Program Officer, Catalyst

International Rescue Committee; New York (NY); Remote; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

403(b) plan

EAP

Job summary

International Rescue Committee (IRC) is seeking a Program Officer to oversee Catalyst systems strengthening initiatives within the Resettlement, Asylum, and Integration (RAI) department. You will coordinate multiple teams, manage deliverables to meet deadlines and funder expectations, and contribute trainings and written materials.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) and 3+ years in program management, with strong stakeholder engagement and knowledge of ORR-funded

Qualifications

• 3+ years of program or project management experience.
• Experience liaising with multiple stakeholders including government, nonprofits, and educational institutions.
• Familiarity with ORR-funded programs and state-administered programming.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-team coordination for Catalyst systems strengthening projects.
• Manage deliverables, timelines, and funder expectations.
• Develop trainings and provide consultations aligned with state needs.
• Cultivate relationships with internal teams and external partners.
• Support outreach and partnership development; assist senior leadership.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder liaison

Written communication

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Airtable

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Overview:

Across the U.S. and Europe, IRC's Resettlement, Asylum, and Integration (RAI) department works to strengthen the systems that surround newcomers, building the capacity of service providers, governments, and communities to plan, coordinate, and deliver services more effectively. Over the past decade, this work has reached tens of thousands of learners through more than 50 projects across 13 countries and all 50 U.S. states. The IRC is seeking a Program Officer to support the implementation of Catalyst, RAI’s new systems strengthening identity. Catalyst draws on IRC's expertise in learning, research, programmatic excellence, partnerships, and AI-enabled delivery to help governments and organizations build stronger, more coordinated systems that deliver accessible, high-quality services to newcomers. Through systems strengthening work, Catalyst advances RAI's Impact@Scale priorities of Legal Services, Workforce Development, and Connected Communities. This role will focus on project management and coordination of various Catalyst systems strengthening projects. The position will lead cross-team coordination among multiple contributors, support strategy and outreach efforts, manage deliverables using Switchboard’s project management tools, and ensure timely, high-quality completion of work across multiple initiatives. This role reports to the Senior Program Officer for Catalyst and will work closely with teams across Switchboard and the IRC.

Major Responsibilities:

• Serve as the designated project manager for state-specific training and capacity‑building initiatives.
• Manage projects across multiple teams, establishing clear processes, tracking progress, and ensuring deliverables meet internal standards, established deadlines, and funder expectations.
• Identify risks and adapt plans to ensure project goals are met in evolving contexts.
• Contribute technical expertise by developing and delivering trainings, providing consultations, and producing written materials aligned with state‑identified needs and priority topic areas.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with internal teams and external partners, serving as a point of contact to sustain effective collaboration.
• Support outreach and partnership development for emerging opportunities and assist senior leadership in identifying and pursuing new initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Monitoring & Evaluation team to ensure accurate data collection, analysis, reporting, and documentation of outcomes, lessons learned, and promising practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, Social Work, International Affairs, or a related field preferred.
• 3+ years of experience in program or project management.
• Demonstrated experience in assessing and building organizational capacity, monitoring and evaluation, and managing complex, multi‑stakeholder projects.
• Proven ability to liaise effectively with multiple stakeholders, including government agencies (federal, state, and municipal), nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, the business sector, and community groups.
• Strong familiarity with relevant Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-funded programs and services, with an emphasis on state‑administered programming.
• Familiarity with grant‑funded programming and federal funding requirements undefined.

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with a track record of effective collaboration across diverse teams.
• Strategic thinker with attention to detail and a solutions‑oriented approach.
• Ability to remain calm, flexible, and effective in a fast‑paced environment.
• Proficiency in project management tools and Microsoft Office Suite (experience with Airtable preferred).

Working Environment:

Remote working environment, with potential for travel depending on project needs.

Compensation:

(\$65,000 - \$85,000/annually). Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

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.

Cookies:

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Benefits:

• 10 paid sick leave
• 10 U.S. holidays
• 20-25 generous paid time off based on role and tenure
• medical insurance starting at \$163/month
• dental starting at \$6.50/month
• vision starting at \$5/month
• flexible spending accounts (healthcare, dependent care, and commuter)
• a 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match (immediate vesting) along with a non-elective employer contribution based on age and years of service (3-year vesting)
• disability and life insurance
• an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential counseling and support services for employees and their families

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives have been shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and rebuild. We are trusted for our ability to reach people in the toughest places, put our clients at the center of everything we do, and - as an evidence-based organization - to relentlessly improve the impact we deliver for those we serve. If you’re ready to be part of a team that brings ingenuity, fortitude and optimism to making a lasting impact, we want to hear from you. The IRC Way, our code of conduct, is founded upon our core values of Integrity, Accountability, Service and Equality. These values unite IRC staff around the world and keep our programs firmly directed towards the well‑being of our clients while meeting the expectations of our donors as responsible stewards of their resources.