Team Leader (TL)

Job Posting Organization:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been operational in Uganda since 1998, focusing on supporting refugees, vulnerable host communities, and various institutions including the government, community-based organizations, civil society, and the private sector. The IRC has established a significant presence across five sub-regions and six refugee settlements in Uganda, implementing programs in Health, Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL), Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE), Economic Recovery and Development (ERD), and Education. The organization also emphasizes cross-cutting programming aimed at strengthening systems and ensuring accountability to affected persons. The IRC Uganda head office is located in Kampala, with additional field offices in Lamwo, Kiryandongo, and West Nile.

Job Overview:
The IRC Uganda is seeking a dynamic Team Leader (TL) for the anticipated FCDO-funded 5-year Refugee Support, Empowerment and Transformation (ReSET) programme. The TL will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and overall management of the ReSET programme, ensuring high-quality results and compliance with IRC policies and FCDO requirements. This role involves overseeing a complex consortium of implementing partners and leading efforts to enhance the sustainability and local ownership of the refugee response in Uganda. The TL will work closely with IRC's country programme, regional, and HQ leadership to ensure effective implementation of the project. The position requires liaising with FCDO activity officers, technical support staff, partner organizations, and other stakeholders, representing the project at key meetings and ensuring that initiatives achieve expected results. The recruitment for this position is contingent upon the successful award of the project, with the anticipated start date in August/September 2026.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Team Leader will be responsible for defining and driving the programme's strategic direction, developing annual work plans aligned with FCDO's results framework and IRC's organizational standards. They will ensure coherent and high-quality programme delivery, compliant with IRC policies and legal frameworks. The TL will oversee the development and monitoring of programme strategy documents and sustainability plans. They will provide strategic guidance on multisectoral assistance and protection for vulnerable refugees, lead technical direction on evidence-based graduation models and livelihoods programming, and champion protection primacy, gender equality, and social inclusion across all activities. The TL will manage relationships with consortium partners, ensuring a shared understanding of objectives and compliance requirements, and support the Deputy Team Leader in financial and operational oversight. They will serve as the primary interlocutor with FCDO, maintaining active relationships with government officials, UN agencies, and other stakeholders. Additionally, the TL will oversee the management of the programme's budget, ensuring effective resource utilization and timely reporting, and will promote a culture of learning and continuous improvement across the consortium.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in international development, humanitarian affairs, social sciences, public policy, or a related field, with equivalent professional experience considered. A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian and/or development programme management is required, including at least 5 years in senior leadership roles such as Team Leader or Programme Director. Demonstrated experience managing large-scale, multi-year, multi-partner programmes funded by major institutional donors is essential, along with proven experience in refugee response programming, particularly in protection, cash assistance, and livelihoods programming. Strong financial management skills, including budget forecasting and donor compliance, are also necessary, as is experience working in refugee response contexts, preferably in East or Central Africa.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree in international development, humanitarian affairs, social sciences, public policy, or a related field is required. Equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of formal education.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian and/or development programme management, with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles. Candidates should have experience managing large-scale, multi-year, multi-partner programmes funded by major institutional donors, as well as proven experience in refugee response programming and managing complex multi-partner consortia.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, with excellent written and oral communication skills. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to the Uganda context is considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Kampala, with expected travel to field locations. The current security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security level in Uganda is yellow, with the exception of the Karamoja region, which is orange. The IRC is committed to gender equality and equal opportunity, encouraging qualified female professionals to apply. The organization offers generous benefits to support women's participation in the workforce.