This position is currently only open to IRC Staff 

Background:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive, recover, and gain control of their future.

We aim to make our programs a model for the highest global standards and to cultivate power and lasting change not just for our clients but for all people affected by humanitarian crises. To achieve that vision, the IRC’s Technical Excellence (TE) group, located within the Crisis Response, Recovery and Development (CRRD) Department, provides technical assistance to IRC’s country program staff and shares what we learn to influence policy and practice.

IRC’s Technical Excellence team is comprised of five teams or sector “Units” which have deep expertise in their respective fields: Education, Economic Wellbeing, Governance, Health, and Violence Prevention and Response, as well as teams which provide measurement and finance/grant management support. Technical teams are also matrixed with a team that focuses on the quality and content of cross-sectoral programming in emergency responses.

IRC’s Technical Excellence teams offer five core services to IRC country programs and the wider organization:

1.       Program Design: We support country and regional teams to design state of the art programming, incorporating the best available evidence, cost data, and expertise of what has worked elsewhere, with the knowledge that country teams, partner organizations and our clients bring to the table.

2.       Quality Assurance: We partner with our measurement teams to design and drive the use of indicators to measure progress towards outcomes; we partner with regional and country teams to review program delivery progress and help address implementation challenges and adapt interventions to changed circumstances.

3.       Business Development: We partner within and outside the IRC to design winning bids and identify winning consortia; we deploy technical expertise in public events and private meetings to position IRC as a partner of choice.

4.       Research & Learning: We partner with our research lab to design cutting edge research to fill evidence gaps, and with country teams to learn from implementation such that we continuously improve our future design and delivery.

5.       External Influence: We showcase the IRC’s programs, technical insights and learning in order to influence and improve the humanitarian sector’s policy and practice.

Technical Excellence is currently going through a change process called "Regional and Technical Alignment." We are doing this to ensure that the impact of our programs and the influence of our ideas create meaningful change for people affected by crisis. This next phase of IRC's commitment to program quality will more deliberately resource and link global thought leadership with practice on the ground. Updated Technical Unit structures will have new roles with clearer mandates. The Global Practice Lead is a new leadership role introduced by this change process.

 

Governance Technical Unit (GTU)

The Governance Unit supports IRC country programs in crafting and implementing programs that amplify the voices of people whose lives have been impacted by conflict and crisis. Governance programs help them regain control of their future by championing their right to influence the issues affecting their cities, towns, and communities. It amplifies the voices of those we serve, ensuring they can influence decisions that affect their lives, whether made by the IRC, the broader humanitarian system, or local and national systems. It also ensures that cost-effective solutions, developed with our partners, are sustainably scaled for lasting impact.

Job Overview

The Global Practice Lead (GPL) is the organizational leader for Governance and Systems programming for the Crisis Response, Recovery and Development (CRRD) department and is a core member of the Governance TU’s leadership team. They are responsible for devising and leading strategies to raise the quality, impact, and scale of Governance and Systems programming.

The GPL will ensure the scope, quality and relevance of global technical standards, including the generation and promotion of evidence in their technical area. The GPL will closely collaborate with Regional Leads, Technical Advisors, and Technical Coordinators in promoting technical best practice in CRRD programming. They will facilitate TU-led and high-impact strategic business development by providing excellent technical insights and developing and maintaining strategic relationships and networks. In line with the Power and Systems (P&S) outcome strategy, the GPL will lead strategic planning for the Governance and Systems Strengthening practice area. The GPL reports to the Senior Director of Governance TU, and will manage highly specialized technical specialists to lead the generation and use of evidence and best practices in TU-led strategic projects.  

Major Responsibilities

Strategy, Program Design and Business Development

 Act as the organizational leader for CRRD in Governance and Systems programming internally and externallyLead strategic direction and Delivery Planning for Governance and Systems programming in line with the P&S outcome strategyResponsible for identifying global areas of programmatic risk in Governance and Systems programming and elevating issues to Regional Leads and TU leadershipCollaborate with other GPLs in other TUs to promote integrated program designs across all IRC sectors that increase scale and deepen impactLead Technical Unit led global business development for Governance and Systems programming and support strategic project-level proposalsLead coordination with AMU to drive fundraising from Public and Institutional donors and with ER to drive fundraising from Private donors to meet strategic priorities related to Governance and Systems programming at IRC.Oversee TU-led strategic Governance and Systems awards, working closely with regional Technical Advisors as applicable and the Grant Operations and Analytics Team

