POSITION SUMMARY:

HIAS seeks a Geneva-based Director, Humanitarian Partnerships & Policy for its Humanitarian Partnerships, Policy & Practice (HPPP) department. They will focus on the building and strengthening of HIAS’ multi-lateral partnerships, to include United Nations (UN) agencies, Permanent Missions to the UN, NGOs (to include faith-based organizations) and the Swiss government, identifying new opportunities to support HIAS’ global programs, and influencing global humanitarian and displacement policies. Sitting within the Programs division, the Director, Humanitarian Partnerships & Policy’s work will be directly informed by HIAS’ operational experience across 23 countries, the regional teams and the Technical Excellence, Learning & Assurance Unit, creating awareness of HIAS’ strategic focus areas and ensuring that HIAS’ experts and its program participants are able to contribute to and influence humanitarian policy. Furthermore, they will foster HIAS’ position as a faith sensitive organization that works through interfaith alliances and with faith-based organizations to enhance better outcomes for refugees and displaced communities. This position will work on creating crucial spaces and relationships so HIAS can contribute to and support leadership on interfaith related initiatives and advocate on behalf of faith actors and in favor of faith sensitive approaches. This position will serve as the lead for HIAS in various forums in Geneva focused on the humanitarian system and its governance, positioning HIAS to influence decisions of policymakers and institutions on matters related to humanitarian partnerships, policy and practice, and needed humanitarian sector reform. As HIAS’ representative in Geneva, they will enhance the organization’s understanding of humanitarian institutions and key international policy developments that impact the humanitarian system and the evolution of the humanitarian development nexus, which will better inform HIAS’ partnership strategy, programming and evidence-based advocacy. The Director, Humanitarian Partnerships & Policy will also contribute to HIAS’ leadership being more informed on critical developments within the humanitarian space and the organization’s positions on key humanitarian policies, thereby raising its profile internationally.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Designs outreach strategies and partnership propositions to grow HIAS’ partnerships with key actors identified as strategically important to HIAS’ work.

• Monitors trends, priorities, landscapes, mechanisms, activities and practices with existing and potential partners.

• Extends HIAS’ reach for its main focus areas—localization, emergency response, GRF pledges and interfaith work—to Geneva and Geneva-based entities through representation, presentation and collaboration.

• Collaborates closely with other Programs colleagues and the Development team to create compelling presentations on HIAS’ programs and pitches for new opportunities for relevant audiences to position HIAS as a go-to partner in the humanitarian sector.

• Supports Programs and Institutional Development to identify opportunities to secure new or additional funding resources.

• Works directly with HIAS country office teams on guidance and information sharing/management as it relates to coordination structures at all levels, to include humanitarian country teams, United Nations country teams, Inter-Cluster coordination groups, technical working groups and other coordination entities (e.g. rapid response mechanisms, humanitarian-development forums and NGO coordination forums).

• Stays abreast of the common strategic and policy issues related to current humanitarian responses in countries that HIAS operates in and/or are strategic priorities for HIAS.

• Promotes adherence by humanitarian actors to the humanitarian principles, the principles of partnership, Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) guidelines and other strategies adopted as part of humanitarian responses.

• Deepens and expands HIAS’ involvement in IASC fora and with IASC standing invitees and UN operational agencies.

• Encourages active and open dialogue between the INGO community and coordination groups and advocates for and promotes increased leadership of national NGOs and faith actors in coordination mechanisms and throughout humanitarian responses.

• Increases HIAS’ ability to communicate and present HIAS’ programs, evidence-based findings and research activities to relevant stakeholders and donors.

• Represents the organization in external engagements in Geneva, ensuring clear and consistent messaging on HIAS’ positions on humanitarian policy and practice.

• Prepares and briefs HIAS representatives for any engagement in Geneva and with Geneva-based institutions, and provides high-level advice on engagement strategy and stakeholder relations, to include increasing awareness of humanitarian trends and humanitarian policy processes.

• Conducts a stakeholder mapping for HIAS, specifically related to UN bodies and other international stakeholders located in Geneva.

• Supports the Deputy Chief, HPPP and the Senior Director, Humanitarian Partnerships in support to HIAS’ country offices and their partners on understanding the rules and regulations on UN grant agreements and procedures and engagement.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduate degree in humanitarian affairs, development studies, international studies; post-graduate degree in international studies or law a plus.

