Senior Director, Programs (Asia and the Pacific)

The purpose of this position is to lead the implementation of Habitat for Humanity (HFH) Asia Pacific Area Office (APO) strategic frameworks to address the systemic failures that affect access to adequate and affordable housing. In alignment with HFHI’s Theory of Change, Program Framework and global strategy, this role will lead regional efforts in a coordinated way to ensure housing deficit in the region is reduced. The Senior Directors, Programs will align across AOs to ensure there is consistency and congruence in regional strategies. They will also work as a team to coordinate with the HFH network to advance Build + Influence.

Reporting to the Area Vice President (AVP) of AP, with dotted line to Program Effectiveness Global team, and as a member of the AP Area Leadership Team, the Senior Director, Programs will:

  • Provide inspirational leadership to the program’s unit, and across the AO and regional network.
  • Lead and oversee the implementation of regional strategic goals of the program’s unit generating greater scale and higher impact for the Habitat network.
  • Hold the programs unit to account in the implementation of the regional strategy, in part through clearly and regularly communicating priorities and key initiatives with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Actively engage with the regional network to ensure the effective implementation of the regional strategy, including through capacity building and provision of expertise from the AO programs unit to branches and independent national organizations.
  • Ensure monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) is embedded and embraced throughout projects and programs in the regional network.
  • Enhance HFH’s Build + Influence efforts through coordination across AOs and with the entire network to advance advocacy goals.
  • Serve as a key representative and thought leader on programs and advocacy relating to Habitat’s work with both internal and external stakeholders.
  • Represent the region in global strategic level discussions and initiatives in relation to Habitat’s Build + Influence focus, promoting cross-region collaboration.
  • Deputize for the AVP, overseeing the AO as a whole, when appropriate.
  • Oversee grant management and provide technical support to Resource Development in order to achieve Habitat’s growth goals.
  • Support and enhance collaboration with HFHI’s global teams, including Communications and Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter (TCIS), by ensuring alignment with geographic priorities and broader needs within the region, and through coordination with fellow Senior Directors, Programs in AOs.
  • Provide leadership and stewardship that supports HFHI’s Christian faith and values through active servant leadership, motivating Area Habitat staff members, serving partner families, and encouraging volunteers to follow the mission and vision of HFHI.
  • Coordinate the different Safeguarding policies, procedures and requirements to the different Habitat providers and partners and ensuring their compliance during project implementation and monitoring.
  • Ensure minimum safeguarding requirements are implemented in all projects whether for HFH, providers or partners, helping ensure safety of communities served during project implementation and monitoring. Compliance monitored by Country Focal Points (CFPs) during APO concept notes (CN) review and approval process of MNC projects.


Responsibilities:
  • Regional Strategic Framework Plan Realization (50%)
    - Hold direct teams and regional network to account on the delivery of AO strategic framework.
    - Provide support to regional network in the development and implementation of Country Strategy Plans, as well as holding relevant teams to account in the delivery of programs strategy.
    - Support in AO and regional network realignment and resourcing processes including talent recruitment, hiring and compensation efforts in partnership with HR, to ensure AO and NOs are fit for purpose.
  • Serve as liaison with other HFHI departments to ensure cross-team collaboration, including alignment of support structures, processes, functions, as well as strategy execution and measurement (15%).
  • Identify, pursue, and manage contracts and collaborations with external implementing partners to advance regional goals (5%).
  • Advise on programmatic direction for regional network, including grant management, MEAL and advocacy (15%).
  • Special Projects in support of AO VP (15%)
    - To be specified – might include programs thought leadership efforts relating to internal and external stakeholders such as institutional relations.

Requirements:
  • Master’s Degree or equivalent experience
  • 10+ years’ relevant experience in one of the following: programs; impact; advocacy; or operational support
  • Demonstrable track record of leading teams to implement high impact programs, preferably including MEAL and grant management functions.
  • Capacity to oversee and support advocacy and communications teams.
  • Strong skillset relating to change management, organizational development, and project management.
  • Experience working effectively in complex, matrixed, ideally federated, organizational structures.
  • Demonstrated skillset in gathering and analyzing information to form actionable insights, particularly in regard to contextualizing and implementing global strategy at the regional and national levels.
  • Familiarity with and experience in the housing sector, or a related subject matter area (such as gender, poverty, inequality, migration, climate change, WASH, agriculture, energy efficiency, or urbanization)
  • Deep knowledge and experience working in the Asia Pacific region delivering high impact projects at the local or regional level.
  • Strong level of confidence and relational skills to build trust, influence, and interface with all levels of the Habitat network, external partners, and a diversity of people.
  • Excellent people management skills, with the proven ability to lead teams virtually as well as in person.
  • Capacity to lead and engage with a highly qualified and experienced team of leaders with regional and subject matter expertise.
  • High degree of resourcefulness to lead projects that may not be clearly defined.
  • Mission-driven and comfortable leading within, communicating about, and working within a Christian organization.
  • Strong written, presentation and oral communication skills in English
  • Active support of HFHI Values:
    Humility – We are part of something bigger than ourselves
    Courage – We do what’s right, even when it is difficult or unpopular
    Accountability – We take personal responsibility for Habitat’s mission

  • Safeguarding: HFHI requires that all employees take seriously their ethical responsibilities to safeguarding our intended beneficiaries, their communities, and all those with whom we work. Managers at all levels have responsibilities to support and develop systems that create and maintain an environment that prevents harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, safeguards the rights of beneficiaries and community members (especially children), and promotes the implementation of Habitat for Humanity’s code of conduct.

Preferred:
  • Other languages spoken in the Asia Pacific region preferred.

#LI-BW1
Location:
Manila, Philippines
Position Category:
International Post
Type:
International Employment
Function:
International Programs, Operations, Strategy
Travel:
30%
Apply now

About Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity, founded in 1976, is a global, Christian-based nonprofit organization that grew out of an intentionally multi-racial community in rural Georgia. Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat brings together people of all faiths and people of no faith to build homes, communities and hope. Working alongside each other, we help families and individuals build and improve places to call home and achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Habitat seeks individuals who have a willingness to affirm these principles and values.

At Habitat for Humanity International, we embrace a history rooted in creating equity and take our mission seriously by courageously committing to a culture and workplace where all staff feel safe, welcome, visible, respected, supported and valued. As an equal opportunity employer, we realize that our success depends upon building an inclusive workforce of diverse perspectives and encourage people of varied races (which is inclusive of traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, protective hairstyles and hair texture), ethnicities, national origins, tribes, religions, ages, gender identities and expressions, genders, sexual orientations, marital statuses, disabilities, veteran/reserve national guard statuses, socio-economic statuses, thinking and communication styles to work with us.

We also require that all staff take seriously their ethical responsibilities to safeguarding our intended beneficiaries, their communities (especially children), and all those with whom we work. In line with the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, all staff must pass a thorough background screening and will be held accountable to upholding our policies around ethical behavior, including safeguarding and whistleblowing.