Senior Director, Head of Strategy and Delivery Unit

International Rescue Committee•New York, NY

8d•$165,000 - $195,000•Hybrid

About The Position

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 (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future. Job Overview The Head of Strategy & Delivery holds a unique and expansive remit that spans both the development of IRC's organizational strategy and the hands-on leadership of delivery against that strategy, as well as enterprise risk management. The role sits at the intersection of long-range strategic thinking and practical, evidence-based problem-solving, ensuring that IRC's most critical priorities are not only well-defined but effectively executed, while balancing strategic direction with proactive organizational risk mitigation. As the leader of the Strategy & Delivery Unit (SDU), you will work in close collaboration with IRC’s President/CEO, executive leadership, and teams across the entire organization. The role serves as a senior thought partner on the organization's highest-stakes strategic questions while simultaneously ensuring that the IRC's most pressing challenges are identified, unblocked, and resolved. This role works closely with the Senior Director of Policy & Planning in the President's Office and strategy and planning leads across the organization to regularly assess progress on strategic priorities and organizational health, and ensure cohesion across departments’ priorities. IRC's Strategy100 (S100) provides the strategic direction for the organization through its centenary in 2033. The Head of Strategy & Delivery is the ultimate steward of S100 — championing it internally and externally, overseeing progress tracking, and leading the preparation and implementation of each successive phase. At the same time, you will be accountable for ensuring that the organization's capacity to deliver against those strategic goals is continuously assessed, strengthened, and where necessary, course-corrected. You will oversee a high-performing, multidisciplinary team working across a portfolio of strategic and delivery-focused projects that are of critical importance to the IRC's mission to help more than 20 million people affected by conflict and crisis worldwide. The role requires exceptional strategic vision, strong advisory and influence capabilities, deep emotional intelligence, and a proven ability to lead and develop diverse, high-performing teams. The role reports to the Chief Operating Officer.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required
At least 10-12 years of relevant work experience, including demonstrated experience in strategic analysis, organizational performance, project management, and advisory of senior leaders
Track record of high performance with progressively increasing responsibilities, ideally spanning both strategy development and delivery/implementation functions
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies
Deep strategic thinker with the ability to lead an organization in reflecting on its role in a rapidly changing environment, using qualitative and quantitative data to develop, refine, and drive implementation of transformational strategies
Proven track record in driving strategic change and organizational change management at scale
Repeated experience in project managing large-scale, cross-functional initiatives in fast-paced, complex environments
Exceptional advisory and influence skills; ability to connect with, challenge, and support senior leaders in driving organizational change
Strong organizational and time-management skills; ability to deliver on multiple simultaneous and often competing demands
Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to structure and creatively solve complex, ambiguous problems
Understanding of and passion for IRC’s work and the evolving humanitarian and development sectors, with a desire to shape change across these fields
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to present and influence at the highest organizational and external levels
Highly collaborative with the ability to work independently in a dynamic, multicultural, cross-functional global structure
Experienced people leader with a strong track record of recruiting, developing, inspiring, and retaining high-performing and diverse teams
Comfortable with ambiguity and resilient to shifting priorities; able to make progress with imperfect information
Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite

Nice To Haves

Experience in a strategy role at a leading strategy consulting firm, or in the strategy development or organizational performance function of a major global organization
An MBA, Master’s degree, or equivalent in international development, human rights, or another field related to IRC’s work
Experience in a humanitarian, development, or comparable mission-driven organization
Knowledge of French, Arabic, or Spanish

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary champion and steward of IRC’s multi-year strategy, S100, ensuring alignment and momentum across the organization and in external engagement
Act as a strategic thought partner to the President, COO, CFO and other Executive Board members on key organizational and sector-wide questions, including organizational budget decisions
Assess organizational progress toward S100 priorities, in collaboration with leaders across the organization
Lead preparation for each successive phase of S100, including reviewing results to date, assessing the evolving external environment, and refining strategic priorities accordingly
Ensure strategy and ‘deliverology’ skills and practices are embedded across the Strategy & Delivery Unit’s approach and across the IRC’s network of strategy-focused roles
Oversee a portfolio of complex delivery-focused projects, taking ownership for timely, high-quality outcomes — scoping work, driving to solutions, and resolving roadblocks as they arise
Monitor overall organizational performance in partnership with the President’s Office; advise senior leadership on top priorities for strategic effort and enterprise risk management through direct counsel and performance routines, including the IRC’s Quarterly Strategic & Risk Reviews (QSRRs)
Ensure that the IRC’s most pressing challenges in delivering on its organizational goals are identified, surfaced, triaged, and assigned to the appropriate team for resolution
Facilitate difficult conversations and drive decisions with IRC senior leaders on organizational health, performance gaps, and delivery risks
Lead the Strategy & Delivery Unit: define the Unit’s mission and key areas of focus, identify and scope projects with internal ‘clients’ across IRC, and oversee project development and delivery
Assess the SDU’s project pipeline and assign team priorities in line with organizational needs
Provide direct line management to senior SDU members; provide overall oversight of team members at Analyst, Manager, and Senior Manager levels
Recruit, develop, inspire, and retain exceptional and diverse talent, with a focus on attracting talent from outside IRC and building the next generation of organizational leaders
Curate a positive, collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team environment where members can do impactful work, grow professionally, and receive regular developmental feedback
Co-manage the Senior Advisor, Strategy & Performance, in collaboration with the President’s Office Senior Director of Policy & Planning
Represent the Strategy & Delivery Unit in internal and external forums, championing both strategic priorities and delivery excellence

Benefits

10 sick days
10 US holidays
20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure
medical insurance starting at $163 per month
dental starting at $6.50 per month
vision starting at $5 per month
FSA for healthcare and commuter costs
a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching
disability & life insurance
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