With over 70 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 34,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Key Responsibilities:

*Please submit your CV and cover letter in English.

JOB PURPOSE.

This Senior Director Christian Identity in Programming is the most senior global expert in the World Vision (WV) Partnership, responsible for driving thought leadership and setting standards for technical excellence in the appropriate expression of WV’s Christian faith in strategies and programmes. The role specifically provides leadership to help achieve Strategic Imperative 1 of WV’s Global Strategy, to further develop and scale guidance and evidence-based models for integrating our Christian faith in ministry practice and tackling the roots of poverty, vulnerability and injustice. This includes:

Supporting accountable implementation of the Partnership Policy on Transformational Development; Setting the agenda and providing strategic leadership and direction for Faith & Development (F&D) programming globally;Driving thought leadership and innovation to assure WV’s Christian faith is appropriately integrated in WV’s Programmes across all contexts, technical areas and funding streams;Supporting related technical capacities and capabilities across contexts;Leveraging internal and external stakeholders to accelerate roll-out of our F&D project models and faith integration in programming globally across all contexts to deliver WV’s Global Strategy, Our Promise.Liaising with key stakeholders and teams to help ensure WV can tell the story of our Christian faith in programming.

This role, and the team it leads, ensures that high standards are met in WV’s F&D programming, maximising our contribution to child well-being and reflecting WV’s distinctive of Christ-centred, child-focused and community empowering approach.

This position reports into the Partnership Leader F&D with a matrix reporting line into the Global Director of Transformational Development. The position holder will be a member of the F&D leadership team but also a regular attendee of the Global Programmes and Resources Leadership Team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITES.

Steward Christian faith aspects of WV´s Transformational Development Approach and setting of strategic priorities

Support WV’s Transformational Development (TD) thinking and its expression in programming in alignment with the WV Partnership Mission and Vision Core Documents and strategy. Support accountable implementation of the Partnership Policy for Transformational Development and Partnership capability for reporting transformational impact.Ensure the global F&D and TD programming roadmap and business plan is vertically aligned (with fundraising & resource development) and horizontally integrated with Programme Integration teams leading the Drivers of Sustainability, other sectors and lines of ministry.

Drive Excellence and Innovation in Faith & Development (F&D) Programming across contexts.

Lead the implementation of WV’s programmatic approach for F&D particularly as a WV strategic priority in alignment with the respective F&D Business Plan, including coordination of technical support to FOs (incl. Disaster Management Responses)

Develop and oversee WV’s F&D programming standards, approaches and technical guidance including evidence-based core project models.Implement F&D Strategy/ Business Plan for Field-facing support and initiatives and drive role of F&D as a key contributor to holistic CWB particularly in the areas of fragile contexts and Disaster Management, and faith engagement, and spiritual nurture of children.Ensure monitoring and evaluation of the F&D and TD programme's impact and effectiveness in close collaboration with WV field, regional and support office colleagues and partnersEnsure that WV can tell the story of hope and transformational change in children, families and communities and the impact of WV's Christian faith in programmingEnable and guide innovation, research and learning in F&D and TD programming, policy and practice across the WV Partnership and with external partners.Build technical capacities and capabilities for F&D and TD programming, and promote a culture of quality, innovation and continuous improvement across the WV Partnership, especially among F&D staff.Work with relevant stakeholders including SDOs, NDs, GC sector and thematic leads as well as F&D regional and national staff to implement respective strategies/ plans and lead in the realization of Partnership F&D priorities.Lead in the discernment and development of biblical narrative so that our TD and other programming work is theological grounded in our Christian faith.Provide insights, and guidance, for staff working in fragile context and Disaster Management, church partnerships and engagement with other faiths, on WV’s Christian identity, especially regarding spiritual nurture of children.Support Programs across contexts to innovate and apply Partnership guidance related F&D (spiritual landscape and root cause analysis in assessments, partnership with churches/FBOs in implementing Core Project Models, ensuring holistic ministry in grants, SNC in Sponsorship’s community engagement, etc.).

