Application Guide

How to Apply for Program Director

at International Rescue Committee

🏢 About International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a global humanitarian organization responding to the world's worst crises, with over 20,000 staff across 40+ countries. What makes IRC unique is its commitment to delivering innovative solutions that help people survive, recover, and rebuild their lives, guided by core values of integrity, service, accountability, and equality. Working here means joining a purpose-driven global team where your impact is felt worldwide in humanitarian contexts.

About This Role

As a Program Director at IRC, you would lead strategic program implementation and management, likely overseeing humanitarian response initiatives in crisis-affected regions. This role is impactful because you'd be directly responsible for ensuring IRC delivers effective, scalable solutions that help vulnerable populations survive and rebuild, translating organizational values into tangible outcomes on the ground.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve coordinating with field teams across different time zones to monitor program implementation in crisis areas, analyzing data to ensure equitable service delivery, developing strategic plans that align with IRC's values and donor requirements, and leading virtual meetings with multicultural staff to address emerging humanitarian needs while maintaining accountability to affected communities.

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🎯 Who International Rescue Committee Is Looking For

  • Proven experience managing complex humanitarian programs in crisis or conflict settings, with specific expertise relevant to IRC's work in places like Syria or similar regions
  • Strong leadership skills with experience managing diverse, multicultural teams across multiple locations (given IRC's global presence of 133 nationalities)
  • Demonstrated commitment to IRC's core values—especially accountability and equality—with experience promoting equitable access to services
  • Strategic thinker who can innovate and scale programs while maintaining focus on client outcomes and donor accountability

📝 Tips for Applying to International Rescue Committee

1

Explicitly connect your experience to IRC's specific humanitarian contexts—mention any work in Syria or similar crisis regions if applicable

2

Highlight how you've operationalized IRC's values (integrity, service, accountability, equality) in previous roles with concrete examples

3

Demonstrate your understanding of both program delivery AND donor accountability—show you can balance client needs with funder requirements

4

Emphasize experience with innovation and scaling solutions, as IRC specifically mentions 'testing new and better solutions'

5

Tailor your application to show global/cross-cultural competency given IRC's emphasis on their diverse, worldwide team

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your personal alignment with IRC's mission of responding to 'the world's worst humanitarian crises' and making a 'lasting impact'", "Specific examples of how you've managed programs that helped people 'survive, recover and rebuild'—use their exact language", "Experience working in multicultural, global teams (reference IRC's 133 nationalities statistic)", "How you've balanced innovation with accountability in previous humanitarian programming"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → IRC's current humanitarian responses in Syria and other major crisis zones—understand their specific challenges and approaches
  • → IRC's annual reports and impact metrics to understand their program priorities and success measures
  • → How IRC operationalizes their four core values (integrity, service, accountability, equality) in practice
  • → IRC's innovation initiatives and how they test new solutions in humanitarian contexts
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you ensure programs remain accountable to both the communities served AND donors/funders?
2 Describe your experience managing programs in complex humanitarian environments like Syria or similar contexts
3 How do you promote equality and equitable access in program design and implementation?
4 Tell us about a time you had to innovate or scale a program solution in challenging circumstances
5 How would you lead a team spanning multiple countries and cultures while maintaining IRC's values?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Generic humanitarian experience without specific examples relevant to IRC's crisis response work
  • Focusing only on program management skills without addressing IRC's specific values and accountability framework
  • Failing to demonstrate understanding of the balance between innovation/adaptation and donor compliance/accountability

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to International Rescue Committee!

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