• 6-8 years of experience in various roles with key international humanitarian actors, to include 5 years of experience focusing on partnerships; experience responding to humanitarian crises an asset.

• Fluency in English and French required.

• Established in the humanitarian space in Geneva with expertise in the UN system, humanitarian coordination architecture and humanitarian principles.

• Experience in representation at HCTs, inter-cluster meetings and other IASC coordination mechanisms.

• Knowledge and experience of collaboration and building relations with humanitarian organizations, private sector, foundations and policymakers.

• Collaborative, flexible team player with the ability to think creatively, logically and critically about humanitarian assistance policy positions.

• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills, including the ability to regularly communicate with, motivate and support field-based staff, as well as effectively communicate key program achievements and operational challenges.

• Experience with innovative approaches to partnerships, programs and resource development.

• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.

• Ability and willingness to work with a high degree of independence, as well as strong team-working skills.

• Able to work in a collaborative manner and establish a professional rapport with people from a wide range of backgrounds.

• Results focused; ability to plan, coordinate and deliver objectives and targets with a positive drive to achieve results.

• A keen understanding of and interest in international development and humanitarian work

• Strong negotiating and diplomatic skills.

• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.

• Travel, to include travel to insecure operating environments, may be required.

HIRING PROCESS:

We are committed to a fair and respectful hiring process, and we do our absolute best to respond to every applicant. We prioritize communication and transparency with all candidates, even those who are not moving forward. Here’s a snapshot of our hiring process:

Step 1: Submit your application!

Step 2: Phone screen with a HIAS recruiter.

Step 3: Video interview with the hiring manager.

Step 4: Video interview with a panel of HIAS employees.

Step 5: Online reference check with SkillSurvey.

Step 6: Offer and background check with Shield Screening or ESR.

Step 7: Start your professional journey with HIAS!

Note: Some of our hiring processes may vary, and not all candidates will advance to each step.

ABOUT US:

Over one hundred years ago, the Jewish community founded HIAS (originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) in New York City, the immigrant gateway to America. Supporting Jews fleeing persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe, our founders were guided by the traditions, texts and history of the Jewish people—a history of oppression, displacement and diaspora. HIAS has since helped generations of Jews facing violence because of who they were, and HIAS remains committed to helping Jewish refugees anywhere in the world. Today, our clients at HIAS come from diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds, as do our staff. We bring our experience, history and values to our work across five continents, ensuring that refugees today receive the vital services and opportunities they need to thrive.

HIAS is a learning community, committed to diversity and inclusion. We do our work with integrity, accountability, transparency and a commitment to the highest ethical standards. We seek employees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to join our teams located in the United States and across the globe. People who identify as BIPOC, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ+ community and people with lived experiences of forced displacement or immigration are all encouraged to apply. We are committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects our vision, mission and values.

VISION:

HIAS stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety and opportunity.

MISSION:

Drawing on our Jewish values and history, HIAS provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives.

VALUES:

Welcome • Acogimiento • Hospitalité • Hachnasat Orchim

We Welcome the Stranger

Justice • Justicia • Justice • Tzedek

We Pursue Justice

Empathy • Empatía • Empathie • Chesed

We Approach our Clients with Empathy

Partnership • Compañerismo • Coopération • Chevruta

We Believe in Changing the World through Partnership

Courage • Coraje • Courage • Ometz

We Act with Courage to Build a Better World

Resilience • Resiliencia • Résilience • Ruach

We Adapt and Thrive, Continuously Demonstrating our Resilience

DIVERSITY:

HIAS is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic background, ancestry, citizenship status, religious creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, pregnancy, childbirth, military status, protected veteran status, political orientation or other legally protected status.

SAFEGUARDING:

HIAS is committed to the protection of children, vulnerable adults and any other person from any harm caused directly or indirectly due to their coming into contact with HIAS. We will not tolerate sexual exploitation, abuse or any form of child abuse or neglect by our staff or associated personnel. Any candidate offered a job with HIAS will be expected to sign and adhere to HIAS’ Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records. HIAS also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. Likewise, HIAS will share this information when other organizations inquire about current and former HIAS staff as part of their recruitment process. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.