Director of Policy and Practice

Refugee Council USA (RCUSA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting efforts to protect and welcome refugees, asylees, asylum-seekers, and other forcibly displaced populations; advocating for just and humane laws and policies; and promoting communication and collaboration among government, civil society and those in need of protection and welcome.

RCUSA has a nearly 20-year history as a coalition, and recently became an independent nonprofit entity, fiscally sponsored by Church World Service. RCUSA’s membership includes comprising all nine national refugee resettlement agencies, plus twenty other organizations that support refugees, people seeking asylum, stateless persons, and other displaced populations. Our diverse membership is grounded in the principles of international protection and welcome that are embodied in a commitment to support and resettle refugees and other displaced persons in the United States. RCUSA has a small staff whose activities complement the work of a very active set of membership committees.

Position Summary

The Director of Policy and Practice plays a key role within RCUSA, engaging with a broad range of members, partners, and other stakeholders, providing thought leadership, and guiding the planning, implementation and evaluation of Refugee Council USA’s policy and program work. The incumbent must be well versed in refugee resettlement policy and practice, ideally with direct experience in human displacement settings – international and/or within the United States. The incumbent should also have experience leading and/or working within coalitions towards joint programmatic and legislative / policy goals.

The Director will also represent RCUSA’s domestic and global work and public policy positions in high-profile settings; and adapt and disseminate policy, program, and advocacy messages and lead educational outreach to multiple audiences, including institutional, academic and NGO partners, US government agencies, Members of Congress, and international organizations.

The Director will collaborate strategically with RCUSA members’ programs and advocacy teams, while demonstrating ability to build and maintain trusting partnerships, shared goals, and collective progress. As a member of the organization’s leadership team, the Director will oversee the activities of RCUSA’s Center for Refugee Inclusion and Resettlement Excellence and contribute to the overall management of the organization. The Director will report to the Executive Director of RCUSA.

Duties and Responsibilities

Program activities

Develop and implement RCUSA policy, practice and advocacy strategies in collaboration with RCUSA’s various programmatic and advocacy-oriented committees.

Support the activities of RCUSA’s Resettlement Committee and its Pre-Arrival and Post-Arrival Subcommittees; support the activities of other RCUSA committees, working groups, and task forces as assigned by the Executive Director.

Work closely with RCUSA’s Manager of Communications and Advocacy, and its Communications and Advocacy Committees, serving as one of RCUSA’s spokespeople, providing background on key US policy resettlement issues, and supporting RCUSA’s awareness-raising efforts by providing advocacy content for use with the media and with individual supporters.

Policy and representation

• Track US policy developments related to resettlement and asylum services, as well as international refugee and humanitarian protection more broadly.
• With the Executive Director, represent RCUSA at the highest levels through advocacy and partnerships with key decision-makers in the US and the international development and humanitarian communities, and serving as a trusted resource to strategic partners, Administration officials and Congressional offices.
• Represent RCUSA in selected national and international forums.

Management

• Collaborate with the Executive Director on fundraising, including prospecting, stewarding key relationships, and writing proposals and presentations to current and prospective donors. As assigned by the Executive Director, manage and help implement grant-funded projects.
• Serve on RCUSA’s leadership team, which is responsible for organizational strategy and management.
• Supervise and support consultants, contractors, and staff as appropriate.

Essential Qualifications

• 7 to 10 years of experience working in refugee affairs, forced migration, or international development, with a strong background in program and policy development.
• A strong working knowledge of the US government and the nonprofit sector, and of the federal government’s administrative and legislative policy process, particularly in the international development and/or humanitarian policy arenas.
• Demonstrated high-level advocacy and negotiation experience with government agencies, nonprofit coalitions and other stakeholders.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
• Tact, discretion, and experience with building consensus within diverse coalitions.
• Strong writing ability, to support drafting of strategy documents, reports, talking points, policy memos, and other materials as appropriate.
• Demonstrated capacity for working in cross-cultural settings.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally for up to 20 percent time at peak periods.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree – or comparable relevant experience - in social work, public policy, international affairs, or related relevant area.
• A strong technical background in an area related to refugee resettlement and extensive professional relationships in the nonprofit, international NGO, UN, and US government sectors.
• First-person knowledge of the lived experiences of refugee and immigrant communities.
• Experience as a media spokesperson and public speaker.
• Knowledgeable in forced migration policy debates, both globally and in the US.
• Working knowledge of a language other than English.

This is a full-time position, with competitive benefits. The position is currently remote, but preference will be given to candidates available to work in Washington, DC once public health conditions allow for the re-opening of a physical office. The successful candidate will be hired through the Church World Service human resources department but will be employed by RCUSA and will report to the Executive Director of RCUSA.

Salary range for this position is $90,000 to $105,000, depending on experience.

People of color, ethnic minorities and people with refugee or immigrant backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply.

To apply, please submit a resume, a cover letter explaining your interest in the position and your qualifications, along with names and contact information for three professional references. PLEASE VISIT THIS LINK: https://refugeecouncilusa.applytojob.com/apply/lZfv16vfge/Director-Of-Policy-And-Practice

(Note that references will not be contacted until the final stages of the hiring process, and we will notify you before contacting any references.)