Deputy Program Director, EAP

ABOUT FREEDOM HOUSE

Established more than 80 years ago on the core conviction that freedom flourishes in democratic nations where governments are accountable to their people, Freedom House is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to defend and expand freedom globally to help secure a world where all are free. Around the world, repressive regimes are preventing billions of people from exercising their fundamental rights. We identify and analyze threats to freedom, mobilize decision makers to respond to those threats and seize opportunities for progress, and support activists and organizations working to defend and expand freedom. We are dedicated to ensuring that the United States serves as a positive model of democratic practice at home and a consistent champion of freedom globally. By gathering authoritative data and leveraging our global networks, Freedom House is an unwavering beacon in protecting human rights and promoting democratic governance.

Freedom House’s Emergency Assistance Program (EAP) provides rapid response funding and other support to human rights defenders (HRDs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) that are under threat because of their human rights work, and to survivors of religious persecution on the basis of belief or non-belief.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Deputy Program Director (DPD) for EAP works closely with the Director of EAP to manage donor-funded programs to support at-risk human rights defenders (HRDs), civil society organizations (CSOs) and survivors of religious persecution on the basis of belief or non-belief.

The DPD role requires strong management experience and competence working in a fast-paced, multicultural, and global setting and proven ability to resolve complex staffing challenges. This role requires previous experience with multifaceted program and budgetary oversight, commitment to protection of HRDs, experience in the protection landscape. Experience with and sensitivity to marginalized communities, including LGBTQI+, ethnic and religious minorities, indigenous communities, and marginalized communities required.

The DPD will work effectively on multiple levels, building strong relationships from junior staff level through executive level. This role will demonstrate commitment to program development within the larger organization, and will be required to manage both competing and complementary needs. This role works in high pressure environment, often responding to multiple emergency/rapid response crisis situations at the same time and must demonstrate an intersectional and feminist approach to internal and external work. This role requires strategic thinking and experience working with an interactive strategic plan.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic leadership

• Working closely with the Director, develop and periodically update a comprehensive strategy for FH EAP programming that leverages FH’s strengths and prior programming.
• Support the Director to foster an environment of cross-functional collaboration both within the EAP team and between EAP and FH regional programs.
• Foster a culture of innovation to continually assess and improve how EAP achieves its goals in providing timely and targeted assistance to target populations.
• In close coordination with the Director, facilitate close and efficient coordination with other units within FH, including regional programs, operations, finance, business development, advocacy, research, and communications.
• Support the Director to ensure a safe working environment and cultivate a culture of wellbeing and care for all staff.

Award management/implementation

• Working closely with the Director, design, manage, and supervise all aspects of FH EAP’s grant-making programs.
• Working closely with the Director, design, manage, and supervise all aspects of FH EAP’s portfolio 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, with the objective of improving the quality of Freedom House EAP programs and impact.
• Lead quarterly meetings at program level and, as relevant, multi-country grant management meetings.

Programs

• Working closely with the Director, help to build consensus around priorities to improve the delivery of EAP grants and to make processes more consistent within and between regions.
• Strengthen the EAP team’s readiness to respond to new emergencies in line with program mandates, criteria, policies, and guidelines.
• Engage EAP team across regions to ensure Freedom House programs are continually adapted to the evolving contexts.
• 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.

Staff management

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

Financial management

• Work closely with EAP’s Business manager on budget tracking and forecasting; review analyses of program spending and forecasts; ensure implementation of necessary corrective action.
• Work closely with EAP’s Business manager to perform financial analysis, identify EAP-wide issues and implement corrective actions.

External outreach, advocacy and representation

• Working closely with the Director, serve as point of contact and speak with authority on Freedom House’s EAP activities, including with donors, at policy forums, and other external events.
• Draft pieces or articles for publication, as requested, to strengthen Freedom House’s advocacy agenda and EAP strategy.
• As requested, develop and/or participate in advocacy initiatives related to EAP.

Support collaboration with other units of FH

• Proactively collaborate with other FH units, both within and beyond the International Programs Division (IPD) to ensure that information about activities is shared.
• Proactively promote a Freedom House unified approach to leverage research, advocacy, and programming interventions in support of democracy and rights in the region.

