International Program Director | Washington, DC

CorStone is an internationally-recognized nonprofit organization that develops and provides personal resilience programs to improve well-being for youth worldwide, focusing on adolescent girls as critical change-agents in their communities. CorStone is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, US and currently conducts programs in India, Rwanda and Kenya. 
 
We believe that cultivating emotional resilience is a foundational step in helping youth to thrive—one which is often missing in development programs worldwide. Our evidence-based resilience programs work from the ‘inside out’, employing a strength-based approach to target the internal and social assets that youth need to overcome challenges and flourish. Research shows that CorStone’s Youth First and Girls First resilience programs improve mental, emotional, social, physical wellbeing, and school engagement in a host of diverse, marginalized populations.
 
Over the past decade, CorStone has provided resilience-based training to nearly 200,000 marginalized youth across India, Rwanda, and Kenya, and is set to reach approximately 5 million youth per year by 2025 via partnerships with governments and other NGOs. We have also conducted some of the first and largest studies of resilience interventions in LMIC populations. 
 
We are launching a network model that will allow local organizations and governments to adapt and conduct Youth First among their students. Organizations and governments in India, Kenya, and Rwanda that are currently implementing the model will form the initial network members, and we anticipate adding 3-5 network members from other countries over the next 2 years to conduct CorStone programs.
 
About the position
The International Program Director will oversee and manage relationships with existing network partners, providing oversight and direction to these existing country programs as an active co-leader with local directors and managers, while liaising and collaborating with CorStone’s US- and India-based leadership teams. In addition, the International Program Director will be charged with finding new partners, setting up partnerships and projects within the network, actively fundraising for CorStone’s component of these projects, and launching new network projects within new countries. The International Program Director will also be responsible for launching and managing a community of practice regarding the intersection of resilience and gender in LMICs. This position represents an important member of our leadership team at CorStone and will also participate as a member of CorStone’s the Leadership Board.
 
Responsibilities
Supervisory responsibility for established network programs. Active co-leader with local management and US- and India-based leadership team on these programs.
Develop and manage budgets and plans pertaining to program expansion with new partners and countries.
Develop and manage a selection process for new partners and geographies, determine priority expansion targets, and take an active lead in raising the funds required to launch and sustain each new site prior to government handover.
Create and oversee processes required for a robust global network of NGO partners implementing CorStone programs.
Develop strategic advocacy and stakeholder engagement plans towards integrating CorStone’s programs within government systems.
Ensure high-quality project management, record-keeping, and data-driven decision-making in program conduct.
Ensure ongoing programmatic excellence; recommend timelines and resources needed to achieve strategic goals.
Identify best practices to improve network and project systems with an eye towards future needs and budget realities.
Collaborate on writing any new grant proposals and/or grant reports pertaining to established programs.
Launch and manage a community of practice regarding the intersection of resilience and gender, comprised of practitioners, academics, and funders.
Play a crucial role in CorStone’s leadership, including collaborating on setting organizational strategic direction, as part of the organization’s Leadership Board.
Reports to Chief Program Officer.
Location and hours
 
Full time, flexible hours. Our partners and staff are spread out throughout many different time zones, however, so some flexibility is necessary in finding times during non-standard hours for phone calls across time zones.
 
Though we will consider candidates in other areas, candidates from the Baltimore, MD or Washington, DC area are preferred. Candidates in the US are strongly preferred.
 
Note: Much of the work can be done remotely according to preference, with periodic meetings in our Baltimore headquarters.
 
Qualifications
At least 8 years of experience overseeing international projects and programs.
Experience with new partnership development and program management.
Experience in international nonprofits required; experience in nonprofits focused onnmental health, life skills, education, adolescent health, or girl/women empowerment (or related field) preferred.
Familiarity with financial information, including ability to create and revise budgets.
Willingness to travel internationally to ensure program success.
Superior written and interpersonal communication skills; ability to write and communicate clear, structured, articulate, and persuasive proposals, grant reports, and other communications.
Entrepreneurial, proactive, and operates under minimal supervision. High tolerance for ambiguity and complexity. Efficient with limited resources.
Ability to track, prioritize, and drive multiple concurrent projects to success.
Excellent problem solving skills and the aptitude to think creatively.
Solid team player who is able to work collaboratively on projects.
Demonstrated thought leadership, excellent problem solving skills and the aptitude to think creatively.
Experience in psychology and/or with the concepts of resilience is desirable, but not mandatory. A willingness and excitement for learning about them IS mandatory!
Understands and values equity, diversity, and inclusion as an organizational operating principle, and is committed to continued learning on issues related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

How to apply
Send a cover letter and a detailed CV or resume to Kate Leventhal, Chief Program Officer, at cs-jobs@corstone.org with the exact words “International Program Director Application” in the subject line. 
 
We strongly encourage people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities to apply. CorStone is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team. If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.
 
In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (for example, she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc).
 
Finally, please note: Although we wish we could get back to everyone, due to the high volume of applications expected, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.