Executive Director, St. Andrew's Refugee Services

Job Summary:

The Executive Director of St. Andrew's Refugee Services (StARS) works under the supervision of the local governance bodies (St. Andrew's United Congregation and the StARS Advisory Board) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to provide executive leadership for this dynamic and multifaceted refugee service organization. The Executive Director is responsible for all aspects of StARS operations, including strategic planning, program development and the implementation, personnel supervision and training, budget development and management, solicitation of financial support from external funders, and grant management. This position oversees StARS relationship with government entities as well as local, national and international non-governmental churches, agencies and institutions.

This position is supported under the terms of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Global Mission (ELCA GM) Expectations and Support for Long Term Mission Personnel. Those provisions include: international transportation, transportation related to work assignment, pensions and major medical coverage, assistance with schooling for children through high school, housing and cash salary which is adjusted according to the goods and services differential for Egypt.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Administration:

1. Provide administrative leadership, support and direction to StARS staff, including all aspects of personnel management.
2. Supervise executive management team and develop appropriate patterns of shared organizational leadership.
3. Strengthen StARS Financial health and stability through sound financial planning and budgeting including:
   Budget development and management (in partnership with the StARS Accountant)
   Regular and transparent reporting to local governing bodies4. Develop and administer sound personnel, financial and operational policies and procedures.

Strategic and Program Planning:

1. Provide strategic direction and leadership for StARs
   Oversee participatory strategic planning for the StARS program, involving refugees in the development of this plan.
   Ensure the appropriate involvement of the local governing bodies, St. Andrew’s United Congregation and the Advisory Board in this process
   Oversee the implementation of the strategic plan approved by governing bodies
   Oversee the development and implementation of related program plans

Relationships:

1. Maintain strong institutional relationships between StARs and St. Andrew’s United Congregation, The Advisory Board and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
2. Develop strong external relationships to advance StARS purpose with: The Egyptian church, government entities, international institutions (ie. UN High Commissioner for Refugees) and with other external partners.
3. Represent StARS in public forums and meetings.

Leadership Development:

1. Oversee and give direction to the development of a strong and effective StARS staff and volunteer team, including recruitment, supervision, training, leadership development and mentoring activities.

Fundraising and Resource Mobilization:

1. Oversee the development and implementation of an effective fundraising strategy to increase the financial resources available to StARS and undergird its financial health and stability.
2. Strengthen existing relationship and build new relationships with international church-related partners and development agencies, international humanitarian funding institutions.
3. Work with the Advisory Board in strengthening Egypt-based fundraising efforts.

Qualifications:

1. BA or MA in international development or related field, or commensurate experience
2. 5-7 years of experience in refugee programming, rights and protection, including knowledge of and experience with international and local refugee agencies and institutions
3. Administrative and management skills and experience, including:
   Supervision, development and team building of diverse staff
   Budget development and oversight
   Strategic and program planning, monitoring and evaluation
   Building external relationships
   4. Experience in resource mobilization, including grant development/management and donor relations
   5. Strong public speaking with writing skills
   6. Cross-cultural competency

Personal Competencies:

1. Maintenance of calm and professionalism in a stressful, fast-paced environment
2. Ability to provide effective and respectful leadership that both strengthens individual staff leadership capacities and builds an effective leadership team
3. Flexibility and ability to adapt to changing systems and procedures
4. Ability to prioritize responsibility, multi-task, and meet deadlines
5. Analytical and problem solving skills, at both a strategic and operation level
6. Ability to deve3lop effective and accountable organizational systems
7. Ability to express technical ideas and concerns effectively in a non-technical environment
8. Able to work resourcefully and independently and to learn new tasks quickly
9. Strong organization and planning skills, and ability to balance strategic planning with the detail of implementation
10. Maturity and discretion: ability to work with sensitive information and ensure confidentiality, where appropriate
11. Diplomacy and assertiveness: ability to confront and discuss sensitive issues with respect and care
12. Core values: commitment to Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s (ELCA) core beliefs and ELCA GM’s understanding of mission through accompaniment; commitment to gender, national and ethnic equality; commitment to constructive and community building interreligious relationships.

Please fill out an on-line ELCA Global Service Application: http://www.elca.org/globalserve/apply