Director Fixed Operations Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.
Come join our 33,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children's life stories!
Employee Contract Type:
International Assignment (WVI - Paid via GCLA) Fixed Term (Fixed Term)
Job Description:
Note: Joining our Talent Pipeline position means you can be part of our candidate pipeline, ready to contribute when new opportunities arise. By applying, you express your interest in being considered for future roles linked to donor-funded initiatives. Please note that joining the pool does not represent an immediate employment opportunity; instead, it ensures we can reach out to you when suitable positions become available.
Here's where you come in:
Job Purpose
The Chief of Party (COP) / Project Director serves as the senior-most leadership position for large-scale, donor-funded development and humanitarian programmes. The COP provides overarching strategic direction, technical guidance, financial stewardship, and stakeholder engagement across multi-sector, multi-cultural programme contexts. This pipeline role draws on the full breadth of the GAM Competency Framework, requiring mastery of the grant cycle, donor relationship management, compelling proposal oversight, grant process management, post-award compliance, and effective use of tools and systems.
Major Responsibilities
1) Provides overall strategic direction for programme design, implementation, and learning, ensuring goals, milestones, and priorities are clearly defined and communicated. Leads the development, adaptation, and execution of programme strategies that respond to evolving operational, political, and contextual realities. Ensures alignment with World Vision's mission, national strategies, partnership priorities, and donor expectations while fostering evidence-based decision-making, innovation, and adaptive management. (30%)
End Results:
A clearly articulated and contextually relevant strategic approach that enables programme success and stakeholder alignment.
2) Oversees day-to-day programme implementation to ensure activities meet targets, follow approved work plans, and comply with technical standards and donor regulations. Strengthens operational systems, including procurement, logistics, reporting, safeguarding, and risk management. Ensures effective coordination with internal units - Finance, Supply Chain, MEAL, HR, and Security - to maintain operational excellence. 20%
End Results:
Programmes are implemented effectively, on time, and in full compliance, with reduced operational risks and strengthened systems.
3) Leads financial planning and forecasting processes, including budget development, expenditure monitoring, and variance analysis. Ensures full compliance with donor rules, organisational policies, and audit standards while proactively addressing financial risks. Oversees management of sub-grants and partner agreements, ensuring partners meet financial and contractual obligations. Ensures all financial reporting is timely, accurate, and aligned with donor and organisational expectations. 20%
End Results
Budgets are well managed, financial compliance is upheld, audit risks are minimised, and donors receive transparent, reliable reporting.
4) Supervises senior national and international staff, establishing clear expectations, roles, responsibilities, and communication lines. Cultivates a cohesive, high-performing team environment grounded in accountability, trust, and continuous learning. Strengthens talent pipelines through coaching, mentoring, and structured capacity-building initiatives. Supports partner capacity strengthening in technical, operational, and compliance areas.10%
End Results
A capable, motivated, and well-supported team equipped to deliver high-quality outcomes and sustain programme impact.
5) Serves as the primary liaison with donors, government counterparts, UN agencies, implementing partners, community leaders, and other critical stakeholders. Represents World Vision at coordination forums, donor meetings, high-level engagements, and sectoral working groups. Leads external engagement strategies to elevate programme influence, strengthen relationships, and enhance visibility. 10%
End Results
Strong external partnerships, improved donor and government relationships, and enhanced organisational positioning.
6) Ensures development and implementation of strong MEAL systems that support data quality, evidence generation, learning loops, and adaptive programme management. Oversees production of high-quality performance reports, evaluations, and learning products aligned with donor timelines and requirements. Leverages technology platforms and knowledge management systems to improve programme oversight. 10%
End Results
Programmes benefit from timely, reliable evidence that informs course corrections and satisfies donor reporting expectations.
KNOWLEDGE/QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE ROLE
Required Professional Experience

• Demonstrated success as a Chief of Party, Project Director, or equivalent, with proven ability to lead strategy, implementation, budgeting, supervision, and adaptive management in challenging contexts.
• 10+ years of senior leadership experience managing large, complex, donor-funded international development or humanitarian programmes, including full project cycles and multi-partner coordination.
• Strong team and partnership leadership, including the ability to motivate multicultural teams, collaborate across institutions, and build shared vision with government, donors, local organisations, and private-sector partners.
• Excellent communication, representation, and relationship-building skills, effective at engaging high-level stakeholders as well as community partners and beneficiaries.
• Comprehensive management expertise across financial oversight, HR, procurement, compliance, operations, and risk mitigation.

Required Education

• University degree in humanitarian, development, international relations, public administration, or relevant field. Master's degree preferred.

Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications

• Fluency in oral and written English. Additional languages (French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic) are an asset.
• Familiarity with major bilateral and multilateral donor regulations (USG, FCDO, EU, Global Fund, BMZ, GAC).
• Experience with World Vision or similar faith-based international NGO operating environments.
• Demonstrated competence in Go/No-Go decision-making, donor landscape analysis, and evidence-based programme design aligned with GAM Competency 1 (Mastering the GAM Cycle).

Travel and Work Environment

• Ability to travel within the country/region as required. Willingness to serve in fragile, conflict-affected, or remote contexts.

Applicant Types Accepted:
Local and International Applicants (IA's) Accepted