Senior Advisor, Strategy & Performance

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.

Background:

As the IRC approaches its 100th year of service in 2033, we remain passionate about ensuring that the impact of our programs and the influence of our ideas empower people caught in crisis to make lasting change in their lives. The President’s Office and Strategy & Delivery Unit work across the organization to translate IRC’s mission into strategic priorities, effective delivery, and meaningful accountability.

Job Overview:

This is a rare opportunity to work at the strategic heart of a global humanitarian organization. As Senior Advisor, you'll serve as a trusted partner to the President/CEO and executive leadership, shaping organizational priorities, driving performance, and surfacing risks and opportunities that require executive attention.

This is a high-visibility, high-impact position that sits at the intersection of strategy, performance, and executive decision-making. You will translate complex data into actionable insights, facilitate high-stakes decision-making, and lead initiatives that strengthen how we work across 40+ countries. This role offers exceptional exposure to executive leadership, influence across the organization, and the chance to help improve outcomes for millions of people living in crisis.

This position requires strong problem-solving and analytical skills, excellent interpersonal skills, a high level of personal initiative, and the ability to work well in a highly cross-functional and multicultural environment.

Major Responsibilities:

Strategic Advisory & Executive Partnership

• Partner directly with the President/CEO and executive team to set organizational priorities, assess performance, and navigate critical decisions
• Synthesize complex data—including financial, operational, and risk metrics—into clear insights that drive strategic choices
• Staff the CEO on high-priority strategy and performance topics, including major initiatives, budget decisions, and system rollouts
• Facilitate executive dialogue on cross-functional priorities and organizational challenges, setting agendas, preparing materials, and executing follow-through

Organizational Performance Management

• Drive the annual strategic planning cycle, working with Senior Director, Policy & Planning, Head of Strategy & Delivery and department leads to align priorities with organizational strategy and financial planning
• Produce quarterly executive assessments of organizational performance, analyzing progress against strategic objectives, key metrics, and enterprise risks
• Work with leadership and key subject experts to identify performance gaps and emerging risks, and develop and implement corrective actions
• Continuously refine how we measure success and monitor organizational health

Strategic Project Leadership

• Lead high-impact projects that strengthen the organization’s strategic focus, delivery systems, and performance ecosystem
• Build and improve the tools, processes, and routines that enable better decision-making across the organization
• Navigate complex organizational dynamics to build alignment and drive progress on enterprise-wide initiatives
• Drive initiatives requested by the CEO or executive leadership, managing or coaching cross-functional teams and stakeholders supporting these efforts, as relevant

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Dual reporting to the Senior Director of Policy and Planning in the President’s Office and Head of the Strategy & Delivery Unit

Internal:

• President/CEO
• Executive leadership
• Department / team leads
• Strategy & Delivery Unit
• Data analytics and measurement team members
• Technical and program office staff
• Communications, advocacy, and fundraising teams

External: As relevant to strategic projects

Work / Educational Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• 6-8 years of relevant work experience in strategy, organizational performance, or management consulting, with progressively increasing responsibilities and a track record of high performance
• Strategy experience in a strategy consulting firm or in-house at a global organization
• Demonstrated success managing complex, cross-functional projects in fast-paced environments
• Experience advising and influencing senior executives

Demonstrated Competencies:

• Strategic thinking: Ability to see the big picture while managing operational details; translate strategy into executable plans
• Analytical excellence: Advanced analytical skills with particular strength in interpreting financial data and organizational metrics for decision-making
• Executive presence: Confidence and credibility to engage and advise C-suite leaders on critical strategic topics; strong facilitation and presentation skills with senior audiences
• Communication mastery: Exceptional written and verbal skills; ability to distill complexity into clear, concise recommendations for senior audiences
• Project and stakeholder management: Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional projects in fast-paced environments; strong organizational and time-management skills to drive multiple initiatives simultaneously
• Collaboration: Ability to build relationships and drive outcomes at all levels and across functions, cultures, and geographies
• Resilience and adaptability: Thrives in ambiguous, fast-moving environments; able to drive progress with imperfect information, adapt quickly to shifting priorities, and maintain momentum despite setbacks

Technical Skills:

• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite
• Experience with data visualization and performance dashboards preferred

Working Environment:

• Hybrid work with a minimum of 3 days per week in our NYC headquarters.
• Some international travel as needed, up to 10%.

Our benefits

• To help you stay energized, engaged, and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including a strong retirement plan, learning and development opportunities, comprehensive healthcare, and a generous, flexible time off policy so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

Compensation: (Pay Range: $120,000 - $128,000) Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. 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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Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. 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.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

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.

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