Senior Director, New Funding and Innovation Partnerships

Job Overview and Background:

The International Rescue Committee is seeking a tenacious and forward-looking leader to generate and build innovative funding and partnership opportunities that help refugees survive, recover, and gain control of their future.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to craft and lead the IRC's ambitious goals and vision for high-value philanthropy, which today makes up more than two-thirds of our private-sector revenue.

Since its inception in 1933, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. This role is part of the International Philanthropy and Partnerships (IPP) team, which leads on the IRC's engagement with corporations, foundations, international philanthropists, and new global funding streams.

The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial problem solver that thrives on fast-paced start-up-like operations, enjoys building and synthesizing solutions, and is an experienced and adaptable relationship manager with a track-record in bringing forward innovative ideas to address social issues.

The Senior Director maintains and mobilizes a personal network of private-sector partners to direct investment and funding to humanitarian causes. They will creatively identify, incubate, and pursue partnership opportunities across the globe, with a focus on new funding streams from corporations, foundations, and international philanthropists.

The Senior Director will also serve as an inspiring leader and mentor to the experts on the team, who are respectively leading and pioneering new types of funding relationships for the IRC - including Donor Advised Funds, cryptocurrency, faith-based giving, and sustainability partnerships.

***Please note this is a HYBRID position (Both remote and in office) is available in NYC AND London****

This is a global fundraising role that requires a leader who is able to rally others around a vision, bring them along, and pave the way for its successful execution.

Major Responsibilities:

• Drive the long-term growth strategy and strategic orientation for our work with new types of funding and innovative partnerships in IPP;
• Set the vision and plan for IRC’s engagement with non-traditional income-streams and actors, and inform the organization’s strategy in these key areas of innovative funding;
• Lead the execution of the ambitious targets and provide leadership support to the staff (and associated funding streams) under their supervision;
• Personally manage a portfolio of high-value donors and funding streams with an annual 7-figure target in Year 1, to include engagement with high-value prospects and partners globally;
• Inform the continuation of identifying new areas of potential and driving the development of additional cases to unlock investment, identify expert-staff and drive innovation in these areas;
• Develop and implement a global strategy for recruiting key contacts across industries, sectors and markets in support of long-term funding;
• Develop and lead engagement plans to reach senior decision makers with a range of opportunities;
• Show dedication to supporting our diversity, equality and inclusion efforts through development of multi-faceted, positive partnerships that benefit a wide range of clients with varying backgrounds;
• Inspire, empower and challenge the team through active mentorship, encouraging an inclusive environment that supports new insights and innovative ways of developing and managing partnerships;
• Collaborate with the Global Philanthropy and Partnership Services (GPPS) team on the conceptualization, development and implementation of standards, tools and procedures towards an outstanding approach to international private sector engagement and fundraising;
• Partner with the VP, IPP and GPPS to set strategic goals and key outcomes for the New Funding and Innovation team’s efforts;
• Establish collaborative working relationships both internally across the organization and externally with donors and key partners.

Key Working Relationships:

You will report to: Vice President, IPP and GPPS;

Your position directly supervises: Three dedicated subject matter experts.

Essential Qualifications:

• Advanced University degree in Business Administration, Economics, Communications, International Relations, Finance or other field relevant to the IRC;
• Approximately 10+ years of experience in forging strategic relationships with the private-sector, preferably with social impact outcomes;
• Experience with private-sector partnership-building and revenue-generation techniques, including acquiring financial support for projects and developing large-scale partnerships;
• Successful record of managing and leading teams, inspiring change and maintaining a positive attitude;
• Understanding how to reconcile the needs of the organization with private sector and non-traditional partners;
• Existing professional and personal networks with the high-value private sector, ideally in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and other notable wealth and private-sector hubs around the world;
• Ability to explain sophisticated issues to donor prospects and present the organization in an engaging and concise manner;
• Good understanding of the challenges and issues faced by field offices;
• Excellent digital literacy (MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint, etc.);
• Excellent communication skills with good interpersonal and negotiation skills;
• Knowledge and curiosity about humanitarian/international development work.

Desired/ Good to have:

• Understanding or experience in venture philanthropy space (or innovative finance community);
• Multiple languages a plus.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal. 

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $120 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.