Temporary Program Coordinator, Aghaaz Program - Vital Voices Global Partnership

Organization Description  

Vital Voices Global Partnership is a leading international non-profit organization. We invest in women leaders who are tackling the world's greatest challenges – from gender-based violence to the climate crisis, economic inequities, and more. We are "venture catalysts," identifying leaders with a daring vision for change and partnering with them to make that vision a reality. What sets Vital Voices apart is that we make long-term, holistic investments in leaders with bold ideas for change — providing them connections, capacity, a network of their peers, financial support, and visibility for their work. We have provided early support for leaders who went on to become Nobel Peace Laureates, US Youth Poet Laureates, Prime Ministers, award winning innovators and breakthrough social entrepreneurs. Over the past 24 years, we have directly invested in more than 20,000 change-makers across 184 countries, who in turn have improved the lives of millions of people in their communities and countries.  

Today, Vital Voices has a staff of nearly 100 headquartered in Washington, DC. In the coming years we have a bold vision to dramatically scale our impact. In early 2022, we opened the first ever Global Headquarters for Women's Leadership, a 30,000+ sq. ft. historic building just blocks from the White House on 16th Street. It is a hub of activity, events, and collaborations — bringing together women leaders and their allies to tackle the world's greatest challenges. 

Mission 

Vital Voices invests in women leaders taking on the world's greatest challenges and accelerates collective action towards an equitable and sustainable world.  

Organizational Goals 2030

1. Scale our proven investment model from 20,000 to 50,000 women leaders - who together will positively impact the lives of one billion people. 
2. Make a measurable impact on 1-2 of the greatest challenges as defined by the Vital Voices Global Network - proving the power of collective action.  

Summary

The Temporary Program Coordinator for the Aghaaz program, which means "rebirth" in Dari, will play a crucial role in facilitating the successful execution of a 6-month fellowship program aimed at empowering Afghan women professionals. This position will involve managing a cohort of 12 fellows, ensuring smooth coordination between the hiring organization, and host organizations where fellows will be placed. 

Additional responsibilities include: 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.   

Fellowship Coordination: 

• Oversee all aspects of the fellowship program, ensuring adherence to timelines, objectives, and program goals. 
• Serve as the primary point of contact for fellows, providing guidance, support, and resources throughout the program duration. 
• Coordinate orientation sessions and ongoing training programs to equip fellows with necessary skills and knowledge for their placements. 

Placement Management: 

• Collaborate with host organizations to identify suitable placements for fellows based on their skills, interests, and career goals. 
• Facilitate the onboarding process for fellows at host organizations, ensuring clear communication and understanding of roles and responsibilities. 
• Regularly liaise with host organizations to address any issues or concerns that may arise during the fellowship period. 

Mentorship and Support: 

• Establish a mentorship framework to connect fellows with experienced professionals within their field of interest. 
• Provide ongoing support and guidance to fellows, addressing any challenges they may encounter during their placements. 
• Organize regular check-ins and feedback sessions to assess fellows' progress and development. 
• Provide fellows with feedback, guidance, resources, and networking opportunities as they develop their specific projects.  

Program Evaluation and Reporting: 

• Develop and implement evaluation mechanisms to assess the impact and effectiveness of the fellowship program. 
• Collect feedback from fellows, host organizations, and other stakeholders to identify areas for improvement.
• Prepare comprehensive reports documenting the outcomes and achievements of the program for partners, Vital Voices, and potential donors. 

Stakeholder Engagement: 

• Cultivate strong relationships with stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and corporate partners, to enhance program visibility and support. 
• Represent the organization at meetings, conferences, and other relevant events to promote the fellowship program and recruit future participants. 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (such as international relations, development studies, or social sciences). Master's degree preferred. 
• Previous experience in program coordination, preferably in a cross-cultural or international context. 
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport with diverse stakeholders. 
• Understanding of gender issues and a commitment to promoting women's empowerment and gender equality. 
• Fluency in English required, Dari/Pashto languages preferred. 
• Familiarity with the socio-political context of Afghanistan and the challenges faced by women in the region. 

This position is a temporary,full-time exempt hybrid position based in Washington, DC with two days of required in person attendance at the Vital Voices Headquarters. If and when it is safe to travel, domestic and international travel up to 10% may be required for the position. This role is approximately 6 months in duration with the possibility of extension. 

The starting salary range for this position is $59,635.73 - $84,409.45 based on experience and ability to have broad impact early.  

Benefits:  

At Vital Voices, we value our employees and their well-being. That's why we offer a competitive and comprehensive compensation package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k match, short and long-term disability, life insurance, HSA, EAP, and more. But that's not all. We believe in giving our employees the flexibility and support they need to thrive in their work and life. That's why we provide generous PTO including wellness flex Fridays, parental leave, earned sabbatical time, and volunteer leave as well as a professional development stipend to support continuous improvement. Join us and be part of a global team that empowers women leaders to transform the world.   

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Vital Voices provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Vital Voices complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.   

Vital Voices expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Vital Voices' employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.   

Staff may experience secondary trauma due to exposure to descriptive and/or graphic gender-based violence content in their work on the urgent assistance program. Vital Voices does not provide work visa sponsorship or relocation assistance for this position.   
  
Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.