The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. The IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The IRC’s Emergencies and Humanitarian Action Unit (EHAU) partners with IRC country teams and regions to oversee, guide and resource emergency response programs and humanitarian action. Our vision is that the IRC serve people affected by emergencies, including in the hardest-to-reach communities, with quality, responsive humanitarian aid. Our strategy through 2024 focuses on ensuring that IRC programs in emergencies are properly resourced, locally led and always designed and delivered in partnership with local organizations and communities. To do this, we invest in people, systems, and solutions, and deploy and support world class emergency response staff as they help people affected by acute crisis situations.

Job Overview:

The EHAU Strategy Officer is a critical role for the success of our team. This individual works with the senior management team (SMT) to ensure timely tracking and reporting of progress on the Emergency Strategy Action, and to coordinate progress and updates with other teams and departments in IRC. The Strategy Officer also leads planning for our SMT, made up of team leaders and elected staff representatives, ensuring dynamic space for deliberation and dialogue on a regular basis. Finally, the Strategy Officer ensures strong information management, promoting transparency and clear information sharing with the team and the broader organization. The successful candidate will demonstrate ability to deliver on these areas of responsibility while at the same time modeling EHAU’s community agreements and commitments to a space that is inclusive.

Major Responsibilities:

Tracking and reporting strategy progress

• Facilitate dynamic, quarterly reporting on the Emergency Strategy Action Plan for the organization, working with all EHAU Section Directors and the Senior Technical Advisor (STA) for Measurement, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) to track metrics

• Manage the implementation plan associated with the SAP on an annual basis, ensuring accurate tracking of progress

• Organize and facilitate quarterly SMT reviews of SAP implementation plan progress; and quarterly or bi-annual all-EHAU reviews of SAP implementation progress

• Work with the Director of Strategic Initiatives and other key stakeholders to organize and prepare for bi-annual share-out with wider leadership from the IRC Crisis Response, Recovery and Development department, and other departments as required

• Support the Senior Director of Delivery, the Regional Emergency Directors and the MEAL STA to prepare materials for annual regional roundtables looking at learning and response trends

• Respond to ad-hoc information requests related to SAP performance and progress, as needed

Communication and information management

• Ensure structure, efficient planning and facilitation of EHAU SMT meetings, working with this group to identify relevant topics for information-sharing, consultation, and decision-making at the SMT level

• Support relevant presenters in above fora to prepare materials, including compelling pre-reads, slide decks, and questions for discussion and deliberation

• Work with the EHAU SMT to facilitate a quarterly ‘health check’, or review of SMT accountability to shared performance objectives and EHAU community agreements

• Participate with members of the SMT and the EHAU Unit Manager to identify topics for all-EHAU team meetings, and to facilitate a dynamic, inclusive meeting space

• Provide clear notes, recordings and other readouts of team meetings to promote transparency and information-sharing within and beyond EHAU

• Support the scheduling and organization of other strategic meetings, fora and exchange within EHAU and at cross-departmental or cross-team levels

• Work with other team members across EHAU to ensure the development of clear communications products to highlight the work of IRC and our partners in emergency preparedness and response

• Set up and maintain files on Teams and Box for collaborative knowledge management cross EHAU

Other strategic support and commitments

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in EHAU

• Work with EHAU Director of Strategic Initiatives and other EHAU Sections as relevant on discrete, specific projects, supporting with coordination, work-planning and communication

• Convene crisis calls and task forces, working closely with the EHAU Vice President

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Director for Strategic Initiatives, EHAU

Works closely with: Members of the EHAU SMT, MEAL STA, EHAU Unit Manager

Job qualifications:

• 4+ years work experience, with a focus on project management, communications, reporting, or other related task ideally with humanitarian organizations.

• Knowledge of operational support functions.

• Knowledge of international humanitarian systems, institutions and donors, and of procedures, accountability frameworks and best practices in emergency contexts.

• Understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion and demonstrated interest in promoting progress in these areas within a team context.

• Ability to analyze information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically.

• Attention to detail and customer service orientation.

• Fluency in all standard PC office software such as Word, Outlook, Excel.

• Excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills; demonstrated ability to successfully work in a fast paced environment, within and across departments/functions and develop positive relationships with local and remote staff.

• Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure with professional grace.

Language skills: Strong English-language oral and written reporting skills. Other language skills an additional advantage.

Working environment: Some travel (5-10%) may be required, including to insecure field locations.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

The Emergencies & Humanitarian Action Unit strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a unit and deliver the best possible services to our clients.

How to apply

https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/36510?c=rescue