Economic Development Director

Near East Foundation (NEF) 

Title: Economic Development Director

Reports to: Regional Director

Location: Amman Jordan, Beirut Lebanon, Erbil Iraq or Baghdad Iraq

Travel:  up to 40%

You will likely travel 1-2 times a month to a NEF regional office location (Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and North East Syria). You’ll typically spend 2-5 working days there and be back home before the weekend. The travel schedule for this position is discussed in advance and can be accomodated.

The Near East Foundation (NEF) is seeking candidates for an Economic Development Director to be based in one of the NEF offices in Amman Jordan, Beirut Lebanon, Erbil Iraq or Baghdad, Iraq.  NEF is a non-profit international development organization that has supported livelihoods recovery and community-based economic development in the Middle East, Africa, and Caucasus since 1915. NEF draws on local teams, experience, and partnerships in these regions to create community-led solutions to foster sustainable a replicable model for private sector development, entrepreneurship, and market growth in highly complex settings, while advancing effective local governance and ensuring inclusiveness in our approach. Working through a network of country offices and local partners, NEF currently has operations in ten countries: Armenia, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Mali, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, South Sudan, and Syria. Our programs are organized around three pillars: Inclusive Economic Development, Climate-resilient Development, and Stabilization and Peacebuilding.

Position Description:

NEF is seeking a qualified candidate for the role of Economic Development Director (EDD) to support its innovative and inclusive enterprise and employment program globally with a special focus on the Middle East region.

The EDD will spearhead the development and execution of the enterprise and market growth program strategy, aimed at enhancing inclusive economic growth and resilience and incomes.

The EDD will join a growing global technical leadership team based outside Headquarters and delivering global thought leadership, strategy, and innovative programs in core program areas. In particular, the EDD will work closely with NEF’s Access to Finance Director (AFD) to deliver holistic, impactful, sustainable, and replicable programming across NEF’s global inclusive enterprise development interventions.

The EDD will leverage and embed NEF’s global leadership in innovative financing that have delivered the first impact bond in Jordan (and the first global refugee impact bond), the first non-banking institution in northern Syria since the start of the war (and the first impact investment facility in the area), and several new innovative or blended financing facilities in Morocco, Sudan, and South Sudan with strong footprint in entrepreneurship and business support ecosystem, workforce development and employment creation, and agricultural markets and value chains.

The EDD reports to the Regional Director (RD) and works in close coordination with the AFD to ensure program success and sustainability. Moreover, the EDD will coordinate with a global team of experts renowned for their innovative contributions to inclusive economic development in highly complex settings, with a strong commitment to co-creation, partnerships, and localization and local empowerment —key pillars of NEF’s global approach.

Responsibilities:

Strategy Development & Thought Leadership:

• Contribute to the continuous development, update, and improvement of NEF’s global inclusive economic development programmatic strategy and associated frameworks.

• Lead on the development, roll out, and leadership of strategic regional or global initiatives.

• Collaborate closely with the global team to design inclusive economic programs and strategies addressing the humanitarian development nexus.

• Support innovation and research efforts while documenting and communicating impact; contribute to the conceptualization and development of technical innovations and communication documents.

• Represent NEF in strategic technical networks to contribute to shaping national approaches and increasing advocacy.

• Ensure programmatic approach alignment with evolving global trends and best practices and macro-economic policies.

• Strengthen integration between NEF’s financial and non-financial approaches to enhance inclusive economic development program effectiveness and sustainability.

• Design a thought-leadership strategy, in conjunction with regional and global leadership, to build knowledge on NEF’s innovative approach.

• Assess local partners and develop strategies for enhanced engagement to advance economic opportunity expansion goals.

• Engage and cultivate private sector partnerships for business collaborations, economic growth, and market access and insight.

Program Effectiveness, Growth & Learning:

• Oversee and optimize inclusive economic development approaches including monitoring and reporting on market trends, market diagnostic exercises, sectorial and trade growth, and market access facilitation strategies.

• Oversee and optimize enterprises development processes and partnerships to enhance NEF’s approach to enterprise growth and job creation strategies.

• Provide guidance on business and business support organization identification, diagnostic, and development curricula.

• Develop a market engagement strategy to support project outcomes.

• Liaise with regional and strategic macro- and mezzo-economic actors to facilitate sectorial growth and market access facilitation.

• Ensure close collaboration with the RD and AFD for integrated enterprise support programming.

• Lead post-financing business strengthening, coaching, and acceleration support efforts.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of programmatic quality control and assurance systems.

• Convene regular internal technical reviews, programmatic reflections, and learning exercises.

• Ensure effective management of milestones and progress of supported businesses and facilitate documentation of success stories and key achievements.

• Provide strategic support and oversight for donor reporting.

Staff support & Development:

• Provide strong leadership and support of program teams at NEF globally with a special focus on the Middle East region.

• Lead capacity-building efforts for staff engaged in enterprise / economic development through training and coaching packages / programs.

• Offer technical support to staff when needed.

• Support relevant recruitment efforts and provide ongoing professional development opportunities.

• Foster a positive team culture and encourage collaboration.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• University degree (business administration, development economics, agriculture economics, or labour economics) or related field or equivalent work experience, master’s degree preferred.

• A minimum of 10 years related work and team management experience, preferably in development or post-conflict settings.

• Proven technical expertise in delivering and managing enterprise development and employment, financial inclusion, market strengthening, agricultural and natural resource management programs including some significant experience in implementing programs overseas, preferably in conflict or disaster affected environments.

• Proven track record in business development with US, European, and multilateral donors and partnership with the private sector.

• Progressive work experience in programs globally with an international humanitarian and/or developmental organization.

• Value chain experience in rural and urban dominated sectors.

• Experience with both entrepreneurship and vocational training models to expand jobs and income.

• Experience in mentoring beneficiaries, staff and partners to build capacity in sustainable economic development programming.

• Strong analytical and conceptual skills, with the ability to think and plan strategically.

• Solid organizational skills: proficiency in working productively under remote team and management structures.

• Excellent writing and editing skills, particularly with the ability to draft and edit proposals and to write and publish technical resources.

• Fluency in reading, writing, and speaking in English and Arabic.

NEF will accept a rolling application until the position is filled. Review of application will begin on July 1, 2024. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. 

To apply:

Please apply by submitting the following documents:

1. Cover letter outlining relevant experience and skills based on the requirements outlined above
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. List of three references (including one from current, or most recent, employer)

Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Near East Foundation by visiting the NEF website at www.neareast.org

The Near East Foundation promotes Equal Employment Opportunities for all applicants seeking employment and NEF employees.

Pre-employment Checks

Any Employment with the Near East Foundation will be subject to the following checks prior to start date:

• A satisfactory Restricted Party Screening.
• Receipt of satisfactory references.
• Workplace Verification Check.