Executive Director - HELIX: The Humanitarian What Works Centre

HELIX: The Humanitarian What Works Centre is a new joint initiative between Elrha and International Rescue Committee's (IRC) Airbel Impact Lab, established to identify, adapt and scale solutions to some of the most complex challenges facing people affected by humanitarian crises. As Executive Director, you will provide the strategic, operational and external leadership needed to establish HELIX as a globally recognised force for humanitarian change.

Are you an exceptional leader with a deep understanding of the humanitarian system and a track record of turning ambitious ideas into meaningful impact? Can you bring together researchers, innovators, practitioners, donors and policymakers to tackle the barriers that prevent proven solutions from reaching scale? Are you ready to lead a pioneering initiative that combines research, innovation, operational insight and systems change to transform outcomes for people affected by crisis?

Join us at a pivotal moment in HELIX's development. As Executive Director, you will shape the vision, strategy and culture of a new global centre, bringing together the complementary strengths of Elrha and IRC Airbel to create something neither organisation could achieve alone. You will act as HELIX's global figurehead, driving influence, partnerships and investment while ensuring the Centre delivers high-quality evidence, innovation and impact at scale.

We're looking for someone who is:

• An exceptional executive leader with experience leading complex programmes, centres or organisations operating at scale, and a track record of delivering strategic impact.
• Deeply experienced in the humanitarian sector, with strong knowledge of humanitarian systems, financing, policy drivers, and how research and innovation can influence practice and drive change.
• A recognised thought leader and convenor, able to challenge assumptions, shape sector thinking, and build influential relationships across humanitarian, research, policy and innovation communities.
• Experienced in building and leading partnerships, with a proven ability to bring together diverse stakeholders and create outcomes that no single organisation could achieve alone.
• A strategic fundraiser and relationship builder, with experience securing and stewarding significant funding and developing long-term partnerships with institutional, philanthropic and other donors.
• Experienced in establishing and growing ambitious initiatives, with the ability to build teams, governance structures, systems and cultures that enable high performance and innovation.
• A bold and creative thinker, comfortable working across sectors and disciplines to identify new approaches to persistent humanitarian challenges and unlock pathways to scale.

If you want to be part of an organisation that creates positive change in the humanitarian sector, then join us and we'll give you every opportunity to succeed.

We strive to be an inclusive employer and particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups, people with lived experience of humanitarian crisis, and candidates from low- and middle-income countries.

We will be able to offer visa sponsorship if the preferred candidate does not already have the right to work in the UK. Relocation assistance is available, subject to conditions.

Please read through the Candidate Pack and Job Description for additional detail about the role.

Closing date: Applications will close on Wednesday 16 December 2026 at 23:59 GMT. Elrha reserves the right to close applications up to 2 weeks early should sufficient suitable applications be received.

Interview dates: Week commencing 4th January 2027 (1st stage - online)