Strategy and Planning Senior Officer, Global Policy & Advocacy

Job Posting Organization:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a humanitarian organization founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein. Its mission is to help people affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. The IRC operates in over 40 crisis-affected countries and has a presence in communities throughout the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. The organization focuses on delivering lasting impact through health care, education for children, and empowering individuals and communities, with a particular emphasis on the unique needs of women and girls. The External Relations (ER) Department plays a crucial role in mobilizing external audiences to raise funds, influence policies, and achieve practice changes to improve outcomes for clients while protecting the IRC's global brand. The Global Policy & Advocacy team within the ER Department is dedicated to leveraging IRC’s ideas to address significant challenges faced by clients and to influence external stakeholders, particularly governments and multi-lateral institutions, to enact solutions that lead to meaningful change. The team prides itself on being solutions-oriented, precise in its goals, and collaborative, constantly seeking new ideas and perspectives to drive change effectively.

Job Overview:
The Strategy and Planning Senior Officer will be responsible for leading key strategic planning and prioritization efforts for the Policy & Advocacy team. This role involves coordinating organization-wide strategy and investment planning, collaborating with the Vice President of Policy & Advocacy on team prioritization processes, and managing a collaborative yet streamlined process for strategy development. The Senior Officer will maintain crucial processes and relationships, collaborating at all levels within and across teams and the IRC. This position is pivotal in ensuring that the Policy & Advocacy team aligns its strategies with the broader organizational goals and effectively communicates its objectives and outcomes to internal stakeholders. The Senior Officer will also facilitate priority-setting processes, lead strategy development, manage long-term projects, and support a positive team culture.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Strategy and Planning Senior Officer include: facilitating priority-setting processes by translating organization-wide strategy and policy products into department strategies and advocacy priorities; leading strategy development processes by working closely with team members to create actionable policy and advocacy strategies; managing the Policy and Advocacy team's engagement in organization-wide annual planning processes; developing and facilitating activities across Policy and Advocacy teams; managing long-term projects, including project management and logistics for key team efforts; facilitating cross-team collaboration and communication; managing the internal website and routine reporting to senior leaders; leading KPI development and progress tracking; and supporting a positive team culture by organizing team retreats, staff meetings, and team-building activities.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates for the Strategy and Planning Senior Officer position should possess a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Political Science, or a related field. They should have 5-6 years of work experience, preferably in policy and advocacy. The ideal candidate will demonstrate excellent organizational and time management skills, experience in designing and implementing strategic planning processes, and a positive, resourceful attitude. Familiarity with policy analysis or advocacy to high-level policymakers is essential, along with strong project management skills. Candidates should also have solid English writing and editing skills, excellent interpersonal skills, and a commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Political Science, or a related field. This foundational education is critical for understanding the complexities of global policy and advocacy work, particularly in the humanitarian sector.

Experience:
The position requires 5-6 years of relevant work experience, with a preference for candidates who have experience in policy and advocacy. This level of experience is necessary to navigate the complexities of strategic planning and to effectively engage with high-level stakeholders.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as strong writing and communication skills are essential. While not explicitly stated, familiarity with additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly in contexts where IRC operates in multilingual environments.

Additional Notes:
The working environment for this position is hybrid, allowing for both in-office and remote work. Up to 5% travel may be required. The role is open to candidates located in the United States with the right to work in the country. Compensation for this position ranges from $92,000 to $99,000 per year, depending on various factors such as labor market conditions, job type, and individual candidate experience. The IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and adheres to professional standards that emphasize integrity, service, equality, and accountability. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, medical and dental insurance, a retirement savings plan, and an Employee Assistance Program.