Job Summary: We are seeking a dynamic professional to join our team, responsible for overseeing daily operations and ensuring organizational objectives are met. The ideal candidate must demonstrate a minimum of five years of related experience alongside a proven track record in project management. Key duties include leading cross-functional teams, developing strategic initiatives, and maintaining efficient workflow processes. Additionally, strong interpersonal skills and exceptional problem-solving abilities are required to address challenges effectively. This role offers an opportunity to contribute to significant projects while fostering collaboration and innovation within the department.
This senior role focuses on technical leadership at the cutting edge of applied AI, with a mission to drive meaningful humanitarian outcomes. You’ll spearhead a team of engineers and AI experts to develop and deliver AI-driven solutions tailored for programmatic use—particularly agentic systems, predictive analytics, and diagnostic AI—specifically designed for deployment in resource-constrained and high-pressure environments.
You will own three things:
You will define the technical strategy and direction for IRC’s AI initiatives, partnering directly with programs to shape a clear and actionable roadmap. This role involves evaluating build, buy, or partner choices, as well as establishing architectural frameworks for systems required to perform reliably in extreme operational conditions—from offline AI solutions operating on low-cost smartphones to safety-critical agentic systems and diagnostic models trained on underrepresented populations in major datasets.
You’ll lead and develop a high-caliber engineering team comprising engineers, applied AI engineers, and QA specialists, elevating engineering standards and cultivating a culture that draws top technical professionals to meaningful, mission-focused work.
You’ll forge deep collaborations with program leaders and key strategic partners, serving as a trusted strategic advisor to IRC’s specialists in health, education, protection, resettlement, and emergency response. Rather than passively receiving directives, you’ll co-develop solutions alongside them, driving innovation and alignment. Additionally, you’ll leverage our premier partnerships with Anthropic, OpenAI, and other cutting-edge research institutions to extract maximum value, gaining early access to advanced models, novel features, and direct engagement with the researchers pioneering these advancements.
Oversees and executes key duties related to the primary functions of the role, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and operational standards. Facilitates critical processes, manages team performance, and maintains accountability for deliverables while adhering to established policies and procedures. Collaborates with cross-functional stakeholders to drive efficiency, resolve challenges, and optimize workflows. Monitors progress through regular assessments, providing data-driven insights to inform decision-making and strategic initiatives. Ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
Demonstrated expertise in guiding organizations through the strategic integration of artificial intelligence is essential for this leadership role. The position requires a forward-thinking individual capable of aligning AI initiatives with long-term business objectives while fostering innovation across teams. Key responsibilities include developing and executing AI strategies, overseeing implementation to drive operational efficiency, and ensuring alignment with ethical and regulatory standards. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in AI technologies, proven leadership experience, and the ability to inspire cross-functional collaboration. Strong communication skills are necessary to articulate complex AI concepts to stakeholders and secure executive buy-in for transformative projects.
Translate the AI strategy and program priorities of IRC into a clearly defined, prioritized technical roadmap in collaboration with program leaders, the Senior Vice President overseeing Research, Innovation, AI, and People & Culture, as well as the T4P demand pipeline.
Pioneer developments at the forefront of AI and machine learning—especially in agentic systems, multimodal models, and edge/on-device inference—and apply promising methodologies to IRC’s initiatives.
As a key contributor to IRC’s AI leadership team, you will collaborate closely with the SVP of Research, Innovation, AI, and People & Culture, as well as other senior executives, to define and drive the organization’s strategic vision.
Champion the responsible, human-centered deployment of AI in some of the world’s most sensitive humanitarian contexts, ensuring adherence to the rigorous safety standards demanded by these environments.
You will serve as IRC’s representative in technical dialogues with partners, peer organizations, donors, and stakeholders across the humanitarian and AI domains.
