Director, RAI Strategic Planning & Management

The Director of RAI Strategic Planning & Management performs an essential role as an advisor, thought leader and collaborative partner to the VP of Resettlement, Asylum and Integration (RAI), and by extension, the Executive Leadership Team on topics related to strategy and the effective deployment of our strategic goals.   This role takes a leadership position to analyze and solve complex challenges, question existing paradigms, and ensure that we are focusing our time and resources on the most important issues to achieve the department’s mission.  

The incumbent will champion new ways of working and planning long term efforts together as a leadership team, with a particular focus on the successful implementation of Strategy100 (S100) efforts throughout RAI.  This role will be responsible for managing one or more program officers 

The S100 will be our guide to everything we do as we enter a new era for global resettlement, asylum, and integration in the post-Trump era.  S/h/xe will provide both clarity of vision, strategic guidance, and tactical support to strengthen RAI’s effective translation of the S100 to our business activities both in the U.S. and Europe.  In summary, the Director of RAI Strategic Planning & Management will champion, oversee, and drive the successful implementation of the IRC strategy in RAI.

•Work closely as a trusted and provocative thought partner with the RAI VP to ensure s/h/xe is well prepared to shape RAI’s strategic planning.

•Represent RAI in the S100 Delivery Board, keeping the RAI SVP well-informed, responding to feedback, and taking direction regarding progress and next steps.  

•Act as the primary RAI focal point for representatives of the IRC Strategy Unit, staying up to date on developments and keeping the RAI leadership informed on activities underway or planned.

•Provide direction, guidance, and counseling to RAI leaders and senior managers for the successful integration of S100 objectives in the planning and administration of their respective departments.

•Collaborate with the Regional Directors in particular to identify innovative, effective, and efficient ways to embed the S100 at all levels throughout the RAI organization, securing support, input, role clarity and agreement throughout the RAI network of offices and colleagues. 

•Supervise one or more RAI strategy program officers, working across the wide range of activities throughout RAI in order to manage strategic initiatives, the monitoring and collection of relevant data and analysis, preparation of relevant reports, and other necessary duties as identified.

•Cross-functional coordination and planning with the RAI ambition leads across multiple areas to complete a shared RAI Strategy roadmap for FY22 and beyond and the facilitation of ongoing working meetings to collect, compile, review, analyze and keep stakeholders informed.   

•Anticipate how different parties are likely to react to RAI’s strategic priorities and create a shared need amongst stakeholders to proceed as one in removing barriers and recognizing success.  

•Make timely decisions judged to be right for RAI’s success, even though they may be difficult and/or circumstances may be unclear.

•Act as a role model for the IRC Values, demonstrate our Leadership Standards, and provide an organizational perspective that inspires dedication to shared goals through his/her/their own visible actions.

•Production of a RAI S100 multiyear roadmap, and meaningful, regular updates to RAI ELT on progress. 

•Production of key ambition statements for the following RAI Strategic priorities; Program design, Data, Research and Evidence, Client Voice, etc.

•Throughout FY21, build an improved SAP S100 process and product based on feedback from the field and across the organization.

•All RAI programs locations have and maintain SAPs in accordance with organization-wide processes, which are shared & socialized across the organization. 

•All RAI programs carry out routine monitoring and reporting on progress against strategic ambitions. 

•With support from RAI Strategy program officer produces and shares global summaries and communications about RAI SAP ambitions (annually and quarterly).

•Ensure extensive engagement across all levels of RAI with S100 and work hand-in-hand with Strategy Unit to socialize S100 across the organization. 

•Chair RAI S100 Coordination Forum (ambition leads plus RD’s), ensuring appropriate facilitation of the cross-departmental membership to make timely decisions that guide SAP process at the country level.