About this role
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.
BACKGROUND 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 (INGOs), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities, helping people survive, reclaim control of their futures, 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, join us in positively impacting the lives of millions worldwide toward a better future.
The IRC was present in Sudan from 1981 to 2009. In November 2019, the IRC re-registered in Sudan and opened a main office in Khartoum, with programming beginning in 2020. The IRC expanded into non-SAF-controlled regions of Darfur and South Kordofan in 2024. It is currently operational in Al Jazeera, White Nile, Gedaref, River Nile, Blue Nile, South Kordofan, West Darfur, Central Darfur, and North Darfur states, including a satellite office in Tunaydbah (Gedaref). The IRC’s impact groups are vulnerable individuals impacted by conflict and crisis, including women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, refugees, mixed populations, and host communities.
Since the outbreak of war in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the country has spiraled into relentless violence, institutional collapse, and mass displacement. Despite multiple ceasefire announcements, violence has continued for nearly two and a half years, displacing over 12 million people across all 18 states. Sudan is facing one of the most complex and devastating humanitarian crises in the world today.
More than 30 million people now require humanitarian assistance, and around 25 million people face acute food insecurity, including 770,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Damage to infrastructure, supply shortages, and restricted humanitarian access continue to severely hinder the humanitarian response. In response to increasing needs, the IRC has scaled up its humanitarian efforts despite immense challenges. The IRC supports Sudanese communities, within the country and across national borders. The project is expected to run from October 2026 for 2.5 years.
Scope of Work The IRC is seeking a Team Leader for an upcoming FCDO funding opportunity. The project is intended to help mitigate conflict-driven mortality, morbidity, and protection risks by enabling vulnerable people to access lifesaving, multi-sector humanitarian assistance and protection in a highly constrained operating environment.
The project is expected to run from October 2026 for 2.5 years.
The Team Leader serves as the overall lead for the programme, holding accountability for delivering interventions aligned with the programme's outcomes. With support from the Deputy Team Lead, the postholder oversees the design and implementation of integrated humanitarian assistance across Food Security, Multi-purpose Cash Assistance, Health, Nutrition, WASH and Protection.
The Team Leader is responsible for overall project and budget management, including management of the consortium and oversight of the consortium partners. He/she will ensure value for money across all programme components and provide robust management of risks including fiduciary concerns. The postholder maintains strong working relationships between the implementing consortium and delivery partners, serves as the primary point of contact with FCDO.
The Team Leader ensures that results from monitoring, the Learning Outcomes and Quality Assessment, and lesson learning systematically feed into programme implementation through adaptive management principles, including quarterly reviews to assess cost-effectiveness and learning outcomes. The postholder provides technical oversight to ensure delivery of conflict-sensitive, climate-adaptive, and inclusive humanitarian approaches, and oversees procurement, logistical, and administrative functions. Responsibilities also include managing programme staff and consortium partners, creating a work environment that promotes teamwork and mutual respect, and ensuring appropriate communications and knowledge management both internally and with external stakeholders to share achievements and lessons learned with diverse audiences.
Requirements
• Advanced degree (Masters level or above) , combined with at least 10 years of experience working in international development in two or more of the programme sectors f (Health, Nutrition, WASH, Protection or Livlihoods) in fragile and conflict-affected states.
• Minimum of 10 years managing large-scale, complex, multi-partner projects with multi-million-pound budgets.
• Proven ability to provide leadership and strategic direction while harnessing the multi-disciplinary skills of technical personnel and consortium partners.
• Familiarity with key issues related to humanitarian assistance, including FCDO's priorities and emerging thinking in the sector.
• Experience with adaptive management approaches and evidence-based programming.
• Demonstrated ability to work with and build effective partnerships across a broad range of stakeholder groups including government, civil society, private sector, multilaterals, and other donors.
• Prior experience operating effectively within complex and high-risk environments while managing the needs of multiple stakeholders.
• Prior experience managing large FCDO accountable grants is desirable.
• Experience with Multi-purpose Cash Assistance is preferred..
• Strong analytical, communication, and writing skills, with the ability to articulate evidence-based arguments and positions to promote programme objectives and influence sector stakeholders.
• Fluency in Arabic and English required.
Please note that this position will be contingent on the outcome of the bid. 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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