Advisor, Donor Engagement France

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.

Awards Management Unit/CRRD

AMU has responsibility for identifying, securing and managing all funding from government donors for the IRC. AMU is a bridge between donors and the IRC’s work on the ground. The team provides expert technical advice to colleagues delivering our services around the world, ensures consistency and compliance with our donors’ policies and procedures, and manages risk. The unit also supports all IRC staff working on awards from government donors and partnerships.  

IRC’s Crisis Response, Recovery & Development department (CRRD) within which this role sits, leads and delivers the IRC’s work in crisis-affected contexts around the world.

The Purpose of the Role

To manage and drive forward IRC’s funding focused engagement French government donors - Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Crisis and Support Centre (CDCS),and help drive forward engagement with other, lower priority, European donors on an ad hod basis. Reporting the Senior Advisor, European Union and working in close collaboration with the Director - Donor Engagement, Europe the role holder will hold an internal and external account management function of French government donors (excluding FID). This will include establishing effective positive working relationships and standards of collaboration with colleagues across the organisation, including technical and proposal development teams, AMU/CRRD more broadly, CRRD, Policy & Solutions, and Advocacy & Influence, as well as with other Brussels-based colleagues. The person holding this role is also expected to ensure participation and represent IRC in Coordination Sud. The Advisor will use these relations and networks to build a portfolio of tools and assets that allow IRC to proactively and effectively engage with France to pursue priority funding strands.  

Major Responsibilities:

Please note that whilst the focus for this role is French Government Donors (excluding FID), up to 20% of the time is expected to be flexible, in order to support on European donors which has been listed as “Explore” or “Priority 3” by the BD Team. The responsibilities under this flexible time will be split across strategic planning for engagement, manage high-level visits and provide required intel for internal tools, carry out analysis and other ad hoc tasks.

Strategy

• Develop and lead delivery of the multi-year French Donor Engagement Strategy. Responsible for aligning this to IRC’s Strategy 100 and BD Strategy. Mobilise and drive forward engagement with the strategy across the organisation. 

• Develop and manage action plans related to the strategy implementation, reporting progress, managing and mitigating risk.  

• Identify, research and update relevant data and analysis on donor strategies, peer activity and priorities.

External Representation

• In partnership with the Snr Advisor- EU, develop and maintain a network of stakeholders within relevant French teams to facilitate effective engagement, influence and winning BD approaches.  
• Facilitate meetings between donors and Regional and Technical Leadership, Country Directors, Regional Vice Presidents and the President/CEO as well as support the preparation for these engagements. 
• Prepare for key meetings with French officials, including Desk/Program Officers, Heads of Unit, Director-General/equivalent, advisors and other officials. This includes relevant analysis, briefing materials and participation as necessary. 
• The role will also lead follow-up and disseminate information across the organisation as required. 
• Coordinate IRC’s participation at high-level conferences in collaboration with relevant colleagues.   
• Actively engage in the Coordination Sud network.
• Through the use of IRC’s preferred CRM, Salesforce, plan, track and maintain a register of French donor engagement at country, regional and global levels; triangulate information at different levels and ensure staff are well briefed and consistent in their donor engagement and influence.
• Represent the IRC at external meetings, events, and forums as appropriate. 

Information and Knowledge Management

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of French donor strategies relevant to IRC’s work, such as funding priorities, geographical interests and political climate, providing analyses and synopses of press releases, policies and other announcements, and disseminating this information internally.
• Map French organisational structure and identify key contacts.
• Maintain and contribute to the improvement of tools and resources to support engagement and relationship building.
• Coordinate meetings and action plans between key staff across the organisation to support French business development planning and implementation, routinely engaging with operational BD teams at global, regional and country levels to review long term pipeline, plan strategic engagement and mitigate portfolio risk.
• In collaboration with donor engagement colleagues, equip IRC staff with the skills, tools and information to manage local, or technical donor engagement.
• Responsible for dissemination of content for French donors with global, regional and country based colleagues to contribute to effective fundraising.

Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications:

Please note that diversity of experience counts (i.e., paid and volunteer work; lived experiences; transferable skills from another industry etc.)

• Experience in humanitarian or development business development, donor relations, policy or advocacy or a combination of these.  
• Knowledge of having worked with humanitarian and development donors, particularly in France. 

• Working understanding of the French political environment and trends. 

• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, including development of briefing documents. 

• Ability to prioritise and positively collaborate in a fast paced and changing environment with multiple partners. 

• Good analytical skills and first-class attention to detail. Experience undertaking reviews of policies and reports, producing associated written and verbal guidance to relevant staff. 

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of team. 
• Essential language skills: French and English. 

Candidates must have the right to work within the country they are applying.  

The deadline for application is 4 January 2026 at 11:59 PM.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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