Strategy Director, RAI

Job Overview/Summary:

The Resettlement, Asylum and Integration (RAI) Strategy Director performs an essential role as an advisor, thought leader and collaborative partner to the SVP Office in RAI, and by extension, to the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) on topics related to strategy and the effective deployment of our strategic goals. This role takes a leadership position to analyze and solve complex challenges, question existing paradigms, and ensure that we are focusing our time and resources on the most important issues to achieve the department’s mission.

The RAI Strategy Director will champion, oversee, and drive the successful implementation of the IRC strategy in RAI by providing clarity of vision, strategic guidance, and tactical support to strengthen RAI’s effective translation of the IRC strategy referred to as S100 to our business activities both in the U.S. and Europe.

This role will champion new ways of working and planning long term efforts together as a leadership team, with a particular focus on the successful implementation of Strategy100 (S100) efforts throughout RAI. This role will be a strong people manager to lead teams on project basis, engaging a cross-cutting set of stakeholders across the department. This Director will have strong analytical skills to fuel executive team’s decision making by producing insights from a wide variety of existing and new information (e.g., performing context analysis and scenario planning in the lead up to our planned growth for 2024).

High-level responsibilities of this work include:

• Leading the taskforce that will plan for RAI’s growth in 2024
• Providing oversight of S100 with S100 leads and the RAI ELT
• Deploying to ad-hoc strategic projects as required by SVP

Detailed workResponsibilities

1. Strategy and institutional capacity building, including:

• Work closely as a trusted and provocative thought partner with the RAI VP Program Delivery to ensure she/he/they are well prepared to shape RAI’s strategic planning.

• Facilitate the RAI S100 Quarterly Review with the ELT, keeping the RAI SVP well-informed throughout the year, responding to feedback from the SVP and ELT on S100 progress, and taking direction regarding progress and next steps to continue to advance our strategic priorities. This includes driving the budget planning process and business case on a yearly basis for S100 & Strategic Action Plans (SAPs).

• Act as the primary RAI focal point for S100 topics with representatives of the IRC Strategy Unit, staying up to date on developments and keeping the RAI leadership informed on activities underway or planned.

• Provide direction, guidance, and counseling to RAI leaders and senior managers for the successful integration of S100 objectives in the planning and administration of their respective departments.

• Collaborate with the Regional Directors and Deputy Regional Directors in particular to identify innovative, effective, and efficient ways to embed the S100 at all levels throughout the RAI organization, securing support, input, role clarity and agreement throughout the RAI network of offices and colleagues.

• Supervise one or more RAI strategy program officers, working across the wide range of activities throughout RAI to manage strategic initiatives, the monitoring and collection of relevant data and analysis, preparation of relevant reports, and other necessary duties as identified. One of this roles is the SAP lead (or Senior Strategy Manager); the Director provides thought partnership, mentorship, and close guidance for this person’s work.

• Cross-functional coordination and planning with the RAI S100 leads across multiple areas to complete a shared RAI Strategy roadmap for FY22 and beyond and the facilitation of ongoing working meetings to collect, compile, review, analyze and keep stakeholders informed.

• Anticipate how different parties are likely to react to RAI’s strategic priorities and create a shared need amongst stakeholders to proceed as one in removing barriers and recognizing success.

• Make timely decisions judged to be right for RAI’s success, even though they may be difficult and/or circumstances may be unclear.

• Act as a role model for the IRC Values, demonstrate our Leadership Standards, and provide an organizational perspective that inspires dedication to shared goals through his/her/their own visible actions.

1. Ongoing duties include:

• Production and yearly upkeep of a RAI S100 multiyear roadmap, and meaningful, regular updates to RAI ELT on progress; this document is updated heavily at the start of each S100 Phase (i.e., every 3 years).
• Working with S100 leads to outline objectives and targets for their work towards key RAI Strategic priorities.
• Work with the Senior Strategy Manager (SAP lead) to continuously improve the SAP S100 process and product based on feedback from the field and across the organization.
• Ensure jointly with the Senior Strategy Manager (SAP lead) that all RAI program offices have and maintain SAPs in accordance with RAI and organization-wide processes, which are shared and socialized across the organization.
• Ensure jointly with the Senior Strategy Manager (SAP lead) that all RAI program offices carry out routine monitoring and reporting on progress against strategic ambitions.
• With support from the Senior Strategy Manager (SAP lead), produce and share global summaries and communications about RAI SAPs (annually and quarterly).
• Ensure extensive engagement across all levels of RAI with S100 and work hand-in-hand with Strategy Unit to socialize S100 across the IRC.
• Regularly meet with S100 leads to ensure coordination of the work and provide hands-on dedicated capacity to the S100 leads that need it the most (or at discretion of the SVP).
• Lead key strategic projects at discretion of the SVP, e.g., scenario planning for RAI’s growth plan in 2024, etc.

Job Qualifications:

Education:

Graduate degree required. Masters’ degree in a relevant subject considered a plus.

Work Experience:

• Minimum 10 years’ work experience in relevant roles, with growing level of responsibilities including managing a team.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Effective relationship management, and the ability to develop, grow, and utilize all appropriate perspectives.
• Proven multiphase initiative planning and development, change management, monitoring and evaluation skills, and the ability to turn. concepts and strategy into operational plans with measurable action.
• Superior qualitative and quantitative analytical skills and ability to condense broad amounts of information into action
• Demonstrated ability to successfully work in a fast-paced environment, within and across departments/functions, managing multiple priorities and develop positive relationships at all levels with local and remote based staff.
• Meets deadlines successfully under tight timeframes and within a dynamic and evolving setting.
• Strong interpersonal skills, collegial and collaborative, high energy, positive and creative leader.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience working with refugees, immigrants, or migrants desired.
• Experience in international contexts and other languages than English preferred.
• Demonstrates high level Microsoft Office skills.

Working Environment:

Remote and standard office environment that provides/requires occasional flexibility, afterhours demands and the ability to attend evening and weekend events, when needed. Occasional travel to other IRC locations required.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. 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 Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons.

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.

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.