Director of International Programs

Director of International Programs

• W.K. Kellogg Foundation
• April 16, 2024
• Battle Creek, MI; Boston, MA; Miami, FL; Mexico City, MX

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About W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports children, families, and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as contributors to the larger community and society. Upon establishing the foundation in 1930, breakfast cereal pioneer W.K. Kellogg instructed future trustees and staff to “Use the money as you please so long as it promotes the health, happiness and well-being of children.” To this day, the foundation envisions, and works toward, a nation that marshals its resource to assure that all children have an equitable and promising future – a nation in which all children thrive.

To advance this mission, the foundation implements an array of change-making tools – grantmaking, impact investing, communications, contracting, networking, and convenings and uses an innovative matrixed organizational design to prioritize investment decisions and maximize effectiveness toward achieving the desired ends and improvements for children and their families. A commitment to racial equity, community engagement and leadership development is woven into each endeavor as essential to the creation of a social context in which all children can thrive, particularly the most vulnerable. In recent years, the foundation has sharpened its focus on improving conditions for vulnerable children, concentrating on three key factors of success and their intersections: education and learning; food, health, and well-being; and family economic security.

The overall work of the foundation is guided by the following values:

• We believe in helping people help themselves through the practical application of knowledge and resources to improve their quality of life and that of future generations.
• We believe all people have the inherent capacity to effect change in their lives, in their organization, and in their communities. We respect individuals and value their collective interests, strengths, and cultures.
• We believe stewardship requires fidelity to the spirit and to the intent of the founder and the wide use of resources. We believe in being responsible, prudent, selfless, and exercising good judgment.
• We believe innovation of thought and action leads to enduring and positive change in both formal and informal systems.
• We value integrity of purpose and action, and believe it is essential to all of our affairs.

This is a powerful time to be on the front lines of innovative philanthropy and we hope you’ll consider joining us! To learn more about the foundation, please visit .

The Opportunity

The Director of International Programs will serve as a community-based liaison between the foundation and our priority places of Mexico and Haiti (leading the foundation’s strategic presence in these areas) and global initiatives in other geographies, as necessary. The Director of International Programs also supports and facilitates community change process’ within the regions in alignment with the foundation’s mission and strategic framework, in collaboration and partnership with the community and other external partners, as well as other WKKF staff.

A director at the foundation generally has the following responsibilities:

• Model organizational vision, strategy, values, purpose, and culture, both inside and outside the organization.
• Drive results through successful accomplishment of organizational ends and avoidance of executive limitations. Model and drive leadership, capacity building, accountability, strategic thinking, and business acumen within respective team(s) and across the foundation.
• Empower, coach, and develop people – demonstrating care and concern, modeling agile practices, and focused on WKKF’s commitment to racial equity, community engagement and leadership.
• Engage WKKF staff and external constituents, delivering timely, consistent, aligned, authentic communications at all levels.
• Deliver industry insights and seek out and promote continuous learning and improvement within assigned area(s) of expertise.
• Deliver high performance through data driven decision making, problem solving, and results focus.
• Serve as an active member of the Steering Committee.
• Lead a high performing team.
• Provide clear and consistent communications on roles, responsibilities, and expectations.
• Concentrate on team effectiveness and provide timely performance feedback and coaching in a manner that engenders dedication, alignment and commitment to performance excellence and strong customer service.
• Ensure cross-functional training and plan for the team’s staffing requirements.
• Collaborate with talent and human resources team to attract, retain, develop, and grow diverse talent.

Specifically, the Director of International Programs is responsible for the following:

Program Planning and Leadership

• Provide visionary leadership to the international programs. Engage local stakeholders in idea generation and co-creation activities around vulnerable children, families, and communities with a special lens for social inclusion and racial equity.
• Implement organization’s strategic plan for the next decade based on a clearly articulated vision, theory of change, and a set of aligned goals.
• Continuously update and track business practices at the foundation, incorporating them into the regional work.
• Develop social and economic networks in areas such as education, health, economic development and to help the organization invest creatively and wisely and remain credible and relevant in its work.
• Leverage the impact of the foundation’s grantmaking in the region, using approaches such a comprehensive community engagement, innovative partnerships, leadership development, mission related investing and policy dialogue.
• Stay abreast of local, national, and international trends and current issues affecting the region. Maintain required competencies and networks with expert resources. Participate in professional development activities.
• Represent the foundation with the governments of the countries we work, the media and other institutional representatives.
• Be knowledgeable of and involved with organizations and groups across the globe who are key supporters or potential partners in development efforts in our priority places.

