Executive Director (Oakland/San Jose)

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 IRC is seeking an Executive Director (ED) to advance its work in Oakland and San Jose, California. The ED sets the vision, articulates the mission, and manages the implementation of quality, evidence-based or evidence-generating programming to maximize client outcomes. They are responsible for the development of resources vital to operate national and local programs, including building positive relationships with local, regional, and national resource partners. The offices currently have a projected FY26 operational budget of $11.7 million and approximately 93 staff. Programs primarily focus on refugee resettlement and case management, employment, behavioral health, economic empowerment, education, anti-trafficking, youth, and immigration services. This position can be based in either Oakland or San Jose, with regular onsite presence at the primary office and frequent visits to the other office. Major Responsibilities: General Management and Leadership Organizational Leadership: Establish and articulate vision and strategy for IRC location. Engage with local leaders and communities to advance IRC’s mission and serve as a thought and operational leader; cultivate collaborative working relationships with state and local agencies and service providers, donors, advocacy partners and community organizations. Ensure the development and implementation of effective and holistic strategies to improve outcomes for clients. Planning: Lead local strategic planning process. Coordinate with IRC headquarters and ensure office's strategic plan reflects the agency’s overall mission and goals. Contribute to RAI network-wide initiatives and capacity building models to advance the IRC Strategic Plan. Team Management: Plan, organize, distribute, and coordinate the flow of work. Hire, supervise, guide, and advise staff in accordance with IRC processes and values. Promote compliance with the IRC Code of Conduct; take ownership for actions and be accountable for those of the team. Maintain office management structure that bolsters coordination across departments. Ensure effective onboarding, capacity building, professional development and performance management strategies, and compliance with applicable labor laws. Operations: Ensure timely and consistent communication with HQ on operational issues, policies and reporting; support local implementation of IRC policies including procurement, IT, and security and safety protocols. Financial Management Budget Oversight: Coordinate annual budget development; regularly review the operating budget as well as monthly budget-to-actuals; maintain effective systems for tracking spending rates; address anomalies in revenue and expenses. Build capacity of program managers to support responsible financial management of their assigned programs. Fundraising & Business Development: Be responsible for development and tracking of annual fundraising plan to ensure achievement of goals and adequate resourcing of restricted and unrestricted funds. Advocacy, External Relations, Development, and Fundraising Advocacy: Lead local advocacy efforts and support national advocacy efforts; host Board, senior staff, and donor visits; engage in and support community and policy outreach efforts. Resource Development: Define resource development strategy and develop a local fundraising plan based on analysis of office and program strengths, service gaps and local environment. Collaborate with colleagues to optimize use of technical support and resources; cultivate local donor relationships to maintain and expand funding base. Marketing: Coordinate development of a marketing strategy and plan contextualized for the local environment; ensure marketing materials are consistent and of high quality. Media and Communications: Maintain positive public image of IRC; engage with the local media outlets and develop working relationships; collaborate closely with IRC Communications Department on media efforts in accordance with IRC policies on external messaging. Partnership: Build positive relationships in relevant sectors and refugee communities. Collaborate with partners to address refugee needs and support an enabling environment for refugees. Key Working Relationships Position reports to: Senior Executive Director Position directly supervises various positions including program office senior leadership, operational, people and culture, finance and resource development positions in both program offices. Key partners: RAI HQ Units and IRC Shared Services Support functions groups Operations, Finance, Strategy, Policy & Advocacy, and People & Culture. Working Environment Occasional flexibility, after-hour demands and the ability to attend evening and weekend events, when needed. This position requires in-person work, including regular onsite presence within the assigned primary office and periodic travel to additional office. Requirements: Undergraduate degree required, advanced degree in related field preferred. Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible work experience with social services or humanitarian assistance programs; strong preference for previous experience with direct services delivery to clients in cross-cultural environments. Demonstrated staff management, program development, monitoring, evaluation, and advocacy experience. Authentic leadership: demonstrated ability to promote an organizational culture that reflects IRC’s core values of service, accountability, integrity, and equality. Ability to lead in a way that recognizes that IRC’s work is best accomplished through the true collaboration of individuals from many cultures with a great variety of skills and perspectives. Successful and significant fundraising and grant writing experience. Financial management experience, including effective management of budgets. Proven people management skills: demonstrated ability to deliver results and translate words into action. Keen diplomatic and interpersonal skills; ability to enhance internal and external relationships, including with partners and donors. Ability to work successfully and with utmost integrity and respect in cross-cultural environment and with limited English-speaking client population. Ability to heighten the visibility of the office and programs, both within the IRC network and in the external environment. Superior organizational skills: ability to set priorities and effectively manage time in a fast-paced team environment. Proven digital literacy to include experience using MS Office. Ability and willingness to travel up to 50%. Compensation: (Pay Range: $137,925 - $153,247) Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. 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. Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. 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. US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and 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. 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. Cookies: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/cookiesettings Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. 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 Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and 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. Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. #li-1 The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives have been shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and rebuild. We are trusted for our ability to reach people in the toughest places, put our clients at the center of everything we do, and - as an evidence-based organization - to relentlessly improve the impact we deliver for those we serve. If you’re ready to be part of a team that brings ingenuity, fortitude and optimism to making a lasting impact, we want to hear from you. The IRC Way, our code of conduct, is founded upon our core values of Integrity, Accountability, Service and Equality. These values unite IRC staff around the world and keep our programs firmly directed towards the well-being of our clients while meeting the expectations of our donors as responsible stewards of their resources. Apply tot his job Apply To this Job