Vice President, Technical Quality & Impact

Overview

Global Communities works at the intersection of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development and financial inclusion to save lives, advance equity and secure strong futures. We support communities at the forefront of their own development in more than 35 countries, partnering with local leaders, governments, civil society and the private sector to achieve a shared vision of a more just, prosperous and equitable global community.

The Vice President of Technical Quality & Impact shares overall leadership responsibility as part of the Global Programs Leadership Team and the Executive Team, setting the technical vision, strategic direction, thought leadership agenda, and solutions-creation for Global Communities.

Following our Strategic Vision 2030 and 3-year Strategic Plan, the Vice President will define standards of Anchor Program technical excellence and build Global Communities’ Technical Quality & Impact Framework, with a primary emphasis on providing oversight and strategic guidance to the Global Support Team (headquarters) and Country Teams in supporting new business opportunities, proposal development, thought leadership and the achievement of both project and organizational goals and objectives. Ensuring the technical brand Global Communities is known for is captured in every proposal. This includes planning, developing, and supporting the adoption of systems, tools, policies, and objectives for the organization to ensure it delivers technical proposals and programming in line with internationally recognized standards and best practices.

The Vice President inspires, champions, and fosters a culture of shared success intended to continuously strengthen the technical quality of program implementation and support the realization of the Global Communities Mission and Strategic Plan.

Leading and directing the Department of Technical Quality & Impact, the Vice President oversees the teams that support monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management and learning, and technical excellence across all Global Communities’ projects and geographies. S/he will work seamlessly with the Vice President for Strategic Growth and Partnership, who oversees new business development; the Vice President for Humanitarian Assistance, who oversees humanitarian business development and emergency response; and the Vice President of Operations, who supervises field leadership, country teams, and headquarters-based operations staff.

The Vice President ensures the technical component is delivered according to the proposal during program implementation, providing quality assurance and control to Global Communities Global Support and country teams to enhance activity effectiveness and impact across sustainable development, humanitarian, conflict, and post-conflict contexts to support quality program delivery. In turn, they support the Vice President of Operations, who is ultimately accountable for Global Communities program delivery. The Vice President of Technical Quality & Impact works closely with senior leaders to ensure coordination and complementarity of all program quality, representation, and external engagement opportunities. The Vice President supports Business Development teams in facilitating the expansion of Global Communities work, building on existing projects, technical expertise, and demonstrating positive impact. The Vice President is accountable for ensuring that appropriate quality assurance support is provided to the country in response to needs identified through the Country Plan and/or project implementation in pursuit of program excellence.

The Vice President develops departmental strategies, approaches, and tools to ensure the organization’s relevance, credibility, and viability. The Vice President sets goals, monitors work, and evaluates results to ensure that departmental objectives and operating requirements are met and align with the organization’s needs and mission and its donors, clients, and project participants. They represent the organization to third parties, including donors, clients, partners, and governments, seeking to grow the profile and brand of Global Communities as a high-quality, adaptive partner.

Responsibilities

Responsibility Area: Technical Strategy and Proposal Development

• Conceptualize and lead the development of the Global Communities Technical Strategy, working closely with the VP of Program Operations, VP of Humanitarian Assistance, and VP of Strategic Growth and Partnership to refine the organization’s core sectors and differentiators.
• Establish the “Global Communities Technical Approach” (its operating model that builds on established institutional and operational strengths and further requires minimum cross-cutting quality standards such as in local engagement, safe and accountable programming, and climate-informed) to working in today’s global complex environments, drawing from sustainable development, humanitarian assistance, peace and security, and financial inclusion capabilities.
• Working collaboratively with the business development teams to support the development of the organization’s business development and partnerships strategy and approaches.
• Assist the Business Development teams in identifying market trends, emerging technical priorities, new donor partners, and opportunities for business growth in the anchor program areas.
• Working with the VPs of SGP, HA, and operations, refine the organization’s partnership philosophy, commitments, and principles of partnerships and the varied tools and processes required for its effective rollout.
• Develop due diligence and capacity development tools for partners collaborating with Operations and Business Development stakeholders.
• Develop theories of change and other program design principles and build country team capacity to design, implement, and evaluate technical excellence in program delivery.
• Develop a framework and annual plans for thought leadership that are aligned with business development, global programs, and strategic communications objectives.
• Work closely with the VP of Strategic Communications, the VP of Strategic Growth and Partnership, and the VP of Humanitarian Assistance to demonstrate thought leadership, increase the visibility of Global Communities technical offerings (technical branding), and effectively represent and market Global Communities’ work to donors, partners, and other external stakeholders.
• Provide support and input to operations teams to build out the technical aspects of country strategies to ensure growth aligns with Global Communities’ core capacities, the organization’s global strategic direction, and the opportunities present.

Responsibility Area: Technical Quality Support for Global Support and Country Teams

In supporting Country Teams, the VP ensures that the right technical support is provided at the right time and place, focusing on quality assurance (impact), monitoring, and sustainable support to teams.