Fundraising

• Identify opportunities for new programs and additional funding for existing programs; lead and support the team the design of program concepts for proposals; and draft and negotiate proposals and budgets with a range of funders.
• In collaboration with the Director, take bid/no-bid decisions regarding pursuit of funding opportunities that respond to the context, the regional strategies and Freedom House strategic priorities.
• In coordination with colleagues, engage in strong regional-level representation with donors, international and local NGOs, and networks.
• Superior fundraising skills with demonstrable ability to successfully cultivate donors and foundations; outstanding proposal development and writing skills

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

Other related duties as reasonably assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, international relations, or a related field; Advanced degree in these fields strongly preferred.

Experience:

• Twelve or more years of directly related experience including design and implementation of donor-funded international development and human rights programs; including work planning, monitoring and evaluation, budget management, and donor relations.
• Experience managing US government-funded human rights and civil society programs strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of US government and other donor rules and regulations.
• Two years of program management experience outside of the U.S. is preferred.
• Experience working outside the US and western Europe a plus.
• 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.
• Experience managing staff to achieve programmatic results; ability to coach and mentor staff and provide visionary leadership.

Technical Skills and Abilities:

• ·Strong ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing; and outstanding writing and presentation skills is required.
• Ability to communicate in additional languages a plus, such as: Arabic, Spanish, French, Russian, Mandarin, Farsi, Dari, Portuguese, or other languages.
• Astute political judgment and strategic thinking and vision for developing and implementing programs to support human rights in the assigned region.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to persuade people with divergent views.
• Strong ability to initiate, foster, interact, and maintain relationships with contacts and stakeholders in diverse and cross-cultural environments, with sensitivity and a high degree of courtesy, discretion, tact, and professionalism.
• Strong ability to plan, organize, prioritize work, and multitask to meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to travel independently and complete tasks in unfamiliar countries and regions.
• Ability to serve as the Acting Director for EAP when needed.
• 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, grant and financial management required.
• Ability to communicate effectively and strategically with government and private donors and other stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain the highest degree of confidentiality and exhibit unquestionable integrity, honesty, and forthrightness regarding all aspects of work.
• Ability to successfully work collaboratively with all levels of employees, management, external partners, and funders.

Personal Attributes and Characteristics:

• Deeply committed to nonpartisanship, exhibiting a strong and sustained commitment to the mission of Freedom House.
• Show good stewardship in the use of Freedom House resources.
• Respond promptly to stakeholder needs and solicit stakeholder feedback to improve performance.
• Demonstrate sound skills in ethical discernment, analysis, and action.
• Consistently use good judgment when dealing with all contacts and constituents
• Exhibit high work standards, adherence to procedures, attention to detail, and responsibility for assigned tasks.
• Demonstrate strong desire for excellence, and desire to inspire others to attain professional excellence.
• Assess own strengths and weaknesses; pursue training and development opportunities; strive to continuously build knowledge and skills.
• Comply with all relevant Freedom House policies and procedures.
• Committed to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all feel that they belong.
• Works as an effective team member, successfully balancing individual and team responsibilities.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Salaries are commensurate with experience and based on pay grades that prioritize equity across the organization. Salary range for this role is $115,000 to $125,000 annualized, dependent upon experience.
• Candidates must possess authorization to work in the United States independent from Freedom House sponsorship.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

General Working Conditions:

• General working office environment or telework.
• May require long hours including evenings and weekends to complete tasks or attend events.
• Travel to event sites and field offices at least 20% of the time.
• Exposed to outside weather conditions when required to attend event venues or travel.
• May involve work in regions that are remote and lack basic modern infrastructure, and in countries under U.S. travel advisory due to threats of terrorist attacks, civil unrest, kidnappings, disease outbreaks, etc.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:
Essential functions are typically performed in an office setting or remote work. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Sedentary, regularly required to sit for extended periods of time; constantly talk, hear and understand speech at normal levels using a telephone. Occasionally required to stand, walk, and bend over, reach overhead, use hands, wrists and fingers, to grasp, push, pull, move, handle, feel, and type. Constantly required to use close vision and distance vision for regular computer work. Occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 lbs. to waist height.

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.