Global Communities is an international development non-profit organization. Our mission is to create long-lasting, positive and community-led change that improves the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable people across the globe.
Global Communities is seeking a Senior Director, Humanitarian Program Operations to join the Humanitarian Assistance team at the headquarters in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland.
The Senior Director, Humanitarian Program Operations provides senior-level leadership, oversight and cross-organizational coordination to program operations within the Humanitarian Assistance (HA) department at Global Communities. This position plays a lead role in developing departmental and country strategies, managing budget processes and overseeing program implementation across global HA program portfolios. The Senior Director liaises with other Global Communities senior leaders to proactively identify and lead resolution to implementation challenges. The Senior Director is responsible for the improvement and streamlining of HA organizational collaboration and project management and leads support of organizational learning and knowledge management initiatives. Works with field leaders to anticipate and trouble-shoot program issues, provide technical and operations oversight to field programs, and lead program start-up and close-down as required. The Senior Director directly supervises a team of geographically dispersed staff, providing guidance to senior leaders in the field, as well as program management staff at HQ. This position reports to the Vice President, Humanitarian Assistance.
NOTE:
Only internal candidates considered at this time.
Responsibilities
1. Provides high-level negotiation, integration, and coordination of HA programming needs with cross-organizational departments spanning all global portfolios.
2. Manages budget oversight and associated processes to ensure sound and compliant practices are maintained across all HA programs, servings as the primary interface with the Amman-based compliance unit.
3. Conceptualizes, builds and implements systems to ensure quality program performance and compliance across HA programs.
Conducts high-level financial analysis of HA portfolios, identifies issues or management challenges, and proposes and implements solutions alongside HQ and field leadership.
Understands and oversees implementation of processes to ensure operational compliance with GC and donor policies and procedures.
Reviews and ensures quality and thoroughness of donor reports as required.
Communicates HQ policies and regulations to country offices and provides capacity building and training.
Monitors internal and donor compliance requirements.
Supports the HA regional compliance unit to monitor award implementation, supporting reporting and procurements to ensure compliance with donor requirements, and providing needed compliance support to the country team.
Provides proactive updates to senior management on issues of concern.
Supports and guides project start-up and closeout as required.
Covers senior level field responsibilities and/or vacancies when needed (Country Director, Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, Programs Director, etc.), and/or provides other surge support to field offices as required.
4. Directs humanitarian program operations staff.
Prioritizes, organizes, distributes, and coordinates the flow of work based on rapidly changing support demands across various geographies, technical sectors, and donor requirements.
Hires, supervises, trains, guides, mentors and advises staff.
Provides training, mentoring, and capacity building to staff.
Supervises senior Field Leaders for HA programs; supports field leadership in identifying and resolving management, implementation, or other issues as they arise.
5. Works closely with the Sr. Director, HA BD and Innovation and other senior leaders at Global Communities to improve organizational policies and procedures, and support HA's learning and knowledge management initiatives.
Supports and strengthens Global Communities' policies and procedures as necessary to ensure effective, efficient, and compliant management of humanitarian programs, and ensuring that governing policies reflect humanitarian best practices.
Maintains effective, collaborative relationships with key internal stakeholders to include Office of Grants and Contracts, Finance, and other program and field operations staff to promote and recognize a high standard of program management in all GC programs.
Works with field and HQ teams to support cross-country, inter-departmental learning initiatives to identify and apply technical and operational improvements and ensure consistency of approach across program portfolios.
In collaboration with IT, M&E, and other departments, advance HA's use of technology for remote monitoring, data management, and other priority areas.
6. Builds and maintains strong relationships with the humanitarian community, partner organizations, and donors, including representing Global Communities at high-level donor consultants, as well as meetings, conferences, and workshops that relate to humanitarian policy and practice.
7. Undertakes all other duties and projects as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Demonstrated expert knowledge of and experience in executing humanitarian assistance and emergency response programming.
Demonstrated expert knowledge and implementation of USAID donor rules and regulations.
Excellent problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to utilize technology solutions to support effective program management.
Excellent organizational skills. Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment and meet conflicting deadlines, and delegate effectively to staff.
Excellent critical thinking skills and sound judgment. Proven willingness to make timely and sound decisions based on accurate judgment.
Excellent coordination skills, analytic skills, interpersonal skills, team management skills.
Abilities in a second language preferred.
Advanced computer skills in a Windows based environment including the Microsoft Suite.
Able to work in and foster a collaborative team environment.
Able and willing to travel internationally up to 30% annually, dependent on COVID-19 safety and travel restrictions.
Ability to read and interpret documents and ability to sit at a computer and operate a keyboard.
Qualifications
Must have a minimum of 12 years of relevant and progressively responsible experience in the humanitarian/emergency response sector.
Experience must include significant experience managing people and teams, program implementation and management, budget and financial management, strategy, and operational management accountabilities as well as accountability for monitoring compliance.
Experience in the international NGO/non-profit development sector and working in a humanitarian or conflict environment is a must.
Equivalent combination of education and experience.
Must have U.S. work authorization.
Global Communities is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.