Country Director, Yemen

About the role

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is recruiting a Country Director for Yemen, based in Aden. The Country Director sets the strategic direction of the country program, leads all programs, emergency response, financial and operational matters, and oversees humanitarian access and security. As head of the Senior Management Team, the role supervises about 120 IRC staff and more than 400 incentive workers, programming and operations.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the country program, representing it with national and local authorities, donors, the EU, UN agencies, NGOs and networks, and coordinate with the MENAU region and neighbouring country programs.
• Set the strategic vision and direction, ensure program quality through assessment, monitoring and evaluation, and expand humanitarian, resilience and development programming.
• Take primary responsibility for emergency response readiness, planning, strategy and coordination, including crisis management and cross-border emergencies.
• Manage safety and security, including security risks, evacuation and contingency plans, and liaise with the Regional Safety and Security Director.
• Supervise and mentor direct-report staff, oversee performance management, and promote staff well-being.
• Oversee financial management, budget monitoring for grant and discretionary funds, compliance systems and safeguarding across operations.

Required profile

• At least 12 years of dynamic international work experience, including leadership at Country Director level of multi-site, multi-sectoral operations in a complex environment; experience in conflict settings and constrained humanitarian access is required.
• Graduate degree in a relevant field; fluency in English is required, Arabic preferred.
• Experience managing security in a complex, rapidly changing context, negotiating with partners, and overseeing donor-funded projects.
• Preferred: prior work experience and understanding of the political complexity of Yemen and the MENAU region.
• Resilient in insecure environments with restricted personal freedoms; willing to travel 5-10% outside the region.
• National or returning national candidates are encouraged to apply; relocation packages may be available.