Director Strategy and Learning, VPRU at International Rescue Committee

Job Overview / Summary

The Director of Strategy and Learning provides leadership on the VPRU’s strategic priorities and learning agenda, drives strategic business development for the unit and oversees a portfolio of technical innovation projects across all areas of protection. The Director of Strategy and Learning works closely with the Director of Country Support in VPRU, is supervised by the Senior Director of VPRU, and is part of the VPRU senior leadership team.

Major Responsibilities

Strategic oversight and learning

• Lead on strategy planning, innovation and learning by ensuring priorities and learning agenda align and advance
• Regularly lead review of progress against unit priorities
• Enhance and maintain strong coordination with other teams in the Unit to jointly advance on priorities and ensure coherence with country support
• Enhance and maintain strong coordination with other teams across the organization to advance joint priorities and alignment with the IRC Strategy and priorities

Business development and oversight

• Oversee and support business development processes for the unit and ensure alignment with priorities and learning agenda
• Promote uptake of strategic and research projects across the team
• Provide oversight to technical projects housed within the unit and ensure timely delivery
• Build and maintain strategic donor relationships

Team Leadership

• Oversee team of around 25 senior technical advisers, advisers, specialists and officers and promote team culture of inclusion, belonging, learning, and performance
• Directly manage 4 senior technical advisers focused on inclusion and risk mitigation; partnership and movement building; monitoring, evaluation and learning; and information management and technology
• Coordinate the Strategy and Learning team to ensure cohesion and collaboration across projects, monitoring, evaluation and Learning, and information management and technology

Other Responsibilities

• Actively participate in the Unit’s Senior Leadership Team
• Lead on special projects as assigned defined in Senior Leadership Team
• On occasion may take on Senior Technical Director role for interim periods as needed

Key Working Relationships

• Position reports to: Senior Technical Director, Violence Prevention and Response Unit (VPRU)
• Position directly supervises: 4 Senior Technical Advisers who each manages a team of specialists and advisers
• Regular internal (IRC) contact with: VPRU Country Support team. Other Technical Units such as economic recovery and development, education, governance and health. Measurement Unit and Research & Innovation team. Awards Management Unit and External Relations for of across public and private fundraising. Regional and country leadership teams as needed.
• Regular external contact with: Public and private donors.

Education

Job Requirements:

• Degree in gender, international law, social work, public health or related.

Work Experience

• Minimum of ten years progressive protection experience including experience implementing programs in fragile and conflict affected settings
• At least five years experience in leading teams and strategy
• Experience providing technical leadership to multi-year, multi million business development opportunities from institutional donors

Demonstrated Skills And Competencies

• Demonstrated experience and ability managing teams and individuals
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to communicate effectively in a multi-cultural environment
• Solid organizational skills; be flexible and work well under pressure, taking care of competing priorities, in a fast-paced environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Interest in and ability to think and plan the ‘big picture’ level

Language Skills

• Fluent in English; fluency in French, Spanish or Arabic language highly desired

Working Environment

• Some international travel as needed up to 20% - when deployed, will stay in IRC approved accommodation which may include shared guesthouses.
• If home based: This role requires working remotely full time (i.e., telecommuting). Applicants must have a home or alternate workspace they can effectively complete their work during regularly scheduled work hours. Home work location must be in state and/or country where IRC is a registered employer.
• This position is required to have a flexible work-day hours to accommodate varying time zones to complete required tasks and coordination functions.