Gender Equality Diversity and Inclusion Senior Advisor at International Rescue Committee

Background: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we strive to improve outcomes in the areas of health, safety, economic wellbeing, education and power.

IRC’s Crisis Response, Recovery and Development department leads the IRC’s engagements in crisis-impacted contexts around the world. Within CRRD, the Technical Excellence (TE) pillar seeks to provide focused technical expertise in support of country-based colleagues and partner organisations, with a specific focus on supporting program design, quality assurance, business development, and research & learning efforts. Building from this deep engagement in supporting program delivery, TE seeks to influence policy and practice in the wider humanitarian and development sector, such that learning can be shared widely to help improve the lives of people impacted by crisis.

IRC’s Strategy 100 (S100) calls for a critical engagement with power dynamics and how they are reflected in our organization and the broader humanitarian sector. Through its Diversity Equality and Inclusion (DEI) strategy document the IRC has committed to improve our understanding and actions on the root causes of different forms of systemic inequalities, and to transform how we partner, program, learn and share insights as a result. IRC’s new strategic plan requires a continued focus on program quality by giving greater influence to our clients, using better research and evidence, making data-driven decisions, building a network of civil society partners and enhancing our overall program framework. The IRC is committed to strive for equal outcomes for diverse populations by using a deep understanding of local power imbalances to ensure equitable access to services and to adopt program design and delivery approach that maximize power for the communities we serve through effective collaboration with clients, partners, and staff.

Within the TE pillar of CRRD, there has been a year-long engagement on issues of Race, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) collectively led by a team drawn from the different technical and support teams. This process highlighted the need for sustained engagement in transforming how programs are designed and delivered, how decision-making processes can be improved, and how people managers within TE actively model DEI commitments. There is both strong support from TE leadership for a change process linked to these TE REDI reflections and the overall IRC DEI strategy, and a recognition that support is required to execute on these ambitions.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Gender Equality Diversity and Inclusion Advisor will play a pivotal role in IRC’s Technical Excellence pillar to advance both departmental and agency goals around GEDI. Their primary focus will be to:

· Lead and coordinate efforts to incorporate GEDI perspectives into IRC’s program quality framework(s) and associated business processes.

· Champion and support REDI change efforts across Technical Excellence and individual technical teams, providing coordination, advice, and project management support.

Major Responsibilities:

Lead and coordinate efforts to incorporate GEDI perspectives into IRC’s program quality framework(s) and associated business processes.

· Lead definitional work to clarify core conceptual framework and direction of travel on GEDI work in TechEx.

· Convene and coordinate a community of practice to support the transformative and inclusive elements of IRC’s program quality framework (IMPACT).

· Collaborate with S100 Program Ambition Leads in CRRD to promote and support coherent approaches to integrating GEDI in S100 implementation, and to identify synergies for the DEI strategy emerging from related elements of S100.

· Ensure consistent integration of GEDI in program quality and program design frameworks (eg IMPACT, OEF)

· Lead the development and socialization of a GEDI marker for program design and quality as part of the IMPACT program quality framework implementation.

· Review existing practices and tools around the analysis of power relations and work with teams to integrate any necessary tool and process improvements.

· Support GEDI integration in program strategy and performance tools and process.

Champion and support REDI change efforts across Technical Excellence and individual technical teams, providing coordination, advice, and project management support.

· Support individual teams to create action plans to drive forwards their REDI ambitions.

· Support the Technical Excellence Leadership Team in driving implementation of REDI action plans.

· Track and monitor progress against Technical Excellence REDI agenda.

· Report on progress to individual teams and TE leadership.

· Identify common obstactles or challenges and work with teams and leadership to devise appropriate solutions, drawing on support from the wider GEDI team and experts as needed.

· Collaborate with Technical Excellence leadership and CRRD SMT to surface and resolve policy issues and operational issues to foster progress on GEDI.

Key Working Relationships:

Report to : Senior Director, Program Quality Support and Chief GEDI Officer

Manages (in partnership): Embedded GEDI Inclusion Staff in other TUs.

Close collaboration: VP Technical Excellence; TE Leadership Group; REDI focal points in each unit in TE; GEDI and other TU staff working on Transformative and Inclusive programming; PQSU and S100 ambition leads; Regional GEDI Directors

External: As needed

Job Requirements:

Education: Graduate degree required in relevant field, or equivalent work experience

Work Experience: 5+ years of related experience that includes:

· Proven track record track record leading and influencing organizational partners to embrace and adopt intersectional diversity, equality, and inclusion processes as core of programming approach and activities.

· Experience in developing and implementing tools and framework to support gender, power, and inclusion analysis and program design and delivery framework (planning methodologies, templates, tools and processes).

· At least 3 years field experience in humanitarian or development settings.

· Experience building communities of practice.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

· Deep commitment to and knowledge of strategies to adopt intersectional feminist lens to proactively understand and work on transforming power structures, norms, and relations that perpetuate systemic inequalities, oppression, and privileges in the different contexts where we operate.

· Demonstrable understanding of how power dynamics and legacy of colonialism in the humanitarian sector affect organizations and the ability to maximize power for communities in our operating and service delivery models.

· Effectiveness in bridging practical guidance and conceptual frameworks with strong design skills related to program tools and guidance.

· Experience in developing and administering trainings, ability to communicate technical expertise and standards, and implement best practice approaches

· Experience interacting and communicating effectively with members of a complex organization at multiple levels

· Deep cultural sensitivity and understanding of how to operate and put forward ideas and plans in a global organization with varying contextual needs.

· Ability to work independently and with multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams

· Good verbal and written communication skills (i.e. day-to-day discussions, team meetings, presentations, written status updates, etc.), as well as an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications

· High level of comfort with MS Excel, Word and PowerPoint

Language Skills:

· Excellent spoken and written English

· Proficiency in at least one other language spoken in IRC regions (French, Arabic, Spanish, Swahili, etc.)

Working Environment –

· Combination of standard office working environment and working remotely (i.e., telecommuting).

· Some travel as needed up to 25%

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.

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