred but not essential.
  • Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in grants management, program administration, or nonprofit management.
  • Must possess effective interpersonal and oral communications skills. Effective written communications skills should include some exposure to generating reports and narratives.
  • Experience or knowledge in child protection policies is strongly preferred.
  • Proficiency in financial management including budgeting, financial reporting, and reconciliation.
  • Ability to self-manage multiple priorities that are complex in nature.
  • Proven ability to exhibit cultural competence and sensitivity to work with a wide array of ethnicities.
  • Technical proficiency in Microsoft Office and use of databases.
  • Must be able to travel internationally, to remote locations, if needed (a minimum of 15% of the travel time).
  • Must be flexible in working hours and may be required to work on holiday and weekends occasionally.
  • Experience with program monitoring.
  • Must be eligible to work in the United States.

 

At Islamic Relief USA we are committed to safeguarding and protecting all individuals we come into contact with through our work. IRUSA representatives must adhere to its organizational values: Sincerity, Excellence, Compassion, Social Justice, and Custodianship. In accordance with these values, IRUSA operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Code of Ethics, and Anti-Harassment and Discrimination.

This position has been filled.