Senior Regional GEDI Advisor- People and Culture job at International Rescue Committee

About the Organization

The International Rescue Committee is a global humanitarian aid, relief, and development nongovernmental organization.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. The International Rescue Committee provides vital support to Ugandans who are rebuilding from decades of war while hosting a growing influx of refugees from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (www.rescue.org) is a world leader in relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict development services for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression. The IRC is currently working in over 40 countries around the world, addressing both the immediate and lifesaving needs of conflict affected people in emergencies and the reconstruction needs of post-conflict societies.

The IRC began programming in northern Uganda in 1998 in response to mass displacement and devastation wrought by rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army. In 2002, the IRC expanded to the remote, conflict-affected region of Karamoja and in 2011, began working with refugees in Kampala. Monitoring the influx of South Sudanese refugees at the end of 2015, the IRC began scaling up its response to refugees arriving in the West Nile region. By promoting durable solutions that deliver on the interdependent aims of saving lives, strengthening institutions, and supporting social cohesion, the IRC in Uganda is laying the building blocks for long-term stability and development –bringing people from harm to home. The IRC currently works in 9 districts in Uganda, including Kitgum, Lamwo, Kyegegwa, Moroto, Amudat, Yumbe, Arua, Kasese and Kampala.

Job Description

Reporting to the Regional People and Culture Director, the Sr GEDI Advisor will lead transformational activities and inspire change across the region by challenging existing practices, creating space for bottom-up learning and influence. As GEDI advisor, you will be responsible for supporting the P&C team, regional and country teams in implementing the IRC GEDI action plan, guiding regional colleagues and country offices in applying intersectional feminist principle in all operational policies and practices. You will lead the implementation of GEDI learning strategy in the region and leading office-wide initiatives to spark internal culture change and a universal understanding of equal practices for the workplace.

This is an exciting opportunity to advance IRC feminist commitments across our people, operation, and program delivery efforts by supporting our staff and leaders to embed feminist practices in their roles, the workplace, and within their teams.

We are looking for a creative, solution-driven gender equality, diversity, and inclusion expert with deep experience in translating feminist principles into organizational practices and policies to reach impact at scale.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic leadership

Serve as the thought partner, to regional and country leaders to ensure we deliver on the GEDI Action Plan and ensure the same is reflected and resourced in country SAP and SAP IP.
Ensure feminist principles are embed in IRC core regional people and culture policies and process.
Lead on piloting and scaling up GEDI flagship programs that have proven impact on IRC staff and provide technical support to strategic GEDI initiatives as needed.

Technical support

Provide technical support to regional P&C functions in the development and implementation of more equitable people policies and practices.
Partner with Country and Regional Leaders to devise and implement the best contextually relevant solution to drive achievement of IRC’s Leadership Diversity Goals.
Partner with Regional teams to provide ongoing support to the Country program offices in developing and leading activities to strengthen inclusion and belonging of underrepresented and marginalized staff.
Collaborate with regional and country Safety and Operations teams to develop and deploy GEDI sensitive initiatives within their respective sectorial areas (e.g.: inclusive Safety and security Risk Assessment; facilities, IT, etc..) and build adequate GEDI capacities withing their team.
Work with regional and –where needed- country People and Culture , Safety and Security, Safeguarding partners to address context-specific GEDI gaps and challenges.
Experience in crafting and implementing regional and sub regional strategies according to organizational priorities, considering a variety of country contexts.
Provide technical support and ongoing coaching to country GEDI staff.

Learning and staff engagement

Lead all aspects of the delivery of the GEDI learning strategy and curriculum in the region including creating and or adapting and delivering GEDI learning.
Mobilize and support Employee groups (including Women at work groups) and community of practice (including GEDI Champions) as agents of change in the cultural transformation.
Work with Employee group to strengthen their role and their representation in the Global GEDI Council.

Qualification, Experiences and Competencies

Direct experience leading and influencing organizational partners to adopt feminist principles as core to all organizational processes, policies, programs, and activities.
Experience in leading and supporting change management to embed an inclusive work culture.
At least 3 years in the humanitarian and/or international development sector.
At least 3 years of experience in one or more countries in the East Africa Region and a good understanding of the country context .
Experience in building communities of practice.

Demonstrated Skills And Competencies

Deep commitment to and knowledge of strategies to advance gender equality diversity and inclusion in different organizational contexts and equal participation in the workplace.
Demonstrated experience in applying intersectional feminist lenses to one or more of the following areas: Employee life cycle, Safety, and security, Learning and development, leadership development, HR operations, workplace infrastructure, workplace culture.
Demonstrable understanding of how power dynamics affect organizations and the ability to amplify the voices of individuals from under-represented groups.
Experience in designing and delivering GEDI training.
Excellent communication skills, and ability to engage all levels of staff and leaders.
Able to work independently and efficiently in a dynamic and fast-paced multifaced environment.
Ability to work effectively and with impact through matrixed relationship and to engage, inspire to action, and influence people outside of direct reporting lines.
Understands the importance of operating with a regional mentality and models cultural sensitivity.

Language Skills

Excellent spoken and written English.
Proficiency in at least one other language spoken in the region (French, Arabic, Spanish, Swahili, etc.)

Working Environment

Combination of standard office working environment and working remotely (i.e., telecommuting). Applicants must have a home or alternate workspace they can effectively complete their work from during regularly scheduled work hours.

Some travel as needed up to 30%