POSITION SUMMARY:

HIAS seeks a Lead, International Programs Lead to oversee HIAS’ country operations outside the US. The Lead, International Programs supports the Chief Programs Officer to deliver impact by strengthening country office performance, operational excellence and responsible growth. The Lead, International Programs provides day to day support and oversight to international operations, working closely with country teams to ensure that programs are delivered to the highest quality and that they achieve the intended impact, within the agreed budgets and timeframes, in line with the Programs strategy. The Lead, International Programs serves as the primary headquarters focal point for Country Directors and coordinates across the Country Offices and relevant headquarters teams to provide optimal support and oversight to international programming.

Additionally, the Lead, International Programs will work closely with the Programmatic Design & Impact team to ensure that programs meet ethical and global humanitarian standards, deliver high quality interventions, and that these programs evolve as contexts change.

The Lead, International Programs has experience working in a variety of geographic contexts and is responsible for ensuring consistent programmatic excellence and impact and adequate structures and capacity in country, whilst prioritising staff care and support. Bringing a solid understanding of international humanitarian and development work, and supervisory and management experience, the International Programs Lead provides programmatic and operational insight to their work with colleagues. Together with the Chief Programs Officer (CPO), Lead, Domestic Programs, and the Lead, Programmatic Design and Impact, they implement the global strategic vision for programs.

Note, this position is based at our headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland or our office in New York, New York, and we will consider a remote option for applicants who live outside of commuting distance to either of our offices and are based in other states in which we are registered (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia).

The salary range for this position is $145,000-160,000.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Country Operations Oversight and Support

• Serves as the primary headquarters focal point for Country Directors.
• Coordinates the work of Country Offices and relevant headquarters departments to provide seamless and efficient support and oversight to international country programs.
• Provides consistent operational oversight, backstopping, and support to country offices; demonstrates proactive issue identification and daily problem-solving to ensure programs are delivered on time, on budget, and at the highest standards of technical and operational quality.
• Coordinates remote and in-person programmatic and operational monitoring in collaboration with the Programmatic Design, & Impact team; reviews monitoring reports.
• Oversee the overall performance and health of country portfolios, including achievement against strategic goals, program targets and donor commitments.
• Ensures that performance monitoring data is used to inform programming as needed to guarantee high-quality implementation of HIAS’ programming.
• Facilitates sharing and learning across Country Offices.

Program Planning, Compliance & Award Management

• Coordinates drafting, editing, and reviews of program narrative reporting in collaboration with business development and grants administration teams.
• Supports award management functions, such as budget preparation, reviews, and correspondence with local partner organizations, in collaboration with country offices and relevant headquarters teams.
• Supports country offices and local partners in program planning, budget development, and workplan development.
• In coordination with headquarters finance staff, closely tracks program spending, financial audits and project compliance, and works with country office leadership to address variances.
• Supports the development, monitoring and execution of annual country office implementation plans and/or program work plans.
• Ensures strong sub award management by supporting budget preparation, donor compliance, and communication with local partners.
• Leads or supports program start-up and close down tasks as required, including recruitment, procurement, asset disposition, and other tasks.
• Supports the preparation, and ensures effective implementation of, guidelines, SOPs and policies that affect country operations.

Coordination

• Partners with People and Culture to address staff-related needs in Country Offices, including staff development, and duty of care obligations.
• Liaises with the External Relations team to elevate advocacy messages and ensure efficient and effective information flow between Country Offices and external engagement, advocacy, and communications colleagues.
• Coordinates closely with the General Counsel regarding country registration and other legal and regulatory matters in country, with a view towards problem-solving, compliance, and efficiency.
• Coordinates regular financial monitoring and budget versus actuals reviews with Finance colleagues; reviews monitoring reports.
• Liaises closely with other HIAS entities (i.e. HIAS Europe) to monitor program operations and ensure programs are delivered on time, on budget, and in line with donor and HIAS requirements.
• Works jointly with the Senior Director of Risk Management to identify, assess, and mitigate operational and programmatic risks across country offices.
• Works together with People Operations staff to address employee relations issues and other people-related issues in global offices.
• Works closely with Safeguarding staff to implement HIAS’ international management standards, including in relation to the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).
• Collaborates with the Global Safety and Security team to ensure staff and program participants are safe and risks are mitigated.
• Collaborates with HIAS’ technical staff to ensure HIAS’ methodologies and approaches are uniformly implemented across HIAS’ global programs and appropriately contextualized where required.
• Collaborates with the Risk department to identify and mitigate risks in country operations.

Management, Supervision, Mentorship & Capacity Development

• Supervises two Program Managers, providing capacity development, mentorship, and guidance, communicating clear expectations, ensuring ongoing coaching and support, agreeing performance objectives and metrics, and delivering regular and timely performance feedback.
• Manages and directs team workflows, tasks to achieve established deliverables and provide timely and appropriate support to Country Offices.
• Provides guidance, capacity building and mentorship to country staff and partner staff as required.

Donor Diversification & Business Development

• In coordination with the Business Development team, contributes to program design, drafting, budget development and editing to create high-quality proposals that are competitive and ensure that management infrastructure and staff support needs are in place.
• Works with Business Development and Grants Administration to decide or contribute to the decision to pursue funding opportunities depending on size and/or scope of proposal.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduate degree in International Relations, International Development or related field, or equivalent field experience.
• 10+ years of experience in the international humanitarian and development field; some experience in a country office setting preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in program management roles, with a preference for INGO or government agency experience within the humanitarian sector.
• A diverse and deep background in delivering international development and humanitarian assistance programs, in a variety of country contexts.
• Strategic thinker with ability to collaboratively implement programs that meet HIAS’ strategic priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and monitor program compliance and implement best practices to achieve high-quality, evidence-based, beneficiary-focused outcomes.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to relate well with colleagues, stakeholders and beneficiaries.
• Proven ability to provide direction, guidance, and mentorship through a variety of management styles and roles.
• Demonstrated success strengthening country office performance across multiple contexts.
• Experience overseeing and supporting multi-country portfolios with complex donor compliance requirements.
• Ability to deliver results while managing competing interests, priorities, and timelines, handle multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-starter, able to identify opportunities and needs, and respond to them efficiently while taking into account the priorities of a range of stakeholders.
• Ability to work well autonomously and in teams; excellent organizational and problem-solving skills; comfortable working virtually with colleagues overseas.
• English fluency and Spanish proficiency required.
• Ability to travel up to 35% of the year, including to insecure operating environments.