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.
JOB OVERVIEW:
The Economic Empowerment Head of Program will provide strategic leadership and technical guidance for IRC Poland’s Economic Development portfolio, with a strong focus on program growth, quality, and impact. The role will oversee the expansion and implementation of economic inclusion programs, ensuring they align with the evolving needs of refugees and host communities in Poland. The Economic Empowerment Head of Program
will also be responsible for the management and professional development of the EE team, ensuring effective program execution and team capacity strengthening. The successful candidate will bring strategic vision and new ideas to the portfolio, strengthen forward planning, and ensure the team can adapt quickly and effectively to a changing operating environment.
This position has an end date of September, 30, 2027.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Program Strategy and Growth
Lead the design and expansion of IRC Poland’s economic Empowerment programs, ensuring alignment with IRC’s global economic recovery strategy and local market conditions.
Identify new funding opportunities and lead proposal development in collaboration with the HoGER/ Grants and Partners Team.
Strengthen partnerships with government agencies, private sector actors, and donors to expand economic opportunities for refugees.
Conduct assessments and market analyses to inform evidence-based programming.
Bring strategic vision, new ideas, and innovative thinking to the design of the Economic Empowerment portfolio, strengthening forward planning and the team's ability to anticipate and respond quickly to a changing context.
Program Quality and Impact
Ensure Economic Empowerment programs are high-quality, impactful, and adaptable, utilizing best practices and innovation.
Develop and oversee monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEAL) frameworks, ensuring data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.
Promote integration of employment services into broader economic recovery initiatives.
Lead the development of tools, training materials, and methodologies to enhance program delivery.
Team Leadership and Management
Directly manage and mentor the EE Team, providing guidance, capacity-building, and performance support.
Oversee Economic Empowerment program Staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team culture.
Ensure the team has access to training, resources, and technical expertise to execute programs effectively.
Promote Staff well-being, professional development, and leadership opportunities.
Ensure the team delivers projects efficiently and to a high standard, while proactively monitoring workload to prevent overload and burnout.
Ensure EE team well – being and duty of care, including by proactively supporting team members in planning and using their full annual leave entitlement, setting an example of healthy work-life balance and sustainable pace within the team.
Stakeholder Engagement and Representation
Represent IRC in coordination forums, working groups, and strategic discussions related to economic recovery and development.
Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, partners, government entities, and private sector actors to advance Economic Empowerment programming.
Advocate for refugee economic inclusion policies and labor market access in Poland.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Education: MA in Economics, International Development, Social Sciences, Business, or a related field.
Experience: 8–10 years in the social / humanitarian sector, at least 5 in an international NGO, including demonstrated experience leading economic empowerment, livelihoods, or economic-inclusion programs.
People management: Proven experience managing and developing teams — coaching, performance management, and building an engaged, collaborative team.
Technical expertise: Economic inclusion, livelihoods, employment and entrepreneurship, and/or financial inclusion; designing and delivering evidence-based, market-relevant programs.
Program & financial management: Full project-cycle management, budget management, donor compliance, and MEAL / use of data.
Strategic & analytical: Strategic and forward planning, needs and market assessment, and the ability to adapt programming to a changing operating environment.
Business development (secondary): Contributing to fundraising and proposal development in collaboration with the Head of Growth and External Relations.
Communication & stakeholders: Strong communication skills and experience working with partners, donors, and government institutions.
Languages: Fluent Polish (C2, native) and English (C1-C2).
Desirable: Knowledge of the refugee response context in Poland / CEE, and experience with EU and Polish government funding.
Key Working Relationships: Internally — Head of Programs (line manager), Head of Growth and External Relations, SMT, Finance, MEAL, Area Managers, and the EE team; externally — partners, donors, government entities, and the RAI Europe Business Development Team.
Compensation: (14000-17700 PLN). 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.
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.
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Skills Required
- MA in Economics, International Development, Social Sciences, Business, or a related field.
- 8-10 years in the social/humanitarian sector, with at least 5 years in an international NGO and experience leading economic empowerment or livelihoods programs.
- Proven experience managing and developing teams, including coaching and performance management.
- Technical expertise in economic inclusion, livelihoods, employment and entrepreneurship, and/or financial inclusion; designing evidence-based, market-relevant programs.
- Program and financial management experience: full project-cycle management, budget management, donor compliance, and MEAL/use of data.
- Strategic and analytical skills: forward planning, needs and market assessment, and adapting programming to changing contexts.
- Experience contributing to fundraising and proposal development (business development)
- Strong communication skills and experience engaging partners, donors, and government institutions.
- Fluent Polish (C2, native) and English (C1-C2).
- Knowledge of the refugee response context in Poland/CEE and experience with EU and Polish government funding.
What We Do
The International Rescue Committee is a global humanitarian organization that provides emergency relief, health care, and support to refugees and people affected by conflict and disaster.
