2026:International Rescue Committee Seeks Deputy Director of Programs, Global Surge: Global Humanitarian Leadership Opportunity

Experienced humanitarian leaders looking to make a meaningful impact in crisis-affected communities worldwide have an exciting opportunity to join the International Rescue Committee (IRC) as a Deputy Director of Programs, Global Surge. This full-time global roving position is open to remote candidates and offers the chance to support humanitarian operations in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

The role is part of IRC’s highly respected Global Surge Team (GST), a roster of experienced professionals deployed to support emergency and non-emergency humanitarian programs where expertise is needed most.

About the International Rescue Committee

Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the International Rescue Committee works to help people whose lives have been disrupted by conflict, disaster, and displacement.

Today, IRC operates in more than 40 countries and numerous locations across the United States, delivering critical assistance in areas such as:

• Emergency response
• Health services
• Education
• Economic recovery
• Protection and safeguarding
• Refugee support
• Community resilience

The organization is recognized globally for its commitment to restoring safety, dignity, and hope to vulnerable populations.

About the Global Surge Team

The Global Surge Team serves as IRC’s rapid deployment workforce.

Members of the team are experienced humanitarian professionals who can quickly mobilize to support country programs facing operational challenges, staffing gaps, emergencies, or expansion opportunities.

Deployments typically last up to three months and may occur in both emergency and non-emergency contexts.

The Deputy Director of Programs plays a vital leadership role in ensuring that humanitarian programs are effectively designed, implemented, monitored, and adapted to meet changing needs.

Position Overview

The Deputy Director of Programs provides strategic leadership and oversight of program implementation while serving as a key member of the Country Management Team during deployments.

Reporting directly to the Country Director, the successful candidate will oversee program quality, business development, grants management, accountability processes, and partnerships.

The role requires strong leadership capabilities, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage complex humanitarian programs in dynamic environments.

Key Responsibilities

The position encompasses several core areas of responsibility.

Strategy and Organizational Planning

The Deputy Director will:

• Support development and implementation of country strategic plans.
• Align programming with organizational priorities.
• Guide program planning and project design.
• Contribute to organizational growth and long-term impact.

Strong strategic leadership will be essential for ensuring programs remain relevant and responsive to community needs.

Program Development and Fundraising

The successful candidate will help strengthen IRC’s resource mobilization efforts by:

• Supporting donor engagement strategies.
• Contributing to business development planning.
• Guiding proposal development processes.
• Ensuring high-quality concept notes and funding applications.
• Supporting gender-responsive program design.

This work helps secure resources necessary to sustain humanitarian operations.

Program Implementation and Quality Management

A major aspect of the role involves overseeing program performance and accountability.

Responsibilities include:

• Monitoring implementation progress.
• Leading project cycle management processes.
• Reviewing spending and budget performance.
• Supporting procurement and staffing planning.
• Ensuring timely donor reporting.
• Strengthening monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning systems.

The Deputy Director will use data-driven approaches to improve effectiveness and program outcomes.

Leadership and Team Management

The role requires exceptional people management skills.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supervising senior program leaders.
• Providing mentorship and coaching.
• Supporting staff development and performance management.
• Encouraging collaboration and teamwork.
• Promoting accountability and professional growth.

The successful candidate will help build strong, inclusive teams capable of delivering high-quality humanitarian assistance.

Partnership and External Representation

Humanitarian success depends on effective collaboration.

The Deputy Director will:

• Represent IRC in coordination forums.
• Engage with government stakeholders.
• Maintain relationships with donors and partners.
• Participate in humanitarian clusters and coordination groups.
• Support local partnership development initiatives.

Building and maintaining strong relationships will be essential to advancing program objectives.

Partner Management and Localization

The IRC is committed to strengthening local partnerships and supporting community-led solutions.

The Deputy Director will:

• Support local partner engagement strategies.
• Strengthen collaboration with national organizations.
• Share technical expertise with partner institutions.
• Monitor partnership performance and compliance.
• Promote sustainable capacity strengthening efforts.

This work contributes to more locally driven and sustainable humanitarian responses.

Qualifications and Experience Required

IRC is seeking a highly experienced humanitarian professional with demonstrated leadership capabilities.

Applicants should possess:

• A graduate degree in International Development, International Relations, Business Management, or a related field.
• Five to six years of overseas humanitarian experience.
• Experience working in conflict or post-conflict environments.
• Expertise in program design and project management.
• Strong monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning experience.
• Budget management and operational planning expertise.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills.

Candidates must also demonstrate cultural sensitivity and the ability to work effectively in complex and rapidly changing environments.

Preferred Skills

Additional qualifications that strengthen an application include:

• Fluency in English.
• Knowledge of French, Spanish, or Arabic.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong negotiation and coordination abilities.
• Emergency response experience.
• Willingness to travel to remote and insecure locations.

Multilingual candidates with extensive field leadership experience are particularly well positioned for success in this role.

Why Join IRC?

The International Rescue Committee offers professionals the opportunity to contribute to meaningful humanitarian work on a global scale.

Benefits of joining the organization include:

• Mission-driven work with tangible impact.
• Exposure to diverse humanitarian contexts.
• Global collaboration opportunities.
• Continuous professional development.
• Participation in innovative humanitarian programming.
• Opportunities to support millions of people affected by crisis worldwide.

Final Thoughts

The Deputy Director of Programs, Global Surge position represents an exceptional opportunity for experienced humanitarian leaders seeking to influence program quality, emergency response, and organizational impact across multiple countries. Through strategic leadership, partnership development, and program oversight, the successful candidate will play a key role in advancing the International Rescue Committee’s mission of helping people survive, recover, and rebuild their lives after crisis and displacement.

Professionals with strong humanitarian leadership experience and a passion for global impact are encouraged to explore this rewarding opportunity.

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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of  emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.