Church World Services announces employment opportunity

OCA Communications has been informed of the following employment opportunity at the Church World Services.

Director, Social and Economic Development—Church World Service, Inc. - Elkhart, IN

Primary Purpose:

The incumbent is responsible for managing the implementation of all CWS activities to develop socially, economically and environmentally sustainable communities that support a higher quality of life around the world. The Program Director leads a cross-sectoral staff team with expertise in the following areas: Micro-credit, public health, water and sanitation, education and training, agriculture extension, gender issues and food aid. The Program Director serves as primary spokesperson for the Social and Economic Development (SED) Program and is responsible for building relationships with local partner agencies, member communions, sister agencies, foundations and United States government agencies.

Essential Duties:

  • Facilitate the planning, implementation and evaluation of all activities in support of SED strategic goals and objectives.
  • Maintain and develop relationships with local partner agencies to coordinate and implement activities.
  • Provide direction and leadership for all field staff.
  • Manage Associates and SED program staff team, facilitating team functioning, establishing work standards, providing ongoing feedback on performance and formally evaluating and communicating individual and program performance results.
  • Maintain and expand relationships with member communions, sister agencies, foundation and US government agencies and officials.
  • Interpret and articulate program and development issues in a variety of forums to build awareness and support of SED goals and activities.
  • Consult and advise CWS Executive Director, senior staff and Social and Economic Development Committee (SEDCOM) members on global development issues.
  • Perform other related duties as requested.

Qualifications:

Education:

Master’s degree in related field or equivalent experience.

Experience:

Minimum of seven to ten years of experience in managing international development programs and staff. Must have experience working overseas.

Competencies:

Communications: Able to articulate and explain the theological underpinnings of CWS’s work. Demonstrate leadership in communicating a personal commitment to CWS values, motivating others to share those values. Communicate organization-wide strategies, priorities, policies, programs and services to staff, stakeholders and the public. Serve as CWS’s principal spokesperson in a variety of forums, proactively identifying opportunities to increase CWS’s position and image. Reinforce an organizational culture that values \\\\\\\“transparency of information” by establishing strategies to implement and evaluate internal and external communications.

Constituent Relationships: Commit CWS contractually and/or covenantally to relationships with varied stakeholders, assuring they are consistent with the mission, values and policies of the organization. Ensure CWS honors its commitments to its stakeholders. Establish policies governing relations with constituents or stakeholders. Negotiate with constituents to eliminate or prevent obstacles to effective relationships.

Job Knowledge: Know CWS’s history and current challenges and understand the societal and institutional influences on future direction. Provide leadership to CWS based on experience in faith-based and not-for-profit organizations. Use effective business management practices to ensure CWS operates effectively. Establish a work environment that promotes learning and ensure opportunities for learning to occur. Assure CWS mission and values are not compromised in development and implementation of strategic plans.

Leadership: Exemplify CWS’s values in representing the organization in all activities.

Take action to meet organizational needs and address organizational issues. Ensure the way work is performed within CWS is consistent with its intended organizational style. Ensure and define processes for planning, evaluating and managing CWS resources, staff and information. Evaluate existing skill sets among staff and retool or redirect them to meet organizational needs. Model and empower responsible risk-taking and creativity. Balance vision and knowledge of effective business practices to implement CWS’s strategic plan.

Problem Solving: Recognize the long-range challenges posed by societal and institutional influences. Develop strategies to address and minimize potential risks in meeting organizational challenges, with respect and caring. Implement changes in organizational policy or practices to respond to challenges, assuring supporting information has been gathered and examined. Demonstrate wisdom and fairness in weighing recommended solutions to problems, considering core values, financial resources and organizational impact. Assure CWS has available the resources necessary to support organizational problem-solving. Promote an environment in which staff are empowered and supported in responsible problem-solving.

Program Planning and Management: Hold organizational managers responsible for developing, implementing, communicating and evaluating programs and services, ensuring:

  • that all necessary background research has been gathered and analyzed;
  • reasonable time frames for achievement have been established;
  • performance standards and expectations have been identified and communicated;
  • an appropriate methodology for measuring program results and individual performance is in place; and
  • program and individual performance results are appropriately recognized

Resource Building and Stewardship: Provide leadership in planning and securing the financial, material and human resources needed for CWS to carry out its mission and strategic plan. Establish policies for securing and using resources to be sure these activities are consonant with the mission and values of CWS. Finalize negotiations with donors and other stakeholders to maintain and increase their support for the work of CWS. Establish accountability for managing resources by CWS staff. Determines organizational fund raising strategies and priorities. Promotes and recognizes entrepreneurship among staff.

Teamwork: Model team work and team values in personal and group interactions. Establish opportunities for program-specific, cross-functional and problem-solving teams across CWS. Provide critical oversight and feedback to program teams to ensure achievement of organization goals. Hold teams accountable for producing results as assigned within CWS’s strategic plan. Recognize successes among teams and identify needs for team management training. Evaluate effectiveness of team approaches in achieving CWS’s strategic plan.

Other Skills:

Fluency in Spanish or French preferred.


To learn more about Church World Service, please visit the website at http://www.churchworldservice.org

Contact Information: Ms. Karen de Lopez - Human Resources
(574) 264-3102