International Rescue Committee UK Trustees

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.

IRC UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its global headquarters in New York. Our team in the UK works to deliver funding, policy and practice change, and programming. We are dedicated to supporting people across the arc of crisis – from conflict to refuge to resettlement – and since 2021, IRC UK has also provided integration services directly to refugees in the UK. We aim to centre the voice of our clients in all our work, including by working with a Community Advisory Board of 12 refugees and asylum seekers in the UK to ensure their experience and expertise shapes our UK programmes.

Our strategy

IRC UK’s Strategic Plan 2025-2028 outlines how we are advancing the goals of IRC’s global strategy, Strategy100, which serves as a guide for the organization until its 100th anniversary in 2033.

Our impact

Our annual report for 2025 highlights the impact IRC UK and our partners have had, including:

• Delivering change with and for refugees in the UK: Our UK Resettlement, Asylum and Integration programmes served 2,430 people across the UK in 2025. Clients came from countries including Afghanistan, Ukraine, Sudan, Syria and Iran.
• Responding in emergencies: IRC UK has responded to some of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, including Sudan, occupied Palestinian Territory, and Myanmar.

IRC UK’s Board of Trustees

Our Board of Trustees are responsible for overall good governance of IRC UK and supporting us to deliver against our strategic plan in areas such as programmes, fundraising, policy and advocacy, communications, people and culture, finance and operations.

As of May 2026, we have 11 Trustees with a broad range of experience and expertise across areas relevant to IRC UK’s work, ensuring as a collective they can perform their strategic, supervisory and governance duties well.

The roles

In 2025, we saw a dramatic collapse in international aid and a retreat from global cooperation, despite unprecedented levels of humanitarian need. This trend is continuing at pace in 2026 with rapidly escalating global conflict amplified by climate change and entrenched poverty. In the UK, we are working to protect the rights of refugees in an increasingly challenging media and political environment.

In this context, we are seeking two new Trustees to lend skills and expertise in areas which we have identified as critical to strengthening the Board’s capability for the years ahead. These will replace Trustees nearing the ends of their terms.

Trustee duties

As a Trustee of IRC UK, you will be asked to:

• Fulfil Trustees’ legal duties: Fulfil and act in accordance with the legal responsibilities of being a Trustee to ensure good governance of the organisation (this Charity Commission guidance explains the key duties of all Trustees of charities in England and Wales);
• Lend your expertise: Use your specific experience and skills to provide strategic advice and guidance to support the effective working of IRC UK;
• Provide strategic oversight: Work with your fellow Trustees and the IRC UK Senior Management Team to ensure IRC UK is achieving its strategic objectives and course-correcting where required;
• Ensure sound governance: Make sure IRC UK is operating in the right way, overseeing regulatory compliance and with effective risk oversight and strong organisational resilience;
• Contribute to Board and Committee effectiveness: Ensure you contribute to the effectiveness of the Board and its Committees by preparing well for meetings and offering effective insight and challenge;
• Act as an ambassador: Promote the organisation externally, including by attending and contributing to events, meetings with donors, and supporters;
• Uphold our commitments: Support IRC UK to fulfill its safeguarding and equity, diversity and inclusion commitments, including by engaging meaningfully with IRC clients in the UK and overseas.

Time commitment

In terms of time commitment, Trustees are required to:

• Full Board: Prepare for, attend, and participate fully in at least three half-day Board meetings per year (typically March, July and October), plus one development meeting (January). In-person attendance at our office in London is encouraged, but not essential.
• Board Committee(s): Participate in at least one Board Committee – Audit & Governance, People & Culture, Safeguarding, and External Relations – and as such prepare for, attend, and participate fully in at least two Committee meetings per year. Committee meetings typically last two hours.
• Programme visits: Attend an overseas programme visit (self-funded, though IRC UK will reduce/remove financial barriers for Trustees as personal circumstances require) OR a visit to our programmes within the UK each year.

This amounts to between 8-10 days per year.

