Associate Director, Gender, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

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.

As a leader within the GEDI Unit, you will enable the IRC to put its GEDI commitments into action. Reporting to the Chief GEDI Officer, you will oversee and provide strategic planning and problem-solving support on projects aligned with the top priorities of the GEDI unit. You will serve as a thought partner to the Chief GEDI Officer, devising strategies and tactics for change management, challenging existing paradigms to ensure effective delivery on relevant parts of the GEDI Action Plan, and integrating efforts with all departmental plans.

Major Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Delivery: Spearhead the creation and ongoing optimization of the GEDI Action Plan dashboard, ensuring robust tracking of progress against key indicators and metrics, and oversee the timely coordination of comprehensive progress reports (QSRR, Delivery Letters, Sponsors). Validate insights and recommendations from the GEDI team with senior stakeholders, driving informed decision-making and facilitating consensus through well-structured meetings that address and resolve complex challenges. Oversee the delivery of multiple complex projects, ensuring that outcomes are timely and of high quality, while taking ownership of project scope, driving solutions, and swiftly resolving any roadblocks that arise. Partner with departments, including the Strategy Delivery Unit, to streamline processes, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure alignment with strategic objectives for the successful execution of cross-departmental initiatives. Influence IRC leaders to embed GEDI commitments across all organizational processes by developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy and actively engaging leadership.
• Technical Strategy & Knowledge Management: Support the Chief GEDI Officer in growing the Equality Hub, an organization-wide resource center, through cross-departmental knowledge management and technical coherence across initiatives. Lead the implementation and coordination of global GEDI initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and integration across departments. Articulate the GEDI vision with clarity and impact across the organization and lead far-reaching internal communications plan that aligns with the unit's strategic goals. Develop technical reports, briefing documents, talking points and presentations for internal and external audiences, including the quarterly GEDI Action Plan Sponsors meeting.
• Team Leadership & Collaboration: Direct the planning and execution of departmental meetings, ensuring well-structured agendas, effective facilitation, and actionable follow-up that informs, inspires, and drives continuous learning. Collaborate with GEDI Directors to implement and monitor key initiatives, guaranteeing alignment with organizational priorities and timely achievement of deliverables. Provide leadership and mentorship to the GEDI Department Manager, empowering them to effectively support and enable the success of the entire team.

Required Experience / Qualifications

• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience in a related field.
• Exceptional organizational, cross-functional project management, and time-management skills.
• Strong analytical skills with a demonstrated ability to structure and creatively solve complex problems.
• Comfort leveraging data and AI-powered tools to drive efficiency, inform decision-making, and increase organizational agility.
• Proven track record of advising stakeholders at all levels, particularly senior leadership, with strong meeting facilitation and presentation skills.
• Highly collaborative and capable of working independently within a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure.
• Receptive and collaborative approach that fosters a positive team environment and builds strong relationships with diverse individuals.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Familiarity with and interest in GEDI principles and practices, demonstrating commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Proficiency in data analysis, including the ability to interpret and leverage data for decision-making and process improvement.
• Significant experience leading organizational GEDI and/or gender and inclusion strategy at a global scale, with a strong track record of cross-departmental collaboration to deliver impactful goals.
• Experience leading and supporting change management efforts to embed and sustain an inclusive workplace culture.
• Fluency in English required; proficiency in French, Arabic, or Spanish is a strong plus.

This is a limited-term position with a current end date of 12/31/26.

Compensation

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 Pay Range: $106,500 - $112,461

UK Pay Range: £65,785 - £76,746

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.