Program Director

The Program Director provides strategic leadership and oversight for a portfolio of private sector-funded initiatives and potentially other international STEM career pathway and workforce development programming. The portfolio currently comprises the Lifting Futures and Next Engineers projects, funded by GE Aerospace Foundation and the Engineers of Change project funded by GE Vernova Foundation.

This role leads multidisciplinary project teams, provides oversight to Project Directors and staff, and serves as the primary point of contact and relationship manager for GE Aerospace and GE Vernova (clients). The Program Director is accountable for ensuring successful program implementation, operational excellence, stakeholder engagement, achievement of strategic objectives across the portfolio, and identification of opportunities to strengthen and expand these partnerships with the clients.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Management

• Ensure the overall quality and financial and operational success of the projects in this portfolio
• Lead portfolio planning, performance monitoring, risk management, and continuous improvement efforts
• Provide overall leadership to each project within the portfolio, through the following assignments:
• Provide strategic leadership, oversight, and technical assistance, including research and thought leadership, per project needs and available funding.
• Support Project Directors in implementation of project activities
• Conduct routine reviews of project status, actions, decisions, risks and issues, and schedules for relevant projects

Project Team Leadership

• Foster a culture of innovation, problem-solving, respect, openness, and learning within and between teams and among project stakeholders
• Liaise with FHI 360 organizational leads to coordinate a matrix management approach to project staffing, professional development, and support and oversight of technical staff
• Support workforce planning, succession planning, and talent development within the portfolio.

Donor & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary point of contact and maintain strong relations with client counterparts.
• Increase project visibility within FHI 360, and among project stakeholders and external parties where feasible and advisable

• Lead regular reviews, strategic discussions, and communications with clients regarding program performance, risks, opportunities, and future initiatives.
• Represent the organization externally with donors, partners, educational institutions, community-based organizations, and government stakeholders.

Financial & Compliance Oversight

• Ensure project financial health and compliance, the proper stewardship of client funds, and adequate resources to complete project tasks, in collaboration with Associate Director, Finance, and respective project leads.

Business Development, Innovation & Growth

• Oversee and support the development of high-quality models, products, modules, and other assets and liaise with organizational leads to identify opportunities for their integration into existing or new programming
• Support business development efforts, in collaboration with Strategy and Resource Mobilization, to maintain and grow the project portfolio

Required Qualifications

Education

• Master's Degree in Education, Economic Development, Workforce Development, Public Administration, International Development, Business Administration, Engineering, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Project Management certification preferred.

Required Experience

• 15+ years of progressively responsible program, portfolio, or organizational leadership experience (including 8+ years of department-level leadership, strong business acumen and/or line management experience).
• Experience leading complex, multi-site, donor-funded programs or portfolios.
• Experience managing senior-level donor relationships and strategic partnerships.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment and developing high-performing staff.
• Experience overseeing multimillion-dollar budgets and complex stakeholder environments.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in education, workforce development, STEM pathways, youth development, economic opportunity, or related sectors
• Corporate social responsibility (CSR) or foundation-funded programs
• Global or multi-site program leadership
• Business development and partnership growth responsibilities
• Experience working with large corporate donors or strategic philanthropic partners

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Exceptional relationship management and executive stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong strategic planning, business acumen, and portfolio management capabilities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Ability to lead through complexity and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and develop diverse, geographically dispersed teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, SharePoint, Teams, and project management tools.

Success Measures

Success in this role will be demonstrated through:

• Achievement of program outcomes and key performance indicators across Lifting Futures, Next Engineers, and Engineers of Change projects.
• High levels of client satisfaction and continued confidence
• Effective leadership and development of project teams.
• On-time, on-budget delivery of portfolio commitments.
• Strong compliance, financial stewardship, and operational performance.
• Identification and execution of opportunities to strengthen and expand the partnership.

Travel: Up to 25% domestic and international travel as required.

The expected US Based hiring salary range for this role is listed below. Candidates FHI 360 pay ranges represent national averages that vary by geographic location. When determining an offer amount, FHI 360 factors in multiple considerations, including but not limited to: relevant years of experience and education possessed by the applicant, internal equity, business sector, and budget.

Base salary is only one component of our offer. FHI 360 contributes 7% of monthly base pay to a money purchase pension plan account. Additionally, all US-based staff working full-time, which is calculated at 40 hours/week, receive 18 days of paid vacation per year, 12 sick days per year, and 11 holidays per year. Paid time off is reduced pro rata for employees working less than a full-time schedule.

US Based Hiring Salary Range: 130,000-170,000

International hiring ranges will differ based on location

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.

FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

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