Job Overview
Country Director, Global Surge Team Roster: Global Roving, USA Remote
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) actively responds to the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. We help restore health, safety, education, economic well-being, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Specifically, we’re looking for a highly experienced Country Director, Global Surge to lead our critical programs worldwide. Albert Einstein called for our founding in 1933. Since then, consequently, the IRC has grown into one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO). We work in over 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities. Our goal is to help millions survive, reclaim control of their futures, and strengthen their communities. IRC employees are a force for humanity. They deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity, and hope. If you are a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, then come join us. Positively impact the lives of millions worldwide for a better future.
About the Global Surge Team (GST)
The IRC’s Global Surge Team (GST) comprises esteemed and highly qualified humanitarian professionals. These individuals deploy on short notice to non-emergency and emergency contexts. They provide specialist support where talent is most needed for short-term assignments of up to three months. The GST offers a flexible employment opportunity for staff. However, it requires members to be available for deployments only 50% of the year. There are, of course, opportunities for additional deployments if the incumbent is interested. This role is perfect for a Roving Country Director.
Remote USA Country Director, Global Surge
Job Overview: Leading as Country Director, Global Surge
As a Country Director, Global Surge (CD), you will lead all programs implemented in the country program where the IRC operates. You bear responsibility for the overall leadership and supervisory management of IRC staff, programming, and operations. This includes ensuring program quality and accountability, stewarding resources, safeguarding staff safety and security, managing performance, and representing the organization externally. This truly is a pivotal Humanitarian Leadership Role.
In this role, you will directly oversee the program’s overall coordination and strategic direction. You will also provide oversight and coaching for senior managers. Furthermore, you will guide country program teams to identify, design, and deliver responsive, high-quality programs. You must also ensure efficient management of public grants and private funds for results, compliance, and timely reporting. Finally, you will maintain robust financial management and compliance systems, which are key for any INGOs Country Director.
Major Responsibilities of a Surge Country Director
Leadership and Representation
- Lead the country program. Maintain open and professional relations with colleagues. Promote a strong team spirit. Ensure oversight and resources enable staff to perform successfully. This is central to being a Country Director, Global Surge.
- Develop and execute strategies that result in strong representation. Engage with government ministries at various levels, UN OCHA, and donors. These include OFDA, USAID, DFID, BPRM, ECHO, UNHCR, UNICEF, and other international organizations. Additionally, connect with international and local NGOs and networks such as SIRF.
- Ensure IRC remains a preferred partner for major international donors.
- Develop and maintain a high level of understanding regarding donor priorities and planned funding streams.
- Initiate and sustain strong, mutually beneficial, and authentic partnerships with local organizations.
- Seek out and pursue opportunities to raise the profile of IRC’s work and its partners. Moreover, highlight the lives and needs of the people IRC serves.
- Play a leading role in efforts to improve humanitarian coordination.
- Guide country program collaboration with colleagues to deliver regional programming and advocacy.
- Ensure leadership and management processes enable the IRC to effectively adapt to contextual changes. In addition, fully utilize opportunities to expand humanitarian access and assistance.
Strategic Direction, Quality, and Growth
- Ensure the country program’s strategic vision and direction align with IRC2020. Serve people with responsive, high-quality, and accountable programming. Secure necessary resources for its realization. This strategic oversight is critical for a Humanitarian Country Director.
- Ensure the strategy action plan demonstrates quality. Implement it fully. Let it guide decision-making.
- Ensure quality through consistent use throughout the country program. Apply rigorous assessment, design, and proposal development and review processes. Implement comprehensive monitoring & evaluation, accountability, and learning systems. Invest in staff development. Strengthen partner organization capacity.
- Remain current on national and regional issues impacting the country program and partners. Develop responsive strategies for changing contexts.
- Ensure the Senior Management Team (SMT) delivers the leadership, management structures, staffing skills and approaches, and operational systems required. This ensures a coherent ‘one IRC’ approach to achieve regional objectives.
- Find opportunities for appropriate program expansion and growth. Support this through acquiring and investing in human resources.
Safety and Security Management for Global Surge Operations
- Take primary responsibility for overall management of the country program’s safety and security. This is paramount for any Emergency Response Director.
- Oversee the management of all security issues. This includes appropriate responses to emergency situations as they arise.
- Maintain a culture of safety throughout the country program. Include training and briefings that prepare all country program staff for security incident prevention and response.
- Keep security, evacuation, and contingency plans current and accessible to country program staff.
- Maintain close coordination and communication with the Regional Safety and Security Advisor. Discuss relevant concerns and evolving issues that could adversely affect IRC staff or operations.
Staff Management, Learning, and Development
- Oversee the management, coaching, and development of national and international staff. Build a team of skilled, committed, and motivated individuals. Coach, train, supervise, and mentor direct-report staff. Communicate clear expectations. Set quarterly performance objectives. Provide regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback. Conduct documented semi-annual performance reviews.
- Provide a measurable development plan. Include on-the-job learning. Aim to strengthen technical capacity. Exchange knowledge within the team. Offer guidance on career paths.
- Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least bi-weekly.
- Approve and manage all time, attendance, and leave requests of direct reports. Ensure adequate departmental coverage.
- As part of succession planning and localization goals, identify, train, and develop the capability and capacity of local staff. Successfully transition roles and responsibilities by the end of an assignment.
- Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
- Work with regional HR staff to identify and implement recruitment and retention strategies.
- Undertake regular reviews of labor and salary markets in the area. This aims to enhance the competitiveness of the IRC’s overall compensation package for local staff.
Stewardship and Operational Management
- Drive operational excellence. Achieve optimal efficiency and cost-effectiveness in all functions and operations of the country program. This falls under the purview of a Global Programs Director.
- Oversee the development, deployment, and utilization of financial and operational policies, procedures, and systems. Ensure compliance with IRC and donor requirements.
- Ensure responsiveness and appropriate levels of in-person and remote support to all offices, especially in HR, finance, and supply chain.
- Provide timely and effective oversight of the country program’s financial position.
- Maintain effective and coordinated budget monitoring processes for grant funds and discretionary funds.
- Seek opportunities to introduce efficiencies and eliminate redundancies in existing business processes.
Communications
- Model and encourage active practice of the principles of the “IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct” throughout the country program.
- Maintain a healthy and empowering office environment. Encourage open, honest, and productive communication among IRC staff and with partner organizations.
- Maintain open communications with regional management staff, regional technical advisors, and HQ departmental staff.
Job Requirements for this Country Director Role
You should possess strong leadership abilities and interpersonal skills. Furthermore, you must effectively deploy strong communications, both internally and externally. You should also enjoy developing networks to build partnerships and expand program resources.
- Education: Graduate degree in a relevant field preferred.
- Experience: At least 12 years of progressively responsible international work experience. This includes leadership at the Country Director level of multi-site, multi-sectoral operations in a complex operating environment.
- Prior experience working within organizational structures in transition.
- Experience working in conflict/post-conflict or disaster response situations.
- Language Skills: Professional fluency in written and spoken English is essential. A working knowledge of Arabic, Spanish, and/or French is strongly preferred.
Demonstrated Technical Skills
- Experience managing security in a complex and rapidly changing security context. This is crucial for a Crisis Response Director.
- Confirmed ability to negotiate and work with partner organizations. Experience with organizational capacity strengthening and partnership building is beneficial.
- Strong budget and fiscal oversight capabilities.
- Extensive representation and fundraising success. This includes prior experience with European, US, and international donors.
- Established capacity to handle stressful situations in a healthy, constructive manner.
- Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner. Produce high-quality outcomes.
- Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Working knowledge of file sharing protocols such as Dropbox, SharePoint, etc., is an advantage.
Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies
- Experience building personal networks at a senior level. This results in securing new opportunities for the organization.
- Demonstrated successful leadership and management experience with multi-disciplinary teams in dynamic settings. This includes active mentoring and coaching.
- Effective in developing high-potential staff to achieve career growth and maximum contribution.
- Confirmed experience delivering suitable levels of oversight for a portfolio consisting of a variety of complex, high-value donor-funded projects.
- Opportunity-awareness: Possess a successful, innovative approach to unpredictable programming, operational, and funding contexts.
- Ability to dispassionately represent program context, constraints, and successes to media, government, and and other senior audiences.
Apply now:
Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and its workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the primary purpose of the Global Surge Team (GST)? A1: The Global Surge Team is a roster of highly qualified humanitarian professionals. They deploy on short notice to various contexts, both emergency and non-emergency, to provide specialist support where the IRC needs it most for short-term assignments. This directly relates to the Country Director, Global Surge role.
Q2: What is the expected deployment commitment for a Country Director on the Global Surge Team? A2: Members of the GST are required to be available for deployments for 50% of the year. There are also opportunities for additional deployments if an individual is interested.
Q3: What are the key responsibilities of a Country Director, Global Surge? A3: This role involves overall leadership and supervisory management of IRC country programs, encompassing staff, programming, and operations. Key areas include program quality, resource stewardship, staff safety and security, performance management, and external representation. It’s a comprehensive Humanitarian Country Director position.
Q4: What level of experience is required for this position? A4: Candidates should have at least 12 years of progressively responsible international work experience, including leadership at the Country Director level in complex, multi-site, multi-sectoral operations.
Q5: Is relocation to New York required for this role? A5: While the office is in IRC New York, USA, this role is explicitly part of the “Global Roving” roster, implying deployment to various international country programs. The New York location likely refers to the base for administrative purposes or specific team meetings for this Global Surge Team position.
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