Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International is seeking to hire a professional and experienced Director, Urban Programming. This position provides overall technical leadership on urban programming to Habitat for Humanity entities internationally, as part of our global HQ structure. This covers a wide remit, e.g. from development of strategies and standards through to key external stakeholder engagement through to support for the full program cycle. The postholder also collaborates closely with peer Subject Matter Experts in other technical areas within the Program Effectiveness team (e.g. climate change, construction, gender equality & WASH).
Habitat for Humanity’s urban position is based on the fact that everyone needs a home, and that adequate and affordable housing is central to building better cities. Our work is guided by the following perspectives:
* Housing is central to creating socially just, economically viable and ecologically healthy cities.
* A people-centered, partnership-driven housing ecosystem approach is required to tackle the challenge of providing affordable housing in urban areas.
* Better-designed and well-managed cities contribute to improved quality of life and more sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban areas.
Based on this the focus of our urban approach is threefold:
– To guide the design and implementation of more comprehensive urban housing programs.
– To create unique urban hubs, networks, coalitions and platforms that bring together housing and urban practitioners, specialists, researchers and policymakers with the objectives of creating a common development vision and an understanding of urban challenges while facilitating better research, policies and best practices
– To advocate for and demonstrate the transformational impact of housing and its contribution to urban development.
Key Responsibilities:
* Technical Leadership & Support
* Develop and lead global strategies, standards, guidelines, tools and capacity building approaches for HFHI’s urban programming.
* Lead, convene and coordinate the efforts of the urban Community of Practice across the HFH network, including in sharing learning and documenting best practice.
* Provide subject matter expertise across the full program cycle to HFH entities in the areas of upgrading informal settlements, urban planning and development, security of tenure, and housing ecosystem approaches.
* Assess and report on the scale and quality of work taking place across the Habitat network in urban settings.
Collaboration & Integration
* Work with Senior Director of Technical Partnerships in the development of strategic partnerships with complementary organizations in addressing holistic challenges of urban poverty.
* Develop and present materials together with Communications team that communicate the direction, focus and achievements of HFH’s urban programs to internal and external audiences.
* Support fundraising teams in their development of funding strategies to support HFHI’s urban work and other international housing and human settlement programs.
* Carry out other reasonable duties as requested by supervisor.
Stakeholder Management
* Build and maintain relationships with external partners and experts in the urban sector; ensuring that HFH’s urban programs align with sector norms and standards.
* Represent HFHI at key relevant events related to urban development (e.g. World Urban Forum), coordinating planning and sharing lessons from HFHI programming and partnerships.
Requirements:
* Master’s degree in urban development, international relations, development studies or other relevant discipline. Or equivalent combination of education and experience.
* A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in provision of program technical expertise in the international development sector, including at least 5 years’ experience focusing specifically upon urban development, encompassing housing and informal settlement issues.
* Experience working internationally on urban development issues.
* Pursuant to current HFHI policy, this position requires full vaccination against COVID-19, except to the extent such requirement is prohibited by applicable law.
* Ability to secure complex, six-and seven-figure multiyear commitments from Fortune 500 companies.
* Outstanding oral and written communication skills with excellent interpersonal, presentation and negotiation skills.
Highly collaborative.
* Strong attention to detail/organizational skills.
* Solution-oriented with commitment to delivering excellent internal and external customer service.
* Ability to complete multiple projects concurrently while balancing competing priorities; ability to meet deadlines.
* Ability to effectively manage HFHI resources including travel expenses.
* Computer literate; able to use word-processing, spreadsheet, database and project software.
* Complex problem solving will require structured thinking.
* Demonstrated understanding of program quality standards and management best practices in international development.
* Strong interpersonal and influencing skills and the ability to provide effective technical leadership and support to a complex federated organization globally, without direct line management authority.
* Deep understanding of complex dynamics of urban inequality and poverty, including in relation to informal settlements and land tenure.
* Well organized and able to lead, coordinate and engage effectively with multiple processes simultaneously.
* Experience in proposal development and project design.
* Experience in program management.
* Excellent research, writing and communication skills.
* Experience in advocacy and in policy development and influencing.
* Advanced skills with MS Office and online collaboration IT programs.
* Fluency in English.
* Building relationships and trust.
* Leading change.
* Developing people.
* Thinking critically.
* Communicating clearly.
Preferred:
* Experience in Monitoring and Evaluation processes.