Vice President, Program Excellence

BACKGROUND

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933, the IRC is at work today in over 40 countries and 28 U.S. cities. The IRC’s Resettlement, Asylum and Integration (RAI) department creates opportunities for refugees and other vulnerable migrants to survive and thrive in the US and Europe. RAI serves more than 100,000 individuals each year in the US, including thousands of newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers as well as the broader immigrant community, through a diverse portfolio of programs aimed at five core outcomes: Health, Safety, Economic Wellbeing, Education and Power.

SCOPE OF WORK

The VP’s primary responsibility is to provide dynamic leadership to RAI technical units, including the Resettlement, Asylum & Immigration, and Integration & Innovation units. This role sets the direction for RAI’s programmatic excellence, and maintains organizational technical program standards, models, support systems, and expertise to promote the effectiveness, sustainability and scalability of our programs. The position requires strong internal communication and coordination with RAI HQ and field staff with CRRD’s Technical Excellence team and with the Airbel Research lab. Externally this position liaises with the core donor agencies including the Bureau of Population, Refugee and Migration (PRM), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the European Union (EU). The VP Program Excellence must be a high performer with strong analytical skills and be able to successfully lead multiple teams to achieve their strategic goals as well as play a leadership role in the organization at large. They will be a key member of the RAI Executive Leadership Group (ELG) and collaborate closely with other members regarding technical excellence, operations, finance, fundraising, awards management, advocacy, communications, legal, compliance and other HQ functions

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Set programmatic goals, establish standards, monitor work, and evaluate results to ensure that departmental and organizational objectives and operating requirements are met and are in line with the needs and mission of IRC.
• Oversee the evolution of the technical assistance model, manage key internal and external relationships, develop strategic goals and identify opportunities that will improve performance, drive impact and achieve departmental goals.
• Represent IRC with key donors, policy makers, local government officials, public and private partners, and news media as required.
• Advance RAI’s ability to measure progress towards improved outcomes for clients, advising other executive leaders on program performance, areas for expansion, gaps in services and other program elements.
• Drive the development of RAI’s strategy for programming, leading new initiatives, and seeking opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure a consistently high level of team performance; lead, mentor, and empower the Technical Unit Sr. Directors, inspiring and modeling healthy, collaborative, intra & inter-departmental cross-functional working relationships
• Exercise responsible oversight of budgets and grant portfolios, and lead efforts to improve the consistency and quality of financial, grant management and donor relationships.

U.S. Resettlement

• Provide quality oversight of the design and delivery of all resettlement services in the US such as R&P, MG, ICM, APA, United for Ukraine, VAPA.
• Ensure that all RAI programs for refugees, asylum-seekers, survivors of trafficking and other populations are of high quality and that our programs evolve with evolving client needs.
• Actively collaborate with Senior Director Resettlement and Support offices in conducting strategic resettlement planning processes that align with the departmental and organizational strategy overall.
• In collaboration with the National Programs team, promote innovative programming within the department and work with individual offices to pilot new ideas.
• Participate in strategic planning, particularly in the areas of program growth and development, and support agency-wide initiatives.

Asylum & Protection

• Provide high level oversight of the design and delivery of all legal, asylum and protection services in the US and Europe.
• Evolve global vision and set strategy for program design and implementation to ensure effective and responsive delivery of immigration and legal protection services and civics programming.
• Preside over the delivery and implementation of large, multi-year projects.
• Critically influence IRC’s organizational stances on asylum and protection.

Integration & Innovation

• Provide high level oversight of the design and delivery of economic wellbeing, education and health & wellbeing programs in the US and Europe, and provide holistic program integration and innovation design.
• Provide high level oversight to external facing training and technical assistance programs and oversee RAI’s internal learning programs and digital initiatives.
• Oversee efforts to strengthen research efforts, a key cornerstone of the evidence-based strategy, along with the use of new technology across the department.

Other

• Create culture of collaboration, integrity and productive working relationships among all staff.
• In coordination with the SVP, engage with HR on staff development, retention and succession planning.
• Work closely with the VP & Director of Policy and Advocacy and the Director of Communications to strengthen IRC’s advocacy work and public positioning.
• Other duties as assigned by the SVP.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Position reports to: Senior Vice President, RAI

Position directly supervises: Senior Director Resettlement, Senior Director Asylum & Immigration, Senior Director Integration & Innovation, (3)

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Unique and critical personal characteristics

• The ideal candidate is a strategist and thought partner that has the ability to identify organizational issues and challenges, design and deliver solutions and to drive results
• This individual is able to operate as an organizational intersection of strategies, priorities and sensitive special projects with a keen eye for political and policy nuance
• As a manager they will engage, rally, and inspire the team to the highest quality of work

Technical skills

• Deep knowledge and understanding of the history, issues, and trends across the humanitarian, development and related sectors. Demonstrated success using knowledge, reputation, and evidence to establish and influence policy and debate around the world at multiple levels and with a range of partners.
• Exceptional analytical skills and experience in driving evidence-based decisions.
• Commitment to and understanding of building local capacity and ownership in programs, and inclusion of client voice in management decisions.
• Excellent ability to build personal networks at a senior level, resulting in securing new opportunities and strategic growth for the organization.
• Strong aptitude in applying a holistic risk management approach.
• Outstanding presentation, written and verbal communication skills; commitment to open and transparent communication.
• A keen understanding of global political complexities and experience employing international political analysis.

Leadership Skills and Competencies

• Collaborative leadership approach that fosters an inclusive team environment and builds positive strong relationships with diverse people from all backgrounds, cultures and viewpoints.
• Ability to organize, plan, schedule, determine priorities and meet deadlines
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills are essential
• 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 communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders with tact and diplomacy, both orally and in writing, including working with all staff levels and diverse personalities
• Ability to exercise discretion in dealing with sensitive material and maintain the confidentiality
• Ability to handle stress, function effectively under pressure and meet time parameters
• Ability to expand on own initiative in performance of duties
• Must have excellent discretion, judgment, tact, initiative, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, organizational skills, and self-motivation

Education

• Post graduate degree in relevant field

Work Experience

• Minimum of ten years including significant policy, communications and strategy experience

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

This position requires occasional flexibility, afterhours demands and the ability to attend evening and weekend events, when needed

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 $120 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, 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.