INTERIM DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

Published on by for International Rivers Network

INTERIM DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

International Rivers works at the intersection of the environment, human rights, and social justice. The Director of Programs is an important member of the International Rivers team who is primarily responsible for leading and coordinating the work of our regional programs in Latin America, Africa and Asia, as well as our organizational and global campaigns. The Director of Programs sits on the Management Team of International Rivers and works closely with the Executive Director, the development, communications, finance and operations functions and external partners to ensure that the organization meets its strategic and operational goals.  

Role Dimensions

Status : Full time for 12 months (parental leave cover, with possibility of extension). 

Salary range : Competitive for a senior management role in a non-profit, contingent on geography, experience

Location:  Open, with preference for location in one of our regional offices in Brazil, South Africa, India or Thailand. 

Reports to:  Executive Director

Reporting to this role:  Regional and Global Program Directors. 

Travel:  10-20% — Up to several times a year to regional locations, head office in California. 

Salary and Benefits

The salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. International Rivers offers excellent benefits. International Rivers is an equal opportunity employer and offers a stimulating, casual and flexible work environment.

How to Apply

More information on this role and how to apply can be found in the  Call for Applications and attached. 

ROLE DIMENSIONS
Status: Full Time for 12 months (maternity leave cover, with possibility of extension).
Salary range: Competitive for a senior management role in a non-profit, contingent on geography,
experience
Location: Open, with preference for location in one of our regional offices in Brazil, South Africa, Delhi or
Bangkok.
Reports to: Executive Director
Reporting to this role: Regional and Global Program Directors.
Travel: 10-20% -- Up to several times a year to regional locations, head office in California.
ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsibilities for this position fall into three primary categories: Strategy, Leadership, Management.
Strategy
● Lead development and implementation of the annual program plan ensuring effective budgeting
and prioritization.
● Collaborate with the Management Team on the overall strategic coordination of the
organization’s work
● Provide oversight and support to development and implementation of regional and global
campaigns and strategies.
● Keep abreast of developments within the field and undertake regular analysis of important
developments affecting rivers.
● Lead and manage strategic planning including annual work plans and program priorities.
● Lead the team to provide high quality analysis and research, as required to support advocacy.
● Support the programs and development team to develop high impact grant proposals, ensuring
strategic alignment of their work to organizational priorities.
● Lead monitoring, evaluation and learning and review the MEAL strategy with program teams.
Leadership
● Identify, cultivate and manage relationships with strategic partners to support scaling up of
funding and program implementation.
● Lead teams to identify, negotiate and work with partners for campaign implementation.
● Act as senior representative of International Rivers with external audiences.
● Provide active public communications and communication support for our programs.
● Lead the organization’s collaboration with a global network of social movements and civil society
groups; building relationships with other interest groups.
● Participate in meetings and report regularly to the Board, soliciting their strategic inputs and
supporting their contributions to organizational fundraising.
Management
● Line management of senior program staff, leading an overall organization of approximately 20
people
● Oversee the design and implementation of campaigns, ensuring that planned activities are
prioritized, achievable, delivered on time, within budgets and to high standards. Provide overall
support and coordination to regional and global programs.
● Conduct regular meetings to keep abreast of regional and global programs work, progress, to
ensure strategic direction and risk management. Intervene to take corrective action where
necessary.
● Work with the CFO to undertake financial oversight of programs, and the Communications
Manager to oversee program communications efforts.
● Participate in the organization’s Management Team with shared responsibility for strategic
planning, personnel, governance, policy development and budgeting.
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● Work closely with the Director of Philanthropy to provide fundraising support for programs and
the organization as a whole with particular focus on underfunded programs, in conjunction with
the Development team and program directors.
● Work with program directors to plan for and allocate human resources across programs.
● Set and monitor performance and personal development objectives for Program Directors and
other direct reports.
● Provide inspiring and motivational leadership that enables staff to deliver excellent work.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
● Positive, collaborative and productive relationship with International Rivers staff
● Positive relationships with partners including funders
● Increased engagement and collaboration between staff across regions. Increased funding for the
programs.
● Increased visibility and acknowledgement of our work and the International Rivers brand locally
and internationally.
● Achievement of planned campaign objectives.
● Production of high-quality research and information products
● Projects are well designed and managed to their successful completion.
● Increased Foundation grant funding
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
● Degree or Master’s degree in social sciences, environmental management, or other relevant field,
or equivalent experience
● 10 years minimum in leadership position, including experience working in a not-for-profit
environment
● Experience developing and implementing organizations’ strategies
● Excellent program and campaign leadership skills; including the ability to work with a wide range
of partners from communities to high level officials
● Experience working in various regions preferably in the Global South.
● Experience supervising and mentoring personnel
● Outstanding written and oral communication skills
● Written and verbal fluency in English required; additional languages preferred.
● Strong knowledge in human rights, environment issues, development sector
● Strong networks in environmental / social justice sector
COMPETENCIES
● Strong collaborator - Works effectively with small and diverse teams to achieve results. Values and
builds effective relationships with all types of stakeholders and team members
● Excellent communicator - able to present with a confident and compelling message to members,
sector leaders, stakeholders, board.
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● Agile strategic thinker - able to develop and deliver on strategic goals and agile enough to adapt
strategy as needed to respond to new information or needs.
● Leadership - Leverage the strengths of others to achieve common goals, use interpersonal skills to
coach and develop others, and organize, prioritize, and delegate work. Having a positive, open,
responsive, approach.
● Language - Beyond English, fluency in any of the major languages in the regions in which we work
is a plus.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
The salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. International Rivers offers excellent
benefits.
International Rivers is an equal opportunity employer, and offers a stimulating, casual and flexible work
environment. We strongly encourage women, Indigenous people, people from the Global South, people
with disabilities, LGBTQ+ candidates and people from other underrepresented groups to apply.
HOW TO APPLY
All applications should consist of a CV, a separate cover letter, and a writing sample. Please direct
applications and enquiries to jobpost@internationalrivers.org with “Director of Programs - YOUR NAME”
in the subject line. Submissions by August 15 receive first consideration.

Industry experience

Education: Masters

Seniority: VP, Exec VP, MD, Dean, General Manager, Business Unit Manager

Years of experience: 10 to 20 years

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