The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
The Alliance is a global inter-agency network of more than 370 organizations committed to protecting children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence in humanitarian contexts. It serves as the primary convener for child protection actors and the leading platform for developing technical standards, guidance, and evidence-informed advocacy and learning.
Position Overview
As INGO co-lead, IRC appoints the part time Deputy Director of the Child Protection Alliance to provide strategic and operational leadership in support of the Alliance Director. The role ensures the Alliance delivers high-quality, evidence-driven, and inclusive results for children affected by humanitarian crises. The Deputy Director strengthens governance, coherence, technical quality, and partnership across the Alliance, while advancing multisectoral collaboration and alignment with IRC’s global child protection objectives.
Length of Assignment: End date is March 31, 2027; 32 hours/week; May become full-time and extended longer term pending additional funding approval.
Location: UK or Kenya. This is a remote position open to candidates who are a national or permanent resident in either location.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Leadership and Governance
Support development, implementation, and periodic review of the Alliance Strategy and workplans, ensuring relevance, results-orientation, cost-effectiveness, and clear performance measurement.
Lead designated Alliance workstreams aligned with strategic priorities.
Strengthen alignment and synergies between Alliance priorities and IRC contributions.
Support governance processes, including preparation, follow-up, and implementation of decisions from the Executive Committee and Steering Committee.
2. Management, Coordination, and Convening
Ensure coherence and complementarity across Working Groups, Task Forces, and Initiatives, with clear mechanisms for progress tracking, learning, and reporting.
Facilitate effective information flow and collaboration across Alliance members and technical groups.
Lead planning and delivery of the Annual Meeting for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, ensuring relevance, accessibility, and engagement.
Support annual internal governance, planning, review, and fundraising meetings.
Contribute to day-to-day oversight of the Alliance Secretariat.
3. Technical Leadership and Quality Assurance
Provide technical oversight to selected Working Groups, Task Forces, and Initiatives.
Support identification of sector-wide technical gaps, priorities, and areas for improvement.
Oversee review and sign-off processes for Alliance technical and advocacy products.
Ensure meaningful inclusion of national and local member perspectives across Alliance work and governance.
4. Partnerships, Advocacy, and External Engagement
Support the Alliance Director in building and sustaining strategic partnerships with UN agencies, donors, NGOs, academic institutions, peer alliances, and the private sector.
Contribute to global and regional advocacy to advance child protection and the centrality of protection in humanitarian response.
Support development and implementation of Alliance communications and engagement strategies.
Leverage strategic networks (including disability, GBV, and ECD) to advance collective child protection priorities and IRC contributions.
5. Research, Learning, and Multisectoral Engagement
Contribute to IRC and Alliance research and learning agendas.
Promote dissemination, uptake, and application of Alliance guidance and evidence across partners and within IRC.
Share cross-context learning from the Alliance within IRC technical and global practice forums.
6. Resource Mobilization and Financial Coordination
Identify and support joint fundraising opportunities aligned with Alliance priorities.
Engage with Alliance co-hosts and partners on financial and operational coordination, as delegated by the Alliance Director.
Professional Profile
The Alliance Deputy Director brings substantial experience leading complex, multi stakeholder initiatives at the global level. The role requires advanced expertise in strategic leadership, humanitarian action, coordination, and child protection, with proven ability to operate effectively in politically sensitive and partnership driven environments.
Leadership and Management Experience
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience, including at least 5 years in a senior management or deputy leadership role, preferably within an international organization, alliance, coalition, or network.
• Demonstrated experience deputizing for an Executive Director or equivalent, including assuming leadership authority as required.
• Proven ability to lead, encourage collaboration and foster cohesion within diverse, multicultural teams, including staff and partners across multiple time zones.
• Strong track record in building, managing, and sustaining complex partnerships, balancing diverse institutional interests while maintaining a shared strategic direction.
• Solid experience engaging with and supporting governance bodies, including steering committees, boards, advisory groups, or member assemblies.
• Ability to represent the Alliance credibly at high level global and regional fora, influencing policy, practice, and sector priorities.
• Demonstrated experience contributing to or leading development and implementation of strategic plans, results frameworks, and theories of change.
• Proven judgment, discretion, and cultural sensitivity when navigating politically complex or high risk environments.
• Clear commitment to the Alliance’s mission, values, and principles, including equity, inclusion, and partnership.
Skills and Competencies
• Strong ability to work effectively with senior internal and external stakeholders across sectors and geographies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly developed organizational and time management skills, with a proven ability to prioritize and deliver independently.
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to synthesize complex information accurately for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in navigating matrixed, cross functional global structures within large international networks.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
• Strong ability to motivate volunteers to contribute to a collective goal.
• Ability to lead and adapt through change with a proactive, solution oriented approach.
Education: Master’s degree in social sciences, Child Rights, Development Studies, Social Work or a relevant field required.
Language Skills: Excellent spoken and written English and working proficiency in an additional IRC language (Arabic, French, Spanish,) is desired.
Key Working Relationships: This position reports to the Child Protection Global Practice Lead. The post holder is also accountable to the Alliance Director. Regular communication with other specialists and IRC Global Practice Leads within the Violence Prevention and Response unit, regional teams, awards management and grants management staff, and other internal stakeholders is required.
Working Environment: Standard office working environment. This role may have some international travel up to 20% of the time.
Compensation: 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.
- UK Pay Range: £58,736 - £68,256
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.
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