The Work and Learning Department Director position will be in a newly created Business Unit (BU) which also includes global education, civil society, exchange and partnerships technical areas.
The overall responsibilities of a Department Director are to develop and manage a robust portfolio in a practice area with specific accountability for management, technical leadership, and business development. The management responsibilities include: creation of an effective technical team to bring forward a coherent framework for thought leadership in work and learning; development of an organizational structure for new business, project and financial management, implementation, and quality control; engagement in organization-wide leadership and governance activities; and representation including liaising with key clients, donors, and partners. In business development, s/he is responsible for the short- and long-term strategic planning and development of new project activities and products as well as identifying opportunities to build a pipeline of potential bids. Technical leadership consists of ensuring that the practice area is effectively identifying and implementing best practices and is well represented in the development community. In the matrixed organizational model at FHI 360, the Department is responsible for providing technical leadership and assistance to ensure consistent technical quality and best practices in all projects in that practice area, whether managed directly or through FHI 360’s regional and country offices.
This position reports to the Business Unit Director.
Working in a matrixed environment, the Department Director will engage in and encourage internal FHI 360 cross-departmental collaboration and cooperation across business units and sectors, and will participate in communities of practice as relevant.
Department management
- Oversee a portfolio of active projects and department-level activities, and ensure technical quality
- Meet regularly with department division leads to gauge client satisfaction, troubleshoot, and plan future project growth and activities
- Meet with clients to understand the needs of a diverse set of clients, and to evaluate performance and discuss future role(s) on project activities
- Meet regularly with department staff to determine compliance with FHI 360 internal systems, as well as with client deadlines and requirements
- Responsible for communication and coordination within the Department and across the organization
Financial management
- Maintains an overall governance and understanding of FHI 360 financial systems
- Works with department finance manager to develop and review annual departmental G&A budget and revenue projections
Staff development
- Engage and motivate department staff to meet project, department, and business unit mission and objectives
- Nurture an environment of collaboration, team work, and high staff morale
- Provide staff professional development and facilitate diverse and rewarding work opportunities
- Mentor senior staff, ensuring a pathway for professional growth and advancement
Strategic Planning and New Business
- In partnership with the BU Director and BU Business Development team, identify and prioritize opportunities that address significant development challenges and correspond with Department technical areas, in coordination with all BUs.
- Work closely with BU colleagues to identify strategic focus areas and strategically deploy BU resources.
- Cultivate a network of partnerships with relevant stakeholders
- Lead and/or support BU-related strategy, capture management, and proposal development and work with technical teams to develop innovative and responsive programs
- Directs short- and long-term strategic visioning and planning to ensure growth and viability of the department’s project portfolio
- Work with organization’s strategy and communications teams to ensure visibility of the Department’s products, services, and expertise, and to effectively implement the organizational Economic Participation strategy
Technical Leadership
- Responsible for technical coherence and excitement for FHI 360 conceptual approach and delivery of the new global Work and Learning portfolio
- Identifies solutions and products that address The Future of Work
- Responsible for technical quality of program implementation
- Serve on relevant technical forums and other policy-related bodies.
- Minimum of 15 years of relevant professional experience
- Demonstrated expertise in portfolio management
- Experience providing expert level technical and integrated program delivery in at least one technical area that support economic participation and Work and Learning approaches
- Demonstrated experience with financial analysis, budgeting, financial management of programs, and establishing operational standards
- Experience supervising and mentoring large, diverse staff teams, and working collegially across the organization and its different teams
- Experience and demonstrated success in business planning, strategic planning, and leading development efforts
- Demonstrated ability to work with multi-sectoral teams and lead, develop and implement strategy and business plans.
- Excellent writing and presenting skills.
FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programs that support healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others — and yourself.