Director, Strategy and Delivery

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.

IRC UK

IRC UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its global headquarters in New York. Our team in the UK works to raise profile, deliver policy and practice change, and increase funding to help restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Since 2021, IRC UK has also provided integration services directly to refugees in the UK. 

The Purpose, Scope and Authority of the Role

As Director for Strategy & Delivery, you will lead the development of IRC UK’s strategy and work closely with the UK Executive Director (ED) and UK Senior Management Team to ensure its successful delivery. You will also act as strategic counsel to the UK ED in all areas of organisational management to support IRC UK’s strategic goals; you will be expected to represent the UK Executive Director at key discussions and exercise superb judgment, interpersonal skills, and absorb information quickly.

The Director for Strategy and Delivery plays a leadership role in IRC UK as a member of the UK Senior Management Team (UKSMT). You will engage directly and regularly with UK staff, leading on office-wide initiatives and actively building an inclusive culture at IRC UK. This role leads our UK Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy and action plan. 

This role also plays a key part in the good governance and operational excellence of IRC UK. You will work closely with colleagues in Finance, People and Culture and Operations to ensure the smooth running of IRC UK. You will also engage directly with the UK Board and its Committees, providing counsel and leading on risk management and other initiatives.

Key Working Relationships

• UK Executive Director (ED)
• UK ED Executive Assistant and Board Liaison
• UK Senior Management Team (UKSMT) and the wider UK staff
• Senior UK representatives in Finance, Operations and People and Culture
• UK Board members
• Senior representatives of global functions, including External Relations and AMU
• The global Strategy and Delivery Unit and offices of the global COO and CEO
• Senior colleagues in other IRC offices in Europe, including other European EDs and their teams 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Strategy and counsel (40%)

• Develop the FY27 annual strategy for IRC UK in collaboration with UK SMT and global functions. This includes identifying challenges to successfully implementing the strategic plan and working with relevant stakeholders to agree proposed solutions.
• Finalise, through a consultative process, the next phase of IRC UK’s Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy and action plan.
• Act as strategic counsel to the UK ED on all areas of organisational management and drive forward solutions accordingly towards IRC UK’s goals.
• Develop clear briefings, presentations, talking points and other communications to support the UK ED’s decision-making and engagement, both internally and externally.
• Play an active leadership role within IRC UK, acting as a thought partner to UKSMT members and their teams.
• Lead office-wide staff initiatives, particularly those that support an inclusive culture.
• Represent IRC and the UK ED at relevant senior meetings and events and present the work of the organisation.
• Maintain effective partnerships and collaboration between IRC UK and the rest of the global IRC network. 

Planning and delivery (30%)

• Oversee delivery of the FY26 annual strategy for IRC UK and coordinate, as a peer, the work of the UKSMT towards IRC UK’s strategic goals. Lead on cross-functional objectives within the strategy and manage other strategic projects from inception to completion as required.
• Manage the reporting of IRC UK’s progress through internal global processes, coordinating inputs from leaders in the UK and globally.
• Ensure delivery of the UK GEDI strategy actions by accountable SMT leads, including yourself in some cases, and provide updates to the UK Board, global colleagues and UK staff.
• Manage the relationships with senior internal stakeholders and external UK partners, such as the IRC global President and CEO and our UK Patron, HM King Charles, collating input from colleagues and ensuring a strategic and proactive approach to this engagement. 

Board engagement, governance and operational excellence (30%)

• Provide counsel – independently and with the UK ED – to the Board on areas of strategy, organisational management, and good governance.
• Oversee the delivery of high-quality Board reporting, working closely with UKSMT.
• Manage and report IRC UK’s risk management process to the Board and its committees.
• Work with the UK ED and Board Liaison to shape Board and Committee agenda and ensure good follow-up, and manage other strategic projects to support UK Board relations.
• Represent the Executive Director with key UK support functions, including People and Culture, Operations/Facilities and Finance in ensuring the smooth running of IRC. This includes spearheading or partnering with other leaders on specific initiatives in line with the UK strategy.
• Manage the UK Executive Directorate budget.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Skills Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Strong writing and communication skills, with the ability to analyse and summarise large amounts of information quickly.
• Strong project management skills with a desire to see tasks through to completion.
• 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
• Excellent judgment and discretion in sensitive and senior level engagement.

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 organisational development approaches and practices.
• Management consulting or equivalent experience, preferably with pre-existing knowledge or experience in humanitarian/development/nonprofit sector.
• Demonstrable experience in organisational reporting, research, analysis, and strategy development.

Working Environment:

This position requires occasional flexibility to attend evening and weekend meetings when needed.

Standard Responsibilities

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC  London Office
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies

Standard Job Requirements

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

Related standard content: 

IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.   

UK:

Narrowing the Gender Gap: The IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including flexible hours (when possible), enhanced maternity/adoption leave and pay and gender-sensitive security protocols.

The salary for this role is £71,200 per annum, pro rata

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.

The application deadline is 6th November 2025.

IRC UK strives to be an equal opportunities employer. IRC UK is committed to equality of opportunity and to non-discrimination for all job applicants and employees, and we seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs, nationality, ethnic/national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

IRC UK welcomes applications from all candidates, including underrepresented groups and refugees who have the right to work in the UK. 

IRC UK will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application and/or interview process, and for essential job functions if appointed to a role. Please contact us if you may need such adjustments. 

#IRC-EUROPE 

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the 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.

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