Job Background / Overview:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The External Relations (ER) department includes private fundraising, marketing & communications and advocacy. ER’s goal is to mobilize external audiences to raise funding to meet core organization needs deliver programs that support our clients to recover and gain control of their lives; influence policy changes to improve outcomes for our clients; and build and grow our global brand. 

The Senior Officer, Prospect Research & Management, sits within External Relations’ Prospect Research & Management team, playing a key role in supporting the IRC’s sustainability by shaping team-level strategies and contributing to broader PRM planning. They are responsible for delivering advanced research and analysis, aligning research strategies with organizational goals, and providing expert strategic advice to senior staff and frontline fundraisers on US-based donors. The Senior Officer takes ownership of strategic initiatives within their operational area, mentors junior colleagues, and ensures the quality and alignment of research outputs with fundraising objectives. The right candidate will build and sustain positive relationships across internal teams and external vendors, while driving superior research and prospect management services that ultimately increase philanthropic support for our clients. 

Major Responsibilities: 

• Produce and oversee the quality of confidential biographical, financial, and due diligence research profiles on US-based HNWI donors and prospects, applying advanced online and electronic sources and ensuring outputs meet the highest standards;

• Lead high-value pipeline development for fundraisers focused on the US market, applying sophisticated prospecting methodologies to identify, rate, and qualify HNWI donors capable of transformational financial support;

• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to senior frontline fundraising colleagues in the US, aligning research strategies with organizational goals and providing expert input on donor and prospect management to drive increased support for the IRC’s clients; 

• Develop and implement data-driven research strategies that align with organizational goals, integrating qualitative analyses and sector trends into actionable plans for prospect/donor management, opportunity development, and maximized revenue;

• Drive innovation in tools and methods supporting prospect research and portfolio management, including relationship mapping, analytics, and other appropriate metrics; proactively identify and evaluate new tools to meet strategic needs, and lead on process improvement initiatives within operational areas;

• Manage and optimise a suite of resources (e.g. CRM, subscription databases, media tools) to respond to strategic opportunities, and contribute to the procurement and development of new tools in line with team priorities;

• Lead and manage special projects (e.g. vendor screenings, data mining, ad hoc reports, process pilots) and conduct proactive research initiatives that anticipate business challenges and contribute to team-wide problem-solving;

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with prospect research-adjacent teams (Philanthropy account managers, Program Services team) at a senior level, actively seeking and incorporating stakeholder feedback to ensure alignment between operational needs and business objectives;

• Provide line management to PRM Manager and colleagues where feasible/appropriate, supporting their professional development, refining their research outputs, and fostering an inclusive and collaborative team environment.

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree strongly preferred or equivalent experience  (ideally  5+ years) applying quantitative and qualitative analysis and business intelligence in support of non-profit fundraising, with demonstrable expertise in US markets and an understanding of broader philanthropic trends;

• Proficiency in internet search engines and sophisticated search techniques, fundraising software, and data retrieval services (e.g. LexisNexis, iWave, Foundation Directory, etc.); able to evaluate and recommend new tools to meet strategic needs; strong MS Office skills (Word, Outlook, and Excel in particular). 

• Proven experience working with a relational database, preferably Salesforce; able to produce and maintain documentation to support team protocols.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Advanced research and database management skills (Salesforce); able to lead on development and documentation of team protocols and best practices;

• Ability to analyze, interpret, synthesize, and present complex data to senior stakeholders, translating findings into clear, actionable recommendations that align with business objectives;

• Ability to develop and lead proactive prospecting methodologies and strategic research initiatives that support organizational goals, including advanced data mining, sophisticated constituent database queries, and process improvement;

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to present detailed findings to senior stakeholders and to support junior colleagues in developing their own communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Desired Qualifications: 

• Understanding of philanthropic trends and their impacts on the humanitarian aid sector, with the ability to anticipate challenges and translate this knowledge into strategic advantage for the team

• Knowledge of emerging concepts and practices in the field of strategic philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, Public Private Partnerships, and impact investing, particularly as it relates to U.S. entities; 

• Strong interpersonal and time-management skills; demonstrated ability to independently manage timelines, set appropriate expectations with stakeholders, and support junior staff in prioritizing workloads;

• Proven ability to act with sensitivity and discretion while working with highly confidential information, modelling best practice for junior colleagues;

• Prior experience working at an international organization, with an appreciation of the complexities of operating across multiple markets and stakeholder groups.

Working Environment: 

This role may require working remotely full- or part-time (i.e., telecommuting). Applicants must have a home or alternate workspace they can effectively complete their work from during regularly scheduled hours.

Compensation: (Pay Range: $85,000-$90,000/yr) Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. 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.