Deputy Director of Operations - DDO
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Role Summary
Join the International Rescue Committee as Deputy Director of Operations in Venezuela, leading humanitarian efforts amidst ongoing crises.
About the Organisation
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in almost 40 countries and several U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
As the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela continues, the risk of hyperinflation and mobility restrictions severely constrain access to basic goods and services. To date, around 8 million Venezuelans have left the country. IRC has responded to the crisis by supporting Venezuelans within Venezuela and across the larger diaspora, providing health, nutrition, WASH, economic recovery, protection, and education services. This response became even more urgent on June 24, 2026, when a pair of major earthquakes (magnitude 7.2 and 7.5) struck Venezuela’s densely populated northern coast near Caracas and La Guaira, collapsing buildings, killing and injuring thousands, and severely damaging health facilities and power and water systems. IRC has scaled up an emergency response alongside its existing programming to meet the acute needs created by the earthquakes, adding significant operational demands to an already complex humanitarian context. Simultaneously, escalating violence and armed conflict have created severe protection risks in Colombia and Ecuador. This escalation of violence compounds existing pressures in both countries from hosting 2.8M and 441,000 Venezuelan migrants, respectively. Across the region, the escalation in violence and conflict is now driving new waves of internal displacement or confinement, directly disrupting access to services, deteriorating health and protective systems, and increasing gaps in care provision. In this context, IRC works, together with local organizations, to support conflict-affected communities in Colombia and Ecuador, and earthquake- and crisis-affected communities in Venezuela, to access basic goods and services including education, health and protection.
Minimum Requirements
- At least five years of progressively responsible international work experience, including at least three years in a leadership role at the Deputy Director level of multi-site, multi-sectoral operations in a complex, insecure operating environment
- Experience working on emergency operations office start-up, including natural disaster or rapid-onset emergency response
- Demonstrated successful leadership and management experience with a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural setting, including active mentoring and coaching
- Proven experience delivering appropriate levels oversight of a portfolio consisting of a variety of complex, high-value donor-funded projects
- Substantial experience managing security in a fluid, high-risk environment;
- Demonstrated ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy and sound judgment in dynamic, fast-changing and access-constrained contexts;
- Ability to work, live and thrive in a complex, insecure environment;
- Skilled at building trusting effective relationships and coordinating operations within a large, geographically dispersed team
- Strong budget and fiscal oversight capacities
- Established capacity to deal with ambiguity in stressful situations
- Ability to respond to multiple, simultaneous priorities across different country contexts in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes
- Previous experience working in region and/or with IRC preferred
- Fluency in Spanish and English required.
- Excellent leadership, people management, interpersonal and negotiation skills and a demonstrated ability to develop harmonious teams in a cross-cultural, multi-country context.
- Strong negotiation skills with contractors and vendors.
- Experience in IT is strongly preferred.
- Regional experience is preferred.
- Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.*
- Working Environment: 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 or disability.*
- Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.*
Eligibility Criteria
This position is only open to national candidates or those with current residency in Venezuela.
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