Project Director, USDOL

Position Description

About PADF

The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) believes in creating a hemisphere of opportunity, for all. We work across Latin America and the Caribbean to make our region stronger—more healthy, peaceful, just, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable for current and future generations. For over 60 years, we have served the most vulnerable communities, investing resources throughout the hemisphere. We partner with and enable civil society, governments, and the private sector for the greater good of the region.

Position Overview

PADF seeks a full-time Project Director for an upcoming U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Project in Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC). This project will reduce barriers that impede access to education and decent work for LGBTQI youth in Brazil, and more broadly, in the LAC region.

The Project Director should have a background in labor law, labor rights, human rights, or related areas, and experience on the issue of labor rights of LGBTQI individuals and youth. The selected individual will lead a diverse team of technical specialists that will utilize an area-based and holistic approach to address violations of labor rights most prevalent in Brazil and LAC. The Project Director will be based in a country, to be defined, in LAC. There is a strong preference for candidates based in Brazil and who have the ability to travel.

This position is contingent on funding.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Coordinate project activities according to the approved work plan and in consultation with USDOL and key stakeholders.
• Liaise with USDOL, national, state, and local governments, and target populations, bringing in and leveraging stakeholders to support project activities as required.
• Maintain working relationships with all project stakeholders (including government, civil society, academia, and employers) and engage in coalition-building and public-private partnership promotion.
• Manage a team of project staff, technical experts, consultants, and local partners, while coordinating with headquarters and in-country project staff.
• Provide strategic guidance to the team for the completion of project activities in prioritized sectoral and geographic areas.
• Perform strategic, financial, and operational planning, including work planning, and ensure project compliance with all USDOL financial, contractual, and reporting requirements.
• Ensure that milestones, performance goals, and indicators are monitored and achieved.
• Lead high-quality report preparation in English, capturing project activities, documenting impacts related to all activities, and ensuring timely submission.
• Foster partnerships and alliances to leverage additional funds and support for project activities.
• Travel to areas of intervention within LAC and to PADF’s Washington D.C. office, as needed.
• Other duties as required.
  
  

Competencies

• Leadership – Provides strategic direction that strengthens team roles, risk-taking, motivation, delivering on results, and fosters mutual respect, constructive dialogue, and a positive work environment.
• Problem resolution – Identifies needs, develops solutions with stakeholders and sees them through completion.
• Team building – Ability to manage and influence, empower individuals and groups to strengthen internal capacities; ability to coordinate and collaborate with internal PADF stakeholders and the headquarters support departments.
• Cross-cultural communications – Ability to communicate effectively with program/technical staff maximizing the positive impact and fostering mutual respect, constructive dialogue, and a positive work environment; ability to communicate effectively with individuals from different cultures and backgrounds.
  
  

Personal Characteristics

• Results oriented – Motivated to achieve and bring tasks to completion. Great at follow up and follow through. Demonstrates a drive and willingness to work hard, with teamwork, communication, and collaboration.
• Interaction skills and empathy – Ability to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.
• Demonstrated flexibility – Ability to innovate within the framework of donor compliance requirements and adapt to unforeseen circumstances.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in project management, supervision, administration, and implementation of a cooperative agreement and/or contract requirements (including meeting deadlines, achieving targets, establishing and maintaining systems for managing project operations, working with multiple subrecipient(s) and/or contractor(s), and overseeing the preparation and submission of required reports to donor agencies), preferably in one of the countries of implementation.
• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, international development, social science, anthropology, education, environmental science, economics, or related field. Master’s degree is preferred.
• Proven experience in a leadership role for a project addressing labor-related issues.
• Knowledge and awareness of LGBTQI issues; including experience fostering strong relationships of trust within LGBTQI communities, possess LGBTQI leadership experience, demonstrate a proven track record of engagement within LGBTQI spaces.
• Experience working with organizations promoting the rights of LGBTQI individuals and youth in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Experience establishing and maintaining systems for managing project operations across several countries preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain working relationships with all project stakeholders and to engage in coalition building and multi-stakeholder partnerships, specifically with the public and private sectors.
• Effective public speaker.
• Fluency in English and Portuguese is required. Fluency includes speaking, listening, reading, and writing. For non-native speakers, evidence of fluency may include a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score or transcript showing completion of advanced English language coursework.
• Working knowledge of Spanish is a plus.
• Knowledge of USG donor rules, regulations, systems, and procedures, specifically pertaining to USDOL preferred.
  
  

More About PADF 

PADF is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established by the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1962. www.padf.org 

PADF’s core values. “H-E-A-R-T” = Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork. 

Diversity. PADF is strong because we are diverse. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. PADF does not discriminate based on ability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal record. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide span of cultures, languages, socio-economic backgrounds, and perspectives on the world. 

PADF is committed to safeguarding employees and those we serve, addressing inappropriate behavior, discrimination, and harassment. We take an intersectional approach, promote gender equality, and follow our Global Code of Conduct emphasizing our H.E.A.R.T. values. The code covers various aspects, including anti-trafficking, PSEAH (Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment), whistleblowing, and online safety.

PADF is an Equal Opportunity Employer