Executive Director, US Programs

Job Description

Location: Flexible U.S. location, with preference for proximity to the Portland Metro Area or emerging program hubs. Location may evolve as the program expands.

Salary Range: Please note that the typical hiring range is $130,000 - $140,000 annually. Job offers within the range are based on relevant job qualifications and pay equity.

Are you a transformational leader who inspires change, builds trust, and drives lasting impact? If you’re energized by the opportunity to shape the future of our US-based, domestic programs and lead with vision and integrity—we want to meet you. This is a rare opportunity to lead with purpose—and to build something bold for people who need it most.

The Executive Director (ED) of U.S. Programs (USP)  leads the strategic direction and execution of Medical Teams International’s domestic humanitarian mission. In alignment with our bold aspiration—to significantly increase our global impact through life-saving medical care that human dignity requires—the ED will identify and serve people and communities in U.S. humanitarian settings where crises, emergencies, and systemic vulnerabilities compromise health and surpass local adaptive capacity. These may include individuals affected by displacement, disaster, structural inequity, or other health-compromising events that result in excess morbidity and mortality.

The ED holds primary responsibility for developing, scaling, and ensuring the quality and sustainability of U.S. Programs, including related financial, operational, and risk management models. The role is accountable for delivering measurable impact and ensuring resources are deployed effectively, ethically, and in compliance with organizational and regulatory standards.

Reporting to the Chief of Global Programs, the ED collaborates closely with HQ and members of the Country Support Team to align domestic programming with global strategies. The ED leads a U.S.-based portfolio currently under $5 million in annual revenue, with a clear mandate to expand its reach and recognition in line with Medical Teams’ bold aspiration.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential Duties

Strategy & Planning

• Provide overall leadership in line with Medical Teams International’s Calling, Values, Strategic Priorities, and Standards.
• Develop and direct the implementation of a USP strategy (aligned with the global strategy) and Annual Operating Plan, achieving clear, realistic, and measurable targets while being accountable for results.
• Direct and ensure strategic and operational alignment of all functions to meet needs where healthcare systems are disrupted, access to care is limited to nonexistent, and external assistance is required while accounting for operational feasibility, financial resources, and technical quality.
• Lead assessment and implementation of enterprise risk management and business continuity contingency planning.
• Collaborate within Global Programs and with Finance to ensure proper financing of all clinics and projects, as well as cost recovery in all grants and other funding streams.
• Lead the planning and acquisition of diverse funding to implement the strategy and ensure overall financial viability of the country office and its programs.

USP Leadership & Management

• Lead the USP leadership team in a manner that facilitates a high-performance culture, open and trustworthy relationships, transparency, integrity and accountability.
• Promote a culture of learning and development, employee engagement and good stewardship of human capital in the office.
• Build sustainability through effective organizational workforce planning and by championing capacity building and team empowerment toward the ultimate goal of a responsible transition and exit strategy.
• Lead the USP team in effective management of internal and external risks.
• Direct or ensure compliance with statutory reporting requirements, and applicable organizational policies in all areas of operations.
• Develop and be accountable for an organizational structure that results in optimal efficiency and effectiveness, minimizing duplication and leveraging synergies between projects and in-country offices.
• Model a high standard of leadership, maturity and integrity as an example to staff, and provide overall spiritual and servant leadership.
• Ensure close, effective and supportive relationships are developed across support functions such as Finance, Logistics, HR and IT, leading to improved efficiency and eliminating unapproved organizational obstructions.

Program Leadership

• Ensure the US program’s overall development and implementation meets Medical Teams’ priorities and standards as outlined in policies, standard operating procedures, and the Maturity Framework, with year-on-year progress toward high quality programs and impact possible within the country context.
• Direct and ensure all programs coordinate and comply with national, state, and local regulations and standards
• Lead in manner where all program goals, activities and personnel demonstrate commitment to national and international humanitarian frameworks and standards (e.g., Sphere, Core Humanitarian Standards) and align to the Core Service package in a manner that makes sense in a US context.
• Develop and lead systems that ensure feedback and complaint mechanisms for beneficiaries, communities, other stakeholders, and organizational staff are in place and align to the Core Humanitarian Standards.
• Ensure projects are implemented, monitored, and evaluated according to agreements with donors and other stakeholders, and all project objectives are completed on time and on budget.
• Develop annual operating budgets and work plans, and ensure effective budget monitoring, reporting and financial management.
• Develop and lead people and systems that ensure project proposals and reports address the needs of the most vulnerable people, are submitted on time, and meet standards required by HQ, partners and external donors.
• Ensure strong community acceptance among the diverse populations being served and that assistance is delivered according to humanitarian principles

Representation

• Act as Medical Teams’ primary representative for USP. Foster collaborative, transparent and accountable relationships to proactively, regularly and consistently represent Medical Teams to humanitarian actors, including local, state, and national agencies as well as NGOs, faith-based and partner organizations, media and other relevant parties.
• Identify and participate in forums and meetings for the humanitarian community where there may be a strategic benefit to Medical Teams.

Resource Acquisition

• Maintain an ongoing awareness of the operating environment in-country and identify needs in the humanitarian health sector that fit with Medical Teams’ core competencies.
• Proactively lead the growth of Medical Teams program in-country through a grant acquisition and management strategy; maintaining strong links with donors; identifying funding opportunities; and leading the development of institutional proposals in coordination with HQ.
• Lead, design, and analyze needs assessments, and identify relevant programmatic interventions.

