Senior Consultant – Strategic Planning

IIRR; New York (NY); Remote; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in rural development is seeking a seasoned consultant to lead the creation of a transformative 5-year strategic framework. This role involves engaging with various stakeholders to assess current strategies, design actionable plans, and ensure alignment with global development trends. The consultant will play a crucial role in shaping the future of IIRR's impactful initiatives, ensuring they are funder-ready and sustainable. If you have a passion for rural development and a proven track record in strategic planning, this is an exciting opportunity to make a significant difference in communities worldwide.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in strategic planning for international NGOs.
• Expertise in facilitation and participatory planning methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate an inclusive strategic planning process with diverse stakeholders.
• Design and draft a dynamic strategic framework for IIRR's growth.

Skills

Strategic Planning

Facilitation

Stakeholder Engagement

Analytical Skills

Participatory Planning Methodologies

Job description

Location: Remote (with potential travel)

Contract Type: Consultancy (6 months)

Application Deadline: [rolling]

About IIRR

IIRR is a global leader in rural development, working across Africa, Asia, and Latin America to strengthen communities through education, agriculture, health, and resilience-building programs. For over 100 years, IIRR has empowered rural populations with innovative, community-led solutions.

As we enter our next phase of growth and impact, IIRR seeks an experienced senior consultant to lead the development of our next 5-year strategic framework (2025-2030)—one that is dynamic, actionable, and aligned with the evolving global development landscape.

Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for:

• Facilitating an inclusive strategic planning process that integrates perspectives from IIRR’s leadership, board, staff, partners, and communities.
• Assessing IIRR’s current strategic positioning, leveraging insights from internal evaluations, sectoral trends, and emerging global development priorities.
• Designing and drafting a forward-looking strategic framework that is actionable, funder-ready, and impact-driven.
• Developing clear strategic pillars, measurable outcomes, and implementation roadmaps to guide IIRR’s growth over the next five years.
• Ensuring the strategic plan aligns with donor priorities, funding trends, and institutional growth needs.
• Incorporating innovative financing models and sustainability strategies into the plan to enhance IIRR’s long-term viability.

Qualifications & Experience

• At least 10 years of experience leading strategic planning processes for international NGOs.
• Proven expertise in facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and participatory planning methodologies.
• Deep understanding of rural development or related areas, global development funding landscapes, and INGO operational models.
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills, with the ability to translate complex insights into a clear and compelling strategy.
• Experience in writing high-level strategy documents with an understanding of donor expectations.
• Prior experience working with INGOs focused on rural development, climate resilience, agriculture, or education is a strong advantage.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining alignment with IIRR’s leadership and key stakeholders.