Director, Community and Field Building

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Create a worldwide community focused on community-driven development, participatory governance, and locally-led initiatives.

• Identify and connect various organizations, practitioners, researchers, funders, and public leaders.

• Map the global landscape to highlight exceptional organizations and individuals who are advancing the field.

• Establish relationships and create forums, partnerships, convenings, and shared learning opportunities.

• Develop shared standards, tools, and methodologies for outstanding community-led systems.

• Foster a community of champions from philanthropic, public, multilateral, research, and institutional sectors.

• Create proposals for philanthropy and institutional partners.

• Build and manage relationships with high-level partners.

• Identify opportunities for private capital to leverage public and multilateral financing.

• Formulate and lead a fundraising strategy for a $100M fund.

• Cultivate major funders and oversee high-value funding opportunities.

• Lead or assist in donor conversations, proposals, pitches, and partnership negotiations.

• Help unlock $20B in public and multilateral financing for community-led systems.

• Influence large-scale financing mechanisms and programs.

• Connect Spark’s evidence and field lessons to policy and financing discussions.

• Develop strategies, systems, communications, and thought leadership to enhance Spark’s field-building capacity.

• Represent Spark at high-level meetings, conferences, convenings, and with strategic partners.

• Integrate broader field insights into Spark’s strategy and programs.

• Report directly to the CEO.

• Complete a three-month probation period with established learning and performance objectives.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 10 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in international development, philanthropy, government, public policy, community development, or another mission-driven field.

• Proven track record of building high-trust relationships with senior leaders across various institutions and sectors.

• Experience in developing and executing fundraising, partnership, coalition-building, or field-building strategies.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to convey complex ideas in a compelling manner to diverse audiences.

• Capability to formulate a big-picture strategy while maintaining a strong focus on execution.

• Strong judgment and adeptness in navigating ambiguous, politically and institutionally complex environments.

• Intellectual curiosity and a keen interest in evidence, learning, and developing innovative approaches.

• Credibility in engaging with philanthropists, government officials, researchers, practitioners, and community leaders.

• Collaborative mindset and the ability to unite individuals with differing perspectives and incentives.

• Comfortable working in a highly entrepreneurial environment where strategies will adapt as new opportunities arise.

• Commitment to respecting and upholding safeguarding procedures and principles.

• Must be located in the United States.

🏝️ Benefits

• 100% employer-paid health insurance premiums for employees.

• 50% health insurance coverage for dependents.

• 401(k) plan with a 3% employer contribution.

• Generous paid leave.

• Professional development stipend.