Nutrition and Food Assistance Strategic Planning Director (Pillar 1); Expert Technical Leadership and Coordination

Join AIR as a : Nutrition and Food Assistance Strategic Planning Director (Pillar 1); Expert Technical Leadership and Coordination with our International Development Division (IDD) and make a difference, improving the quality of life for individuals and communities in low and middle income countries. AIR’s IDD work spans the globe with projects in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Central and Latin America, and the Middle East.

Our IDD team is committed and engaged because we drive positive change in the following areas:

• Agriculture, food, and nutrition
• Early childhood development and education
• Refugees and migration
• Social protection
• Water, sanitation, and infrastructure
• Women's empowerment
• Workforce development

Use your experience, knowledge, and education to help us deliver on our mission: to contribute to a better, more equitable world.

AIR is currently seeking a Nutrition and Food Assistance Strategic Planning Director (Pillar 1) for the anticipated USAID-funded Optimizing Food Assistance Programs, Processes, and Products for Nutrition (O3P) activity. The activity will re-emphasize programming aspects of food assistance-driven nutrition programs while continuing to focus on product optimization and process improvement. The activity closely aligns with AIR’s mission to generate and use evidence to contribute to a better/more equitable world and AIR’s areas of expertise in designing and implementing impact evaluations and evidence syntheses in international development. The project involves a strong emphasis on research, evidence synthesis, and knowledge translation to contribute to evidence-based policy.

The position is contigent upon award. Candidates hired for the position may work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of our U.S. office locations. This does not include U.S. territories. 

About AIR:

Established in 1946, with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, AIR is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institution that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. We advance evidence in the areas of education, health, the workforce, human services, and international development to create a better, more equitable world.

AIR’s commitment to diversity goes beyond legal compliance to its full integration in our strategy, operations, and work environment. At AIR, we define diversity broadly, considering everyone’s unique life and community experiences. We believe that embracing diverse perspectives, abilities/disabilities, racial/ethnic and cultural backgrounds, styles, ages, genders, gender identities and expressions, education backgrounds, and life stories drives innovation and employee engagement. Learn more about AIR's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy and hear from our staff by clicking here .

The responsibilities for the position include: 

• Provide expert technical leadership and coordination in the strategic planning and implementation of Pillar 1 activities. 
• Convene, manage, and coordinate with intra-USG, international interagency groups, and other stakeholders to promote continued improvement of programming, processes, and products related to food assistance. 
• Facilitate platforms for knowledge exchange, convening specialized expertise for continuous improvement and innovation in key domains of food assistance programs. 
• Collaborate with diverse teams and stakeholders, ensuring alignment with overall program objectives and goals. 
• Provide technical oversight of all Pillar 1 deliverables, ensuring they meet the project’s quality standards and USAID expectations

Education, Knowledge, and Experience: 

• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field such as nutrition, food security, public health, or international development. 
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in technical leadership positions, preferably in food assistance or nutrition-focused projects. 
• In-depth knowledge and expertise in the technical domains relevant to Pillar 1 of the O3P activity. 
• Experience working with USAID-funded projects or other international donor-funded projects is desirable but not required. 

 Skills:

• Strong technical leadership and coordination skills. 
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively liaise with a variety of stakeholders, including government officials, donors, and implementers. 
• Strategic thinking and planning abilities, capable of guiding the pillar towards achieving its objectives. 
•  Ability to work collaboratively in a multi-cultural environment, fostering a positive team collaboration and innovation. 
• Excellent communication skills, with proficiency in English; knowledge of other languages is a plus but not required. 

Disclosures:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.

AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo reference and background checks.

AIR’s Total Rewards Program , is designed to reward our staff competitively and motivate them to achieve our critical mission. This position offers an anticipated annual salary of $118,000 to $145,000. Salary offers are made based on internal equity within the institution and external equity with competitive markets. Please note this is the annual salary range for candidates that are based in the United States.

AIR maintains a drug-free work environment .

Fraudulent Job Scams Warning & Disclaimer:

AIR is aware of individuals falsely presenting themselves as AIR representatives. Fraudulent job scams seek to extract sensitive information or money from victims. To protect yourself, please be aware that AIR recruitment will only email you from an “@air.org” domain. Please take extra caution while examining the email address, for example jdoe@air.org is correct and jdoe@aircareers.org is not a legitimate AIR email address. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of a communication you have received, please reach out to [email protected] .

If you see a job scam, or lose money to one, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov . You can also report it to your state attorney general . Find out more about how to avoid scams at ftc.gov/scams .

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