Management

• Work with their nearest leader and others at WKKF to recruit, hire, orient and support an international team.
• Establish implementation plans and budgets within the context of the strategic plan approved by the board. Within that context, propose an annual plan of work, including budgets for proposed grants, contracts and needed support systems, such as networking, evaluation and communication and other investments.
• Ensure an effective and efficient proposal review process is in place for the team and engage in grantmaking and mission driven investment efforts by participating in the review and recommendations for funding. The director will oversee the overall review and investment process, including documentation of progress, impact and return on investment.
• Work with their nearest leader and the Executive Council to ensure that efficient and effective administrative, learning and support systems are in place to accomplish the goals and objectives of the international programs.
• Responsible for ensuring an atmosphere that encourages and rewards teamwork, inclusion, collaboration, risk-taking and productivity.
• Help adapt and then fairly apply organization systems such as human resources, accounting, technology, communications, etc.
• Manage the performance of staff, including performance planning, coaching, review, and development.
• Ensure good stewardship of resources by encouraging and practicing cost effective means to accomplish goals and objectives.

Communication and Teamwork

• Practice timely and effective communication and teamwork to achieve positive working relationships with foundation staff and relevant external individuals and groups.
• Ensure all staff within area of responsibility are informed of the organization’s mission, vision, goals, objectives, and strategies and understand how their work aligns with same.
• Interact frequently and exchange relevant information with staff to help them improve performance and teamwork.
• Keep WKKF executive staff involved and informed regarding major interactions, networking and meetings with media and key stakeholders.
• Participate in idea creation and generative dialogues to help create shared visions that form the container that guides the work.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

• Strong alignment with WKKF’s values and DNA (racial equity, community engagement and leadership)
• Intercultural competence
• Openness / self-awareness
• Ego-management
• Systems thinker
• Brings people together
• Change competence
• Collaborative
• Conflict competence
• Listens well
• Talent architect / people developer
• Empowers leadership
• Trust builder
• Shares accountability and responsibility
• Results-oriented

Education/ Experience

• Minimum of eight years of experience in grantmaking or a related field with demonstrated expertise in social and economic development to benefit vulnerable children, families in a global context (preferred expertise in Latin American and the Caribbean).
• Bachelor’s degree in one of our key focus areas or other field relevant to assigned area is required; master’s degree is preferred.
• Management and administrative experience required, including leadership of an office or organizations, hiring and supervision of staff, fiscal management and managing of board relations.
• Private sector experience and familiarity with market-based solutions required.
• Experience working with communities and organizations in designing and implementing effective approaches to achieve sustainable change.
• Fluency in English with a working knowledge of another language among the following: Spanish, Haitian Creole, French or Portuguese.
• Knowledge of international cultures and systems required, particularly Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Successful experience leading multidisciplinary teams and working effectively (nationally and internationally) with persons and communities from diverse cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Demonstrated high level of ethics and commitment to organizational mission, values, and goals.
• Foundation or nonprofit experience preferred.

Core Capabilities

• Experience implementing strategy in partnership with senior leadership and program officers with the ability to translate strategy into priorities and goals.
• A thorough understanding of how to leverage best practices to achieve program alignment across an organization.
• Capacity to develop and implement impactful programs and effectively communicate conceptual program frameworks to grant-seekers and partners.
• Comprehensive understanding of program design and development, systems, networking, and community change.
• The knowledge and sensitivity to effectively work with and support vulnerable communities including appreciation for historical context, discernment of relationship nuances and power dynamics, and understanding of social, racial, and ethnic realities.
• Investment competency (debt, private equity etc.) to help guide collaboration for sustaining and scaling the social and economic development work.
• Ability to conceptualize and design tightly focused programs to address critical issues and opportunities in Latin American and the Caribbean in both a social and economic terms.
• Ability to motivate high performing team within the international team and hold them accountable to mutually agreed upon goals and objectives.
• Ability to translate program investments and change strategies into compelling stories for target audiences.
• Experience and skill working across time zones, languages, cultures.
• Timeliness and ability to meet deadlines.

Additional requirements

• Knowledge of issues and communities in places (international and domestic).
• Work experience and significant networks in places is preferred.
• Nearest leader for international squads.
• Screen and recommend grants for funding; prepare funding documents; conduct site visits; and manage and monitor grant portfolio.
• Maintain strong, authentic relationships with grant seekers and grantees, ensuring understanding of program direction, goals, and expectations.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships to leverage participation of other foundations, businesses, governmental agencies, and other key decision makers internationally and domestically.
• Understand and effectively communicate the foundation’s mission, vision, core values and strategic direction to support international programming framework with internal and external groups, including key stakeholders and intermediaries.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $201,000 - $276,000 with a generous benefits package. The exact salary within this range will be dependent upon the depth of relevant experience, education, certifications, credentials, special skills, accomplishments, and other factors relevant to the position.

Contact

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Erin Reedy and Shannon O’Neill. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by . All inquiries are strictly confidential.

W.K. Kellogg Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.