Director, Strategy & Planning

International Rescue Committee (IRC) – Role Overview

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, operating in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities. If you are a solutions‑driven, passionate change‑maker, join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people worldwide for a better future.

Background

The IRC is committed to bold leadership, innovation, creative partnerships, and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. We are a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

Role Purpose

The External Relations (ER) department includes private fundraising, marketing & communications, and advocacy. ER’s goal is to mobilize external audiences to raise funding to meet core organization needs, deliver programs that support our clients, influence policy changes to improve outcomes, and build and grow our global brand. The Strategy & Planning (S&P) team supports ER by advancing the global strategy, driving impact and strategic change, and leading strategic projects that address barriers or pursue opportunities. The Director of Strategy & Planning will serve as the driver of this strategy, clarifying vision, developing processes and analysis methods, and owning the final outputs of the strategy process. You will be a critical thought partner to the IRC COO and leadership across External Relations.

Scope and Authority

Authority: Has authority to make decisions on the pipeline of projects and direction of projects.

Responsibility for Resources: Is responsible for developing a strategy that aligns to the entire External Relations budget, but manages only the budget of the Strategy & Planning team.

Key Working Relationships

• COO
• VP Philanthropy & Foundation
• VP Mass Markets & Corporates
• Chief Marketing & Mobilization Officer
• VP, Policy & Advocacy
• VP Business Operations
• Director, Strategic Finance
• Director, Strategy & Delivery

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the development and implementation of ER multi‑year strategy, conceptualizing the approach, managing consultations and analysis, and building business cases to underpin the growth of private revenue.
• Provide support and oversight to key strategic initiatives in ER, including facilitating decision‑making on new fundraising markets, building an operating model for collaborative fundraising at the local and global level, and improving processes to strengthen donor experience and financial accounting.
• Collaborate closely with and provide advisory support to global senior leaders; meet regularly with External Relations Vice Presidents to identify challenges and serve as a thought partner.
• Build cross‑departmental coordination and ensure representation of External Relations in IRC‑wide projects, enhancing overall impact and quality of IRC‑wide strategic initiatives.
• Lead the annual strategy and financial planning process across ER in close collaboration with the Director of Financial Management and Planning.

Planning and Coordination

• Oversee planning, monitoring and delivery of the multi‑year ER business transformation and ER Theory of Change, partnering with ER VPs and senior staff across the department and the IRC to provide problem‑solving support and facilitate decision‑making and consensus‑building.
• Develop and manage quarterly strategy and risk reviews, identify metrics to measure progress toward stated goals, and facilitate leadership discussion on KPI results.
• Act as part of the COO’s core team, supporting weekly updates and risk tracking, and ensuring COO engagement in critical strategic ER matters.
• Develop vision for the Strategy & Planning team and manage the project pipeline to maximize the impact of strategy resources on net revenue and long‑term sustainability.

People and Culture

• Direct line management of four strategy professionals; develop team capabilities in structured analysis, critical thinking, facilitation, and collaborative problem‑solving.
• Play a leadership role in the Business Operations & Analytics Leadership Team, the External Relations Department leadership team, and the IRC Senior Leaders Group, driving inclusive and collaborative culture across the department and the IRC.
• Promote a positive, collaborative, efficient team environment where members enjoy working together and grow professionally.
• Take responsibility for the team’s work over time, promote and support their successes, acknowledge areas for improvement, and demonstrate an ownership mentality.

Person Specification

Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Experience developing multi‑year growth strategies, preferably for revenue‑generating teams.
• Repeated experience executing strategic change and organizational change management.
• Repeated experience managing large‑scale, cross‑functional projects and project portfolios.
• Good knowledge of private fundraising in humanitarian or development settings.
• Experience implementing or adapting project methodologies, templates, tools and processes.
• Capability to manage multiple demands and adapt to new challenges and shifting priorities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to be clear and concise.
• Strong meeting facilitation skills.
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time.
• Strong analytic problem solving skills.
• Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross‑functional global team structure.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to manage and work through change proactively and positively.

Experience

• Considerable relevant work experience, at least three of which in a strategy or business transformation role, with gradually increasing responsibilities, people‑management responsibilities, and a track record of high performance.

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Experience in a strategy or business transformation role at a top‑tier strategy consulting firm or in the strategy development function of a global organization.
• Strong knowledge of private fundraising, communication and advocacy in humanitarian or development context.
• Master’s degree (MBA) or related field such as international development, human rights, or another field related to the IRC’s work.
• Experience leading teams to success.
• Experience in a humanitarian or development organization, or similar.
• Knowledge of French or Arabic.

Criteria in the Person Specification marked with ** are the minimum criteria in line with the IRC’s commitments under the Disability Confident Employer Scheme in the UK. UK‑based candidates who state that they have a disability and meet these criteria will be invited to interview.

Standard Responsibilities

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC London Officer.
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.

Standard Job Requirements

Applicants must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct (Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability) and respect IRC policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti‑Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti‑Retaliation.

Standard Content

IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team that embodies our culture statement – a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity, enabling us to achieve our aspirations and deliver the best possible services to our clients.

Narrowing the Gender Gap

The IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that support women, including flexible hours (when possible), enhanced maternity/adoption leave and pay, and gender‑sensitive security protocols.

Candidate Eligibility

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK or the US.

Compensation

Pay Range UK: £75,000 - £80,000. Pay Range US‑New York City: $130,000 - $155,000.

US Benefits: 10 sick days, 10 U.S. holidays, 20‑25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance $163.00/month, dental $6.50/month, vision $5/month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403(b) retirement savings plan with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program available to staff and families.

Equal Opportunity Employer

IRC is an equal‑opportunity employer. We consider all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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