Senior Advisor –Strategy and Planning

BACKGROUND

Over the past 80 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.

The International Rescue Committee UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its headquarters in New York and Europe. The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief, relocating refugees and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster. Through over 20 regional offices in cities across the United States, the IRC also helps refugees resettle in the US and become self-sufficient.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

IRC in Europe

The IRC has offices in London, Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Geneva and Stockholm. The offices support the organisation’s global activities and particularly to diversify its donor base and be able to better advocate with European policymakers on behalf of the people we serve.

IRC in Europe comprises approximately 350 staff.

The Purpose of the Role

There has been considerable growth for IRC in Europe, not least in response to the growing role of the organisation as a thought leader on refugee issues, as well as a deliberate strategy to diversify our influence across Europe. The position holder will need to flex between areas of work on humanitarian thought leadership, funding diversification and growth strategies, and partnership building between IRC and other key organizations.

As Senior Advisor, Policy & Planning you will work closely with the SVP Europe to support the IRC in achieving its goals across the Europe network, as well as ensuring the IRC Europe Strategy is relevant and an effective tool for the organisation.

Scope and Authority

Reporting directly to the Senior Vice President, the Senior Advisor supports the SVP and the Senior Director for Strategy and Planning on a range of strategic initiatives that impact the wider organization.

Working with the SVP Europe and Senior Director, Strategy and Planning, the Senior Advisor will-:

• Deliver activities embarked upon by the Senior Vice President’s Office, ensuring effective engagement with relevant departments as well as internal and external stakeholders
• Assist the SVP Europe and Senior Director, Strategy and Planning with range of enquires and responses needed and may be assigned as first/key point of contact on various issues as decided by the SVP and Senior Director, Strategy and Planning

Key Working Relationships

• Colleagues at the SVP Europe office and other LB planning teams
• Colleagues across IRC Europe as well as Leadership Board and Senior Leaders’ Group who represent IRC global leadership.
• IRC Country Offices and Technical Units as required.
• Key partners such as Stichting Vluchteling

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Policy and Influence:

• Conducts research and analysis to support the strategic aims of the IRC in Europe.
• Draft strategy documents, reports, speeches, briefing notes, and talking points at the request of the SVP Europe.
• Plan international visits to country programmes and to European offices as well as any subsequent follow up from those related to the increase in IRC revenue and influence work.

Strategy and Planning:

Lead on the review around necessary updates to the Europe Strategy in support of IRC Strategy 100 and the wider IRC organisation.

• Leads on the internal communication of European progress on the delivery of S100 and work to promote the work of European teams widely within the organisation.
• Through coordination with the European Senior Management Team, keep an active overview of the work of departments to ensure effective and coordinated support to and response from the SVP Europe.
• Identify challenges in the short and longer term, to successfully implementing the Europe strategy and working with relevant stakeholders to develop proposed solutions.

Planning and Coordination

• Provide timely and effective communication of instructions and decisions of the SVP Europe to stakeholders at all levels.
• Build and maintain strong relationship with leaders across the Europe network, and ensure that their views are represented.
• Track and document key strategic internal and external meetings, ensuring that key action points are communicated and follow up occurs.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to commission and/or develop briefings.
• Work with internal stakeholders to commission and/or develop itineraries and agendas to ensure the IRC President and SVP engagements in Europe are effective.
• Foster teamwork and communications among the Leadership Board, Senior Leaders Group and the IRC Europe leaders.
• Maintain sensitivity and diplomacy with senior colleagues.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Skills Knowledge and Qualifications

• Degree in a field relevant to policy making, strategy, international development/humanitarian affairs, public administration.
• Politically astute with the ability to analyze and summarize large amounts of information quickly.
• Strong interpersonal, relationship management and influencing skills; ability to manage without authority; ability to work with a variety of stakeholders with different agendas
• Rigorous and critical thinker, able to ask probing clear questions and drive toward solutions quickly.
• Ability to anticipate and assess situations accurately and recommend/implement

effective courses of action required.

• Ability to coordinate multiple meeting tasks and a myriad of complex details on a concurrent basis.
• Ability to handle stress, function effectively under pressure and meet time parameters.
• Predisposition toward simple and practical solutions, through consensus building.

Experience

• Significant demonstrable years progressive experience or proven background in planning and project management, NGO knowledge preferred.
• Experience in communicating effectively with internal and external stakeholders with tact and diplomacy, both orally and in writing, including working with all staff levels and diverse personalities.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to present at a senior level and work in a fast -paced environment.
• Proven track record in successful change management and knowledge of organizational development approaches and practices.
• Management consulting or equivalent experience, preferably with pre-existing knowledge or experience in humanitarian/development/nonprofit sector
• Demonstrable experience in organizational reporting, research, analysis, and strategy development.
• Experience in managing and strategizing around internal communication methods preferred.