Deputy Director, Latin America and Caribbean

The Deputy Program Director (DPD) for a Regional Program Team, works closely with the Director of Regional Programs (DRP) and develops and manages donor-funded programs in his/her assigned region. This includes analyzing local social and political contexts to determine intervention opportunities and needs; setting and updating priorities; designing programs; ensuring a steady stream of donor funding for programs and overseeing implementation of programs. The DPD manages multiple program budgets; US based and internationally based program staff. The DPD supports the DRP on field office management. The DPD also is responsible for engaging with public, private, and non-governmental stakeholders to advance FH’s organizational priorities and regional programming interventions. Under the guidance of the DRP the DPD takes the lead on assigned advocacy activities related to the region. The DPD plays a key leadership role in delivering Freedom House’s growing portfolio of programs in the assigned region(s). The DPD is deputized to act in the place of the DRP when the DRP is unavailable and serves as a trusted partner to the DRP in overall leadership of the program. Exercising the delegated authority of the DRP, the DPD provides a range of strategic, programmatic, and operational management support to country programs and regional colleagues, with a particular focus on programming in the designated region(s). The DPD will travel regularly to field offices to provide management support and to monitor program quality. A significant portion of the DPD’s time will be spent on program management, supporting fundraising activities, advocacy and representation and support and collaboration with other Freedom House units.

PRINCIPLE DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND EXPECTATIONS:

• Strategic leadership

• Working closely with the DRP, develop and periodically update a comprehensive strategy for FH programming in the assigned region that leverages FH’s strengths and prior programming in the region.

• Supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and leading documented semi-annual performance reviews.

• Support the DRP to foster an environment of cross-functional collaboration both within the region and between regions and the wider organization.

• Facilitate close and efficient coordination between country programs, field offices and US-based program staff, and with headquarters departments on common programming, operational and funding issues.

• Support the DRP to cultivate a safe and protective working environment for all staff.

• Award management/implementation

• Working closely with the DRP, design, manage, and supervise all aspects of FH’s portfolio in the assigned region including work plan development and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, budget monitoring and management, reporting, and collaboration with donors and other partners.

• Contribute to and participate in complex negotiations with bilateral and/or multilateral government agencies, donors, or relevant audiences as authorized.

• Negotiate and write subgrants, contracts, MOUs, letters of agreement, and other contractual documents for partners and vendors, while ensuring that objectives and terms of agreements are met.

• Drive seamless coordination between programming and operations and across portfolios and outcomes, with the objective of improving the quality of Freedom house programs and impact.

• Lead quarterly meetings at program level and, as relevant, multi-country grant management meetings.

• Programs

• Working closely with the DRP, help to build consensus around priorities to improve the delivery of programs in the designated region and to make processes more consistent within the region and between country programs.

• Strengthen the regional program team’s readiness to respond to new emergencies in line with Freedom House priorities, policies, and guidelines.

• Engage the regional team and country programs in on-going context analysis to ensure Freedom House programs are continually adapted to the evolving contexts across the region.

• Oversee the implementation of key milestones of portfolio projects, including workplan development, project phase reviews, stakeholder engagement, risk management, key activity design, and monitoring of the quality of key deliverables.

• Financial management

• Oversee budget tracking and forecasting by program staff; review analyses of program spending and forecasts; ensure implementation of necessary corrective action.

• Perform financial analysis across multiple projects, identify department-wide issues and implement corrective action.

• Fundraising

• Identify opportunities for new programs and additional funding for existing programs; lead the design of program concepts for proposals; and draft and negotiate proposals and budgets with a range of funders.

• In collaboration with the DRP, take bid/no-bid decisions regarding pursuit of regional program funding opportunities that respond to the context, the regional program’s strategy and Freedom House strategic priorities.

• In coordination with colleagues, engage in strong regional-level representation with donors, international and local NGOs, and networks.

• Support teams on timely submission of competitive, responsive and high-quality proposals that align with Freedom House’s vision, mission and strategy.

• Staff management

• Recruit, select, train, and supervise staff to implement programs, build and lead a cohesive and effective regional team.

• Coach, motivate and ensure professional growth and development of staff.

