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BACKGROUND
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 (INGOs), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities, helping people survive, reclaim control of their futures, 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, join us in positively impacting the lives of millions worldwide toward a better future.
The IRC was present in Sudan from 1981 to 2009. In November 2019, the IRC re-registered in Sudan and opened a main office in Khartoum, with programming beginning in 2020. The IRC expanded into non-SAF-controlled regions of Darfur and South Kordofan in 2024. It is currently operational in Al Jazeera, White Nile, Gedaref, River Nile, Blue Nile, South Kordofan, West Darfur, Central Darfur, and North Darfur states, including a satellite office in Tunaydbah (Gedaref). The IRC’s impact groups are vulnerable individuals impacted by conflict and crisis, including women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, refugees, mixed populations, and host communities.
Since the outbreak of war in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the country has spiraled into relentless violence, institutional collapse, and mass displacement. Despite multiple ceasefire announcements, violence has continued for nearly two and a half years, displacing over 12 million people across all 18 states. Sudan is facing one of the most complex and devastating humanitarian crises in the world today.
More than 30 million people now require humanitarian assistance, and around 25 million people face acute food insecurity, including 770,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Damage to infrastructure, supply shortages, and restricted humanitarian access continue to severely hinder the humanitarian response. In response to increasing needs, the IRC has scaled up its humanitarian efforts despite immense challenges. The IRC supports Sudanese communities, within the country and across national borders.
The project is expected to run for the duration of the World Bank-financed award (exact start date and duration to be confirmed on award).
Project Director Scope of Work
The IRC is seeking a Project Director for an upcoming World Bank-funded health project in Sudan. The project is intended to restore access to a basic package of health and nutrition services and preserve the main elements of essential public health functions in Sudan.
The project is expected to run from February 2027 for 3 years.
This position is open to expatriates.
The Project Director provides overall strategic, technical, managerial, and fiduciary leadership for the IRC’s implementation of the project, and is the primary accountability holder for delivery against the project’s development objective, results framework, and all World Bank fiduciary and environmental/social safeguard requirements.
The Project Director serves as the IRC’s principal representative to the Ministry of Health PMU and the World Bank task team, reporting to the IRC Sudan Country Director.
The postholder provides overall leadership, management, and coordination across all project components, ensuring alignment with the annual workplan and budget agreed with the World Bank. He/she serves as primary liaison with the MoH PMU, World Bank Task Team Leader, UN agencies (WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA), donors, and other implementing partners, and is personally accountable to the World Bank for fiduciary integrity, ensuring full compliance with World Bank procurement, financial management, environmental/social, and anti-corruption requirements. The postholder leads preparation of progress reporting to the MoH PMU and World Bank, and presents results to project governance structures.
The Project Director oversees adaptive management, including project restructuring proposals, component reallocations, and workplan revisions in response to the operating context, and ensures the application of do-no-harm, conflict-sensitive, and gender-transformative approaches across all activities, championing GBV/SEA/SH prevention protocols. The postholder builds and maintains strategic relationships with state health authorities and local civil society, represents the project at national health coordination forums, and directly manages the senior project team, including conducting performance reviews and resolving HR issues in line with national labour law and World Bank ESS2 requirements.
Requirements
Medical degree (MD) or advanced degree in public health, health policy, or health systems management — Master’s or Doctorate preferred.
Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in international health, with at least 7 years in senior leadership/management roles in fragile, conflict-affected, or violence-affected (FCV) contexts.
Demonstrated prior experience implementing World Bank Investment Project Financing (IPF) projects — essential; familiarity with World Bank Procurement Regulations, financial management, and Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) requirements.
Proven experience managing complex, multi-component health programmes (US$15M+), with a track record of on-time, on-budget delivery in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
Demonstrated capacity to manage multi-stakeholder environments including government counterparts, UN agencies, donors, and INGO sub-partners.
Familiarity with World Bank ESF, Procurement Regulations, Financial Management Guidelines, and Anti-Corruption Guidelines; personal commitment to zero tolerance on SEA/SH, fraud, and corruption.
Fluency in Arabic is preferred and English required.
Please note that this position will be contingent on the outcome of the bid.
Safety & Security Situation: All staff must comply with all IRC Sudan security policies and procedures.
Standards for Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation. The worker will be expected to align to and assure project adherence to IRC’s internal policies, guidelines and ethics as well as the World Bank’s code of conduct and compliance requirements.
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.
How to apply
https://theirc.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/External_Careers/job/Project-Director_JR00004708