Country Director

Job Posting Organization:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a prominent international humanitarian non-governmental organization (INGO) founded in 1933 at the behest of Albert Einstein. The IRC operates in over 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities, focusing on restoring health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and empowerment to individuals affected by conflict and disaster. With a mission to help people survive, reclaim control of their futures, and strengthen their communities, the IRC employs more than 600 regular staff and 1,700 incentive workers, volunteers, and interns in South Sudan alone. The organization has been active in South Sudan since 1989, providing a range of programs from humanitarian relief to early recovery and development activities. The IRC's work is crucial in addressing the severe humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, which is exacerbated by years of conflict, political instability, and recurrent natural disasters, impacting millions of people.

Job Overview:
The director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Country Director is responsible for the overall leadership and management of IRC’s operations in South Sudan. This includes ensuring high-quality, accountable, and client-focused programming while effectively managing resources and maintaining a safe work environment. The Country Director serves as IRC’s principal representative, engaging with various stakeholders, including government entities, donors, UN agencies, and civil society, to advance the organization's mission. The role involves overseeing a diverse portfolio of humanitarian, recovery, and development programs, ensuring coherence and effectiveness in delivering IRC’s strategic priorities in South Sudan. The Country Director must lead the country strategy execution, make final decisions on program implementation, safety, staffing, budgets, and risk mitigation, and represent IRC to external partners and stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Country Director's duties include providing overall leadership and direction for IRC’s role in South Sudan, representing the organization with government and donor agencies, strengthening strategic partnerships, and ensuring IRC's active participation in humanitarian coordination and policy dialogue. The role also involves leading the delivery of IRC’s Strategy 100, ensuring program quality and accountability, driving portfolio growth, and promoting innovation and evidence-based decision-making. The Country Director is responsible for maintaining strong relationships with donors, ensuring timely submission of proposals, and leading advocacy efforts to elevate client needs. Additionally, the Country Director oversees operational systems, promotes cost-effective resource use, and ensures compliance with IRC standards. The role also includes fostering an inclusive organizational culture, promoting staff well-being, and managing risk and safety in a volatile environment.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in International Development, Public Administration, Political Science, Social Sciences, Business Administration, or a related field. They should have a deep understanding of humanitarian principles and emergency response, strong operational and financial management skills, and exceptional leadership and communication abilities. Expertise in donor compliance and strong analytical and decision-making capabilities are essential. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite is required, and experience with ERP systems is preferred.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in a relevant field such as International Development, Public Administration, Political Science, Social Sciences, or Business Administration is required for this position. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of humanitarian work and the operational challenges faced in crisis contexts.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 10 years of international experience in humanitarian and development programming, with proven success in managing large-scale, multi-sector, multi-donor country programs. Experience in fundraising and business development, as well as managing large teams in remote and high-risk environments, is essential. Additionally, candidates should have experience engaging with government authorities, donors, UN agencies, and INGO platforms.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within the organization and with external stakeholders. Knowledge of local languages spoken in South Sudan would be advantageous and could enhance communication with local communities and partners.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and involves significant responsibilities, including leadership of a multi-million dollar grant portfolio and oversight of a large team across multiple field offices. The Country Director will be expected to navigate a challenging operational environment, ensuring the safety and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security of staff while delivering impactful humanitarian assistance. The role requires a commitment to safeguarding and ethical leadership, with adherence to IRC's core values and professional standards.