Chief Strategy Officer at International Rescue Committee

The Chief Strategy Officer is the leader of the Strategy Unit, overseeing a small but high-performing team that work on projects aligned to the top priorities of the IRC. The role has ultimate responsibility for the work of the SU, managing directly the more senior members of the team and playing a thought leadership role across all projects. The CSO represents and champions the Strategy Unit and S100 across the organization as well as externally.

The Strategy Unit supports projects across a range of different topics that are of critical importance to the IRC. These are defined in close collaboration with the President, the Chief Operating Officer and the rest of the Leadership Board and cover a range of topics from strategic evaluation, operational improvement, organizational structure, etc. Ultimately, the Strategy Unit works to help IRC deliver greater impact for those who we work with and serve, including more than 19 million people worldwide affected by conflict and crisis.

The position requires exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to think strategically about IRC’s role across the humanitarian ecosystem and beyond. Candidates will need strong emotional intelligence and the ability to understand and manage a complex set of stakeholders across the organization as well as externally. They also need to be inspiring leaders who can help recruit, develop, and retain exceptional talent into the Strategy Unit and IRC, and who can oversee teams and coach other members of SU on how to structure and manage complex projects. The role requires independence and initiative, a deep commitment to impact and the ability challenge IRC norms and the ability to think differently about how to achieve the organization’s strategic goals.

The role reports to the Chief Operating Officer and works extensively with the President as well as other Leadership Board members.

Major Responsibilities:

• Be the champion and steward of IRC’s multi-year strategy, S100, internally and externally
• Lead the work to define and develop IRC’s Quarterly Strategy Reviews, present results and lead discussions with the Leadership Board
• Oversee tracking of progress against Strategy100 in collaboration with other leaders across the organization
• Prepare for implementation of Phase 2 of Strategy100, including reviewing results to date as well as changes in the external environment
• Lead the work of the Strategy Unit including defining the Unit’s overall mission as well as it’s key areas of focus, identifying and scoping projects together with “clients” from across IRC, and lead project development and implementation
• Oversee management of the Strategy Unit including line management responsibility for the more senior members of the team. Recruit, develop, inspire, and retain talent with a focus on attracting diverse talent from outside IRC into the organization
• Curate a positive, collaborative, inclusive and efficient team working environment where team members enjoy working with each other, feel able to do impactful work and grow professionally over time, including through regular developmental feedback
• Act as a strategy thought partner for senior leaders across IRC, including the President and members of the Leadership Board
• Co-manage the President’s Office Delivery Unit and provide thought leadership to its work in collaboration with the Senior Director of Policy & Planning

Job Requirements:

Work / Educational Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or a direct equivalent is required
• At least 10 years of relevant work experience, ideally including strategic analysis, project management and advisory of senior leaders
• Track record of high performance with gradually increasing responsibilities

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Experience overseeing and leading teams that drive
  • Strategic analysis, strategy planning and implementation
  • Execution of strategic change and organizational change management
  • Project management of large-scale, cross-functional projects in a fast-paced environment
• Deep strategic thinker that can lead an organization in reflecting on its role in a rapidly changing environment, using qualitative and quantitative data to develop, refine, syndicate, and push towards implementation transformational organizational strategies
• Understanding of and passion for IRC’s work, and how the humanitarian and development sectors are evolving, coupled with a desire to shape and drive change across these sectors
• Ability to connect with, debate and influence senior leaders and support them in reflecting and driving change across their organizations
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills – ability to present and influence at the highest levels both internally and externally.
• Highly collaborative and able ability to work independently in a dynamic, cross-functional global structure
• Experience and ability in managing a team of high-performers and to recruit, develop, inspire, and retain team members.
• Ability to respond enthusiastically and positively to ambiguity, be resilient to shifting priorities and setbacks, and be comfortable with imperfect analysis and solutions

Preferred experience & skills:

• Experience in a strategy role at either a strategy consulting firm, or in the strategy development function of a global organization
• An MBA, a master’s degree or direct equivalent in international development, human rights or another field related to the IRC’s work
• Experience in a humanitarian or development organization, or similar
• Knowledge of French, Arabic or Spanish