Director, Strategic Initiatives & Delivery ( Chief of Staff )

Over the past 80 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.

The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief, relocating refugees and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster. Through offices in cities across the United States, the IRC also helps refugees and other immigrants resettle in the U.S. and become self-sufficient. The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve.

Job Overview:

We are looking for a Director, Strategic Initiatives & Delivery, a vital role that will ensure the smooth running and high-performance of the IRC’s global Finance Department. The role will lead the implementation of the Global Finance strategy across all Finance areas and will drive Strategy100 priorities and other strategic projects considered high priority by Finance leadership. They will lead a team of 3 people, and will work in close partnership with the CFO, the Vice President of Global Finance, and the Finance Leadership Team as a thought partner to drive performance and progress.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Director will be expected to find solutions. They will persuade and influence, build and innovate, and use structured thinking and evidence to solve problems where there is no pre-defined methodology. Focusing on the highest priority initiatives of the Finance team, you will build relationships across Finance, and IRC more broadly to deliver high quality results.

This is a demanding role – you will work hard, learn, and grow quickly. Ultimately the measure of your success will be your impact - the lasting benefit you bring to the IRC and Global Finance through your contributions.

Major Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• Support the Chief Financial Officer and Global Finance Leadership Team (GFLT) in leading the development and implementation of the Finance department’s multi-year strategy by providing support and oversight to key strategic initiatives.

• Support the development and implementation of strategies to ensure the effective performance of the Finance Department, with a focus on hard-working, coordinated and fulfilled teams.

• Under the CFO’s mentorship, understand, review, and implement optimizations to the structure required for the department to best achieve the overall ambitions.

• Build strong relationships with Finance leadership to understand their major strategic priorities and support them in the achievement of the Finance strategy.

• Ensure proper representation of Finance views in strategic cross-departmental projects within IRC by building strong relationships among relevant staff members.

• Lead the strategy and financial planning process across the Finance function in close collaboration with the Senior Director, Financial Planning & Analysis.

• Contribute to the continuing maturation of Finance’s strategy function over time.

• Represent the IRC at meetings related to relevant job functions and areas of expertise.

Planning and Coordination:

• In coordination with the CFO and other Finance leadership, maintain an active overview of the department’s work, supervising priority issues and ensuring effective and coordinated support related to opportunities, challenges, and proposed next steps.

• Support and deliver departmental communications across all the various functions of the department of the CFO including Financial Planning and Analysis, Controllership, Treasury, Finance Operations, and global finance leads.

• Support the anticipation and mitigation of potential challenges to the department’s goals, and devise strategies and implement plans to avoid these coming to fruition.

• Ensure that team processes are aligned with the organization and that the team is participating appropriately and effectively in department-wide efforts.

• Build and maintain effective and streamlined planning to achieve improved prioritization, resource alignment and milestone achievement.

• Ensure that project teams are appropriately supported, working in an efficient and inclusive way towards key results and that problems and decisions are identified and resolved in a timely manner.

• Independently plan and manage select key projects from inception to completion; these will typically be projects which are highly cross-functional, or which are particularly sensitive.

• Execute special projects and provide support to senior stakeholders as needed, as new challenges emerge and priorities shift.

• Engage in departmental budget oversight as required.

• Lead the development, adoption and measurement of Finance KPIs that focus the Finance organization on delivering its key priorities.

People and Culture:

• Direct line management of 3 staff members.

• Proactively maintain and promote a team problem-solving method, seeking ways to improve and refine it as needed, including building in the flexibility needed to respond to different types of problems at different depths of definition.

• Play a leadership role in the broader Finance Leadership Team and across global Finance by supporting the CFO to create a team culture based on close collaboration, respect, feedback and transparency across the Finance team.

• Support the design and lead aspects of the implementation of organizational change initiatives across the department.

• Promote a positive, collaborative, efficient team working environment where team members enjoy working with each other and feel able to do impactful work and grow professionally over time.

• Take personal responsibility for the success of the team’s work over time, promoting and standing behind their successes, and transparently acknowledge and act on areas for improvement. Adopt and demonstrate an ownership mentality.

Job Requirements:

Work Experience:

• Minimum 8-10 years in strategic delivery positions in partnership, strategy and finance operations roles that require substantial cross-departmental collaboration to deliver ambitious goals, with gradually increasing responsibilities and a track record of high performance.

• Significant experience working with, and influencing, senior colleagues to tackle complex challenges and agreed mutually beneficial decisions.

• Confirmed experience supporting the generation of outcomes from teams, both where there is direct line management responsibility and through influencing.

• Strategy and problem-solving experience accurately diagnosing business challenges and devising, crafting buy-in for, and implementing effective solutions with timely and efficient performance metrics.

• (Desirable) Experience working in two or more Finance functions.

• Language Skills: English proficient; French, Spanish, or Arabic is a plus

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Outstanding project and stakeholder management skills with a proven track record delivering ambitious, complex, sensitive and board initiatives on timelines

• Experience in executing strategic change and organizational change management

• Project management of large-scale, cross-functional projects and project portfolios

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels

• Capability to manage multiple demands and to adapt to new challenges and shifting priorities

• Capability to handle and make progress against multiple simultaneous demands in short time frames, and to adapt to new challenges in a dynamic context with shifting priorities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to be clear and concise in all communications

• Strong meeting facilitation skills

• Strong analytical problem-solving skills and attention to detail

• Experience and comfort with data analysis and budget management

• Strong passion for our mission!

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

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability. 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.

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 $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), 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.

Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

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