Executive Director, Women's Refugee Commission

Job Description

Women’s Refugee Commission

Executive Director

Location: New York, NY or Washington, D.C.

Compensation range: $275K - $320K

Significant travel required

About the Women’s Refugee Commission

Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) is dedicated to protecting and empowering refugee, migrant, stateless, and displaced persons by serving as a witness to their struggles, amplifying their voices, and acting on their recommendations to ensure humanitarian systems better respond to their needs.

At this time of intensified threats and harsh treatment of refugees, migrants, and displaced persons globally, the women, children, and youth are bearing the brunt of the impact, as life-changing services are vanishing. In the United States, multipronged immigration enforcement actions have led to mass detention and deportation, family separation and complicated relations with scores of countries. The crisis is compounded by dramatic funding cuts across the sector and a growing backlash against gender equality that threatens to undo decades of progress.

To meet the growing needs, WRC is intensifying its role, exposing the far-reaching impact of funding and policy shifts, documenting the lived experiences of displaced women and young people, and insisting that their voices and recommendations inform the policies and actions that affect them.

WRC works domestically, regionally, and globally, has an annual operating budget of $5.3 million and is in a stable financial situation with a healthy reserve. The Executive Director will report to an engaged Board of Directors located around the world and manage a mid-sized staff that works primarily in New York City and Washington, D.C. in a hybrid work environment.

For more information, visit: www.womensrefugeecommission.org

About the Executive Director Position

WRC seeks a bold and visionary leader who can guide WRC forward, ensuring that the needs and voices of refugee, displaced, stateless, and migrant women and girls are centered in global humanitarian response and reform. The ideal candidate is a passionate human rights and gender equality champion, collaborator, innovator, and effective communicator who will unite staff, Board, Commissioners, partners, and funders to improve the lives of women and girls around the world through WRC’s life-changing programs, research, and advocacy.

The Executive Director (ED) will lead the organization into its next chapter of impact, building on 36 years of success and a strong and sustainable financial foundation. The ED will have the opportunity to design and implement a new organizational strategy that strengthens WRC’s impact and continues to diversify and increase its funding sources.

The ideal candidate has a track record of uniting individuals around a shared goal and increasing awareness and support for a cause. The strongest candidates authentically and adeptly build and sustain trust while gaining and sharing knowledge about the rapidly changing sector. They are future-focused, thinking creatively and infusing innovation across all program and functional areas with staff and Board. They are accustomed to engaging senior leaders, the media (including traditional and online/digital platforms), and other high-profile audiences. They also have a strong record of engaging with and cultivating a variety of major funders – individual and institutional – and of overseeing implementation of successful fundraising plans.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and Leadership

• Refine the WRC strategy, in collaboration with the Board of Directors and with input from staff and key stakeholders, to achieve the desired impact
• Clearly define and communicate WRC’s role, vision, mission, values, and impact across all audiences, programs, and partnerships
• Actively assess relevant trends and drive the organization to adapt accordingly
• Champion and advance the WRC reputation as a leader in research and evidence-based policy

Team Management

• Engage, lead, develop, and mentor the executive team and inspire and empower all staff in the organization to share a collective vision and to set and reach meaningful, mission-driven goals
• Strengthen internal communications and cross-department collaboration to cultivate strong, trusting working relationships at every level
• Ensure organizational growth, excellence, and consistent high-quality management across all functions (programs, finance, fundraising, communications, operations, talent, and marketing), while cultivating professional development opportunities for staff to contribute to the WRC mission and impact

Fundraising and External Relations

• Serve as the lead spokesperson and champion of WRC with funders, partners, and peer organizations, advocating for impact, partnerships, and funding
• Grow and diversify the resources of the organization by developing, cultivating, and deepening relationships with major donors, philanthropic funders, institutional partners, and other potential new sources of revenue through stories of impact, policy results, and a clear strategy for growth

Thought Leadership and Influence

• Serve as the lead external representative for WRC, working to steward and advance WRC’s global reputation as a thought leader and as an essential and effective actor in the field, and growing WRC’s influence with decision-makers, funders, and partners, including governmental, non-governmental decision-makers, the UN and broader International Community
• Design and implement strategy to advance specific policy and legislative changes to better address migrant and refugee needs and realities
• Leverage the Board, Commissioners, and other key supporters to help advance the WRC work and amplify timely issues