We are seeking a dynamic professional to lead and manage a high-performing team, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, fostering collaboration, and driving performance excellence. The ideal candidate will oversee team operations, delegate responsibilities, and provide strategic direction to enhance productivity and innovation. Responsibilities include mentoring team members, resolving conflicts, and implementing best practices to maintain a cohesive and motivated workforce. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills are essential, along with a proven track record in team management and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Lead, mentor, and cultivate a high-performing team comprising engineers, applied AI engineers, and quality assurance specialists. Recruit top-tier talent, establish rigorous standards, and foster an environment where exceptional technical professionals are eager to contribute and grow.
Develop and implement engineering quality benchmarks, methodologies for advancement, and structured documentation guidelines.
Oversee a prioritized backlog of program enhancements while aligning team capacity with incoming demands.
Elevate the team’s AI development and DevOps capabilities while fostering stakeholder engagement throughout the organization.
Explore avenues to obtain financial resources and bolster innovation initiatives through budget allocation.
We collaborate with various departments to foster innovation and ensure project success, leveraging diverse expertise across the organization. This role requires strong interpersonal skills to bridge gaps between teams, align objectives, and drive cohesive execution. You will facilitate communication, resolve interdepartmental conflicts, and champion shared goals to optimize workflows and deliver exceptional results. Prior experience in cross-functional environments is essential, along with the ability to adapt to evolving priorities and maintain alignment with strategic initiatives.
Serve as a trusted advisor to program leaders, applying AI expertise to address their challenges with both technical insight and grounded perspective on the current landscape.
Collaboratively develop practical solutions grounded in real-world applications rather than imposing technology-driven solutions in search of problems.
Collaborate closely with the Enterprise Applications team to facilitate seamless transitions of validated innovations into enterprise-wide implementations.
Collaborate with the Enterprise Applications DevOps team to align on integration points, infrastructure dependencies, and unified engineering best practices.
We are seeking a seasoned professional to spearhead our strategic alliances with leading AI organizations, driving innovation and expanding our technological footprint. The ideal candidate will possess a robust background in AI collaborations, with a proven track record of negotiating and executing high-impact partnerships. Responsibilities include cultivating relationships with key stakeholders, identifying synergistic opportunities, and aligning joint initiatives with our long-term business objectives. Additionally, the role demands strong analytical skills to assess partnership viability and mitigate risks while ensuring compliance with regulatory and ethical standards. Proficiency in AI industry trends and a deep understanding of market dynamics are essential, along with exceptional communication skills to articulate value propositions and secure executive buy-in. A minimum of five years in AI-focused roles, preferably within partnerships or business development, is required, along with a degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
As the technical lead, you will spearhead IRC’s strategic partnerships with pioneering AI organizations, transforming initial engagements into enduring, high-impact collaborations.
Explore strategic opportunities to leverage partnership access—such as compute resources, cutting-edge models, and specialized technical expertise—to drive disproportionately high program impact.
We are responsible for architecting and engineering robust, scalable solutions tailored to meet business needs. This role involves creating detailed technical designs, evaluating system requirements, and developing innovative approaches to optimize performance and efficiency. Additionally, we collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration, adherence to best practices, and alignment with organizational objectives.
Spearhead the conception and execution of AI-powered and customized technological solutions, overseeing the entire development lifecycle—from initial requirements gathering to final deployment.
Engage with program and business stakeholders to elicit requirements, establish technical solutions, and propose strategies rooted in a thorough comprehension of program objectives.
Design and implement robust, highly available Microsoft Azure architectures, ensuring they feature redundancy, stringent security measures, and comprehensive backup and recovery protocols, particularly for sensitive humanitarian data.
Research, evaluate, and propose cutting-edge technology solutions, with an emphasis on artificial intelligence and machine learning, to enhance procurement processes, drive development initiatives, and inform strategic decision-making.
Responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining scalable infrastructure and automation pipelines to support continuous integration and delivery processes, the DevOps and Engineering Operations professional will collaborate with development teams to optimize system performance, ensure high availability, and enforce security best practices. This role requires expertise in cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP, proficiency in scripting languages like Python or Bash, and hands-on experience with configuration management tools such as Ansible, Terraform, or Puppet. Additionally, candidates must possess strong problem-solving skills, the ability to troubleshoot complex issues, and a commitment to fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
Responsible for managing deployment pipelines, automating CI/CD processes, implementing infrastructure-as-code, and maintaining QA protocols to guarantee streamlined and dependable software delivery.
Maintain continuous accessibility and optimal performance of applications by conducting monitoring, implementing scaling measures, and overseeing proactive operations management.
Monitor and enhance cloud infrastructure and model inference expenditures to ensure cost efficiency and resource optimization.
Ensure thorough maintenance and up-to-date status of technical and policy documentation for all assets managed by the team.
Key Working Relationships
The role reports directly to the Chief Information Officer and collaborates closely with the Senior Vice President of Research, Innovation, AI, and People & Culture.
The role is responsible for overseeing a team that includes engineers, applied AI engineers, machine learning specialists, and quality assurance staff within the T4P Development team.
Program leaders from CRRD, RAI, R&I, and Signpost; the Enterprise Applications and DevOps teams; the AI governance and policy team; AI@Scale (I’S) leadership; as well as regional and HQ IT leadership serve as key internal collaborators in this role.
We engage with key stakeholders, including strategic partners from prominent AI organizations, technology vendors, industry peers in the AI sector, members of the NGO tech community, and major foundation funders.
Seeking a candidate with a minimum of 5 years of experience in a similar role, proficiency in project management tools, and strong communication skills. The ideal applicant should hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, demonstrate leadership capabilities, and exhibit problem-solving expertise. Responsibilities include overseeing project timelines, coordinating team efforts, and ensuring deliverables meet quality standards. The position requires adaptability to changing priorities and the ability to work under tight deadlines. Additionally, experience with budget management and stakeholder engagement is essential.
Strong candidates typically possess most, though not necessarily all, of the following qualifications:
Seasoned expertise in the realms of artificial intelligence and engineering represents a crucial requirement for this position, encompassing a profound understanding of both foundational principles and practical applications.
Seeking candidates with practical expertise in developing and deploying production-grade AI systems, including agentic frameworks, LLM applications, RAG systems, computer vision, or applied ML pipelines.
Proven expertise in full-stack development, encompassing Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, and contemporary frameworks, paired with the technical acumen to collaborate effectively with engineers on architectural and design-related matters.
Proficiency in cloud architecture, with a preference for Azure and transferable skills in AWS and GCP, encompassing AI services, DevOps pipelines, and strategies for cost-effective scalability.
Proficient in data security and privacy measures, particularly concerning sensitive or personally identifiable information.
Demonstrates strong leadership abilities while effectively collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive project success and foster a cohesive work environment.
A minimum of seven to ten years of experience in software engineering or technical product development is required, along with at least three years in a leadership capacity such as a manager or tech lead role.
Proven success in assembling and scaling high-performing engineering teams, including recruiting top talent, elevating performance standards, and fostering an engaging workplace culture where individuals thrive.
Must skillfully collaborate with non-technical executives as an equal partner, articulating trade-offs with precision, demonstrating attentive listening, and bridging communication gaps between diverse teams.
Proven ability to collaborate effectively across diverse global teams, adapt to varying time zones, and navigate contexts distinct from your own background.
Mindset
Driven by a profound commitment to humanitarian causes, this role seeks individuals who are passionately dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Embodies a humble leadership approach, demonstrating profound respect for all individuals involved in addressing the issue, particularly those lacking technical expertise.
Forward-thinking and technically inquisitive, they proactively explore emerging trends, conduct hands-on experiments, and contribute innovative solutions to drive team progress.
Nice to have
Proficiency in implementing AI solutions within environments characterized by limited resources, constrained bandwidth, or complete offline operation is essential.
Experience in humanitarian, development, or global health sectors is highly preferred.
Proficient in either French or Arabic is required.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
Experience Required
7 - 10 years
