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.
About IRC DE
IRC Deutschland (“IRC DE”) was established in Berlin in 2016 and has grown to a team of around 190 people. Our programmes focus on education, economic wellbeing, safety, legal protection and empowerment, supporting refugees and people affected by displacement across Germany. Alongside this, funding raised in Germany from both private donors and public institutions supports IRC's humanitarian response and programming in crisis-affected regions around the world.
This is a pivotal moment for the organisation as it celebrates the 10-year anniversary of its presence in Germany. The funding environment is under significant pressure globally and in Germany, including from reductions in traditional institutional donors. Simultaneously, demand for IRC’s services in Germany and across crisis contexts remains high. The incoming Managing Director will drive a meaningful step-up in IRC DE's visibility and influence among public and private stakeholders— building recognition among funders, policymakers and the communities the organization serves, and cementing its reputation as an authoritative, trusted voice on displacement and crisis response at both national and European level. They will be responsible for using IRC DE’s growing profile to diversify funding, including through growing new funding partnerships, as well as the continued development of institutional funding and policy change to best serve IRC clients.
Role Purpose
The Managing Director (MD) is IRC DE’s most senior leader and its primary external representative. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the MD is accountable for the overall strategic direction, financial health, programme quality and operational effectiveness of IRC DE. The MD is an active member of IRC’s global senior leadership and acts as the bridge between IRC DE and global headquarters.
The MD is supported by a senior management team that works across Domestic & International Programmes, External Relations and Support Functions. They are responsible for building IRC DE’s credibility with government, public and private donors and civil society — and for ensuring the organisation can deliver with excellence on its mission.
Key Accountabilities
Public Stakeholder Engagement & External Representation
- Serve as IRC DE's primary external representative with key institutional donors (including GFFO, BMZ and domestic ministries), the Bundestag and the media.
- Build and maintain high-quality relationships to proactively improve the standing of IRC DE, resulting in secured and diversified funding streams as well as to ensure compliance with all statutory and reporting requirements.
- Represent IRC effectively in German civil society, including through membership of sector coalitions and engagement with peer organisations, to advance policy objectives.
- Act as a credible and effective public spokesperson on refugee, development and humanitarian issues in German media.
Private Sector Engagement & Fundraising
- Develop and execute a corporate and private fundraising strategy to reduce IRC DE's dependence on any single funding source and build long-term financial resilience.
- Act as an effective ambassador with corporate and foundations partners as well as private funders, cultivating relationships that translate into sustained financial support for IRC's mission.
- Effectively engage with opinion-forming partners and networks to protect and enhance the reputation of IRC DE among private sector audiences.
Team Leadership & People Management
- Lead, motivate and develop a senior management team, setting clear direction and navigating the realities of a complex, matrixed global organisation so that staff across all functions have clarity about priorities and feel connected to IRC's broader mission.
- Build and sustain a high-performing, inclusive culture within IRC DE, actively implementing the organisation’s Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI) strategy.
- Provide clear accountability frameworks, regular feedback and meaningful professional development for direct reports and the wider team.
Strategy, Governance & Performance
- Shape and steward IRC DE's multi-year strategy in collaboration with IRC DE leadership, translating it into actionable priorities, budgets and plans aligned with the needs of IRC clients in Germany and IRC's global programme as well as profile and influence priorities.
- Identify and assess growth opportunities and regularly monitor external conditions — including policy, funding and crisis trends — adapting strategic direction in close partnership with the Executive Office team as circumstances require.
- Hold ultimate accountability for IRC DE's performance across programme quality, advocacy outcomes, public profile and financial sustainability, with the Executive Office leading day-to-day operational delivery and performance management on the MD's behalf.
- Ensure IRC DE operates fully within all relevant German statutory, regulatory and quality frameworks, maintaining robust financial and operational controls, an ethical fundraising culture and a sound approach to risk management.
- Work effectively within the structures linking IRC DE and IRC's global functional departments, ensuring material risks and strategic developments are escalated in a timely manner and that our supervisory board is engaged and supportive of our objectives.
Person Specification
Experience & Expertise (Essential)
- A substantial track record — typically spanning at least ten years — in senior roles including meaningful experience leading sizeable teams and operating in a complex, matrixed or multi-site organisation, with the ability to align diverse teams around shared goals.
- Existing relationships with relevant decision-makers in German federal or state government, the Bundestag or major private sector stakeholders, with verifiable outcomes (funding secured, policy changes achieved, profile and partnerships built).
- Demonstrable track record of success building funding streams in the private space (Corporates, HNWI, Foundation, Mass Markets).
- Demonstrable track record of successful relationship building — including securing multi-year funding from institutional donors such as GFFO, BMZ and other German development or domestic donors, as well as leveraging civil society coalitions to deliver impact.
- Experience as a public spokesperson and advocate on humanitarian, development, refugee, integration or related topics, including direct engagement with journalists, political officials and senior policymakers.
- Experience stewarding stable relationships with a Supervisory Board and Works Council.
- Fluency in German and English, with the ability to communicate persuasively in both languages in high-stakes environments (written and spoken) is essential.
Experience & Expertise (Desirable)
- Direct experience with program delivery in Germany or international settings relevant to IRC’s
- Sufficient Financial Fluency for financial reporting and budget management to ensure legal obligations are met and organisational fiscal health is maintained.
- Experience leading organisational change and navigating uncertainty.
- Personal experience of forced migration or displacement, which informs and enriches leadership of an organisation working in service of those communities.
Skills & Competencies
- Strategic leadership: demonstrated ability to set a clear direction, make sound decisions in an uncertain environment and translate strategy into results.
- Fundraising and business development: ability to build compelling cases for support, cultivate donor relationships over time and close significant funding commitments.
- Influencing and negotiation: ability to bring diverse stakeholders to agreement and sustain productive relationships across sectors and cultures.
- Communication: outstanding written and verbal communication skills in German and English; ability to represent IRC’s positions clearly and compellingly in public-facing contexts.
- Team development: track record of recruiting, developing and retaining strong teams; ability to give direct, constructive feedback and hold people to account with care and respect.
- Cultural competency: demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and across matrixed decision-making structures.
- Commitment to mission: a clear and sustained commitment to humanitarian principles, the rights of refugees and displaced people, and IRC’s values.
- Ability to speak any language spoken by our clients in Germany or abroad would be a plus (e.g. Arabic, Ukrainian, Turkish, Spanish, French)
Working at IRC DE
As an organization committed to an empowering work environment, equal opportunities, and against any form of discrimination, we welcome applications from people regardless of their origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, age, or other characteristics protected by applicable law. We particularly encourage people with personal or family experience of forced displacement and migration to apply.
With equal qualifications, we give preference to applications from people with severe disabilities. If you have any questions about accessible applications or inclusion, please feel free to contact our Inclusion Officer, Christine Mader (christine.mader@rescue.org).
All IRC workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. On this basis, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.
You can find more information about IRC Germany at IRCDeutschland.org.
Salary Indication
The starting salary is 120,000 Euro gross per year (for fulltime 40 hours/week)
How to Apply
We look forward to receiving your application (in English) via our application portal August 8, 2026. To ensure equal opportunities, we kindly ask you to refrain from including photos in your application documents.
For questions regarding the position, please contact Meinske de Bie (Meinske.DeBie@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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