Senior Director and Head of Health

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

As Senior Director and Head of Health, you will lead the IRC’s largest programming portfolio, shaping how we deliver health care to people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster, including the climate crisis, so they can survive, recover and gain control of their future.

You will provide strategic leadership for a portfolio of more than $200 million in program funding across 35 country offices, spanning Primary Health Care, Nutrition, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, Environmental and Climate Health, and Immunization. You will set the global standard for the quality and technical soundness of our health programming, represent the IRC in the global arena, help shape the industry, raise funds and strengthen our standing.

As a key member of the Technical Excellence (TechEx) Leadership Team and the Senior Leadership Group (SLG), you will play a pivotal role in advancing the IRC’s vision for health outcomes across crisis, recovery and post-crisis development contexts. You will bring strategic direction, technical authority and influential representation to our global health portfolio, driving innovation, integration and impact at scale across programs, policy and partnerships.

Position overview

You will lead the Health Technical Unit and a globally dispersed, high impact team of approximately 60 technical experts, sector leaders, specialists and advocates working across global and regional positions, with reach into health roles and professionals in our country programs. You will directly supervise the Health leadership team, including the Deputy Director and Global Practice Leads for Nutrition, Primary Healthcare, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, Environmental and Climate Health, Policy and Advocacy, Immunization and MEAL, alongside other key roles.

As a senior leader, you will:

• Partner with senior leaders across the organization to position health as an organizational priority and ensure adequate investment is made to achieve the highest impact.

• Lead the IRC’s Health Impact at Scale agenda, identifying and scaling high impact health interventions and ensuring strategic alignment, operational excellence and measurable outcomes.

• Set a clear strategic vision for the Health Technical Unit that aligns with organizational priorities, promotes innovation, expands funding opportunities and positions the IRC as a global thought leader and partner of choice in health for crisis-affected and fragile settings.

What you will do:

Strategic and thought leadership

• Define and communicate a compelling strategic vision for the IRC’s health portfolio, identifying and prioritizing high impact health interventions, core competencies, emerging trends, competitive advantages and new opportunities for influence and growth.

• Serve as the IRC’s principal technical authority and thought leader in the global health space, internally and externally, shaping global influence on public health.

• Serve as strategic advisor to the IRC President and CEO, supporting engagement in external health-related strategic forums.

• Partner with the Senior Director, Impact at Scale to identify and scale high impact health interventions, ensuring strategic alignment, operational excellence and measurable outcomes.

• Work with the Research and Innovation team to advance evidence-based practice, fostering rigorous research, learning and innovation that position the IRC as a recognized global authority in health programming for crisis-affected populations.

• Anticipate and respond to shifts in the humanitarian and development landscape, keeping the IRC at the forefront of policy, practice and partnership.

External representation, influence and fundraising

• Represent the IRC at the highest levels, engaging with donors, governments, policy makers and peer agencies to influence global agendas and promote evidence-based solutions.

• Develop policy positions on global health issues and support the Health Policy Director in bringing health policy solutions to market.

• Lead strategic fundraising efforts, cultivating and managing high-value partnerships across bilateral, multilateral and private sectors.

• Position the IRC as a trusted partner and go-to organization for effective and scalable health interventions through strategic communications, publications and global forums.

• Champion the IRC’s advocacy priorities in collaboration with Policy and Advocacy teams to advance systemic change for people’s health and survival.

Organizational leadership and change management

• Act as a visible and values-driven member of the department’s Extended Senior Management Team and the IRC’s Senior Leadership Group, contributing to accountable leadership, cross-departmental collaboration and organizational decision-making.

• As a member of the TechEx leadership team, drive organizational change across TechEx and within the Health Technical Unit, ensuring structure, systems and culture are fit for the future and responsive to evolving strategic, industry and financial realities.

• Cultivate a high-performance, inclusive culture that values innovation, accountability and professional growth.

• Lead change and transition processes with transparency and empathy, maintaining morale and clarity through periods of transformation.

Business stewardship and operational excellence

• Ensure strategic alignment and disciplined management of health resources, including sound financial oversight, leadership of grants and strategic projects, and reporting.

• Collaborate across TechEx to ensure the IRC’s program models are integrated, outcome-driven and evidence-based, shaping policy and influencing resource allocation at the global level.

