Volunteer roles for the International Development sector
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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 organisations, at work in more than 40 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Americas and Europe, 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.
IRC UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its global headquarters in New York. Our team in the UK works to deliver funding, policy and practice change, and programming. We are dedicated to supporting people across the arc of crisis – from conflict to refuge to resettlement – and since 2021, IRC UK has also provided integration services directly to refugees in the UK. We aim to centre the voice of our clients in all our work, including by working with a Community Advisory Board of 12 refugees and asylum seekers in the UK to ensure their experience and expertise shapes our UK programmes.
IRC UK’s Board of Trustees
Our Board of Trustees are responsible for overall good governance of IRC UK and supporting us to deliver against our strategic plan in areas such as programmes, fundraising, policy and advocacy, communications, people and culture, finance and operations. As of May 2026, we have 11 Trustees with a broad range of experience and expertise across areas relevant to IRC UK’s work, ensuring as a collective they can perform their strategic, supervisory and governance duties well.
The roles
In 2025, we saw a dramatic collapse in international aid and a retreat from global cooperation, despite unprecedented levels of humanitarian need. This trend is continuing at pace in 2026 with rapidly escalating global conflict amplified by climate change and entrenched poverty. In the UK, we are working to protect the rights of refugees in an increasingly challenging media and political environment.
In this context, we are seeking two new Trustees to lend skills and expertise in areas which we have identified as critical to strengthening the Board’s capability for the years ahead. These will replace Trustees nearing the ends of their terms. The successful candidate(s) will have:
Essential experience:
· Senior leadership experience within a complex international and matrix-structured organisation (charity, NGO, public, private);
· Strong leadership skills, and the ability to support and challenge executive leadership (including the ability to think critically and ask the right questions);
· Strong cross-cultural awareness and a commitment to role-modelling and advancing diversity, equality and inclusion;
· High standards of integrity and accountability;
· Ability to understand and interpret complex information pertaining to IRC UK’s financial position, risk and performance;
· Ability to work collaboratively with others; and
· An interest and willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to successfully deliver this role.
Desirable experience:
· Experience in or understanding of the international development or UK charity sector;
· Experience operating at Board or equivalent strategic level;
· Strong networks and willingness to make connections which advance IRC UK’s charitable purpose, particularly in high-value fundraising.
We are particularly interested to hear from candidates who can demonstrate any of the following:
- Strategic understanding of refugee issues in the UK, including asylum, resettlement and integration, to support IRC UK in deepening the impact and reach of its programmes and advocacy.
- Digital expertise and networks, including an understanding of the rapidly evolving technology landscape and networks across technology, social media and digital marketing.
- Philanthropy and partnerships experience, including strong connections across UK foundations, trusts and the wider philanthropic sector.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
The mission of the IRC is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Kaleidoscope Trust is a UK-based international charity working for a future where LGBTI+ people everywhere can live free, safe and equal lives. For more than 13 years, we have worked in partnership with governments, activists and community organisations to provide funding, capacity building, research and advocacy support to grassroots movements across the Commonwealth and beyond. In the UK, we work across politics, diplomacy and civil society to ensure LGBTI+ rights remain a central part of the UK’s foreign policy and are championed within international institutions.
We are operating at a defining moment for global LGBTI+ rights. Across many countries, hard-won freedoms are being challenged by increasingly organised anti-rights movements, shrinking civic space and growing political hostility. Yet this period also demands ambition, resilience and solidarity. Having navigated a period of significant challenge, Kaleidoscope Trust has emerged with renewed strategic focus, strengthened partnerships and a clear commitment to supporting LGBTI+ organisations on the frontlines of change.
This next chapter includes the work of our Global LGBTI+ Rights Commission, bringing together research, advocacy and convening power to better understand and respond to the global rollback of rights. We continue to believe progress is possible when communities, governments and civil society work together – and we are looking for a Chair who shares that belief and can help lead Kaleidoscope Trust through this critical period.
We are now looking for a new Chair to lead our Board at this pivotal moment. Our Chair is responsible for ensuring that the board operates effectively and oversees a clear strategic direction for the charity, providing ambassadorial leadership as needed and constructive, supportive partnership with our CEO, Alex Farrow and our Senior Leadership Team. But critically, they will be a calm voice and fierce advocate as we navigate this rapidly shifting landscape.
We’re looking for someone familiar navigating complex human rights systems with the ability to foster high performing governance that enables our team to build connections and to recalibrate for best impact. The successful person will have prior Chair or non-executive experience, or at a minimum sustained Director-level board exposure. They will be an enabling, facilitative leader able to foster robust debate and decision-making, they will be comfortable advocating for the rights of LGBTI+ people and supporting our charity to remain financially sustainable and adaptive to evolving risk.
It’s important to us that as a Board, we represent the people that we are working to support. We know that diverse boards are the most effective, they can think creatively and hold each other to account, therefore we are particularly looking for applications from trans people, women, People of the Global Majority, people without a degree, working class people and people of faith.
Download the candidate pack for the full role profile and assessment process, and for a conversation about the opportunity, please contact Tanya Stevens at our search partner All Leaders.
This is a voluntary, hybrid position requiring attendance at several board meetings per year at Kaleidoscope’s London offices, several online sub-committee meetings, with wider remote advisory support totalling 10-15 days per year. The Chair commits to a three year term, which is once renewable. Travel expenses for interviews and board commitments will be covered as required. Discussions regarding access needs are welcome.
The closing date for applications is midday on Tuesday, 23 June.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.