Director, Youth Engagement

Summary of the Position:

The Director will lead Women Deliver’s youth engagement portfolio as an advocate and spokesperson for meaningful youth engagement. The Director will play a key role in guiding the vision and strategy for Women Deliver’s Young Leader’s program, which connects outstanding young advocates with the platforms, the people, and the resources that can amplify their influence on a larger scale. With an emphasis on sexual and reproductive health and rights, Women Deliver elevates the work of young people taking a stand for gender equality. The Young Leaders Program is a catalyst for rising advocates, providing access to small grants, training, a digital university, speaking opportunities, and networking. Since 2010, a total of 700 young people from 138 countries have increased their impact through the award-winning program so far.

As a member of the organization’s Coordination Team, the Director will bring exceptional leadership and strategic abilities, strong understanding of gender equality, intersectional feminism, and meaningful youth engagement within the global development sector, and a deep sense of respect for the power of young people as leaders in advancing the health, rights and wellbeing of girls and women.

The Director will partner with the Senior Manager, Youth Engagement – who oversees day to day implementation, staff management and reporting. This position reports to the Chief Operating Officer.

Accountabilities:
• Continuing to refine the strategic vision of the youth engagement portfolio, ensuring integration across program areas and in alignment with the overall strategic plan
• Ensuring meaningful youth engagement and youth-led advocacy, through norm setting, is elevated at a global level and conversation
• Influencing the Young Leaders Program, creating new opportunities and partnerships; enhancing the platform for Young Leaders
• Representing Women Deliver and meaningful youth engagement externally – serving as a content expert at international fora, conferences, events, and media opportunities
• Serving as an advisory member and key counselor with key stakeholders, working groups and coalitions – ensuring representation at both global and regional levels
• Proactively identify new opportunities to enhance Women Delver’s role as a leading advocate for young people’s engagement and leadership
• Developing and maintaining relationships with a diverse donor community in collaboration with the External Relations team
• Lead and mentor a team of youth engagement professionals

Qualifications, Skills, and Knowledge:
• Minimum of 10-12 years of cumulative work experience
• Bachelor degree required; masters highly preferred
• Program management experience required, preferably in a youth-led or youth-serving organization
• Strong understanding of and connections in the field of youth engagement, global development and/or gender equality
• Experience working with intersectional feminist movements, including LGBTGIA+ communities, people with disabilities, indigenous groups, ethnic and religious minorities, and people living in humanitarian settings
• Strong understanding of advocacy, particularly at the global level
• Experience with public speaking and the ability to represent the organization in a variety of settings, including media
• Excellent writing, editing, communication, presentation, and time management skills, with the ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously
• Experience with results-based program design and grant management
• Demonstrated ability to respectfully and diplomatically engage with diverse groups and discuss sensitive topics
• Experience living in a developing country context strongly preferred
• A truly collaborative personality with the ability to work cross functionally and articulate a point of view with a hands-on, positive, can-do attitude
• Comfort in working across time zones using video technology as a communications tool
• French, Spanish or Arabic language skills a plus
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally (up to 40%)
• Must be able to work in the US without sponsorship