• Effectively manage culturally diverse staff and promote the organization’s commitment to diversity, empowerment, and inclusion.

• Provide timely and frequent performance feedback.

• External outreach, Advocacy and representation

• Working closely with the DRP, serve as point of contact and speak with authority on Freedom House’s activities in the assigned region, including with donors, at policy forums, and other external events. Use knowledge of the region to effectively interact with funders, partners, government officials, policy and diplomatic communities, and other stakeholders.

• Draft pieces or articles for publication, as requested, to strengthen Freedom House’s advocacy agenda and programmatic strategy in the region.

• As requested, develop and/or participate in Washington, DC-based advocacy initiatives related to the assigned region.

• Support collaboration with other units of FH

• Proactively collaborate with other FH units, both within and beyond the International Programs Division to ensure that information about activities in the assigned region is shared beyond the regional team and that the regional team benefits from information about activities in other FH units.

• Proactively promote a Freedom House unified approach to leverage research, advocacy, and programming interventions in support of democracy and rights in the region.

• Travel as needed to implement awards and develop new programs, travel internationally.

• Other related duties as reasonably assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

Education, training, and/or certification:

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, international relations, or a related field.
• Advanced degree in political science, international relations, or a related field strongly preferred.
• MS Office Suite, specifically Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, as well as advanced knowledge of all other standard workplace software
• Strong demonstrated skills in staff management, program design, M&E, contracts management and financial management required.

Experience:

• Twelve or more years of directly related experience including design and implementation of donor-funded international development and human rights programs; minimum two years at managerial level and experience managing USG funded human rights and civil society project field offices in the region strongly preferred.
• Two years of field experience in program region preferred.
• Three or more years of experience leading and managing staff, including minimum of two years managing senior staff.
• Mastery of human rights principles and governing international institutions, instruments, and processes.
• Expert knowledge of assigned region, including history, culture, economy, political economy, and of democracy and human rights issues, organizations, legal frameworks, and opportunities.
• Expertise in management of international donor funded programming including work planning, monitoring and evaluation, budget management, and donor relations.
• Proven knowledge of USG and other donor rules and regulations.
• Superior fundraising skills with demonstrable ability to successfully cultivate donors and foundations; outstanding proposal development and writing skills.
• Experience managing staff to achieve programmatic results; ability to coach and mentor staff and provide visionary leadership.

Core Competencies

The successful candidate will possess:

• A strong and sustained commitment to Freedom House’s mission.
• A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• A strong ability to communicate effectively in English and Spanish, both verbally and in writing.
• Proven project management skills from design through implementation, evaluation, and close-out, including work planning, and budget management .
• Strong analytical and judgment skills for identifying problems, drawing conclusions, determining options for resolution, and recommending next steps.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity to interact effectively and diplomatically with individuals at all levels of the organization, as well as externally both domestically and internationally.
• A proven ability to work as an effective team member and successfully balance individual and team responsibilities.
• A proven ability to plan, organize, prioritize work, learn quickly, multitask, work with limited supervision, and take ownership of assigned work;
• An ability to apply superb attention to detail and propensity to complete work accurately and with a focus on quality.
• An ability to assess own strengths and weaknesses, pursue training and development opportunities, and strive to continuously build knowledge and skills.
• Sound skills in ethical discernment, confidentiality, analysis, and action.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Applicants are required to complete our online application form and to submit a resume and a cover letter that outlines interests and qualifications for this position.

• Diversity makes our work stronger. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all background to apply. Diverse backgrounds relevant to the countries in which we have programming are a welcome asset.

• Freedom House provides a strong benefits package, including a 403(b)-retirement account, commuter benefits, flexible hours, floating holidays, high employer contributions to medical, dental, and vision premiums, basic and voluntary life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, flexible spending account, and more.

• Staff members are currently working remotely or partially remotely due to Covid-19, and Freedom House is continuing to evaluate when and under what circumstances staff will return to the office. This position will start completely or partially remote and will require mandatory relocation to Washington DC once circumstances allow.

• Candidates must possess long-term authorization to work in the United States. Freedom House will not sponsor work visas.

Freedom House is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, or protected veteran status, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors, In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position with Freedom House, please call 202-227-4308 or email [email protected].

EOE M/F/D/V