Chief People Officer

About the ICRC

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We take action in response to emergencies and, at the same time, promote respect for international humanitarian law. We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation in order to ensure a concerted, rational, and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.

Purpose of the role

The Chief People Officer (CPO) is a member of the senior leadership team of the newly created People, Finance, and External Resource Mobilization (PFE) department.

The CPO is accountable for ensuring that the ICRC’s Institutional Strategy translates into a coherent, sustainable people agenda that enables the organization to attract, develop, and retain a competent, diverse, and motivated workforce in support of its humanitarian mission. In close partnership with the Director of PFE and the Director-General, the CPO co-leads the design and delivery of the Implementation Plan and Staffing Model milestones.

The CPO leads the evolution of the People function into a modern, data-informed, and service-oriented organization that enables the ICRC to perform at its best. The role also ensures coherence between workforce strategy, financial sustainability, and organizational effectiveness, while fostering a safe, inclusive, and empowering work environment for all ICRC staff worldwide.

Main duties & responsibilities (1/2)

Strategic Leadership and Delivery

• Lead the implementation of the ICRC Institutional Strategy, its Implementation Plan, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities related to the Staffing Model milestones.
• Collaborate closely with the Director of PFE to ensure workforce planning, compensation, and people-related investments are sustainable and strategically aligned.
• Drive the modernization of People functions, enabling greater efficiency, accountability, and service orientation.
• Provide strategic advice to the Director of PFE, Director-General, and Directorate on people-related opportunities, risks, and organizational health .
• Strengthen ICRC’s reputation as an employer of choice through innovative, principled, and inclusive HR practices.

Talent, Leadership, and Capability Development

• Lead strategic workforce planning to anticipate skill needs and ensure the ICRC is fit for purpose.
• Oversee global talent acquisition, development, and mobility strategies to support operational excellence.
• Drive leadership development, succession planning, and performance management aligned with institutional needs.

People Services, Systems, and Compliance

• Oversee the governance of global HR service delivery and systems performance, ensuring operational excellence through delegated structures and global shared services.
• Ensure compliance with employment, labour, and data protection laws across all jurisdictions.

Main duties & responsibilities (2/2)

Internal Engagement and Governance Support

• Partner with the Director of PFE and other directors to ensure alignment between workforce planning and budgeting.
• Support the Office of the Director-General in integrating people dimensions into institutional strategy, transformation, and governance processes.
• Provide strategic advice and regular reporting to the Assembly and Audit Council on workforce health, people-related risks, and institutional culture.
• Strengthen cross-divisional collaboration, ensuring coherence across all departments and divisions.

Culture, Inclusion, and Wellbeing

• Promote an inclusive, respectful, and safe workplace culture grounded in the values of the ICRC.
• Champion Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) across all levels of the organization.
• Ensure systems and leadership practices promote psychological safety, integrity, and wellbeing.
• Foster a culture of trust, feedback, and accountability across teams and management levels.

Scope & Impact

• Responsible for the ICRC’s global People activities and functions across headquarters and field operations.
• High strategic impact on organizational transformation, workforce health, and institutional performance.
• Direct supervision of units of expert and managerial staff; oversight of a global network of HR professionals.

Relationships

• Internally: interacts with the Director of PFE, Director-General, Directors, Heads of Division, Heads of Delegation, and Assembly members.
• Externally: interacts with Movement partners, peer organizations, and international HR networks on workforce and people strategy matters.
• Reports to: Director of People, Finance and Mobilization (PFE).

Profile, Experience & Skills

Background and Experience

• Inclusive and inspiring leader with extensive experience in executive HR functions.
• Typically 15+ years of progressive professional experience, including at least 5 years in senior leadership roles in complex, global, or mission-driven organizations.
• Proven success in leading large-scale divisions with significant institutional impact.  
• Strong experience in strategic workforce planning, people analytics, and HR governance.
• Track record of aligning HR and financial strategies to drive institutional sustainability.
• Advanced university degree in Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, Business Administration, or related field.
• Experience with ICRC operations or familiarity with humanitarian and international public-sector contexts is a strong asset.

Desired Profile and Skills

• Strategic thinker with strong systems and organizational design perspective.
  
• Demonstrated capacity to lead, inspire, and empower diverse, multidisciplinary teams.
  
• Excellent relationship-building, influencing, and communication skills.
  
• Proactive and results-driven; able to operate effectively in complex and high-pressure environments.
  
• Strong analytical and planning abilities; confident in data-informed decision-making.
  
• Commitment to fairness, inclusion, and ethical leadership.
  
• Excellent command of English and French; other ICRC working languages (Arabic, Spanish) are an asset.

Our Values

At the ICRC, we value impact, collaboration, respect, and compassion. We seek candidates who demonstrate behaviors based on these shared values.

For more information on the ICRC values, please visit this

Position Details

• Location: Geneva. Switzerland
• Type of contract: Open-Ended
• Mobility type: Required Rotation
• Length of Assignment: 4 years
• Activity rate: 100%
• Start date: March 2026(Q1 2026)
• Recruiter: Diara Niang
• Application Deadline: Wednesday, 31 December 2025