Deputy Director for The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action

Job Advertisement

Position Title: director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Deputy Director for The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action
Location: London
Country: United Kingdom
Deadline Date:

Job Details

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 50 countries and more than 25 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 a workforce dedicated to delivering lasting impact and hope to millions worldwide. The organization’s Technical Excellence (TE) unit provides technical assistance through global initiatives and networks, supporting IRC country program staff and influencing policy and practice. TE comprises five technical units: Economic Recovery and Development, Education, Governance, Health, and Violence Prevention and Response (VPRU). Within VPRU, the IRC has three global practice areas: Child Protection, Protection and Rule of Law, and Women’s Protection and Empowerment. The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, established in 2016, is a network of over 260 organizations committed to ensuring children are protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence in humanitarian settings. The Alliance serves as the leading global inter-agency network for developing quality standards, technical guidance, resources, and tools for child protection in humanitarian action, advocating for children's rights and protection.

Job Overview:
The Deputy Director position is hosted by the IRC and is responsible for providing leadership to The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action. The role aims to achieve high-quality, impactful results for children, informed by evidence, data, and best practices. The Deputy Director collaborates with the Alliance Director to ensure that national and international actors' efforts are effective in protecting children in humanitarian settings. This position requires establishing productive relationships within the IRC and with Alliance members to enhance collaboration, diversity, and quality of work. The Deputy Director will support the formulation and revision of work plans, lead relevant initiatives, and identify synergies between Alliance and IRC priorities. The role also involves governance participation, management of working groups, technical guidance, networking, and partnership building, as well as contributing to innovation and knowledge management within the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Support the Alliance Director in formulating and revising work plans, ensuring they align with goals and outcomes. Lead relevant initiatives and identify synergies between Alliance and IRC priorities.
• Governance: Participate as an ex-officio member in Alliance ExCom and Steering Committee meetings, contributing to transparent governance arrangements.
• Management and Convening: Coordinate and track progress of Alliance working groups, task forces, and initiatives, ensuring coherence and complementarity in their work. Facilitate communication among member agencies and plan annual meetings.
• Technical Guidance and Support: Provide technical oversight and support to working groups and task forces, identifying needs and gaps for technical guidance.
• Networking and Partnership Building: Build strategic partnerships through networking and advocacy with UN agencies, donors, and NGOs to promote child protection goals.
• Innovation and Knowledge Management: Contribute to IRC’s research and learning agenda, disseminating best practices and knowledge.
• Fundraising and Financial Management: Identify joint fundraising opportunities and support the implementation of the fundraising strategy.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess expertise in coordinating and managing Child Protection agencies and cross-cultural teams, with a deep understanding of the cultural, societal, and political contexts in at least three regions where the IRC operates. A minimum of 6-8 years of relevant experience in coordinating, managing, or implementing Child Protection networks or programs is required, along with a demonstrated track record in developing global public goods and resource mobilization. Familiarity with donors, peer agencies, and national contexts, particularly in humanitarian or post-crisis settings, is essential. Experience in leading alliances and multi-agency collaborations is a strong asset.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, Child Rights, Development Studies, Social Work, or a relevant field is required, with a Master’s Degree preferred. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of child protection in humanitarian contexts and for effectively leading initiatives within the Alliance.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 6-8 years of relevant experience in the field of Child Protection, particularly in coordinating or managing networks or programs. On-the-ground programmatic experience in a service delivery organization, NGO, or comparable international agency is essential. The ability to navigate complex, cross-functional, global team structures in a large multinational network is also important.

Languages:
Excellent spoken and written English is mandatory, with additional languages such as Arabic, French, or Spanish being advantageous. Proficiency in these languages will enhance communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders and partners in the humanitarian sector.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in one of IRC's international hubs, including London, and may involve some international travel (up to 20% of the time). The role may require remote work, particularly for staff based in IRC’s New York or London offices, where part-time remote employees may need to share workspaces. Compensation is based on various factors, including labor market conditions, job type, internal equity, and budget considerations. The IRC is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment, prohibiting discrimination and harassment, and aiming to increase representation from under-represented communities.