Human Resources

• Create an environment for Medical Teams’ team members to embody organizational values: Courageous, Tenacious, Accountable, Not Alone, and Selfless.
• Develop a strong team, including an effective senior leadership team that values accountability, 360-degree feedback, and transparency.
• Develop and lead systems that ensure the quality of staff recruited and retained are at a level to meet the organization’s overall performance expectations. Ensure team members are effective, efficient and diligent in meeting program and country goals.
• Create a team culture committed to employee engagement, cultural and racial diversity, staff care, shared learning and professional development within the country team.
• Ensure in-country Human Resources establishes a staff care function and mechanisms supporting staff well-being and welfare.
• Provide regular feedback to staff to ensure optimal performance.
• Oversee effective human resource management including:
• Overall workforce mapping and planning across funding streams and projects
• Recruitment, onboarding, supervision, performance review, and professional development of local and expatriate personnel
• Compliance with local laws and organizational personnel policies
• Ensuring personnel plans reflect operational needs.

Risk Management, Safety and Security

• Ensure the ongoing monitoring of the external security environment.
• Review and oversee implementation of effective safety and security management policies and practices in accordance with Global Safety and Security Policy and the support of the Global Safety and Security Advisor, including robust information collection practices and systematic testing of safety and security plans.
• Direct or lead teams to respond and manage major and critical incidences within the country program.
• Champion the importance of safety and security and incorporate safety and security considerations throughout all activities.
• Ensure development, regular review and usage of comprehensive country risk registers and apply effective controls to mitigate risks.
• Ensure the Safeguarding of program participants and employees through promoting an environment of awareness and upholding the code of conduct provisions of Medical Teams Protection from Sexual Exploitation & Abuse, Child & Vulnerable Adult protection, and harassment-free workplace policies. Incumbents will remain alert and responsive to any child and adult safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the child and adult safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Safeguarding code of conduct and behavior expectations.

Finance & Compliance

• Ensure Medical Teams is compliant with host-government’s laws, regulations and policies, and with Medical Teams’ internal policies and procedures.
• Ensure accountability is integrated into country strategies, program design, monitoring and evaluations, recruitment, staff onboarding, training and performance management, partnership agreements, and highlighted in reporting.
• Ensure USP maintains a constructive, transparent and independent relationship with the local, state and federal government, including ensuring Medical Teams International holds up-to-date registration/accreditation in any state it implements projects.
• Direct and lead teams to ensure financial resources are managed according to agreements with donors and standards approved by Medical Teams International.
• Ensure that audit reports are responded to and recommendations implemented within approved / agreed timeframes.
• Ensure efficient and effective organizational practices resulting in successful financial and operational audit scores.
• Ensure all procurement, medicine management, warehousing and program expenditures occur in accordance with best practices, and all contractors comply with contractual agreements.
• Direct and lead teams to ensure good stewardship over all resources by maintaining sound internal controls, risk register, procedures and records according to Medical Teams’ accountability standards.

Reporting & Knowledge Management

• Ensure all internal and external reporting requirements are planned for, and quality reports are submitted on time. This will include regular reporting on the situation, potential impact and risk, progress and development of the overall country program.
• Ensure communication products are developed and disseminated to internal and external audiences.
• Ensure internal coordination and information sharing mechanisms result in improved staff awareness and performance.

Other Duties

• Additional duties as assigned.
• Utilize volunteers when appropriate.

Qualifications

EDUCATION, LICENSES, & CERTIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree or higher in a field relevant to international humanitarian work. (Relevant experience may be considered and substituted).
• Valid Passport
• Valid driver’s License

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 9-10 years progressive responsibility in humanitarian or public health projects, programming and personnel management.
• 8+ years’ senior program and non-profit management experience in a related field.
• Work experience in relevant geographic region preferred.
• Master’s in public health preferred.
• U.S. based experience preferred.
• Experience working with vulnerable groups (e.g., refugees, displaced, indigenous, or migrants) and/or urban or rural contexts.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Knowledge:

• Commitment to organizational strengthening.
• Strong working knowledge of public health and humanitarian response.
• Commitment to working in a culturally sensitive and respectful manner.
• Experience and knowledge of non-profit health funding mechanisms.
• Knowledge of US health regulations, public health, or agencies like FEMA preferred.

Skills:

• Strong organizational and strategic planning skills.
• Excellent financial management skills, including the ability to prepare, monitor and control budgets, reports, project proposals and partnership agreement documents.
• Demonstrated experience managing high-performing work teams.
• Excellent English-language written and verbal skills.
• Skilled at building and maintaining a high functioning, high performing work team.
• High level of initiative with strong results-orientation.

Abilities:

• Commitment to Medical Teams International Calling Statement and Core Values.
• Proven ability to develop strategic donor relationships.
• Very resourceful and creative.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends as needed. 
• Ability and willingness to travel to program sites on short notice. 
• Ability and willingness to travel to global meetings, as needed.  
• Ability to work collaboratively with others, including internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven passion for programmatic growth, ability to produce successful proposals and develop impactful reports.

About the Organization

Our highly trained medical teams save lives, alleviate suffering, and restore human dignity by offering comprehensive medical care and mental health services to people experiencing crisis. Our teams are made up of expert and experienced medical professionals from the regions where they work.

We serve in neglected, hard-to-reach places like the frontlines of conflict, refugee camps, and border regions, helping people facing complex emergencies and/or displacement. In these settings—where healthcare systems have been destroyed, supply chains have been interrupted, or most medical professionals have been forced to flee—we provide the best care we possibly can.

Our teams take on the informed risk, operational obstacles, and financial challenges that come with serving in these difficult places because that is where we are needed. Unlike most emergency aid organizations, we also work hard to strengthen local healthcare systems in the regions where we work by establishing clinics, providing equipment, and training volunteers to make sure people have access to health care long after the crisis is over.