Senior Director, Policy & Planning (Chief of Staff)

New York City

Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
Location: New York City
Grade: Senior Executive level - Senior Executive
Occupational Groups:
- Political Affairs
- Operations and Administrations
- Legal - Broad
- Managerial positions
Closing Date:

IRC summary

Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is on the ground in more than 40 countries and in 25 cities in the United States, and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster.

As we approach our 100th year of service in 2033, we remain passionate about ensuring that the impact of our programs and the influence of our ideas empower people caught in crisis to make lasting change in their lives. We have launched Strategy100, a strategic plan that provides a north star for our programs, our research, and our voice.

Job overview

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced senior leader to help impact and deliver on the IRC’s mission. Reporting directly to the President/CEO, the Senior Director will lead the President’s Office team, and serve as a thought partner, strategist, driver, problem solver, and effective partner to the President/CEO, Leadership Board, wider IRC organization and external parties.

A top applicant will be a self-starter who can think and act strategically, critically, and collaboratively. Must have extensive project leadership, team leadership, organizational management and collaborator engagement experience. Must be enthusiastic to work in a fast-paced, high-energy environment to lead, direct, deliver, support and influence multiple ideas and projects simultaneously. An open-minded problem-identifier and solution-generator. A helpful facilitator across departments and topics. A good partner to wide-range of colleagues at all levels. This role will also need strong communication skills to engage clearly and transparently, awareness of the cultural environment IRC operates in, no ego, and a laser-sharp focus on helping everyone succeed in getting the right things done.

Are you passionate about IRC's mission, making a positive impact and seeing an improvement in people’s lives? Do you have a strong work ethic and experience as a strategic leader to closely support senior leadership? Then join us!

We will trust you to lead the following responsibilities, including and not limited to:

1. Support the President/CEO and the Leadership Board across Strategy100 and management priorities:

• Actively partner with the President/CEO and Leadership Board, use sound judgment to advise on complex internal and external issues.

• Represent the President/CEO and acts as junction for competing demands, IRC priorities, budget and time requirements.

• Keep an active overview of the work of departments and engage with President/CEO and Leadership Board for support, responses or decisions as needed.

• Lead the cross-functional team (i.e., similar roles in various departments) on strategic and operational collaboration.

• Set the agenda for Leadership Board meeting to ensure the group is spending time effectively, reaching decisions where needed, and cascading information to the wider community.

• Tracks and documents key internal and external discussion outcomes, ensuring that action points are communicated and follow-up occurs.

2. Collaborate with the Chief Strategy Officer to maximise delivery of Strategy100 and improve orginsational performance and health:

• Ensure the orgniasation continuously makes progress towards systematic and comprehensive performance and health approaches, including through Delivery Letter to set annual organsational priorities.

• Enhance the use of data in senior management’s decision-making through Quarterly Strategic Review.

• Help the President/CEO and Leadership Board identify critical priority list that require senior management engagements and support regular discussions to ensure we are making progress and initiatives are on track.

• Work closely with the President/CEO and Leadership Board to identify short and medium-term projects, and work with relevant Strategy, Delivery and cross-functional team members to address delivery challenges through standing-up strategic projects and drive resolutions.

• Facilitate decision-making meetings.

• Provide thought-partnership and analytical skills as needed.

• Provide project management leadership in cross-functional initiatives as needed.

3. Manage the President’s Office team in their work with internal and external experts on policy, influence, and communications:

• Guide team members to work with internal experts in Policy & Solutions, Advocacy, Marketing, Communications, Fundraising, and Programme team etc. to drive leadership agenda and priorities for the President/CEO, finding the best opportunities for impact and influence.

• Guide team members to work with departments to produce content, reports, speeches, briefing notes, and talking points that support engagements and influencing agenda.

• Expand and develop key relationships with external collaborators.

4. Engage with key groups across the organization:

• Support engagements with IRC Co-chairs, and work with the Board team to ensure follow-up.

• Support engagements with Senior Leaders Group and other org-wide moments (e.g., retreats, meetings etc.), creating opportunities to align strategic priorities, build connectivity, and develop leaders to keep the organization moving forward.

• Support the President/CEO in all staff communications and engagements.

• Maintain sensitivity and diplomacy with senior colleagues.

5. Accountable for the effective and efficient delivery of the President’s Office (PO):

• Oversee prioritization of President/CEO’s time to ensure strategic opportunities are enhanced.

• Oversee budget, resource, workstream management and process improvement of the PO.

• Oversee the PO team to provide high-quality, collaborative, agile and transparent support to the President/CEO and the organization across long-term planning and short-term activities (E.g., internal/external meetings with decision makers, partners, board, events, programme visits etc.)

• All other duties as requested by the President/CEO.

Key working relationships

• Reporting - President/CEO

• Manages - President’s Office (~6 staff currently)

• Key Relationships - Leadership Board, Senior Leaders Group, Chief Strategy Officer, Programme and department leaders, Co-Chairs of the IRC Board and Board support team, Cross-functional planning team, Executive Assistants

Job Requirements

• Post-graduate degree or equivalent in relevant field.

• Minimum of 10 years of work experience including considerable strategy, management, business operations, policy, or public affairs experience.

• Ability to support senior management and work effectively with colleagues at all levels.

• Ability to lead projects and initiatives teams without direct authority, applying exceptional relationship management and influencing skills.

• Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.

• Professional experience working in and traveling internationally.

• Experience working well with colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds.

• Fluency and advanced writing skills in English is required; additional languages desired.

Working Environment

• Hybrid work with a minimum of 3-days per week in our NYC headquarters.

• Some international travel as needed, up to 30%.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

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.

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.

#LI-GR1

We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.

Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

Apply