Director I, Program and Product Design (Remote – Washington, DC Area Only)

Organization: ChildFund International
Work Location: Remote (candidates must reside near Washington, DC)
Contract Type: Full-Time, Fixed Term (through June 30, 2027)
Department: Program Resources and Institutional Learning
Division: Global Impact
Salary Range: $90,000 – $120,000
Travel: Up to 20% (domestic and international)

About ChildFund

ChildFund is a global child-focused development organization working in over 70 countries. With a mission to ensure children grow up healthy, educated, and safe, ChildFund drives programs that strengthen systems, uphold children’s rights, and build community resilience.

Position Summary

ChildFund seeks a Director of Program and Product Design to lead the development of programmatic strategies and products tailored for grant funders, including foundations, multilateral institutions, and corporate partners. The Director will guide the design of sectoral programs that are impactful, scalable, evidence-driven, and aligned with the latest industry best practices—including systems strengthening and locally led development.

This role is central to expanding ChildFund’s grant acquisition strategy and evolving its blended programming model that integrates sponsorship and grant-funded initiatives. It will collaborate closely with technical advisors, business development teams, regional and country office staff, and external donors.

Note: This position is open only to candidates residing in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

Key Responsibilities

Program Design and Strategic Positioning

Lead collaborative development of high-quality, innovative, and locally relevant Program Offerings
Support Global Technical Advisors in tailoring proposals aligned with ChildFund’s strategic priorities
Ensure program designs reflect localization, systems strengthening, youth agency, and gender equity
Align program plans with appropriate budgeting and operational considerations

Technical Quality, Evidence, and Learning

Ensure all program designs are evidence-based and aligned with ChildFund’s Results Framework
Integrate Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) into proposals
Promote innovation and sectoral best practices through collaboration with the MERL team

Internal Collaboration and Capacity Strengthening

Mentor technical and business development teams to strengthen internal design capacity
Lead change management efforts, developing tools, templates, and processes for proposal development

Donor Engagement and External Relations

Foster relationships with key donors and stakeholders to understand funding priorities
Develop funder-aligned communications and strategic engagement strategies

Required Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in international development, public policy, social sciences, or a related field preferred

Experience

At least 9 years of experience in international program design, technical leadership, and grant acquisition
Proven track record designing large-scale proposals (e.g., USAID, EU, UNICEF, foundations)
Experience designing rights-based and child-focused programs with an emphasis on innovation and systems thinking
Demonstrated success in proposal development and resource mobilization from diverse donors

Competencies

ChildFund Core: Results orientation, critical decision-making, collaboration, communication, resilience, and digital literacy
Technical: Strong proposal writing, program modeling, and sectoral expertise in child development
Leadership: Strategic thinking, cross-functional leadership in remote settings, change management
Languages: Fluency in English required; Spanish or French proficiency is a plus

Application Notes

Location Restriction: Only applicants based in or near the Washington, DC/Maryland/Northern Virginia area will be considered.
Position Duration: Funded through June 30, 2027
How to Apply: Submit your resume and cover letter via ChildFund’s career portal.

To apply for this job please visit weconnectchildfund.my.salesforce-sites.com.