Job Details
Description
Who We Are:
At IREX we strive for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world—where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people and communities thrive.
But around the globe, persistent poverty, repression, and injustice prevent too many people form achieving their full potential. To address these problems, we focus on people, not on vaccines, roads, or wells. We support individuals and institutions to create change in their own communities—and to create person to person bridges between nations.
IREX works with partners in more than 100 countries in four areas essential to progress: cultivating leaders, empowering youth, strengthening institutions, and increasing access to quality education and information.
IREX seeks a strategic, innovative, entrepreneurial, and collaborative Regional Director to spearhead IREX’s efforts to empower youth, cultivate leaders, produce quality information and education, and strengthen communities in Eurasia. The position is intended to be a linchpin of IREX efforts to shape and carry out effectively initiatives that fight authoritarianism and disinformation in the context of a rise in authoritarianism in Eurasia and an increase in disinformation and greater sophistication in its uses. The position will be based in Poland (preferred), but IREX – at its discretion – may consider other locations in Eastern Europe.
A self-starter, the Regional Director will continually assess the geopolitical and competitive environment throughout Eurasia to identify new opportunities for IREX advance its mission and to strengthen its ability to deliver, timely, impactful, and highly relevant programs that support people, communities, and institutions. They will drive efforts to seize these opportunities and help IREX strategically orient toward addressing key needs on the ground, notably the repercussions of the war in Ukraine.
They will spearhead efforts to capture these opportunities in partnership with IREX’s New Business Development Unit (NBDU), Strategic Partnerships Unit (SPU), Strategic Communications Unit (SCU), and Global Programs (GP). The successful candidate will have a solid understanding of the development sector in areas that align with IREX’s impact goals, especially combatting authoritarianism and mis- and disinformation. They will also have proven experience leading strategic thinking processes and approaches and business and proposal development activities that lead to partnerships with governmental donors, the private sector, and the philanthropic community.
The Regional Director, a position lodged in IREX’s Strategy and Development Group, is responsible for the day-to-day development and execution of specific plans for IREX’s strategic priorities in Eurasia, including identifying and shaping opportunities, engaging key audiences, building institutional relationships, developing partnership strategies, promoting the brand of IREX, and designing new programs. The Regional Director is not expected to work on program management or day-to-day operations. They are expected to coordinate closely their work with IREX’s country directors and country programs. They will report to the Executive Vice President, or his assignee. This is a full-time position.
We are doers. Our decades of on-the-ground experience help us create greater impact, practical recommendations, and lasting partnerships.
Are you the next member of our team?
Your Background and Skills
- 5 or more years of progressive experience with strategy development and strategic stakeholder mapping and engagement in country or region of responsibility.
- 5 or more years of experience with planning, designing, resourcing, and implementing business development initiatives. This includes the ability to shape proactively business opportunities, write proposals, bids, and statements of interest.
- 7 or more years of progressive experience in international development.
- Excellent command of the issues and direct experience in initiatives that fight authoritarianism and disinformation in Eurasia.
- Some experience in humanitarian assistance is desirable. This is not the central focus of the position, but it will be useful to have.
- Advanced experience with programs funded by bilateral donors including but not limited to USAID, the US Department of State, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the United Nations Development Program, Swedish International Development Agency, Global Affairs Canada, Germany, etc.
- Experience building relationships with private sector companies and foundations, and other major donors in the region.
- Strong writing and verbal communications skills
- Experience with coordinating with globally distributed teams strongly preferred.
- A master’s degree in a relevant field strongly preferred.
- Fluency in Russian or Ukrainian strongly preferred.
Your Daily Tasks
Strategy & Development
- Advance IREX’s strategy in Eurasia by scanning geopolitical development, building global and local partnerships, and identifying and seizing opportunities to advance IREX’s impact in the region.
- Spearhead organizational responses and thought leadership addressing authoritarianism and disinformation, including developing white papers, coordinating internal and external events, and participating in industry relevant conferences and events.
- Track and shape opportunities to support the people of Eurasia – in Eurasia and neighboring countries – as they deal with the effects of the Kremlin’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
- Continually assess national and regional donors for partnership and business opportunities and help prepare plans to capture them.
- Identify impact opportunities and organizational capabilities that are responsive to the objectives of the regional strategy, communicate them to relevant donors, and lead efforts to translate these opportunities into programs.
- Map out a strategy for engaging with relevant donors or partners and execute that strategy.
- Maintain aggressive business development pipeline targets and drive the competitiveness of each bid.
- Develop a system for tracking, monitoring, and evaluating the implementation of the regional strategy.
- Lead or write proposals, or support with strategic advice, teaming ideas, and cost solutions proposals prepared by the NBDU and the SPU.
- Identify local experts for initiatives and proposals and develop databases of expertise.
- Ensure effective coordination with the NBDU, the SPU, and the Center for Applied Learning and Impact, and IREX’s Global Programs.
- Support the creation of a team culture that encourages risk-taking, innovation an ethos of excellence, and a commitment to results.
- Support strategic positioning and growth activities for countries without a dedicated strategy.
Representation and Outreach:
- Identify high level external audiences or stakeholders (media, public officials, donors, and key influencers), map out a strategy for reaching out to them, and effectively engage with them to disseminate key messages and facilitate direct relationships between them and IREX. Cultivate intentionally and methodically relationships with key influencers.
- Design, oversee, or execute as needed, the organization of special events in region of responsibility in coordination with SCU.
- Proactively develop and curate strategic content and increase audience engagement on IREX’s social media channels in region of responsibility.
- Draft “thought leadership” products such as op-eds, articles, or essays for placement in external publications.
- Represent IREX in meetings with external stakeholders.
Administration:
- Liaise with local legal counsel on topics such as registration, tax, labor law issues in countries where IREX has no presence
- Coordinate with Global Security and Field Operations, as requested, to support compliance, including supporting tax waivers and reports, field office advance wire requests, bank transfers, etc., in identified countries.
- Other duties as assigned
Successful candidates are subject to background screenings.
This position is eligible for Telework. Telework is defined as a regular, full-time DC-based staff works from a worksite outside the DC office for one or more days a week.
This position is ineligible for Immigration Sponsorship.
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NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE
EOE – Equal Opportunity Employer
We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity.
All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply. AA/EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled