Executive Director

Executive Director

ABOUT ARDI

Atlas Relief and Development International (ARDI) is a women-led international development organization working to empower diverse communities affected by conflict to shape and participate in the peaceful, inclusive, rights-based, and secure futures they envision. ARDI specializes in supporting civilians affected by the conflict in Syria. ARDI is registered in Germany, the United States, Turkey, Iraq, and Northeastern Syria; and we operate in areas affected by conflict and migration. ARDI leads programming across a wide variety of development projects, including expertise in peacebuilding, women’s empowerment, capacity building, civil society strengthening, political participation, economic empowerment, technical research, awareness-raising, and the amplification of diverse and minority voices. 

POSITION SUMMARY

ARDI is seeking an Executive Director who will engage, lead, and collaborate across programming, operations, finance, human resources, and communications arenas within the organization. The Executive Director’s main objective is to lead the organization towards favorable growth while promoting development, stabilization, empowerment, livelihoods, and peace-building initiatives for communities in conflict-affected areas, including civil society organizations, diverse women and men, people with disabilities, youth, and marginalized populations. The key tasks of the Executive Director involve strategic leadership, programmatic oversight, financial management, and creating inclusive working environments. They must articulate and implement the organization's vision, mission, and strategy across different sectors, ensuring alignment and coordination at all levels. The Executive Director should foster a supportive and equitable workplace, particularly for women and minority groups, by providing mentorship and opportunities for career advancement. In conflict-affected areas, the Executive Director plays a crucial role in building trust and relationships with stakeholders, donors, and partners. They should have intimate knowledge of the local conflict, stabilization, and development contexts in Syria, as well as other areas in the region - ideally informed by first-hand experiences operating directly within the same communities ARDI aims to support. To succeed, the Executive Director must possess strong leadership skills, demonstrate optimism, and effectively communicate the organization's values and commitments. They must make tough decisions, embrace ambiguity, and inspire the team to work collaboratively towards common goals. Additionally, the Executive Director needs to adapt their approach to engage various marginalized communities, acknowledging the diverse needs and barriers they face. This role is critical for providing strategic direction, overseeing operations, and ensuring the efficient management of resources to fulfill the organization's mission. The ideal candidate should have proven experience in executive leadership roles, a deep understanding of humanitarian contexts, and the ability to navigate complex challenges while upholding the organization's principles and values.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary duties and responsibilities of the Executive Director include, but are not limited to:

Programming:

• Develop and implement strategies to promote the organization's mission and "voice" within the context of conflict-affected areas.
• Oversee the planning, execution, and evaluation of all development and humanitarian programs, ensuring they align with the organization's objectives and principles.
• Foster partnerships and collaborations with local stakeholders, governments, and other humanitarian actors to enhance the organization's programming impact.

Operations:

• Provide overall guidance and supervision to subordinate managers and teams, ensuring efficient coordination of activities and effective use of resources.
• Ensure the organization's daily operations comply with established policies, legal guidelines, and humanitarian standards.
• Oversee crisis management protocols addressing risk situations promptly and effectively.
• Review and optimize operational processes to enhance organizational efficiency and effectiveness.

Finance:

• Develop comprehensive organizational plans, budgets, and financial strategies aligned with the board of directors' goals and objectives.
• Oversee financial management, including budget allocations, fundraising efforts, and investments, to maintain the organization's financial stability.
• Ensure transparency and accountability in financial reporting and adherence to donor requirements and regulatory standards.

Human Resources:

• Build and lead a highly effective and motivated team of leaders, providing guidance, coaching, and professional development opportunities.
• Promote a positive organizational culture that values diversity, inclusivity, and gender equality.
• Develop and implement HR policies and practices that comply with local labor laws and humanitarian principles.

Communications:

• Serve as the primary spokesperson and public relations representative of the organization, effectively conveying its mission, values, and achievements to various stakeholders.
• Forge and maintain trusted relationships with donors, partners, and external authorities to support fundraising and resource mobilization efforts.
• Utilize various communication channels to disseminate information about the organization's activities and impact.

EDUCATION, TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE 

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, international development, public policy, international affairs, humanitarian sector, and/or other relevant fields.
• 10+ years of experience in public administration, international development, public policy, international affairs, humanitarian sector, and/or other relevant fields.
• High-level English speaking and writing skills are required. 
• Native Arabic speaking and writing fluency are required.
• Strong and convincing ability to communicate strategically, negotiate in complex situations, foster strong and lasting relationships with diverse stakeholders, advocate and promote an organization's capacities in ways that secure funding, partnerships, and other opportunities. 
• Ability to work from Berlin, Germany as a salaried employee on German payroll.
• Proven experience in developing grant proposals, concept notes, and other relevant applications for grant funding.
• Dynamic self-starter who thrives off of tackling complex challenges, identifying strategic solutions, and has the ability to collaborate well with diverse teams in both distance-based and in-person environments.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to cultivate productive relationships with diverse colleagues and stakeholders and work collaboratively with diverse groups of people.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with sound judgment.
• Strong critical thinking, passion for excellence, and personal integrity. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested applicants should submit an updated CV via Indeed, ARDI’s website submission form, or directly via email: info@atlasrdi.com. If submitting by email, please indicate the title of the position in the subject of your email "Executive Director". 

Hiring is conducted on a rolling basis until a qualified candidate is selected, with the aim to identify a pool of qualified candidates to engage in the interview process in July, 2023. Due to the high volume of applications, ARDI will only contact applicants who meet the key criteria needed for this position, as outlined in the job description.

ARDI is committed to fostering a diverse, multicultural work environment for all and is an equal opportunity employer with zero tolerance towards discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, national origin, citizenship, age, marital status, disability, medical condition, and any other characteristic protected by international and federal laws and ethical standards.