Director, Program Strategy and Design At Women for Women International

Lead Women for Women’s Program Strategy and Design

Women for Women International (WfWI) is seeking a Director, Program Strategy and Design.

Since 1993, Women for Women International, a global NGO, has invested in the power of over 500,000 women who are forgotten – the women survivors of war and conflict. We support them in learning the social and economic skills they need to rebuild their lives, their families, and their communities.

Our core belief is that stronger women build stronger nations. Women who enroll in our programs in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Sudan, break the isolation of war and conflict. They gain access to knowledge, resources and tools needed to earn and save money, improve health and well-being, influence decisions in their home and community, and connect to networks for support.

Over the next ten years, our goal is to scale our impact to improve the lives of millions of the most marginalized women affected by war and conflict. Our vision is to create a world in which all women determine the course of their lives and reach their full potential.

We know that women pass on their knowledge to their neighbors and children, creating a ripple effect for generations. By investing in women, we create a better world for all of us – a world that’s more equal, peaceful, and prosperous.

That is the power of women, for women.

Please visit us at womenforwomen.org to learn more about the impact of our work.

Purpose

The Director, Program Strategy and Design is provides leadership in program strategy, guidance and tools related to WfWI’s program approaches. This includes designing new approaches, activities, and projects; and ensuring program quality and cross-organizational learning.

The Director also plays a key role in developing new business for WfWI through leading on design for proposals and pitch documents and through networking with donors. The Director identifies and leads on WfWI’s programmatic partnerships and represents WfWI in global networks that help raise the organization’s profile.

This position reports to the Deputy Vice President, Global Programs Unit (GPU) and is a member of WfWI’s GPU Leadership Team and the Global Leadership Team. The Director of Program Strategy and Design leads a team of four: Associate Director, Women’s Economic Power; Associate Director, Social Power and Gender Equality; Sr. Program Officer, Program Design; Program Design Associate.

Duties and Responsibilities

Lead on WfWI’s program strategy

• Collaborate on WfWI’s overarching organizational strategic planning processes
• Review and support Country Office strategies that align with organizational strategy
• Ensure staff from across the organization understand, use, adapt and provide feedback on program strategy
• Based on evaluations and learning, lead the organization in its global program strategy development
• Share research and cutting-edge approaches on gender equality and women’s power with WfWI staff to align program strategy with broader development trends
• Develop global program theories of change and guidance
• Guide Country Office, MERL, Advocacy and Business Development teams to develop theories of change for program strategies
• Oversee the development of programmatic tools (ToTs, curricula, training aids, etc.) in response to the needs of country offices
• Engage with Country Office and MERL teams to promote program quality and learning loops
• Based on agreed strategy and through participatory processes, design program guidance documents to ensure high quality of WfWI programs
• Share programmatic adaptations and best practices across country offices to promote continuous learning and improvement (i.e. annual Program Meeting)

Development of new business

• Oversee and lead, as needed, the design of program approaches and activities for new business development opportunities
• Engage in and support donor cultivation, as needed
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to ensure quality and consistency of activities as presented in proposals
• Provide technical review of proposals to potential funders to ensure high quality program activities in line with WfWI’s program strategy

Cross-organizational alignment and initiatives

• With the Global Director of Policy & Advocacy, ensure alignment between WfWI’s program and global advocacy strategies and support WfWI’s advocacy efforts.
• Build collaboration and teamwork across program/advocacy staff
• Engage with WfWI Affiliates to share programmatic learning and support program approaches in grants
• Collaborate with Comms teams for high quality outputs on our program work
• Support grants management, M&E, and operations as needed

Development of external partnerships

• Explore partnerships with external organizations and represent WfWI in donor and other external briefings regarding WfWI’s work
• Maintain WfWI’s role in key networks (SEEP, MIUSA, etc.)
• Provide guidance to country offices in developing and maintaining program partnerships
• Develop WfWI’s capacity building approaches with local NGOs based on 5C model

Others

Adhere to WfWI’s Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Policies and report concerns and to the organizational values Empowerment, Integrity, Respect, Resilience.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 10 years of work experience, the majority in international development with preference for a lived experience in fragile and conflict affected countries
• Experience and ability in mentoring, coaching and managing staff members within a diverse and global organization
• Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to manage a large, complex, diverse team of people through an inclusive and empowering management style
• Stellar planning and project management ability
• Able to work under pressure and handle multiple projects
• Ability to convey complex subject matter clearly and concisely
• Skilled consensus builder
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally
• Demonstrated commitment to mission-related causes
• Demonstrated understanding of, and passion for, women’s issues, conflict, and international development

Preferred:

Language skills in French, Arabic, Swahili or other languages of our program countries.

Location

To be closer to our programs, we have a strong preference for candidates from and based in Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East or Central Asia, with priority for conflict-affected areas where WfWI operates (Afghanistan, Iraq, South Sudan, Nigeria, Rwanda and DRC). Expected travel is 20-25% to the country, US and European offices (as possible).

All our staff are required to adhere to WfWI’s Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies and to our organizational values: Empowerment, Integrity, Respect, Resilience.

At Women for Women International, we know that our people and organizational culture provide the foundation to achieve our mission. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are central to everything we do. Read more about our commitment to DEI