Global Practice Implementation Support

 Responsible for drawing on evidence-based best practices to provide technical oversight of IRC’s global Governance and Systems technical standards, methodologies, and toolsAccountable for the development of a limited number of high-value tools and methodologies to better integrate cross-cutting issues into Governance and Systems programs (e.g., gender equality, diversity and inclusion, climate adaptation, etc.).Accountable for establishing information and knowledge management systems that support Governance TAs to stay up to date on global technical standards, methodologies, and toolsEstablish a competency framework for Governance and Systems technical area and work closely with Governance TAs to identify competency gaps and drive capacity strengtheningAccountable for ensuring Technical Advisors and Technical Coordinators have the tools and resources that are needed to measure Governance and Systems ProgrammingSupport Technical Advisors and Technical Coordinators with thorny technical problems, career planning support, and mentorship, as appropriate

Research, Data, Knowledge Management, and Organizational Learning

 Accountable for establishing and maintaining a Community of Practice and other channels for the Governance and Systems practice area to ensure proactive and inclusive management with sustained learning, development, innovation, and best practice sharingCoordinate with Governance TAs to lift program learning for cross-sharing and incorporation into global best practiceGuide research and evidence-use efforts for Governance and Systems, working closely with colleagues and leaders in Airbel, Governance TU, other technical units, and regional colleaguesProvide technical inputs to Governance and Systems-specific MEAL tools and methodologies, and support data interpretation in learning routines

External Influence, Relationships and Representation

 Act as a key strategic advisor to Policy & Advocacy, Research & Innovation, and External Relations teams on advocacy campaigns and priority policy and practice shifts related to Governance and Systems Programming Responsible for identification, development, and maintenance of strategic relationships and global partnerships with relevant stakeholders (e.g. donors, UN agencies, NGOs, research and educational institutions, and private sector actors) in the Governance and Systems space.Responsible for representing IRC in global governance and systems strengthening coordination mechanisms. Key Working Relationships ·         Position Reports to: Senior Director, Governance TU, CRRD Technical Excellence           Member of Governance TU’s Leadership Team           Direct Reports: 1-2 Technical Specialists, 1 MIPs with other Global Practice Leads Key Internal Relationships: ·   Governance TU Senior Management Team    Governance TU’s Deputy Director, (Research Advisor and MEAL Specialist) and other Global Practice Leads     Governance Technical Advisors across 6 regions     Policy Solutions, Advocacy Influence, and Systems Change Global Teams     CRRD Senior Management Team and Leadership Group; Regional Leadership Teams    Global leaders in Heath, Education, Violence Prevention & Response, and Economic Recovery and Development Units     Global HQ and AMU, EHAU, Airbel, IPP     Key External Relationships: INGO counterparts; UN Agencies, Public and Private Donors Desired Experience and Skills Established or growing recognition as an expert, at regional or global level, with a minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience of designing, leading and implementing programs, with 7+ years in Governance and Systems programmingDemonstrated experience leading programs in fragile/humanitarian settings and across the humanitarian development nexus.Strong track record of driving uptake of evidence-based practiceDemonstrated experience in sectoral strategy design and planningExperience with sectoral policy and advocacy efforts and campaigns for change (as relevant)Excellent communication, influencing, and storytelling skills Excellent management and leadership skills including coaching, mentoring, and performance managementDemonstrated ability to identify and convert business development opportunities for self and staff Demonstrated ability to influence across a wide range of diverse stakeholders internally and externallyDemonstrated ability to shape the vision and agenda within the domain area they are working Ability to work, manage, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment; outstanding business acumen, critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making skills required Superb inter-personal, written and verbal communication skills with ability to collaborate across countries, cultures, and departments Track record of scaled innovations preferredFluency in English required; Arabic, French and/or Spanish also strongly preferredAbility to travel globally up to 25% of the time, occasionally on short notice

Education: Master’s degree in political science, international development, or other relevant field, or an equivalent professional experience background is required. Sound training on the use of data and research evidence for programmatic decisions and rigorous analytic skills are an advantage.

Standard of Professional Conduct: IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of 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, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

 

The deadline to apply for this position is 26th Jan 2025.

 

IRC is dedicated to reducing the gender gap in leadership roles and has implemented supportive measures like parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other benefits to create an inclusive environment for women.

Applicants with varied career paths are welcomed, recognizing that employment gaps don't define potential. IRC values transferrable skills and is committed to investing in the growth and development of its team members.

The organization strives to offer competitive and equitable Compensation and Benefits programs to attract, motivate, and retain employees who adhere to the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct.

IRC is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, ethnicity or tribe, gender, age, religion, caste, sexual orientation, differently abled, geographic origin, marital status, veteran status and cultural background (or any other characteristic protected by law). 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.

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