Head of Multilateral Partner Engagement

International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC; Genf; Vor Ort; CHF 150.000 - 190.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

ICRC in Geneva seeks a senior professional to lead multilateral public donor engagement. You will shape the DSG cycle, organize high‑level briefings and events, and coordinate with REM and public partner outreach to secure funding for humanitarian operations.

The role requires a highly strategic thinker with extensive experience in external engagement, diplomacy and event management at international organizations. Flexible, global collaboration is essential.

Qualifikationen

• Advanced degree in a relevant field such as International Law, International Relations, Business or Communications.
• Specialized training in project or event management is required.
• Experience planning external engagement and advocacy for complex, multi‑stakeholder settings.

Aufgaben

• Lead the development and delivery of the DSG cycle and related multilateral engagements.
• Coordinate public sector donor engagements, briefings and events.
• Develop institutional donor narratives and strategic communications with REM leadership.
• Coach and advise file holders and liaise with internal teams to align fundraising priorities.
• Manage relationships with DSG member states and public sector partners.

Kenntnisse

Strategic planning

External engagement & advocacy

Event design & management

Multilateral engagement

Relationship management

Ausbildung

Advanced university degree (Intl Law/Intl Relations/Business/Communications)

Project/event management training

Jobbeschreibung

What We Do

Since 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has worked to preserve human dignity and relieve suffering caused by war and armed violence. In collaboration with our Red Cross and Red Crescent partners around the world, we do everything we can to deliver life‑saving aid, reconnect families and locate missing people – helping those who need it most, regardless of who they are and what side of the front line they are on. We engage with authorities and armed forces on all sides, often confidentially, pressing for access to detainees to improve their living conditions and urging compliance with international humanitarian law to protect non‑combatants, including from digital threats.

Purpose of the Position

The ICRC’s ability to mobilize funds is an essential enabler of its mission: financial resources are fundamental to the organization’s ability to reach, protect and assist people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence.

Responsibilities

The ICRC's funding is primarily provided by governments and multilateral bodies. While individual relationships with different countries and bodies are managed by dedicated relationship managers, this position is responsible for managing the ICRC’s multilateral engagement efforts including the specific subgrouping of the Donor Support Group (DSG), a strategic membership group that contains ICRC's largest donors. The multilateral engagement approach that this role will manage includes five key pillars:

• The cycle of DSG events which runs from June – June each year.
• ‘Milestone’ public sector partners events (e.g. the annual appeals launch, operational review, etc.)
• Operational briefings for public sector partners.
• Field extension of multilateral engagement activities (e.g. Appeal Launches, Field Engagement Initiative) and other innovative forms of multilateral engagement
• The coordination of the development of the ICRC’s strategic narrative for the DSG and public sector partners, under the ownership of the Head of REM.

In practice, multilateral engagement with public sector (mainly Government) partners takes the form of a series of events: appeal launches, briefings, workshops, and field trips, among others. This position is accountable for the development of the multilateral engagement annual cycle, the shaping of its agenda and the delivery of individual events.

This position reports to the Head of REM and works closely with the Head of Public REM and associated teams, especially colleagues responsible for public partner outreach (universalization of the public donor base) and Movement fundraising. In support of the Head of REM, it contributes to setting strategic ambitions for multilateral public sector partner engagement and community stewardship. This position works to develop and implement high-level initiatives to mobilize resources, safeguard relationships, and influence policy, which in turn contributes to securing sustainable funding. This position requires a combination of strategic planning, policy development, community and event management, communications, and partner relations skills. It works in collaboration with stakeholders across the ICRC to develop the topics and approaches for this ongoing dialogue.

The position supports the division and the institutional fundraising strategy at the global level by incorporating bilateral fundraising priorities into multilateral engagement strategic planning, coordinating, with a range of internal stakeholders and under the lead of the Head of REM, the partner-facing strategic narrative of the ICRC, and ensuring seamless coordination of collective and bilateral relationship management to strengthen relationships with partners.

Reports to (role)

Head of Resource Mobilization

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Manages the development, planning, preparations and delivery of the DSG cycle (including policy forums, governance and oversight meetings, integrity briefings, annual meetings, field visits and ad hoc DSG engagements) and DSG community, capitalizing on and harnessing the DSG as a vehicle for pursuing ICRC’s strategic interests and strengthening relationships with public sector partners.
• Leads the management, execution and delivery of key ICRC ‘milestone’ public partner engagements and operational briefings
• Optimizes and maintains a strategic and consistent approach to multilateral engagement within the framework of the ICRC’s public sector fundraising and state engagement efforts,
• Coordinates the development of institutional donor‑facing strategic narratives (e.g. for the DSG Annual Meeting), under the ownership of the Head of REM.
• Advises and coaches file holders.
• Within ICRC, works with relationship managers, event design colleagues, subject matter experts, production colleagues, and liaises and engages with a wide range of teams to engage contributors, subject matter experts, and leadership.
• Manages working level relationships with peers in partner organizations and supports relationships at the senior (DG, Presidency) level.
• Supports field‑level collective engagement activities (Appeal Launches, Field Engagement Initiative).
• Considers innovative ways to collectively engage public partners and regularly leads critical review of existing practices in collective engagement

Experience Required

• Typically, 12-15 years of professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning of external engagement and advocacy.
• Experience coordinating institutional positioning on operational, policy, and/or financial topics.
• Experience in humanitarian diplomacy.
• Proven track record of event design, planning, and execution for complex, multi‑stakeholder events
• Proven track record of leading formal multi‑lateral engagement with internal and external representatives at all levels.
• Specific experience in management of relationships (fundraising or otherwise) with DSG member states a strong asset.
• Solid understanding of organizational processes and roles/responsibilities in the ICRC.

Education Required

• Advanced university degree in International Law, International Relations, Business, Communications or other relevant field.
• Specialized training in project or event management.
• Fluent command of English required. French is a strong asset.

People Management Responsibilities

Yes, management of two positions: the Multilateral Public Partner Engagement Officer and an Associate.

Scope and Impact

• Manages key public partner platforms, communities and relationships that have high strategic and political impact for the ICRC over both the short and long term.
• Determines budgets required for DSG and broader collective public donor engagement.
• Geographical remit: global.

Relationships

• Internally: a core supporter of all REM fundraising efforts through information‑sharing and joint planning with all REM colleagues; articulates REM fundraising priorities across hierarchies and with all divisions at HQ, and with delegations, missions and offices in the field, to ensure coherent institutional positioning that supports fundraising. Close collaboration with REM public partner outreach team (universalization of the public donor base) and Movement fundraising team.
• Externally: interacts with permanent missions in GVA and line ministries in the capitals of donor countries including the DSG Co‑chair and IFRC/Movement colleagues involved in the planning of joint events; represents the ICRC in DSG and other collective public donor engagement platforms, including chairing / facilitating different events

Desired Profile And Skills

• Strong strategic planning skills.
• Strong organisational and project management skills
• Strong familiarity with operational, policy, and financial issues facing the ICRC.
• Strong negotiation skills
• Strong representation and communication skills, especially in humanitarian diplomacy
• Hands on person capable of event organization

Additional Information

• Type of Mobility: Required Rotation
• Starting date: ASAP
• Location: Geneva
• Job level: C2
• Length of assignment: until 30th Oct 2030
• Application deadline: Sunday, 4th Oct 2026

The ICRC values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.

Our Values

• At the ICRC, we value impact, collaboration, respect, and compassion. We seek candidates who demonstrate behaviors based on these shared values. For more information on the ICRC values, please visit this page.