Director, Innovation Policy

About the role

The International Rescue Committee is seeking a senior leader to drive policy and financing strategies that enable breakthrough humanitarian innovations to scale across fragile and conflict‑affected settings. Reporting to senior leadership, the Director, Innovation Policy will shape vision, build partnerships, and move pilots into national systems.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute policy‑change and financing strategies for priority innovations, targeting governments, multilaterals and large implementing agencies.
• Conduct power and stakeholder mapping to identify decision‑makers, allies and blockers, and assess political‑economy dynamics.
• Leverage senior‑level networks with donors, multilateral institutions, and policy influencers to accelerate adoption and secure commitments.
• Hire, lead and mentor a regional team of policy and partnership experts, guiding them to translate strategies into actionable plans.
• Coordinate across country programs, technical experts and HQ leadership to align innovation pipelines with financing opportunities.
• Travel regularly between New York City and Washington, DC, and to field locations as needed.

Required profile

• Proven senior‑level experience in policy advocacy, financing, or partnerships within the humanitarian or development sector.
• Strong entrepreneurial mindset with ability to move quickly from strategy to execution.
• Excellent analytical skills to assess political‑economy contexts and stakeholder landscapes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high‑performing teams across multiple regions.

Required skills

• Policy analysis and development
• Financing mechanisms for development projects
• Stakeholder mapping and power‑analysis
• Network building with governments, multilaterals and donors