• Provide technical capacity development as needed and troubleshoot technical issues related to program delivery.
• Develop technical standards, frameworks, and guidance tools to support high-quality program development and implementation of sectors relevant to Global Communities.
• Develop and deliver robust and systematic training on technical standards and frameworks to relevant organizational stakeholders.
• Promote the development, understanding of, and adherence to minimum cross-cutting quality standards that impact project delivery; develop and deliver robust and systematic training on quality standards to relevant stakeholders throughout the organization.
• Further to establishing quality and technical guidance/frameworks and minimum standards, work to build the capacity of Operations and Business Development staff in quality assurance and quality control related to those frameworks and standards.
• Ensure effective full-cycle monitoring, evaluation, learning, and knowledge management that supports adaptive, high-quality program delivery and provides an evidence base for organizational strategy.
• Working collaboratively within the Global Programs Team to ensure the development of a monitoring and evaluation framework to measure advancements in business development, program delivery, and local capacity-strengthening.
• Works closely with MELI and country teams to ensure the monitoring and evaluation framework effectively captures programmatic successes and key learnings and that these are amplified broadly within Global Communities and externally, in partnership with business development and communications teams.
• Ensure a culture of experiential learning and technical excellence is built on field program implementation and innovation through applied Knowledge Management.
• Develop a process for systematic and deliberate learning and inter-country exchanges in relevant practice areas, fostering a culture of growth and knowledge sharing.
• Develop accountability metrics (KPIs) and systems that support effective knowledge management and cross-organizational learning.
• Ensure optimal coordination, collaboration and engagement across the organization on strategic drivers that cut across Global Programs such as measurement, learning, innovation and capacity strengthening.

Responsibility Area: Accountability

• Ensure the design and development of the Global Communities Accountability Framework, to include clearly defining the organization’s commitments to accountability; development of a system for accountability to affected populations (such as feedback and complaints mechanisms, routinized monitoring, and review processes to ensure compliance); and the establishment of performance targets in support of the Global Communities’ strategic commitments to accountability.

Other:

Other duties may be assigned as business needs arise.

POSITION SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Excellent track record designing and implementing effective organizational program quality strategies and practices.
• Country-based experience at a senior level in an international non-governmental organization
• Promote a culture of excellence, inclusion, learning, support, diversity and innovation.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Expert knowledge of formal principles, theories, and practices/techniques of sustainable development, with experience in applying that knowledge to the development – humanitarian assistance – peace and security nexus. Ability to apply that knowledge to Global Communities operational environment.
• Extensive and specific knowledge of and experience with US Government humanitarian, sustainable development, peace and security activities, and agencies is required.
• Experience with other large institutional donors or clients, including other bilateral and multilateral entities, foundations, and private sector clients, is highly desirable.
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills, including conducting meetings, writing reports and proposals, and speaking in a public forum at a senior level.
• Superior diplomatic and negotiation skills. Ability to present and discuss technical information in the context of the business.
• Proven ability to lead, manage, and develop staff in an open and inclusive culture in an atmosphere of multiple projects, shifting priorities, and deadline pressures.
• Ability to handle difficult situations with diplomacy, sensitivity, confidentiality, and tact.
• Excellent critical thinking skills and judgment. Proven willingness to make timely and sound decisions. Strong planning, analytical, and conceptual skills.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a related discipline with at least 15 years of relevant professional experience or 20 years of related work experience.
• 5+ years in progressively more senior roles at the country level in sustainable development, humanitarian, conflict, or post-conflict environment
• Demonstrated international NGO work experience at a leadership level (such as but not limited to Senior Director, DCOP, Area Manager, or higher.)
• Proven track record in technical program delivery, oversight, and standard setting.
• Proven track record winning USG new business and leading the technical design for new programs in one or more of Global Communities’ technical sectors.
• Experience implementing programming directly with local civil society and institutional partners.

Application Instructions

To be considered for this position, please apply (including your resume and cover letter) by 5/27/2024**.** Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled.

Location and Work Schedule

This selected candidate can be based in either Silver Spring or San Diego. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without restriction.

This role is on a hybrid/telework schedule. The selected candidate is expected to work at least twice as week (Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday) from either our San Diego or Silver Spring office and the remainder of the week from an approved home location.

Salary and Compensation

The estimated salary for this position is between 164,480 – 205,000. Final salary will be based on several factors including qualifications, geographic location, experience, and internal equity. Global Communities provides a comprehensive benefits package; please note that this position is not eligible for allowances.

COVID-19 Policy

As an organization working to advance public health, Global Communities has an obligation to model best practices and to do all we can to protect each other, our partners, and the communities where we work. To ensure the continuity and effectiveness of our business operations, Global Communities is adopting a policy to safeguard the health of our visitors, employees, families, and the larger global community from COVID-19. Effective January 3, 2022, all U.S.-based Global Communities employees are required to provide proof of having received full dosage of COVID-19 vaccine that is FDA approved, approved for emergency use authorization, or have an approved medical or religious exemption on file with Global Communities, as a condition of employment.

Safeguarding Policy

Global Communities holds strict safeguarding principles and has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. In the process of recruitment, selection, and appointment, Global Communities will conduct robust reference and background screening checks, including international vetting as a signature of the Global Misconduct Disclosure Scheme to ensure children and vulnerable adults are safeguarded, and abuse is prevented. The incumbent is required to carry out their duties in accordance with Global Communities Safeguarding policy and the Standards of Conduct.

EEO/ADA

Global Communities is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Global Communities complies with all applicable provisions of the ADA and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities unless it provides undue hardship to the organization. If reasonable accommodation is necessary to participate in the recruitment process, please contact [email protected].