Senior Advisor, Emergency Funding

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 organization operates in over 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities, focusing on responding to the world's most severe humanitarian crises. The IRC's mission is to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to individuals affected by conflict and disaster. With a workforce dedicated to delivering lasting impact, the IRC aims to help millions of people regain control of their futures and strengthen their communities. The organization is recognized as a force for humanity, and it actively seeks solutions-driven, passionate individuals to join its efforts in making a positive difference in the lives of people worldwide.

Job Overview:
The Senior Advisor, Emergency Funding plays a crucial role in providing technical oversight to the Emergency Unit’s Grants team. This position is primarily focused on the mobilization, management, and coordination of emergency funding across the Crisis Response and Recovery Division (CRRD). The role encompasses three main areas: delivering pre and post-award business development and awards management support to new country programs, enhancing and overseeing the Emergency Unit’s emergency fund management function, and fostering a positive staff experience among Grants Emergency Response Team (ERT) and Grants Surge Team (GST) members. The Senior Advisor is responsible for managing a substantial grants portfolio, approximately $75 million across 150 projects, and driving improvements in system design, workflow efficiency, and operational consistency. This position also involves providing early-phase support to new country programs during emergencies, ensuring that they receive immediate and consistent assistance until the relevant Regional Program and Award Support (RPAS) team can take over. The Senior Advisor must ensure that emergency funding systems are effective, meet donor and IRC requirements, and adequately support country teams in delivering high-quality emergency programming.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Advisor's duties and responsibilities include:

• Emergency Fund Management Systems: Collaborating with the Sr. Director of Finance and Fundraising in emergencies to ensure that IRC’s emergency funding systems are functional and consistently applied across various funding mechanisms. Leading system design improvements to enhance efficiency and user-friendliness. Coordinating with the Quality in Emergencies team to establish clear roles and processes for data collection and emergency funding workflows. Designing and maintaining dashboards and reports for analysis and transparency. Serving as the focal point during the launch of new appeals and for emergency funding reporting.
• Business Development: Providing business development support to new country programs, particularly in the initial months following an emergency. Supporting donor engagement and proposal development, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and IRC policies. Reviewing proposal documents for accuracy and facilitating smooth transitions to post-award teams.
• Awards Management and Compliance: Managing a portfolio of emergency and early recovery awards, ensuring timely and high-quality reporting. Serving as a key advisory point for new country programs on awards management and compliance. Supporting the development and review of award amendments and agreements. Managing donor relationships and ensuring lessons learned are integrated into future responses.
• People Management and Development: Mentoring members of the Grants Team and ensuring high performance and collaboration. Building team capacity through coaching and development opportunities. Onboarding new staff and empowering team members with clear goals and responsibilities.
• Team Culture: Promoting a positive and collaborative work environment, fostering gender equality and inclusivity, and safeguarding staff well-being across deployments.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires the following qualifications:

• Fluency in English is mandatory, with additional language skills in French, Spanish, and/or German being highly desirable.
• A minimum of 8 years of significant experience with a strong understanding of United States Government and European donor requirements.
• An exemplary understanding of humanitarian aid and development programming.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively within a diverse team and manage a multifaceted workload.
• Strong financial management and budgeting skills.
• Excellent analytical and synthesizing abilities.
• Proven organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to liaise effectively in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment and a flexible work attitude. 1
• International work experience in the Global South is a plus. 1
• Proficiency in IT skills, particularly in Word, Outlook, and Excel. 1
• Willingness to travel internationally, sometimes on short notice and to insecure areas.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a relevant degree in international relations, humanitarian studies, development studies, or a related field. Advanced degrees are preferred, as they provide a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in humanitarian work and emergency funding management.

Experience:
Candidates should possess significant experience, ideally over 8 years, in roles related to emergency funding, grants management, and humanitarian response. Experience working at a distance and supporting country-based staff is essential, along with a proven track record of writing, reviewing, and editing narrative and financial reports with meticulous attention to detail.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Additional language skills in French, Spanish, and/or German are highly desirable, as they can enhance communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders and partners in various regions.

Additional Notes:
This position is not an international posting and is open only to candidates who are nationals or permanent residents of the specified countries. The role is full-time and may require travel to provide surge capacity or cover short-term gaps. Compensation ranges from US $109,000 to £120,000, depending on various factors including labor market conditions, job type, internal equity, and the candidate's experience and skills. All IRC staff, regardless of their country of assignment, are eligible for consideration for this position. The IRC adheres to professional standards and core values, including integrity, service, equality, and accountability, and is committed to creating a safe and inclusive work environment.