International Rescue Committee · 11 hours ago
Senior Director, Global Public Affairs & Communications
New York, NY
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$180K/yr - $200K/yr
15+ years expThe International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to humanitarian crises and is seeking a Senior Director to lead their Global Public Affairs and Communications strategy. This role involves overseeing multiple teams and ensuring effective communication across IRC's global presence, while driving organizational goals and managing budgets.
CharityCommunitiesHumanitarianNon ProfitSocial
Responsibilities
Manage Market-based Communications Teams Across Key External Markets (USA, UK, Sweden, Germany, South Korea, Brussels), In Partnership With The Market Leads
Support and coach communications leads in the development and execution of integrated communications strategies
Provide technical expertise to ensure best practice across communications disciplines, from measurement to messaging, audience-definition to digital integration
Creatively problem-solve and support leaders to deliver and grow their impact according to the needs of IRC’s in-country income and influence agenda
Build internal (including programs, advocacy and influence, policy and solutions, fundraising etc.) and external coalitions to enable high-impact teams and campaigns deliver on organizational goals
Meet regularly with the market leads and teams to ensure alignment to strategy and progress to achieving key metrics
Support the growth, development, and productivity of the Global Crisis & Response Communications (GCRC) , which is embedded across CRRD geographies
Work with the Director of GCRC to ensure the team is delivering the messaging, content, rapid-response information, spokespeople, and media relations needed to enable core external relations objectives
Help this team to provide strategic communications partnership and collaboration to IRC Country Programs on their in-country visibility objectives, including through jointly managed country-based communications team members
Manage the Digital Engagement team as it looks to deliver against Marketing & Mobilization goals while also supporting Mass Market teams to drive fundraising globally
Work closely with the Director of Digital Engagement to ensure that the digital, web and social media strategies are effectively implemented across all markets
Oversee the HQ-based Thought Leadership & Solutions communications pillar
Ensure strategic alignment on critical Impact @ Scale and Program & Learn priorities
Support the team to deliver communications products, content and messaging that enables teams to campaign on and champion IRC’s innovation and solutions, including Airbel
Support the President’s Office in creating and coordinating executive communications for the CEO, driving sector-leading thought leadership for the organization
Oversee the HQ-based Internal Communications team
Ensure that the organization is prepared to deploy rapid emergency communications that deliver on immediate and urgent fundraising needs
Lead crisis management that relates to reputational issues, in partnership with the CMMO
The Senior Director will be responsible for ensuring all these teams have clear plans and objectives with consistent reporting mechanisms to Senior Leadership while driving core S100 and ER strategic goals
The VP SD will support this high performing team by growing a culture that nurtures creativity, retains talent, fosters healthy accountability, and maintains a sense of humor during high intensity work
Qualification
Required
Graduate degree in a related field preferred
Bachelor's degree required
At least 15 years of Communications experience in a fast-paced, complex and decentralized organization
Agency experience is welcomed, though candidates should have three or more years of in-house experience
Experience leading high-performance, globally matrixed teams working across humanitarian, development, and/or international issues
An outstanding leader who can build a positive culture and motivate and retain sector-leading talent
A strategist with a proven record of creating and executing complex strategies within a global organization
Superior political and diplomatic judgment, with the ability to anticipate and calmly, swiftly manage organizational responses to high-profile issues
A confident leader comfortable serving as a strategic communications partner and counselor to IRC leaders, board members, and external stakeholders
Ability to drive proactive, integrated communications strategies and plans while managing day-to-day issues and activities
Experience leading crisis management efforts, addressing sensitive issues, and serving as an on-the-record spokesperson
A creative thinker with a track record of developing unique campaigns and approaches that secure breakthrough communications results across top-tier earned media and digital channels, reaching target audiences at scale
Excellent writing skills, with the ability to oversee messaging that underpins all the organization's external relations, and to provide editorial guidance on key outputs such as speeches, op-eds, and press releases
A deeply experienced manager committed to actively overseeing and developing the careers of direct reports and team members, and able to lead a diverse, inclusive culture across global teams
Demonstrated understanding of humanitarian, development, and geopolitical issues, and the related ethical and cultural complexities
Strong knowledge of digital communications, with experience in building digital communications strategies and comfort with new and emerging technologies
Ability to provide regular updates and reports to executive leadership on workload management, performance, outcomes, and areas for improvement; able to constantly evaluate team effectiveness, use data to inform decisions, and test new solutions
Experience managing large budgets, with skill in maximizing resources through rigorous prioritization and effective negotiation
Fluent in English; Arabic, French, and/or Spanish are a plus
Benefits
10 sick days
10 US holidays
20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure
Medical insurance starting at $143 per month
Dental starting at $6.50 per month
Vision starting at $5 per month
FSA for healthcare and commuter costs
A 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching
Disability & life insurance
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
Company
International Rescue Committee
IRC responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises & helps some of the most vulnerable people from harm to home.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
International Rescue Committee has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (15)
2024 (13)
2023 (20)
2022 (17)
2021 (13)
2020 (9)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$1.25MKey Investors
American Student AssistanceThe Pfizer FoundationU.S. Department of Agriculture
2024-03-25Grant· $0.5M
2021-11-30Grant
2021-10-07Grant· $0.75M
Leadership Team
David Miliband
President & CEO
Katherine Crowley
Associate Director, Global Corporate Partnerships
Recent News
Business Wire
2025-12-09
2025-11-15
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