The Solidarity Center, founded in 1997 by the AFL-CIO to tackle the enormous challenges workers face in the global economy, now works with union and community group partners in more than 60 countries through a network of 26 field offices. This not-for-profit organization offers education, training, research, legal support, and organizing assistance to help build strong and effective trade unions and other worker organizations and more just and equitable societies. Its programs promote democratic rights and respect for workers; raise public awareness about abuses of the world’s most vulnerable workers; and, above all, help the world’s workers secure a voice in their societies and the global economy.
The Solidarity Center seeks a regional program director to lead the work of advancing its mission in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and to participate in shaping its strategy for the region and globally. The regional program director reports directly to the Solidarity Center’s executive director, serves on the management team, and works in close partnership with AFL-CIO international staff. The Washington, DC-based Solidarity Center has a staff of 245 and an annual budget of $30 million. The position requires residency in the DC area and extensive travel to the region.
Responsibilities
- With other Solidarity Center senior management, develop a strategic vision and program priorities for work in the region; revisit the vision and priorities as needed to reflect changing regional and global realities.
- Coordinate the design and implementation of programs in the region.
- Lead and manage the department’s staff in DC and the region to ensure that the work of the field offices is supported strategically, programmatically, politically, financially, and diplomatically, including overseeing Solidarity Center resources in the region and supervising country program directors. As needed, advise and provide support to resolve issues in the field.
- Develop a comprehensive strategy for funding work in the region; aggressively pursue new funding opportunities while maintaining relationships with current donors. Assist in creating materials to support fundraising efforts.
- Serve as the voice of the region, its labor issues, and their global importance, within the Solidarity Center, the AFL-CIO, and the U.S. labor movement broadly as well as to U.S. missions in the region, other NGOs, and the academic community. Build bridges to and coalitions and collaborative efforts with others in the region working to advance worker rights.
- Assure the high quality and effectiveness of the Solidarity Center’s work in the region through evaluation of both program work and employee performance.
Qualifications
- A minimum of 10 years’ experience to include knowledge of and work in the region and experience in the U.S. and/or international labor movement and/or the human rights movement. Understanding of the region’s political economy and its place in the global economy is critical, as is an understanding of the U.S. labor movement.
- Fluency in Arabic is required, as is the ability to communicate ideas and information effectively to U.S. and international audiences. French language proficiency a plus.
- Proven leadership, strategic, analytic, and management abilities; a proven ability to work successfully in complex political environments and collaboratively as part of a dynamic team.
- Proven success in the U.S. government funding world; success with non-government donors would be welcome.
- B.A. degree in a relevant field; a graduate degree is highly preferred.
Personal Qualities
The successful candidate will bring a sense of passion about the region and its politics, a strong social justice orientation, and a clear understanding of gender equity as a critical component of worker rights. He or she will have good judgment in U.S. and international political environments and the confidence, tenacity, energy, patience, and drive to work with others in this multilayered international organization to advance the cause of workers around the world.
The duration of this position, as with all positions at the Solidarity Center, is contingent upon continued grant funding.
To Apply: Please send cover letter and résumé to Lisa Humphries, Human Resources Officer, Solidarity Center, 888 16th Street, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20006; by e-mail to lhumphries@solidaritycenter.org; or by fax to 202-974-8266.
The Solidarity Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minority candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Only short listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Closing date of application: When position is filled.