Procurement Manager, Emerging Technology and Digital Innovation Procurement

The International Rescue Committee is a global humanitarian aid, relief and development nongovernmental organization.

Procurement Manager, Emerging Technology and Digital Innovation Procurement

Position Overview

• The Procurement Manager, Emerging Technology and Digital Innovation Procurement supports fast-moving technology sourcing needs across IRC, with a focus on early-stage digital innovation, pilots, proofs of concept, trials, and emerging tools. The role helps teams test and evaluate new technology quickly while maintaining procurement discipline, vendor due diligence, risk review, documentation, and compliance.

• For this role, “digital innovation” refers to early-stage, small-scale, fast-moving technology initiatives where IRC teams are testing a new idea, tool, platform, vendor, or digital approach before deciding whether to scale. The portfolio covers AI and generative AI tools where applicable, SaaS and digital platforms, automation, data and analytics, migration and testing tools, cybersecurity tools, collaboration platforms, digital service delivery tools, field and mobile technology, low-code and no-code platforms, and other emerging digital solutions.

• This role is an execution-focused, hands-on individual contributor role. It enables IRC to move quickly on emerging technology and digital innovation requests without bypassing procurement controls, vendor due diligence, information security, data protection, legal review, donor compliance, or documentation requirements. The Procurement Manager serves as the day-to-day procurement focal point for these requests

Key Responsibilities

Emerging Technology and Digital Innovation Sourcing Execution

• Provide hands-on sourcing support for pilots, trials, proofs of concept, small-scale SaaS, emerging vendors, startup-style tools, and digital innovation requests across IRC.

• Execute sourcing activities in line with the IT category strategy and under the guidance of the Senior Category Manager, IT.

• Conduct early market scans and market intelligence for emerging tools, vendors, pricing models, and digital innovation categories.

• Support requirements gathering, supplier identification, RFI/RFQ/RFP preparation, evaluation support, award recommendation, and contract finalization.

• Build supplier visibility for innovation and emerging technology vendors, including startup and niche providers that may later become larger enterprise solutions.

• Help bring new tools into proper procurement channels, reducing shadow IT, credit-card purchasing, and unmanaged technology spend.

• Support SaaS rationalization, renewal planning, demand management, and license optimization at the innovation and pilot tier.

• Help business teams translate technical needs into clear scopes of work, evaluation criteria, and vendor questions.

Pilot, Trial, and Proof-of-Concept Procurement Frameworks

• Build and maintain a lightweight, repeatable procurement pathway for pilots, trials, and proofs of concept.

• Develop checklists, decision tools, and methodology for short-term technology engagements.

• Define the minimum documentation required before a pilot, trial, or proof of concept can begin.

• Maintain clear approval checkpoints and escalation criteria so teams understand when a pilot can proceed and when it requires further review.

• Track emerging technology requests from intake through pilot, decision, and possible scale-up.

• Ensure required reviews and approvals are completed and all necessary checks are documented before tools are tested or used.

• Help document whether a pilot should end, continue, scale, or move into a formal sourcing process.

• Coordinate NDAs and pre-procurement documentation when teams need to test or evaluate multiple tools before selecting a vendor.

• Ensure pilots and trials are set up in a way that allows long-term success if IRC later moves to a larger phase or formal sourcing process.

AI-Enabled and High-Risk Technology Procurement Support

• Support sourcing for AI-enabled tools as part of the broader emerging technology portfolio, applied only when AI functionality is in scope.

• For AI-enabled tools, support the application of IRC’s AI assessment requirements, including use-case risk classification, provider/deployer determination, GenAI tool checks, and required approvals.

• Coordinate with the AI Governance and Risk Committee and AI Department Focal Points when applicable.

• Identify and escalate sourcing requests that may involve high-risk technology, AI functionality, personal information, confidential data, client-facing tools, cybersecurity concerns, or unapproved tools.

• Support procurement documentation for AI-enabled tools, including evidence of approvals, vendor assessments, risk reviews, and contract requirements.

Vendor Due Diligence, Risk Review, and Documentation

• Coordinate required vendor risk assessments (VRA) and due diligence across cybersecurity, privacy and data protection, legal, donor compliance, sanctions and ATC screening, financial viability, implementation risk, integration risk, operational support model, and vendor lock-in and exit risk.

• Coordinate with Information Security, Data Protection, Office of General Counsel, Risk and Compliance, and Finance to ensure required reviews are completed before pilots, trials, awards, or contract signature.

• Ensure procurement files are complete, audit-ready, and aligned with IRC sourcing policy and donor requirements.