Organizational Context

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is a global ministry of the Society of Jesus, acting as an international non-governmental organisation with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. Founded in November 1980 JRS is now present in more than 50 countries. Its operations are currently structured across three levels: locally through project and country offices, regionally through regional offices, and globally with the support, coordination and guidance of the International Office.

In response to a rapidly changing humanitarian context and significantly reduced funding, JRS is reshaping how to operate in a new and less favourable environment for migration and international solidarity.

Local operations, organised in functional and sustainable Country Offices, remain at the heart of JRS’s work. They ensure needs-based interventions and accompaniment rooted in close engagement with forcibly displaced migrants and refugees.

At global level, support is organised through global functions that bring together the essential processes, systems and expertise needed for JRS to operate effectively as one organisation. These include resource mobilisation, sound operations, and mission-driven programmatic support. They will be delivered through a Virtual Global Office (VGO), in which staff based in different locations work as part of globally coordinated teams with shared priorities, clear mandates and common operational focus.

The VGO is structured around five global functions: Global Management of Operations, Global Resource Mobilisation, Global Mission-Oriented Transformation, Global Strategic Leadership, and Global Management Support.

Operational Context

Technology has become mission-critical for the humanitarian sector. Humanitarian needs and forced displacement are growing at an unprecedented pace, driven by protracted conflicts, climate change, and systemic inequality, while financial resources are shrinking sharply and permanently. This widening gap cannot be closed by doing “more of the same.” It can only be addressed by empowering mission-driven, capable people with the right technology: tools that increase reach, efficiency, accountability, and learning, while protecting the dignity and rights of those we serve.

For JRS technology is a strategic enabler not an end in itself. Digital systems are intended to strengthen accompaniment, protection, service delivery, and advocacy with and for forcibly displaced people. Digital systems support better coordination across a global organisation, enable evidence-based decision-making, and allow staff to spend less time on administration and more time accompanying people on the move. At the same time, technology must be deployed thoughtfully and ethically, given real risks related to data protection, cybersecurity, dependency on private platforms, and digital exclusion.

JRS’s Global Strategic Framework (2024–2029) places learning and technology at the centre of organisational renewal. It calls for a stronger digital identity, improved data collection and analysis, adoption of global systems, and more effective horizontal communication. The Framework also recognises the need for clear governance and responsible use.

Current digital landscape

JRS operates with a limited but coherent global digital foundation. JRS has one Global IT platform, which is Microsoft SharePoint, on which half of JRS offices save, exchange and collaborate on data. The platform is enhanced by a Knowledge Management System (KMS) and an Information Management System (IMS). In addition, JRS makes use of a customised Moodle Platform for induction and staff training and specific technology for external and internal communication. While this landscape provides a solid starting point, it requires further efforts to follow through with adaptation and strengthening.

Role of the It and Digital Transformation Specialist

The role leads JRS’s organisation-wide digital, IT, systems, infrastructure, and information security agenda. It is responsible for developing and implementing a coherent digital and IT strategy, strengthening governance and cybersecurity, overseeing core platforms and cloud services, and ensuring systems are secure, integrated, cost-effective, and aligned with organisational priorities.

The role also coordinates IT operations, system rollouts, vendor management, digital support for communications and fundraising, and engagement with global, regional, and country stakeholders to ensure practical, consistent, and context-appropriate delivery across JRS.

Key responsibilities

1. Digital and IT strategy

• Design and operationalise JRS’s organisation-wide digital and IT strategy, ensuring alignment with the Global Strategic Framework and organisational restructuring.

• Drive the design and implementation of sequenced roadmaps for systems, data, infrastructure, and security, working with country offices to support adoption and ensure delivery across diverse operational contexts, in line with global requirements.

• Provide strategic advice to global leadership on digital risks, opportunities, and trade-offs, particularly in contexts of constrained resources.

1. Cross-cutting IT governance and information security

• Establish and maintain a coherent IT governance framework, including clear decision-making and prioritisation processes, covering:

• Cybersecurity and information security

• Business continuity and disaster recovery

• Data protection and privacy

• IT procurement, vendor selection, and contract management

• Risk management and compliance

• Lead prioritisation and sequencing of IT and security improvements, recognising resource constraints (budget, capacity, time), and define realistic, phased approaches that balance operational needs with risk exposure.

• Propose practical alternatives and mitigation measures where full solutions cannot be implemented immediately, ensuring that risks are reduced and managed appropriately in the interim.

• Oversee information security policies, standards, and incident response, in coordination with JRS security functions and relevant stakeholders.

• Ensure consistent application of IT and security policies across regions and offices, adapted to different operating contexts, infrastructure limitations, and levels of digital maturity.

1. Business process analysis and systems integration

• Lead and coordinate business process analysis across core organisational functions, including:

• Planning and project cycle management

• Grants management and donor reporting

• Finance and ERP processes

• Human Resources and people management

• Knowledge and information management

• Regularly scan the digital landscape to identify emerging tools, services, and threats, and research and propose solutions that can strengthen JRS’s mission, effectiveness, and security.

• Promote common data standards and interoperability between systems (IMS, ERP, CRM, HR, KMS, etc.).