Board Development and Engagement

• Partner with individual Board members and the Board as a collective to ensure governance best practices during a critical chapter of organizational growth and change
• Ensure creation and maintenance of policies and procedures for effective governance and clear staff/Board roles (including workflow, decision-making, and communication protocols)
• Leverage Board member capacity to amplify the WRC message with external stakeholders

Qualifications

The WRC Search Committee recognizes that not every candidate will bring every element of knowledge, skills, and experience listed below, and welcomes candidates with various experiences.

• Proven executive leadership experience, ideally within a non-profit or humanitarian organization
• Passion for and a deep, authentic commitment to the mission, vision, and values of WRC
• Strong fundraising and external relations skills, with a proven record of cultivating relationships with individual donors, philanthropic funders, and institutional partners to support growth and ensure sustainability
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to articulate and inspire a clear vision both internally and externally
• Demonstrated success in defining and executing organizational growth strategies and experience in adapting and pivoting to ensure impact
• Experience serving in frontline or direct service capacities, with the populations served by WRC preferred
• Understanding and proven experience in financial oversight, including managing budgets, financial statements, and forecasts
• Demonstrated success in team management, including leading, developing, and mentoring executive teams and motivating all staff
• Skilled at setting clear priorities, empowering, inspiring, and holding staff accountable in a hybrid environment
• A track record of leading effective change management efforts that ensure stability and foster an inclusive, collaborative, and transparent culture aligned with WRC’s values
• Experience working closely with a Board of Directors to ensure strong governance, transparent operations, and effective collaboration
• Experience working with government and multilateral organizations preferred
• A deep understanding of global trends impacting refugees, displaced, stateless, and migrant women and children, and a record of thought leadership and influence within the humanitarian, gender equality, refugee, or other relevant sectors
• Experience and understanding of the role of research in advocacy strongly preferred
• Commitment to and interest in following and interpreting trends, pressures, and changes affecting geopolitics

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this role is $275,000 - $320,000, based on experience. This is a full-time position offering a comprehensive benefits package, which includes medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage, as well as paid time off and a 401K matching plan. This position can be based in New York City or Washington, DC in a hybrid environment with frequent travel. This role requires work authorization in the U.S.

How to Apply

Women’s Refugee Commission has retained the executive search firm LeaderFit to lead this search. Candidates should share a resume and a brief cover letter outlining their interest in the role and upload it to the LeaderFit system here.

At LeaderFit, all candidate materials are reviewed by experienced humans, never by AI. We believe that evaluating leadership potential, lived experience, and alignment with mission and culture requires human judgment, insight, and care. We leverage AI in other ways to ensure efficiency, optimized research, and allowing LeaderFit staff to focus on what humans do best, which is connecting, engaging, and building community.

About the Organization

About the Women’s Refugee Commission

Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) is dedicated to protecting and empowering refugee, migrant, stateless, and displaced persons by serving as a witness to their struggles, amplifying their voices, and acting on their recommendations to ensure humanitarian systems better respond to their needs.

At this time of intensified threats and harsh treatment of refugees, migrants, and displaced persons globally, the women, children, and youth are bearing the brunt of the impact, as life-changing services are vanishing. In the United States, multipronged immigration enforcement actions have led to mass detention and deportation, family separation and complicated relations with scores of countries. The crisis is compounded by dramatic funding cuts across the sector and a growing backlash against gender equality that threatens to undo decades of progress.

To meet the growing needs, WRC is intensifying its role, exposing the far-reaching impact of funding and policy shifts, documenting the lived experiences of displaced women and young people, and insisting that their voices and recommendations inform the policies and actions that affect them.

WRC works domestically, regionally, and globally, has an annual operating budget of $5.3 million and is in a stable financial situation with a healthy reserve. The Executive Director will report to an engaged Board of Directors located around the world and manage a mid-sized staff that works primarily in New York City and Washington, D.C. in a hybrid work environment.

For more information, visit: www.womensrefugeecommission.org