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.

The IRC has maintained a continuous presence in Thailand since 1975. For more than three decades, refugees from Myanmar have sought safety in neighboring Thailand. The International Rescue Committee has been serving more than 90,000 refugees in nine camps along the border. Operating from Bangkok with four field offices in Mae Hong Son, Mae Sot, Kanchanaburi, and Ratchaburi, IRC provided: Primary Healthcare, Reproductive and Child Health, Environmental Health, Protection and Access to Justice, Women's Protection and Empowerment, Economic Recovery and Development/Livelihoods, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Emergency response.

In August 2025, the Royal Thai Government approved a landmark resolution granting these long-staying refugees the right to work legally for the first time in decades marking a historic shift toward sustainable, rights-based solutions for self-reliance and inclusion. This policy shift comes as humanitarian funding faces severe constraints and enables refugees to support themselves and provides a potential model for rights-based refugee policies across Southeast Asia. As a result of this policy shift coupled with change in programming focus and funding environment, IRC has reduced its programming and footprint in Thailand but is actively supporting this transition through projects focused on employment readiness, healthcare, child protection, and livelihoods reinforcing coordination between humanitarian actors and Thai institutions.

The Country Director role is pivotal in this historic transition, leading IRC Thailand's transformation from camp-based operations to facilitating refugee integration and self-reliance.

Scope of Work

The Country Director will represent the IRC to external stakeholders at all levels; develop strategic relationships; identify and cultivate partnerships/funding opportunities in coordination with IRC teams across the organization; and engage in appropriate and coordinated advocacy and communications on relevant issues. The Country Director will provide the strategic vision and leadership for the country program. They are responsible for ensuring the design and delivery of quality programs, donor and government relations, fundraising and budget management, security and operations management, and developing a motivated and professional team. Reporting to the Regional Vice President Asia, the Country Director will work closely with and receive support from regional and headquarters program technical units, safety and security services, regional finance, and operations staff.

Success in this position requires an individual with exemplary and demonstrated leadership abilities who deploys strong communications and interpersonal skills effectively, both internally and externally. The successful candidate will enjoy contextual analytical skills with an ability to translate the impact of geopolitical events to our day-to-day operation. They will focus on growing the portfolio of the country program to maximize scale, reach and impact by building a strong network of partnerships and diversifying program resources. They will be directly responsible for the overall coordination and strategic direction of the country program; providing oversight and coaching for directly supervised senior managers; leading country program teams to identify, design and deliver responsive, high-quality programs; ensuring efficient management of public grants and private funds for results, compliance, and focused, timely reporting; and oversight of financial management and compliance systems.

This role demands exceptional networking, relationship building and diplomacy with the Royal Thai Government, strategic partnership development with diverse donors, innovative programming bridging humanitarian and development approaches, and the ability to navigate complex political challenges while maximizing impact. Advocacy remains central to the role, championing refugee rights and sustainable solutions at national, regional, and global levels. The position requires strengthening regional collaboration to address Myanmar displacement comprehensively, working with IRC Asia programmes and regional stakeholders. Experience in the Asia region, particularly on Myanmar displacement, will be a significant advantage.

Major Responsibilities

Leadership and Representation

Develop and execute strategies that deliver contextualized, high-quality programs meeting client needs.
Lead the country program by promoting collaboration, providing guidance and resources, and maintaining professional relations with colleagues and partners.
Build and sustain strong partnerships with local organizations, donors, and government authorities.
Ensure that IRC remains a partner of choice for major international (institutional and non-institutional) donors.
Seek out and pursue opportunities to raise the profile of the work of IRC and its partners, as well as the lives and the needs of the people IRC seeks to serve.
Ensure IRC is actively represented in humanitarian coordination forums and is a partner of choice for major donors.
Maintain strong government relations to ensure timely registration renewals and permissions for uninterrupted operations.
Raise the profile of IRC's work and amplify the voices and needs of the people we serve with local, regional, and global audiences.

Strategic Direction, Program Quality and Growth

Execute IRC's strategic vision with the Regional Vice President and regional team, delivering highest quality programming aligned with IRC's Strategy 100 and adapted to Thailand's context.
Grow the portfolio to reach increasing numbers of clients at scale with impactful programs.
Ensure consistent high program quality throughout the country program.
Pursue opportunities to expand programming to under-served clients.
Develop regional programming opportunities with IRC Asia Country Programmes, emphasizing coordinated approaches to Myanmar displacement.
Ensure systems comply with IRC standards and support efficient program delivery.
Establish effective relationships and communication with regional management, technical leads, HQ colleagues, and stakeholders.
Drive program innovation and excellence, ensuring interventions are evidence-based, contextually relevant, and client-centred and high program quality is consistent throughout the country program.
Foster learning, accountability, and adaptive management to strengthen program quality.

Fundraising, Donor & Partner Relations

Stay current on issues impacting the program and develop responsive strategies.
Continue to maintain and raise the profile of IRC's work in Thailand and the needs of the people we serve.
Ensure timely submission of high-quality proposals and lead donor negotiations.
Maintain a diversified funding portfolio.
Develop deep understanding of donor priorities and funding initiatives.
Maintain and expand participation with key donors, host government, local stakeholders and relevant policy and coordinating bodies.