1. Core systems, cloud platforms, and infrastructure oversight

• Provide strategic leadership and governance over JRS’s Microsoft ecosystem and infrastructure (include learning system) including Microsoft 365, Azure, Entra ID (identity and access management), Intune, SharePoint, Teams, Power Platform, and security tooling (e.g. Defender, Purview). Ensure alignment with organisational learning, safeguarding, compliance, and capacity-strengthening priorities.

• Oversee architecture decisions, licensing strategy, tenant governance, data classification, and security configurations to balance cost, usability, and risk.

• Provide strategic oversight of JRS’s core digital platforms and infrastructure, including:

• Information Management Systems (IMS)

• ERP and finance platforms (e.g. Business Central)

• Knowledge Management Systems

• CRM and fundraising systems

• Provide strategic oversight of JRS’s Learning Management System (LMS), including Moodle or equivalent platforms, ensuring alignment with organisational learning, safeguarding, compliance, and capacity-strengthening priorities. Ensure the LMS supports global onboarding, mandatory training (e.g. safeguarding, code of conduct, security), professional development, and communities of practice across regions.

• Work in close coordination with operational IT and infrastructure functions to ensure continuity, performance, and scalability.

1. Communications and fundraising digital enablement and JRS websites

• Ensure that the digital needs of Communications and Fundraising functions are fully reflected in IT planning and operational support, including:

• Oversight, coordination and decision making around JRS website environments, in line with global website policy.

• Governance and support for domains and DNS configuration for communications and fundraising services.

• Strategic and operational support for CRM and fundraising tools,

1. Coordination of IT operations and stakeholder engagement

• Ensure global IT standards, policies, and best practices are applied consistently across JRS adapted to operational context where needed.

• Lead and coordinate system rollouts, upgrades, and major changes, ensuring clear communications, change management, and user support.

• Ensure implementation of IT asset management and helpdesk functions, including tools, processes, and performance oversight.

• Coordinate and strengthen the global IT community of practice, fostering collaboration, shared learning, and consistent approaches across offices.

• Oversee and manage vendor relationships and external service providers, including performance monitoring, contract oversight, and service quality assurance.

• Act as a key interface between Global Operations leadership, other global functions, and country offices on digital, IT, and information security priorities, ensuring alignment, responsiveness, and practical delivery.

• Support planning, prioritisation, and budgeting processes for digital, IT, and security investments, including resource forecasting and cost-effective sequencing of initiatives.

Required qualifications and experience

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in IT management, digital transformation, or technology-enabled organisational change; or a Master’s degree with relevant specialisation with a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience.

• Experience designing, governing, and optimising enterprise-scale Microsoft environments, including Microsoft 365 and Azure, identity and access management, security, collaboration, information management, and cloud services.

• Demonstrated experience leading or contributing to Microsoft-based digital consolidation, migration, or standardisation initiatives, such as tenant consolidation, cloud migration, or legacy system retirement.

• Experience contributing to the design and implementation of digital transformation initiatives, with the ability and mindset to grow into a strategic leadership role.

• Strong understanding of organisational development, change management, and the relationship between technology, people, and processes.

• Proven ability to translate operational needs into practical digital solutions, systems, and governance frameworks.

• Experience in data strategy, digital governance, and systems integration.

• Strong strategic thinking, analytical skills, and ability to define long-term digital priorities.

• Knowledge of humanitarian or INGO contexts, including the challenges of under-resourcing and complex operating environments.

• Microsoft certifications, such as Azure or Microsoft 365, are an asset.

Desirable skills and competencies

• Experience leading digital transformation in mission-driven, decentralised, or resource-constrained organisations.

• Familiarity with information management for humanitarian operations.

• Experience with cloud-based architectures, AI, analytics, or digital platforms for frontline programming.

• Experience working with culturally diverse and geographically dispersed teams.

• Strong stakeholder engagement, communication, prioritisation, and change management skills.

Other requirements:

• Based in Rome, Italy

• Availability to travel for at least 6 weeks per year to other JRS offices worldwide

Core values and ethics

• Commitment to JRS’s mission, vision and values; ability to convey with enthusiasm JRS’s role in accompanying and serving forcibly displaced people and to advocate for their right to protection and a life in dignity

• High integrity, honesty and confidentiality; ability to deal tactfully and discreetly with people, situations and information

• Acceptance of diversity and inclusion as a core value

Terms and Conditions

Successful candidates will be offered a regular Italian contract, . The gross annual salary range for this position starts at EUR 55,000 , and will be adjusted commensurate with experience and qualifications.

How to apply

All applicants are requested to submit the following documents:

1. A cover letter describing the candidate’s desire and motivation to work for JRS and how her/his qualifications and experience are a good fit for this position

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English, including three (3) professional references with contact information, phone and email address.

JRS International Office is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We believe that diversity enriches our organization and strengthens our ability to serve refugees worldwide. We actively encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, including those historically underrepresented in the humanitarian sector, to apply. We are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where all staff members feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute to our mission of accompanying and serving refugees with compassion and solidarity.

How to apply

Apply using this link: IT and Digital Transformation Senior Specialist | JRS - Jesuit Refugee Service