Provide thought leadership, cross-sector F&D integration and external engagement

Provide thought leadership on Transformational Development and F&D Programming within and outside of WV, strengthening WV’s reputation through high quality programming, evidence of impact, policy and advocacy-related work.Participate in high-level international meetings, forums, and conferences as required, positioning WV as a leading NGO in faith-based programming.Champion cross-sector collaboration for F&D integration: Work with and provide inputs to global technical sectors to ensure F&D integration in the development, mainstreaming, and strengthening of approaches, project models, policy and guidance, capacity building and learning resources related.

Team and organisational leadership

Lead and manage a high performing, effective WV F&D sub-team, including nurturing a healthy and Christ-centred team culture – overseeing individual and team recruitment, performance and professional development (directly of the WVI F&D sub-team and indirectly of the extended F&D programming & impact team with Regional F&D advisors in this area).Ensure collaboration and coordination with VisionFund and other WV ministry and program teams, including a matrix relationship with the TD Global Director, to enhance integrated impact and effectiveness across WV’s humanitarian and development programming and advocacy.Coordinate with Global Sector and Programme Integration thematic leads to ensuring global approaches (including core project models) are integrated and have a ministry focus that is Christian, community-based, and child-focused.Coordinate closely with WVUS F&D (and other stakeholders) in the area of F&D programming and transformational impact.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, TRAINING, LICENSE, REGISTRATION, AND/OR CERTIFICATION.

Post graduate degree in in international development, ministry engagement, theology or other related fieldsTheological/biblical training at least on bachelor level

REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE.

Demonstration of Christ-centred life and work with deep personal commitment to ChristIn-depth understanding of current thinking on Transformational Development and World Vision’s approachStrong familiarity and practical experience with World Vision´s F&D programming models and tools (Celebrating Families, Channels of Hope, and Empowered Worldview, but also Spiritual Nurture of Children)Proven ability to lead, motivate and inspire employees, equipping them to reach their potentialSubstantial field experience with direct exposure to fragile contexts in different cultural and faith contextsMinimum 10 years’ experience in a senior leadership role in the humanitarian and development industry with particular experience in leading and developing high performance teams (including experience managing diverse teams remotely and across time zones)Broad experience and commitment in working with children: In-depth understanding and work on children especially the most vulnerable in developing and fragile contexts neededStrong understanding and application of theology, missiology and diversity of church and faith tradition to the work of relief, development and advocacyBroad experience in relationship building and working with churches, faith based organizations and other faith groupsProven ability to influence diverse groups of leaders, motivate change, and lead implementation of key strategies and initiatives incl. proven ability to speak, communicate, advise, and strategically engage with senior leaders across sectors both interpersonally and corporately.Advanced communication skills with ability to communicate broad and complex ideas clearly and concisely to achieve collaboration and buy-in.  Proven ability to lead and implement strategic initiatives and projects affecting the whole organization.

Please Note, World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization with a mission centered on following Jesus Christ in service to the world´s most vulnerable children. Therefore, in all locations to the fullest extent legally permissible, the successful applicant will affirm our core documents, observe conduct compatible with. Christian principles, serve at a high level of professional ethics and strive to act in accordance with cultural sensitivities. Furthermore, regular attendance with and leading of team and office devotions, chapel and prayer gatherings are expected in line with policies in the World Vision host location and its departments.

REQUIRED TRAVEL AND/OR WORK ENVIRONMENT ACCOMMODATIONS.

The position requires ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 30% of the time, including per travel to conflict-affected contexts. 

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Effective in written and verbal communication in English and proficient in one other language – Spanish, French (preferred)

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND/OR OTHER QUALIFICATIONS.

15+ years’ experience working cross-culturally/internationally15+ years’ combined experience in community/international developmentExemplary research, analysis and report writing skills with a strong ability to advise based on research conducted. Ability to produce high quality documents, briefs, executive summaries, etc.Experience in teaching advanced adult learning courses (e.g., as a faculty member for community development/ theological education)

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local Applicants Only