Job Description

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.

The International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) mission is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. IRC’s health programs comprise the largest proportion of its overall program budget and are essential to both IRC emergency response and long term programming worldwide.


The Health Technical Unit is a dynamic team of professionals working across different health sectors. They provide IRC’s country offices and emergency response team with world class technical expertise, capacity building and a cross-country view of what works to achieve outcomes in terms of scientific evidence and practical experience. The HU also leads a focused policy change agenda, influencing UN, donor, and national policy to support strengthened health outcomes for IRC’s clients.


The Director, Health Policy Advocacy & Communication will work with the Senior Director for Health and the Global Practice Leads (each responsible for a health sector pillar) to sharpen and advance policy solutions in each of IRC’s health priority areas including but not limited to: nutrition, immunization, sexual and reproductive health and rights, infectious disease prevention and control and climate-resilient Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). This includes particular focus on the IRC’s health-related Impact at Scale (I@S) priorities (immunization, malnutrition, and contraception) and Program and Learn (P&L) priorities (prevention & treatment of postpartum hemorrhage and Infectious disease prevention & control). The Director, Health Policy Advocacy and Communication will collaborate with Advocacy and Influence, Policy & Solutions, Airbel and External Relations colleagues on strategies to drive these solutions to market. The Director will support Health Unit led and high-impact strategic business development by providing excellent policy insights and solutions. The Director is responsible for leading the Health Unit’s signature policy, advocacy, and communications initiatives, such as IRC’s global immunization influence advocacy and malnutrition.


This role requires high level of personal initiative and the ability to lead multiple initiatives. The Director reports to the Senor Director, Health and is part of the Health Leadership Group.

The Directors’ specific responsibilities are as follows:

Drive IRC’s thought leadership agenda on health through a combination of technical expertise, policy analysis, strategy and synthesis.


Develop a policy and advocacy strategy for the Health Unit aligned with newly selected I@S priorities, P&L priorities and Health Unit Strategic Pillars.

Collaborate with Health Unit Global Practice Leads for each subsector and relevant colleagues from Airbel to develop evidence-based policy solutions and influence agendas that drive the translation of research to practice. Collaborate with senior colleagues in IRC’s Policy & Solutions, Advocacy & Influence, and Communication teams and the President’s Office to provide input on global solutions from a health perspective and ensure coherence across global efforts and health specific efforts. Collaborate with cross-sector TechEx teams to identify synergies and opportunities for joint policy and advocacy.

Support policy and advocacy efforts within the Health Unit, and in coordination with A&I, P&S, and the President’s Office, to address aid reform to optimize health outcomes for IRC clients.

Lead the design, development, and delivery of products (e.g. talking points, posts, blogs) to advance and amplify health policy efforts and solutions. Provide insights, ideas and solutions from a health perspective to support IRC’s signature policy products.

Lead Health Unit-led strategic policy and advocacy business development, and donor relations, working closely with the Director of Program Development and Partnership, and the Grant Operations and Analytics Team
o Oversee donor relations and strategic decision-making for HU-led advocacy grants.
Actively explore new public health policy areas for IRC to engage such as heath financing, climate, etc.

Collaborate closely with the Gavi-funded Reaching Every Child in Humanitarian Settings (REACH) project management unit and REACH advocacy and communications colleagues to align on immunization influence messaging, including in the engagement and coordination with the President’s Office.

Lead and oversee the drafting of policy and communication material for placement in internal and external medium.

Oversee the production of the annual health unit report.

Supervise the Nutrition Policy & Research Uptake Advisor.

Job Requirements:

Work Experience:

A minimum of 12+ years of progressive experiences in public health, health policy and communication,

Experience researching, conducting analysis, and developing policy recommendations that bring clarity and insight to complex global health issues. Experience developing, publishing and advancing policy solutions for health issues in humanitarian or development settings. Experience in policy and advocacy for health financing an asset.

Experience building partnerships and engaging with partners in the health sector, Experience managing a team and getting buy-in for ideas outside of direct management line.

Track record of publications demonstrating expertise in relevant health issues and facility with policy strategy, analysis and communications.

Demonstrated Skills and Proficiencies:

Extensive knowledge of global health policy issues and institutions relevant to humanitarian settings and IRC focus sub sectors. Ability to think strategically, synthesize complex information and develop innovative policy and advocacy approaches Exceptionally strong communication skills including the ability to convey detailed, specialized and technical information in a ways that is clear and engaging. Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate successfully with experts, high level decision-makers, and colleagues in the humanitarian and development fields. Demonstrated ability to engage in high-level strategic thinking as well as detailed design, analysis and drafting.

Strong dedication to IRC’s mission and values. Fluency with the humanitarian sector, key parts of IRC’s overall strategy and Health Unit Strategy, and existing policy strategy.

Education:

Advanced academic degree in public health, public policy or a closely related field.

Language Skills:

Fluency in English is required, French is an asset.

Preferred experience & skills:

Experience working in cross-cultural settings desirable.

Experience working with media desirable.

Advocacy experience is desirable.

Working Environment

:

Standard office working environment*


Some international travel as needed up to 10%*


This role may require working remotely full or part time and part time remote employees may be required to share workspace.*




The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.


IRC et les employés de IRC doivent adhérer aux valeurs et principes contenus dans le IRC WAY (normes de conduite professionnelle). Ce sont l’Intégrité, Egalite, le Service, et la Responsabilité. En conformité avec ces valeurs, IRC opère et fait respecter les politiques sur la protection des bénéficiaires contre l’exploitation et les abus, la protection de l’enfant, le harcèlement sur les lieux de travail, l’intégrité financière, et les représailles.

Standard of Professional Conduct:

The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.