Advocacy and influencing

Actively contribute to global, regional, and national advocacy for sustainable solutions.
Identify and pursue advocacy opportunities to protect client rights and promote their needs.
Ensure IRC has a strong voice in policy efforts to improve lives and livelihoods of clients in Thailand.
Lead regional collaboration on Myanmar displacement, working with IRC Asia programmes and regional stakeholders to develop coordinated advocacy strategies.

Stewardship and Operational Management

Lead with commitment, integrity, and accountability to the IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct.
Drive operational excellence to achieve optimal efficiency and cost-effectiveness in all functions and operations of the country program.
Oversee country programs financial and operational processes and functions to ensure compliance with IRC global and donor's policies and requirements.
Ensure appropriate support to all functions and sub-offices, particularly in HR, finance, and supply chain.

Budget Management

Provide effective oversight of the financial position, implementing changes to match funding levels.
Monitor and identify sources for match fund requirements and funding gap coverage.
Maintain effective and coordinated budget monitoring processes for funds, both restricted and unrestricted.

People & Culture: Human Resource Management, Staff Well-being, Development & Retention

Create a positive work environment supported by professional HR management, and through open and productive communication with staff.
Hold management accountable for staff development and succession planning.
Implement recruitment and retention strategies with regional/HQ HR.
Support implementation of IRC's Global HR Policies and Procedures.
Identify and develop staff for senior roles through succession planning.
Promote staff well-being and model work-life balance.
Model and encourage active practice of the principles of the IRC Way Global Standards for Professional Conduct throughout the Thailand country program.
Safeguarding Leadership: Proven ability to exercise ethical judgement and decisive leadership in safeguarding situations, ensuring concerns are acted on promptly, appropriately, and without compromise, regardless of operational or reputational pressure. Supervise direct reports with clear expectations, regular feedback, and documented performance reviews.

Safety, Security and Access Management

Take primary responsibility for safety and security management, including emergency response.
Maintain security culture throughout the program.
Keep security, evacuation, and contingency plans current and accessible.
Coordinate with Regional Safety and Security Director on evolving security concerns.
Ensure access to vulnerable clients for timely, quality service delivery.

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to: Regional Vice President - Asia

Supervises: A senior management team responsible for programs, operations, finance, HR, and security

Key Internal Contacts

 Country Program: All staff

 Region: Asia Regional Team

 HQ: Crisis Response and Recovery Department (CRRD) including Technical Excellence and Emergency Unit, Ethics & Compliance, Safeguarding, Operations and Strategy, Finance, Global Philanthropy & Partnerships, General Counsel and Airbel

Key External Contacts

 Partner organizations

 Host country government officials.

 Public and private donor agencies

 International and national NGOs

 UN agencies

 Foreign governments

Requirements

Significant international work experience covering emergency, post-conflict, and development programming.
A keen understanding of the political, social, religious, ethnic, and economic complexities of Thailand.
Extensive program/ business development and fundraising experience with an entrepreneurial ability to spot and seize strategic opportunities.
Proven experience with, European, UN, US, DFAT, multi-lateral, corporate and other international donors.
A strategic risk-taker who will explore innovative and compelling responses to difficult developmental and humanitarian issues.
A passion for humanitarian aid and development work and the ability to motivate others to similar levels of enthusiasm.
Skilled at building trusting and effective relationships with government officials, donor representatives, staff, NGO partners, community leaders, and clients.
Ability to work, live and thrive in a complex environment.
Proven aptitude to inspire creative growth, innovation, and learning.
Experience in vigorously advocating to stakeholders for resources, responses and recognition of complex humanitarian and development problems.
Strong human resource management skills including capacity building and mentoring.
Experience supervising and managing a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural setting.
Strong budget, fiscal and operational oversight experience.
Work experience from Asia and experience working on Myanmar displacement issues in the region is preferred.

Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies

Demonstrated successful leadership and management experience with a multi-disciplinary team in cross-cultural settings, including active mentoring and coaching.
Demonstrated experience of creating diverse and inclusive team climates.
Effective in developing high-potential staff to achieve career growth and maximum contribution.
Proven experience in managing high quality programming that meets the needs of clients.
Proven experience delivering appropriate levels of oversight of a portfolio consisting of a variety of complex, high-value donor-funded projects.
Experience building personal networks at a senior level, resulting in securing new opportunities for the organization.
Opportunity-awareness: A successful innovative approach to unpredictable programming, operational and funding contexts.
Ability to objectively represent program context, constraints, and successes to media, government, and other senior audiences.

Languages Required/Preferred

Professional fluency in written and spoken English.

Computer/Other Tech Requirements

Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Working knowledge of file sharing protocols such as Dropbox, SharePoint, etc., an advantage.

Ability to Travel: approximately 25% within and outside the region for workshops, meetings, representation and conferences.

Working Environment

This position will be based in Bangkok with frequent travel within the country and region. The security phase for Thailand is Yellow, and all employees are required to abide by any security directives put in place.

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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Country Director - Thailand