Climate Resilience Global Practice Lead at International Rescue Committee

Major Responsibilities
Strategy, Program Design and Business Development

• Develop and guide the implementation of a comprehensive global strategy for promoting climate readiness and resilience, considering environmental, social, and economic impacts of CRRD programs across all outcome areas
• Act as the organizational leader for CRRD in climate resilience programming conversations, internally and externally
• Support IRC Technical Units and Country Programs in the development of sustainable and scalable solutions to promote climate resilience and adaptation, and reduce vulnerabilities to climate impacts for the people and communities we serve, in line with Technical Unit and Country Program strategic priorities related to renewable energy, conservation, water security, climate-smart agriculture, and more
• Collaborate with other Global Practice Leads to promote integrated, adaptive program designs within TechEx, and across all IRC sectors that increase scale and deepen impact
• Develop strategic partnerships with climate and environmental organizations to complement/strengthen IRC’s capacities to deliver climate-resilient programming
• Guide Technical Excellence global business development for Climate-resilient programming and support strategic project level proposals
• Coordinate with AMU and respective other Global Practice Leads to drive fundraising from Public and Institutional donors and with External Relations to drive fundraising from Private donors to meet the organizational strategic priorities related to climate

Global Practice Implementation and Leadership

• Accountable for the development of high-value tools and methodologies to better integrate climate resilience into programs
• Oversee Technical Excellence-led strategic awards in Climate, working closely with respective other Global Practice Leads and regional Technical Advisors as applicable, and the Grant Operations and Analytics Team
• Build and lead (as funding permits) a multidisciplinary team of professionals, sometimes via management in partnership (MiP) with other respective TUs, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture
• Overseeing budgets and resource allocation for climate programs, ensuring effective use of funds and alignment with organizational goals

Research, Data, Knowledge Management, and Organizational Learning

• Staying abreast of the latest advancements in climate resilience interventions and policy work, to integrate innovative approaches and solutions into programming
• Lead a Community of Practice and other channels for collaboration on climate resilience, to ensure proactive and inclusive management across sectors with sustained learning, professional development, innovation, and best practice sharing for colleagues
• Guide research and evidence-use efforts at the intersection of climate and other topics, together with the Airbel Research & Innovation department and respective other Global Practice Leads, as well as regional colleagues
• Establish robust monitoring and reporting mechanisms to track the impact and progress of climate-related programming initiatives, and communicate results to relevant stakeholders

External Influence, Relationships and Representation

• Work with governments, organizations, and stakeholders, together with IRC’s policy and advocacy teams, to influence and shape climate-related policies affecting our clients at international, national, and local levels
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, businesses, and local communities, to foster collaboration and collective action
• Serving as an advocate for climate-related issues, both internally within the organization and externally, to raise awareness, mobilize support, and drive positive change
• Represent IRC in external forums as relevant
• Collaborating with international partners, institutions, and organizations to create a unified and coordinated approach to addressing global climate challenges

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to: Vice President, Head of Technical Excellence
• Direct Reports: Climate Specialists

Education
Desired Experience and Skills

• Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in environmental science, climate studies, sustainability, public policy, development studies, or a related field

Experience

• Minimum of 10-15 years of progressively responsible experience in climate-related roles, with a track record of leadership and impact
• Demonstrated experience of people management, mentoring and coaching, creating and fostering inclusive and diverse work environments and ensuring continuous growth and learning of individuals as well as the organization in the areas of climate resilience
• Substantial experience working at an international level, collaborating with diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, businesses, and communities
• Proven success in developing and implementing global programming strategies and programs for people affected by climate change, with preference for experience in humanitarian and crisis affected contexts