Associated Director, Product Development and Operational Partnerships

The International Rescue Committee’s External Relations (ER) department was formed in 2020 and is comprised of 3 complementary functional areas: Private fundraising, Communications and Advocacy. The department is in the beginning stages of crafting a new, results-oriented strategy that will enhance IRC’s ability to ‘punch above its weight’ in private income, advocacy, and brand awareness.

Supporting this endeavor, and an integral part of ER, is the Global Partnerships and Philanthropic Services (GPPS) Unit. Reporting into the VP Global Partnerships and Philanthropy, GPPS consists of functional specialists across a variety of high-value fundraising support functions providing all elements of cultivation, support and stewardship to high value donors, partners, and supporters, comprising three pillars: Research, Partner Engagement & Corporate Affairs (PECA), and Program Services.

This exciting opportunity is on the PECA team! PECA engages our HV donors, partners, and supporters across the three income streams (Corporate, Foundations and Trusts, and HNWIs) through a number of support services including operational partnerships, gift in kind policy and practice; global workplace giving; partner engagement and visibility.

Job Overview:

The Associate Director, Product Development and Operational Partnerships is a new position created to develop and support new and non-traditional forms of collaboration with the private sector. This position will engage with businesses to achieve sustainable, lasting impact for refugees and host communities. It seeks to expand partnerships with the private sector beyond fundraising to promote refugees economic and financial inclusion, to increase refugees’ access to and uptake of products and services that they require, to stimulate private sector investment in refugee-hosting areas, to yield financial savings to the organization, and to foster innovation.

This role will be a vital part of the PECA team, leading organizational efforts (with program operations, fundraising staff, programs and technical divisions, Research and Innovation, IT, Global Supply Chain) in the management of operational partnerships with the private sector. The Associate Director will collaborate with strategic partners to understand and prioritize shared value opportunities that align with both the partner’s strategy and the IRC’s mission to build strong, sustainable programming. This position assesses strategic partnerships with corporate and philanthropic organizations to co-design and advance innovative programs that improve access, opportunity, and outcomes in communities around the world. The Associate Director will lead the Operational Partnership and Gifts-in-Kind (GIK) team, ensuring overall coordination of the team with the high-value fundraising pillars.

Major Responsibilities:

Product Development & Operational Partnerships:

•Establish the Operational Partnership team as the point of reference for all IRC partners seeking information on shared value partnerships.

•Find opportunities in our programming: alongside our program and R&I teams, identify improvements in collaboration with the private sector to, where possible, through the generation of new solutions, scale up impact, reduce costs, and function more efficiently. This includes identifying, quantifying and proactively pursuing international business growth opportunities.

•Find shared value solutions: work with partners to craft creative solutions to these challenges. Through technology, the development of the solution can be accelerated with various partners. This includes ability to provide to high-value fundraisers strategic counsel and tactical direction as needed, including advising on highly-technical solutions.

•Measure the meaningful impact of a shared value initiative by creating means to accurately quantify the impact of the shared value partnership depending on the scope and needs of the project.

•Lead engagement with relevant IRC partners involved in partnerships through the provision of timely advice, guidance and other services, particularly with regard to the development of partner strategies, proposals, and cases for support.

Team Management:

•Ensure revenue targets are set and achieved for non-financial partnerships (gift in kind)

•Establish and manage a clear strategy and work-plan for the new team, with objectives, activities and measures of success mapped and shared with the team, and specific roles and responsibilities of the multi-functional team communicated to the broader high value teams

•Lead the implementation of an effective impact and results framework for operational and GIK partnerships, including measuring impact and performance

•Lead the definition, implementation of an effective strategy, work plan, and impact and results framework for operational and GIK partnerships, aligned with the global High Value fundraising strategy

•Manage and mentor one Officer by actively participating in ongoing performance monitoring, formal performance appraisals and professional development plans

•Provide guidance to the Officer on the finalization and implementation of the IRC’s gift-in-kind policy and practice, alongside Global Supply Chain, international programs and Finance

Job Requirements:

•Approximately 6-8 years of experience in building, managing and executing financial and non-financial partnerships on behalf of a not-for-profit organization and/or a UN entity

•Detailed process design for managing partnerships in innovation for the benefit of both the IRC and the partner

•Highly technical background, including crafting tech solutions for multi-faceted, sophisticated projects

•Experience of donor reporting, communications and stewardship of these types of partnership

•Shown experience in strategy, policy and process development

•Strong writing and presentation skills and capacity to synthesize high volumes of information into key messages and to various audiences

•Experience or interest in working with supply chain operations in international humanitarian settings

•Knowledge of humanitarian action and international development

•Outstanding interpersonal and intercultural skills

•Flexible with the ability to comfortably navigate unchartered territory with unexpected challenges

•Strong time management, multitasking, and organizational skills

•Experience working with Salesforce or another CRM and related technologies within a fundraising environment

•Knowledge and interest in emerging concepts and practices in the field of strategic philanthropy and public-private partnerships

•Availability for overseas travel on short- and medium-term assignments when needs arise, with as much as 25% travel

Working Environment:This role requires working remotely full or part time (i.e., telecommuting). Applicants must have a home or alternate workspace they can effectively complete their work from during regularly scheduled hours.