Project Officer – Belarusian Refugee & Migrant Support

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.

In Poland, IRC has been present since February 2022, delivering multi-sectoral assistance to refugees and vulnerable host communities. As part of its response strategy, IRC Poland is launching a project to support Belarusian migrants and refugees in Poland in partnership with Belarusian-led or Belarusian-focused NGOs. The project will strengthen integration, improve access to services, and promote resilience of the Belarusian community in Poland.

We are seeking a Project Officer to lead the day-to-day management, coordination, and oversight of this initiative. The Officer will ensure timely and high-quality implementation of activities, maintain strong collaboration with Belarusian partners, and contribute to IRC’s broader strategy for refugee and migrant integration in Poland.

Major Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Project Management & Implementation
• Coordinate daily operations of the Belarusian support project in compliance with IRC and donor standards.
• Lead planning, execution, and monitoring of activities in close collaboration with partner NGOs.
• Conduct needs assessments to identify gaps in protection, integration, and service access.
• Organize legal information sessions, integration workshops, and cross-sectoral activities (e.g., rule of law, WPE, economic empowerment, education).
• Facilitate community-based protection initiatives such as peer-support groups, cultural events, and information campaigns.

Partnerships & Capacity Strengthening
• Act as the primary liaison for Belarusian partner organizations.
• Support partner capacity building in compliance, reporting, safeguarding, and financial accountability.
• Ensure transparent communication and co-design community engagement strategies with partners.
• Lead joint assessments and participatory needs analyses to inform programming.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
• Track progress against workplans, indicators, and budgets.
• Support data collection, documentation of lessons learned, and donor reporting.
• Conduct surveys and focus group discussions with Belarusian communities.
• Perform regular field visits to community hubs and partner activities in Warsaw, Wrocław, and other regions.

Coordination & Representation
• Represent IRC in coordination meetings with Polish stakeholders, municipalities, and INGOs.
• Build relationships with community leaders, service providers, and local authorities.
• Coordinate with government entities to improve access to services, education, legal aid, and livelihoods.

Business Growth & Fundraising
• Identify funding opportunities relevant to Belarusian refugee and migrant support.
• Contribute to proposal development and donor engagement with the Partnerships and Grants team.
• Document impact and success stories to support advocacy and fundraising.
• Share intelligence on emerging donors and partnerships to inform IRC Poland’s business development strategy.
• Explore sustainability options for Belarusian-focused initiatives beyond the current project cycle.

Qualifications

• University degree in social sciences, project management, international development, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in project or partnership management within humanitarian or development settings.
• Experience working with migrant/refugee communities, preferably Belarusian or Eastern European groups.
• Familiarity with Polish legal and social frameworks affecting Belarusian refugees.
• Strong coordination, organizational, and communication skills.
• Knowledge of donor compliance and monitoring frameworks is an asset.
• Fluency in Polish, English, and Belarusian; Russian is an advantage.

Key Competencies
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Problem-solving mindset with adaptability in complex environments.
• Commitment to IRC’s values, humanitarian principles, and safeguarding standards.

Working Environment
• Hybrid role based in Warsaw or Wrocław, Poland.
• Travel required within Poland and occasionally abroad.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.