Team Leader, ReSET Programme

Job Summary

IRC Uganda is seeking a dynamic Team Leader (TL) for an anticipated FCDO-funded 5-year ReSET programme. The TL will provide strategic leadership and overall management for the FCDO-funded ReSET programme. This role will serve as the primary point of accountability to FCDO, ensure high-quality programme results, oversee a complex consortium of implementing partners, and lead efforts to make the refugee response more sustainable, locally-owned, and delivers lifesaving assistance, and supports self-reliance and resilience for refugees and host communities in Uganda. The TL will work closely with IRC country programme, regional, and HQ leadership to ensure that the project is implemented in accordance with IRC policies and principles. The TL will liaise with FCDO activity officers, technical support staff, partner organizations, and implementers of other FCDO-funded initiatives as required. The TL will represent the project to all key stakeholders, government officials, and donors at coordination fora and other related meetings, and will ensure that activity initiatives achieve the expected results. The TL will bring together expertise in humanitarian programming, consortium management, and policy engagement to maximise impact for refugees and host communities in Uganda. Recruitment is contingent upon successful award of the project, and selection of final applicant is subject to FCDO approval. The project is anticipated to begin in August/September 2026.

Major Responsibilities

• Strategic and Operational Leadership
  • Define and drive the programme’s strategic direction, developing annual work plans aligned with FCDO’s results framework and IRC’s organizational standards.
  • Ensure programme delivery is coherent, high-quality, and compliant with IRC policies, FCDO requirements, and applicable legal frameworks.
  • Oversee the development and monitoring of programme strategy documents, sustainability plans, and knowledge management systems.
• Technical Oversight
  • Provide strategic guidance on multisectoral assistance and protection for the most vulnerable refugees, including multipurpose cash delivery and protection referral systems (Pillar 1).
  • Lead technical direction on evidence-based graduation models and livelihoods programming designed to replace aid dependency with sustainable self-reliance (Pillar 2).
  • Champion protection primacy, gender equality, and social inclusion across all programme activities.
• Consortium and Partnership Management
  • Manage relationships with consortium partner organizations, ensuring shared understanding of programme objectives, roles, and compliance requirements.
  • Support the Deputy Team Leader in partner financial and operational oversight, ensuring resources are optimized and reports are submitted on time.
  • Foster a culture of collaborative, locally-led implementation consistent with IRC Uganda’s localization ambitions.
• Donor Relations and Representation
  • Serve as the primary interlocutor with FCDO, providing regular strategic updates, formal reports, and proactive communication of risks and progress.
  • Represent ReSET and the IRC at national, regional, and international fora, including technical conferences, policy briefings, and coordination platforms.
  • Maintain active and cooperative relationships with Government of Uganda officials, UN agencies, NGO partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Financial and Administrative Oversight
  • Oversee management of the programme’s complex multi-partner budget, ensuring sound financial tracking, effective resource utilization, and timely donor reporting.
  • Manage project procurement in line with IRC and FCDO standards.
  • Lead and support a high-performing, diverse programme team, fostering a work environment built on teamwork, trust, and mutual respect.
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
  • Oversee programme M&E systems to track progress against the results framework and generate high-quality evidence for adaptive management.
  • Ensure timely submission of semi-annual and annual reports to FCDO, incorporating lessons learned and programme adaptations.
  • Promote a culture of reflection, learning, and continuous improvement across the consortium.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal

• Position Reports To: Country Director
• Direct reporting: Project Coordinator
• Other internal contacts: Technical Coordinators in Economic Recovery and Development (ERD), Integrated Protection; Country Director; Deputy Director, Finance; Deputy Director, Operations; Deputy Director, HR and Administration; Field Coordinators; and Regional Team

External

• OCHA, UN agencies, donors, cluster coordination groups, local NGOs, government authorities, and other humanitarian actors

Education

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Education
  • Master’s degree in international development, humanitarian affairs, social sciences, public policy, or a related field. Equivalent professional experience may be considered.
• Professional Experience
  • Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian and/or development programme management, with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles (Team Leader, Programme Director, or equivalent).
  • Demonstrated experience managing large-scale, multi-year, multi-partner programmes funded by major institutional donors (FCDO, USAID, EU/ECHO, or equivalent).
  • Proven experience in refugee response programming, ideally encompassing protection (GBV/child protection/community-based protection), multipurpose cash assistance, and livelihoods/self-reliance programming.
  • Proven experience managing complex multi-partner consortia, including negotiating partnership agreements, managing sub-grants, and building productive relationships with diverse partners, including local NGOs and government counterparts.
  • Strong financial management experience, with demonstrable skills in budget forecasting, variance analysis and donor financial compliance.
  • Experience working in refugee response contexts, preferably in East or Central Africa, with strong knowledge of protection standards, UNHCR frameworks, and durable solutions approaches.
  • Track record of high-quality reporting, including the ability to translate complex programme data and narratives into compelling donor reports and strategic communications.
  • Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa; Uganda country experience strongly preferred.
• Technical Skills And Knowledge
  • Strong understanding of cash-based programming and market-based approaches in humanitarian and development contexts.
  • Familiarity with graduation models and evidence-based approaches to building refugee self-reliance.
  • Solid knowledge of protection principles, gender mainstreaming, and accountability to affected persons (AAP).
  • Demonstrated financial management competence, including oversight of multi-million-dollar budgets.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; proficiency in additional languages relevant to the Uganda context is an asset.
• Core Competencies
  • Strategic leadership, partnership building, adaptive management, accountability to affected populations, gender and social inclusion, and people management.

Working Environment

Current security level is yellow across all IRC operating areas in Uganda, with the exception of Karamoja region, which is orange. The security situation across the country is generally calm with main concerns related to petty crime.

The position is based in Kampala, with expected travel to all field locations.