Executive Director

Scope:

The IRC is seeking an Executive Director (ED) to advance its work in Wichita, Kansas. The ED sets the vision, articulates the mission, and manages the implementation of quality, evidence-based or evidence-generating programming to maximize client outcomes. They are responsible for the development of resources vital to operating national and local programs, including building positive relationships with local, regional, and national resource partners.

The office currently has a projected FY22 operational budget of $7.1M and approximately 70 staff. Programs primarily focus on refugee resettlement and case management, employment, mental health, economic empowerment, education, anti-trafficking, youth, and immigration services.

The ED supervises and works in close collaboration with the Wichita Senior Management Team (SMT), which includes finance, operations, development, and program leadership. The ED works in particularly close collaboration with the Deputy Director to ensure quality and client-driven program design, delivery, and overall strategy for the Kansas office.

Major Responsibilities:

I. General Management and Leadership

• Organizational Leadership: Establish and articulate vision and strategy for IRC offices. Engage with local leaders and communities to advance IRC’s mission and serve as a thought and operational leader; cultivate collaborative working relationships with state and local agencies and service providers, donors, advocacy partners, and community organizations. Ensure the development and implementation of inclusive, effective, and holistic strategies to improve outcomes for clients.
• Planning: Lead local strategic planning process. Coordinate with IRC headquarters and ensure the office’s strategic plan reflects the agency’s overall mission and goals. Contribute to RAI network-wide initiatives and capacity-building models to advance the IRC Strategic Plan.
• Team Management: Build and cultivate an inclusive team. Plan, organize, distribute, and coordinate the flow of work. Hire, supervise, guide, and advise staff in accordance with IRC processes and values. Promote compliance with the IRC Code of Conduct; take ownership for actions and be accountable for those of the team. Maintain office management structure that bolsters coordination across departments. Ensure effective onboarding, capacity building, professional development, and performance management strategies and compliance with applicable labor laws.
• Operations: Ensure timely and consistent communication with HQ on operational issues, policies, and reporting; support local implementation of IRC policies including procurement, IT, and security and safety protocols.

II. Financial Management

• Budget Oversight: Coordinate annual budget development; regularly review the operating budget as well as monthly budget-to-actuals; maintain effective systems for tracking spending rates; address anomalies in revenue and expenses. Build capacity of program managers to support the responsible financial management of their assigned programs.
• Resource Development Plan: Be responsible for the development and tracking of annual resource development plan to ensure the achievement of goals and adequate resourcing of restricted and unrestricted funds.

III. Advocacy, External Relations, Development, and Fundraising

• Advocacy: Lead local advocacy efforts and support national advocacy efforts; host Board, senior staff, and donor visits; engage in and support community and policy outreach efforts.
• Resource Development: Define resource development strategy and develop a local fundraising plan based on analysis of office and program strengths, service gaps, and local environment. Collaborate with colleagues to optimize the use of technical support and resources; cultivate local donor relationships to maintain and expand the funding base.
• Marketing: Coordinate the development of a marketing strategy and plan contextualized for the local environment; ensure marketing materials are consistent and of high quality.
• Media and Communications: Maintain the positive public image of IRC; engage with the local media outlets and develop working relationships; collaborate closely with the IRC Communications Department on media efforts in accordance with IRC policies on external messaging.
• Partnership: Build positive relationships in relevant sectors and refugee communities. Collaborate with partners to address refugee needs and support an enabling environment for refugee integration.

Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree required, an advanced degree in a related field preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible work experience with social services or humanitarian assistance programs; strong preference for previous experience with direct services delivery to clients in cross-cultural environments.
• Demonstrated staff management, program development, monitoring, evaluation, and advocacy experience.
• Authentic leadership: demonstrated ability to promote an organizational culture that reflects IRC’s core values of service, accountability, integrity, and equality. Ability to lead in a way that recognizes that IRC’s work is best accomplished through the true collaboration of individuals from many cultures with a great variety of skills and perspectives.
• Successful and significant fundraising and grant writing experience.
• Financial management experience, including effective management of budgets.
• Proven people management skills; demonstrated ability to deliver results and translate words into action.
• Keen diplomatic and interpersonal skills; ability to enhance internal and external relationships, including with partners and donors. Ability to work successfully and with utmost integrity and respect in a cross-cultural environment and with a limited English-speaking client population.
• Ability to heighten the visibility of the office and programs, both within the IRC network and in the external environment.
• Superior organizational skills: ability to set priorities and effectively manage time in a fast-paced team environment.
• Proven digital literacy to include experience using MS Office.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 25%.

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 candidates who are selected for interview to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for this position.

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.