Trustees may serve up to two three-year terms. At the recommendation of the People & Culture Committee, the Board may vote to keep a Trustee (who wishes to stay) for a third term of one or maximum two years. All Trustees must rotate off the board after eight years.

What we’re looking for – person specification

We want to ensure that our Trustees collectively bring a diverse mix of skills, knowledge and experience (including lived experience of conflict and displacement) that align with and support our objectives and activities.

We are seeking Trustees with strong general governance and management experience. The successful candidate(s) will have:

Essential experience:

• Senior leadership experience within a complex international and matrix-structured organisation (charity, NGO, public, private);
• Strong leadership skills, and the ability to support and challenge executive leadership (including the ability to think critically and ask the right questions);
• Strong cross-cultural awareness and a commitment to role-modelling and advancing diversity, equality and inclusion;
• High standards of integrity and accountability;
• Ability to understand and interpret complex information pertaining to IRC UK’s financial position, risk and performance;
• Ability to work collaboratively with others; and
• An interest and willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to successfully deliver this role.

Desirable experience:

• Experience in or understanding of the international development or UK charity sector;
• Experience operating at Board or equivalent strategic level;
• Strong networks and willingness to make connections which advance IRC UK’s charitable purpose, particularly in high-value fundraising.

We are particularly interested to hear from candidates who can demonstrate any of the following:

• Strategic understanding of refugee issues in the UK, including asylum, resettlement and integration, to support IRC UK in deepening the impact and reach of its programmes and advocacy.
• Digital expertise and networks, including an understanding of the rapidly evolving technology landscape and networks across technology, social media and digital marketing.
• Philanthropy and partnerships experience, including strong connections across UK foundations, trusts and the wider philanthropic sector.

Upholding the IRC Way

All International Rescue Committee workers and board members must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. The IRC Way describes our four core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality, and helps staff around the world prioritise the safeguarding and wellbeing of our clients in everything we do.

The IRC Way ensures that we carry out our work following the ethical and moral principles that support our humanitarian ambitions. Upholding this code is a responsibility shared by all involved in delivering IRC’s mission, including IRC UK’s Trustees.

What we can promise in return

• A rigorous induction programme: New Trustees receive a full induction programme and training to ensure they understand their roles and responsibilities, including with respect to safeguarding and Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
• Expenses: The roles are unpaid. However, reasonable expenses are reimbursed in line with IRC UK’s Expenses Policy.
• Exposure to global and UK programmes: This will be provided to ensure our Trustees are familiar with our work, and able to better understand and represent the interests of our clients in line with our charitable purpose.

How to apply

The application deadline is 11:59pm BST, Sunday 28th June 2026.

To apply, please submit a CV and short covering letter.

Once the deadline has passed, all applications will be reviewed in a ‘blind’ process (that is, all personally identifiable information will be removed to reduce hiring bias) to arrive at a longlist prepared. This will be reviewed by members of the Board’s People & Culture Committee, and a shortlist of candidates for interview selected.

For those shortlisted, there will be a two to three interviews – which can be held remotely, or in-person in our London offices – for those selected, including one with members of the Board’s People & Culture Committee, and one with the Board Chair and IRC UK Executive Director. Interviews will likely take place in July 2026, and we aim to select up to two candidates by the end of July 2026.

While our teams cannot share feedback with all applicants due to capacity limitations, we will share feedback with those shortlisted for interview should they request it.

Equal opportunities

IRC UK strives to be an equal opportunities employer. IRC UK is committed to equality of opportunity and to non-discrimination for all candidates and employees, and we seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our board and workforce regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs, nationality, ethnic/national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

IRC UK welcomes applications from all candidates, including underrepresented groups and candidates who can bring lived or proximate experience of conflict or forced displacement.

We are also happy to receive applications with no prior experience of being a Trustee, providing you have experience relevant to the role and a willingness to learn.

IRC UK will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable adjustments to participate in the application and/or interview process. Please contact us if you may need such adjustments.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the online recruitment process, or would like to discuss the role(s) further before submitting an application, please contact: Esther Hodges, Director – Strategy and Delivery at Esther.Hodges@rescue.org

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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