Deputy Director, Operations and Finance, Middle East Programs

Job Location: Atlantic Council Headquarters – Washington, DC
Employment Type: Full-Time
Seniority Level: Director
Job Category: Staff

Overview

The Deputy Director for Operations will report to the Senior Director of the Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East Programs and work across the entirety of our portfolio, including about 30 staff and 10 workstreams, leading personnel and financial management, as well as budgeting and reporting. This role will help oversee the recruitment, retention, and mentorship of senior and operational team members; serve as a thought partner to the Senior Director and senior staff on human resources, operations and finance for initiatives; provide project management input and leadership, and interface and cultivate relationships with the Center’s donors and partners.

The Deputy Director will play an important role in people management, supporting staff in their professional growth, integration into the team, and overall career goals. The Deputy Director will communicate staff needs to the Senior Director and communicate and ensure implementation of policies set by the leadership team.

The Deputy Director will be responsible for overseeing the programmatic and financial reporting to the center’s diverse multi-million-dollar donor base, shepherding the Center’s annual budget and strategy process, and ensuring the Center’s donors are appropriately stewarded by initiative directors and senior fellows.

The Deputy Director will lead the development of an effective project management approach and system to guide the execution and delivery of project work, including by providing front-end direction on project goals/objectives; empowering the talented cadre of project managers to succeed on all project work; and delivering outstanding results on all projects.

The Deputy Director will also represent the Center and the Center Senior Director in various internal and external settings and serve in a deputy/acting role for matters related to operations and finance when the senior director is unavailable.

The Deputy Director will oversee the Center’s communications team to ensure effective and strategic communication of the Center’s work to relevant audiences.

The Deputy Director will oversee mid-year and year-end performance reviews for direct reports.

This position is based in our Washington, DC, headquarters on a hybrid schedule. Pay is commensurate with experience, education, and organizational equity, with offers starting at $93,000. Applications submitted by May 3, 2024 will be prioritized for consideration. 

Job responsibilities

The Deputy Director will be specifically responsible for:

• Management. Support the senior director in managing the team’s operations and finance responsibilities including for initiative directors, senior fellows, associate and assistant directors, and program assistants and interns and assist in staff recruitment when required.
• Development. Working with the Council leadership and Office of External Relations, continue to build the program’s funding base by sustaining current financial support and pursuing additional support from corporations, government agencies, international organizations, foundations, and stakeholders.
• Outreach/Communications. Represent the Atlantic Council externally with the Administration, Congress, the diplomatic community and foreign governments, donors, media, etc., as well as at public and private events, international conferences, etc.
• Financial Management. Serve as a reliable and faithful steward of program and Council funds. Oversee expenses and revenues, management of budgets, and anticipated fundraising, and ensure program solvency.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 7 years relevant work experience and/or other relevant areas within government service, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and/or academia.
• Demonstrated experience managing teams of 12 or more staff including recruitment and retention.
• Excellent people skills; must be able to inspire and manage fellows, staff, and interns, contractors, and work collaboratively with colleagues, senior Council staff, and external officials and partners.
• Exceptional writing and communication skills.
• Demonstrated track record in budget and financial management, forecasting, and planning.
• Excellent organizational, project, and general management skills.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field is highly desired.
• Regional language skills desired.
• Prefer familiarity with the political, social, and economic dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa and US policy towards the region.

Explore the Program