Overview
The Managing Director (MD) is IRC DE’s most senior leader and its primary external representative, accountable for the overall strategic direction, financial health, programme quality and operational effectiveness of IRC DE.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as IRC DE's primary external representative with key institutional donors, the Bundestag and the media.
- Build and maintain high-quality relationships to proactively improve the standing of IRC DE.
- Represent IRC effectively in German civil society.
- Act as a credible and effective public spokesperson on refugee, development and humanitarian issues in German media.
- Develop and execute a corporate and private fundraising strategy.
- Act as an effective ambassador with corporate and foundations partners.
- Lead, motivate and develop a senior management team.
- Build and sustain a high-performing, inclusive culture within IRC DE.
- Provide clear accountability frameworks, regular feedback and meaningful professional development.
- Shape and steward IRC DE's multi-year strategy.
- Identify and assess growth opportunities and regularly monitor external conditions.
- Hold ultimate accountability for IRC DE's performance across programme quality, advocacy outcomes, public profile and financial sustainability.
- Ensure IRC DE operates fully within all relevant German statutory, regulatory and quality frameworks.
Required Experience
- A substantial track record — typically spanning at least ten years — in senior roles including meaningful experience leading sizeable teams and operating in a complex, matrixed or multi-site organisation, with the ability to align diverse teams around shared goals.
- Existing relationships with relevant decision-makers in German federal or state government, the Bundestag or major private sector stakeholders, with verifiable outcomes.
- Demonstrable track record of success building funding streams in the private space (Corporates, HNWI, Foundation, Mass Markets).
- Demonstrable track record of successful relationship building — including securing multi-year funding from institutional donors such as GFFO, BMZ and other German development or domestic donors, as well as leveraging civil society coalitions to deliver impact.
- Experience as a public spokesperson and advocate on humanitarian, development, refugee, integration or related topics, including direct engagement with journalists, political officials and senior policymakers.
- Experience stewarding stable relationships with a Supervisory Board and Works Council.
- Direct experience with program delivery in Germany or international settings relevant to IRC’s.
- Experience leading organisational change and navigating uncertainty.
- Personal experience of forced migration or displacement.
