United States of America: Director of International Development

For over 75 years, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has provided humanitarian assistance worldwide, especially in response to disasters. For several decades, UMCOR has also engaged in International Development through a series of country-based Field Offices. Accordingly, today, UMCOR is comprised of two basic divisions, Disaster Response and International Development. At this time, UMCOR seeks a new Director of International Development who will lead the International Development team in the Atlanta headquarters, while also overseeing UMCOR’s five Field Offices, currently located in Africa and the Caribbean.

The Director of International Development will join the team at an important juncture. Taking advantage of the rapid changes under way across the globe in how International Development is understood, taught, and practiced, the Director will engage the staff, both in the headquarters in Atlanta and in the Field Offices, in exploring emerging best practices. The Director will be expected to inspire and lead staff in being aware of and prepared for new approaches to assessing development challenges around the world and formulating International Development responses appropriate to those challenges through a multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary International Development lens. Additionally, the Director will maximize UMCOR’s depth of sector specialization, which includes Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (SAFS).

The ideal candidate will have the ability to work with the headquarters team and Field Offices, as well as global networks across many disciplines and cultures. The skills and knowledge required for success in this position range far beyond a single discipline or unit within Global Ministries.

The ideal candidate will possess a deep conceptual understanding of International Development as well as a working knowledge of the skills needed within an International Development team. The ideal candidate must be able to work fluidly and flexibly across intellectual and professional disciplines and geographic regions of Global Ministries’ International Development efforts.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a faith-based nonprofit and be able to navigate the unique setting of such an organization. This candidate will also maintain a strong professional network with other International Development practice professionals. This is a dynamic position which will require an individual who is willing to roll up their sleeves and get work done while at the same time provide vision and direction to the team and strong leadership.

The team in the Atlanta headquarters will include Program Managers and Sector Specialists (WASH and SAFS), coordinated with the staff and structures in the five Field Offices. The Director will play a key role determining the scope and structure of the headquarters staff, as well as work with Field Offices in structuring for continued maximum effectiveness.

Experience Highly Preferred

• Eight-ten years’ experience working in a similar capacity and backstopping/program management; USAID, UN and other major foreign assistance funding structures.
• Two – three years field experience, particularly in Africa, which provided the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of integrated development approaches within real-world contexts
• Experience working with/supervising International Development staff and projects, in collaboration with country partner organizations and local communities
• Experience with faith-based, particularly Christian, nonprofit organizations in either a voluntary or salaried basis
• Demonstrated experience creating meaningful progress towards organization’s goals through practical, well-managed policies and programs
• Experience managing field offices

Core Responsibilities

• Oversee the International Development team and projects and provide vision for new initiatives and enhanced partner relationships
• Supervise program managers, based in Atlanta, and provide them with leadership and guidance in their roles facilitating training, resourcing and creative problem solving in the Field Offices
• Relate to the Director of Business Development in Atlanta and coordinate efforts of the International Development team with the grant efforts being undertaken
• Provide strategic perspective for the Deputy General Secretary of UMCOR and its opportunities for International Development, and serve on the Deputy General Secretary’s leadership team

Required Technical Knowledge

• Masters’ degree in International Development
• Understands the tension between how global projects are designed, proposed, funded and accounted for and the realities of implementation at a local level
• Has a working knowledge of monitoring and evaluation
• Has expertise in innovative development approaches and knowledge of how to apply real-life development principles and skills to a global context
• Has a knowledge of best practices in developing field practicums in partnership with graduate schools, when applicable, including identifying suitable field practicum placements for students, seeking the best fit between organizations' needs and students' inclinations and interests
• Fully understands the interwoven challenges of sustainable development—from extreme poverty and disease control to climate change and ecosystem vulnerability and be able to communicate these challenges to staff within and outside of UMCOR

Other Skills Needed

• Ability to work effectively with ease and grace in a rapidly changing environment while supporting the head of UMCOR in empowering staff
• Dedication to staying on the cutting edge of best practices in International Development, with the ability to propose ways for UMCOR to be nimble and able to shift our development work when needed

http://www.umcmission.org/Learn-About-Us/About-Global-Ministries/Careers/Careers