• Work with program delivery and regional leadership to align health programming to the strategic vision you have articulated, phasing out programming that falls outside the strategy and scaling up the most evidence-based and contextually relevant delivery approaches.

• Partner with Finance, Awards and other CRRD units to improve efficiency, forecasting and impact measurement.

• Strengthen internal systems to support agility, accountability and continuous improvement.

Talent leadership

• Attract, recruit, develop and retain top technical talent, ensuring the Health team has the skills, diversity and motivation to deliver excellent technical support and global technical leadership.

• Foster a learning culture that encourages innovation, collaboration and thought partnership across the IRC’s global technical and country teams.

• Mentor and empower emerging leaders within the Health network and across the IRC.

Professional profile

Success in this position requires a globally recognized health leader who pairs deep technical authority with the ability to influence at the highest levels. You will bring a proven record of leading complex, globally dispersed teams in matrixed organizations, an established network across the global health, humanitarian and development spaces, and the credibility to represent the IRC with donors, governments, normative bodies and the media.

Experience and skills you will bring

Education

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Policy or a related field. MD or PhD is strongly preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible senior leadership experience in global health, humanitarian health programming or related technical fields, with substantial experience in humanitarian and post-crisis settings.

• Demonstrated success in strategic leadership, external representation and fundraising from bilateral, multilateral and private donors.

• Deep and broad connections across the global health, humanitarian and development spaces, which are essential for this role.

• Proven record of driving change, leading complex global teams and navigating matrixed organizations.

• Deep understanding of the global health landscape, including major donors, networks, normative bodies and policy platforms.

• Public recognition among global actors, media, funders, NGOs and forums as a global public health professional and an authoritative voice.

Competencies

• Exceptional strategic thinker and influencer, able to translate vision into action.

• Exceptional communicator and public speaker, adept at representing an organization in global fora and with senior-level stakeholders.

• Demonstrated fundraising and partnership-building acumen.

• Skilled in change management, leadership development and organizational design.

• Deep commitment to the IRC’s mission and values, with a strong sense of integrity, humility and collaboration.

Language

• Excellent spoken and written English required. Proficiency in French preferred.

Working Environment:

This role can be based in New York, which is preferred, although London and Geneva may be considered, in addition to any country where IRC currently operates and where the candidate already has the right to work. The successful candidate will be hired on a local employment contract according to the local salary scale and paid in local currency, with local benefits applicable. Visa sponsorship may exceptionally be considered for the US, UK and Switzerland. Travel is expected up to 25% of the time.

Compensation: (U.S. Pay Rate: $240,000 - $300,000 / UK:  £95,000 -  £110,000 / Geneva: CHF 195,000 - CHF 225,000). Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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Equal Opportunity Employer: 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.

Why Choose the IRC?

Work that has meaning: Every day at the IRC is a chance to make a difference through a purpose-driven career. Whether you're working directly with communities or providing support behind the scenes, you will be part of a dynamic team that is always innovating, scaling, and testing new and better solutions to ensure the best possible outcomes for the people we serve.

Global scale, dynamic workplace: At the IRC, we believe that the dynamic, global make-up of our team is our strength. When you join us, you're not just starting a job—you will be part of a global organization positively impacting millions of lives in over 40 get to work with colleagues from all around the world—working across time zones and regularly exchanging different ideas, perspectives and insights. You’ll join a team that is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and heard.  

Challenging work, innovative solutions: We’re committed to excellence and innovation, and pride ourselves in setting industry-leading standards while practicing evidence and data-lead strategies. Come challenge norms, shatter conventions, and pioneer change while working on real, nuanced and complex issues we face in the world today.  

Community centered: We’re an empathetic community that truly cares for one another. Our comprehensive safety and security initiatives ensure a safe work environment, while our continuous learning and development programs provide ongoing opportunities for personal and career advancement.

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Our Typical Recruitment Process

The interview process typically includes three rounds, though the number may vary depending on the role and level of seniority. It usually begins with a conversation with our recruiting team to learn more about you and your goals. This is followed by an interview with a hiring manager or business stakeholder to explore your background and provide more insight into the role. The final round focuses on assessing your role-specific expertise and may be conducted as a panel interview to evaluate your cross-functional strengths. Before extending an offer, we generally conduct reference checks, and after an offer is made, a standard background check is completed. While we strive for consistency, the process may differ based on the role, business unit, location, job type, legal requirements, and other factors.

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