Associate Director, Latin America & Caribbean Programs

Join Heartland Alliance International to support our innovative programs serving marginalized and vulnerable communities.

Organizational Background:

Heartland Alliance International (HAI) is the global arm of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, a family of organizations that has been leading anti-poverty and social justice work in Chicago for more than 125 years. HAI’s offices in nearly a dozen countries implement programs on a range of global human rights issues, as well as the Chicago-based Marjorie Kovler Center for the Treatment of Survivors of Torture, which serves individuals from more than 50 countries. HAI has significant expertise in the fields of trauma-informed mental health care and access to justice for survivors of rights abuses. It is also an industry leader in access to high quality and stigma-free health care. Across all of its programs, HAI promotes progressive, innovative approaches to human rights protections and gender equality.

Overview

The associate director works within a matrixed organizational structure to guide regional-based program areas by collaborating with the senior associate director, program quality teams, region and country directors, operations, and other field based staff. The incumbent guides all aspects of grants management, donor reporting, program implementation coordination, donor compliance, and program operations in alignment with HAI, and HA related policies and practices. S/he also works in collaboration with the program quality unit and program development to support program quality assurance and new program development efforts.

The incumbent possesses a strong track record in grants management; excellent representation skills; personnel coaching and an ability to quickly grasp and communicate HAI’s program work.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Management, Implementation and Reporting

• Work in collaboration with field-based program leadership and staff teams to monitor, guide and strengthen HAI’s capacity to achieve and exceed outlined program objectives and goals on schedule and within budget
• In collaboration with senior country leadership, leads all aspects of project start-ups and closeouts working in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders to ensure donor compliance and successful program implementation
• Work in collaboration with the field-based teams, operations and HABS partners to support the development, alignment and synchronization of program management and implementation policies and procedures that are aligned with relevant local laws, HAI, HA and donor driven policies and requirements

• Develop monthly or more frequent routine communication and check-in systems or meetings that enable successful monitoring of progress towards programmatic and financial goals

• Serve as an advisor to country and program leadership teams to help facilitate donor compliant program delivery practices and activities

• Guide regional based field teams through influence and informal reporting structures that help facilitate collaboration, integration, transparency and the sharing of information and best practices across programs, regions and the organization overall

• Provides ongoing and timely support to field offices with signatures and approvals of local purchase orders, invoices and payroll that exceeds the threshold for field office approval.

Grants Management, Compliance and Donor Relations

• Represents HAI, and specifically the region or program areas under your purview, before external audiences, including current and potential donors
• Work with local teams and other internal stakeholders to review and ensure timely submission of monthly, quarterly, and final reports and/or invoices, cost share certifications and other required documents to a variety of donors, including, but not limited to, U.S. Government agencies, UKFCO, and foundations. Elaborates timelines and follows up with the local and HQ teams to assure that the reports and written in a timely fashion.
• Work in collaboration with the program development team or the director of international or US programs to ensure regular and routine communication with current donors
• Update and manage information relevant for grant management and donor compliance
• Ensure compliance with all donor reporting guidelines and deadlines

Program Development & Strategy

• Work in collaboration with members of the program development team, director of international programs and regional director to support new program development ideation, review proposals and provide input on strategy
• Support the program development team with regional program data, budget reviews and other documentation and requirements for new concept notes or grant submissions.

Program Operations

• Work in collaboration with operations, HABS partners, and field-based program and operations teams to follow and recommend systems, processes and procedures that help facilitate successful program operations and implementation.
• Organizes administrative tasks, region-based travel and related itineraries, in-country VISA processing and other related program and country specific operational task
• Write or revise field-based job descriptions as appropriate screening salary expectations and budget alignment with HR liaison.
• Travels on a regular basis for high-level needs, including sensitive transactions, investigations, etc.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
• Supports the Country Director in the timely submission of concur reports and related expenses charged to the corporate credit card from the field office.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• A minimum of four (4) years of direct human rights, nonprofit or international development experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to and experience in international development and/or human rights.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Relevant Masters (International Development, Law, Public health) preferred.

Other Competencies:

• Time Management – Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time and complete projects in a fast-paced, changing environment with minimal supervision.
• Quality Management – Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Analytical – Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data
• Written Communication – Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively;
• Adaptability – Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events
• Cultural Sensitivity – Respects cultural environment in which person is working and does not act in a manner that is outwardly offensive to the local community.

Language Skills:

• Excellent oral and written English language communication skills
• Proficiency and full competency in Spanish Required
• Demonstrated competency in public speaking.

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange, Windows operating systems

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to handle or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must be able to participate in meetings and events outside of the office on a regular basis.

Heartland Alliance makes all hiring and employment decisions without regard to race, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, sexual identity, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the Organization’s AIDS Policy Statement of September, 1987. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation should contact the Employee Services Office at +1 (312) 660-1431.