Vice President for Government Relations and Advocacy
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
SCOPE OF WORK: The Vice President for Government Relations and Advocacy is an integral member of IRC’s senior management team and will be responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of a full range of strategic initiatives to accomplish an ambitious advocacy agenda.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Manage IRC relations with the US Government, including meetings with and briefings for senior level officials. Serve as IRC’s high level representative in Washington to Capitol Hill, the Administration, major donors, the media, and with partner organizations. Strengthen and support IRC’s capacity to influence Congress and the administration. Move IRC’s advocacy agenda forward at the State Department, USAID, other USG funding agencies and other donors, and strengthen and coordinate IRC’s relationships.
Oversee IRC’s Global Advocacy efforts by identifying priorities and developing strategies and plans. Coordinate the implementation of ongoing domestic and international advocacy initiatives within the IRC, to include: finding ways to increase support for the US domestic refugee resettlement program; promoting more adequate humanitarian assistance in places where populations are displaced and affected by conflict; advocating for protection of refugees, internally displaced persons and those in protracted refugee settings; advocating for post-conflict assistance that builds local capacity and is self-sustaining; speaking up on behalf of vulnerable populations such as women and girls. Coordinate with all parts of the IRC to ensure that IRC’s advocacy efforts are grounded in the work of domestic and international field operations and to support in-country advocacy efforts in the countries where we work. Expand the understanding of IRC’s advocacy approach across the organization.
Supervise and manage team of highly-motivated advocates in Washington DC and New York. Provide oversight, coordination and leadership. Lead the research and analysis of policy issues and the formulation and communication of IRC’s position to target audiences (via direct lobbying, coalition building, and, with External Relations, through traditional and social media and constituency building).
Represent IRC with the public through public speaking and the media. Coordinate IRC’s advocacy priorities with partner organizations and coalitions. Deepen contacts within DC institutions, including foreign embassies and think tanks.
Serve as a member of the senior staff of IRC; provide input into IRC-wide exercises. Brief the board of directors and members of the program committee and the government relations committee. Maintain good relations with board members and donors and support IRC fundraising efforts as appropriate.
REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in public policy, public or business administration, or a Juris Doctorate preferred. Minimum of 10 years of progressively more responsible management experience in a complex, decentralized organization with a track record of success in government relations, policy analysis and/or advocacy.
• Solid knowledge of Washington, D.C.’s institutional and political environment with a proven ability to develop strategic relationships, work on a bipartisan basis and accomplish policy goals.
• Experience and knowledge of international relief and development, preferably with a personal track record of success in policy analysis, and/or advocacy. Proven ability to establish measures to demonstrate that advocacy strategies and activities have been successful.
• Outstanding communication skills, both verbal and written. Strong commitment to keeping up-to- date and informed on global refugee and conflict related issues. Demonstrated capacity to communicate well with and across diverse groups and perspectives.
• Comfortable with public speaking, articulate in both written and verbal communication. Comfortable, capable and at ease dealing with the media.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain key strategic relationships. Able to grasp the essentials of a situation and make good judgments about how to proceed.
• At ease in the not-for-profit environment. Understand and appreciate the nature of IRC’s work domestically and internationally and share IRC’s belief in humanitarian principles.
• Well-honed strategic thinking skills with the ability to be flexible and adaptable, and to revise strategies, as necessary. Experience in developing and implementing winning strategies involving numerous people and organizational entities and coalitions.
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks and projects simultaneously. Capacity to innovate and problem solve.
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