Southeast Asia Hub Regional Director

About CRDF Global

CRDF Global is a leading provider of flexible logistical support, program design and management, and strategic capacity-building programs in the areas of Agriculture and Food Security, CBRNE security and Nonproliferation, Border security, Cybersecurity, Global Health, Technology and Innovation, Higher Education, and International Exchanges.

With offices in Arlington, VA; Amman, Jordan; Kyiv, Ukraine; Warsaw, Poland; Almaty, Kazakhstan; and Manila, Philippines; CRDF Global’s diverse staff and networks of local community and government stakeholders deliver tailored programs that meet specific regional needs in over 100 countries across the globe.

About the role

CRDF Global is seeking a Regional Director for the Southeast Asia (SEA) Hub to lead the organization’s regional office, focusing on establishing a fully operational, self-sustaining office capable of delivering consistent, high-quality program and project execution aligned with organizational standards. This role will lead the SEA Hub’s development by building an operational base, fostering cultural cohesion, advancing staff readiness, and ensuring effective collaboration across all CRDF Global’s hubs and functions. The Regional Director will lead operational, financial, and program management efforts, oversee resource planning, and cultivate a collaborative, performance-driven culture. 

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a proactive, solutions-oriented approach, strong interpersonal skills, and is capable of building rapport and trust with team members and external stakeholders. Committed to continuous learning and growth, the regional director acts as a role model for the team and fosters an environment that aligns with the organization’s mission and objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership & Execution:

• Responsible for execution of all programs and projects assigned to the SEA Office.
• Ensure that the office has the operational expertise and knowledge to enable consistent, reliable and quality project execution. Manage the office workforce requirements to ensure programs and projects are executed with excellence.
• Apply project and program management skills to enhance SEA Hub’s ability to execute regional projects.
• Ensure consistent, top-quality service delivery across regional projects, aligning with local community standards and expectations.
• Regularly assess progress towards goals using data-driven adjustments as necessary, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) and outcomes to senior leadership, demonstrating accountability for the Regional Hub’s performance and impact.
• Provide leadership in aligning funder mission and priorities with local community needs to support sustainable, impactful projects.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with high-level regional stakeholders to facilitate smooth project execution and community acceptance.
• Prioritizes the needs of internal and external customers, creating programs with the customer experience in mind and instilling a service-oriented culture.

Leadership, People & Culture Development

• Cultivate a collaborative and cohesive team culture that aligns with CRDF Global’s values.
• Lead and develop the team to be able to execute work with excellence to meet and or exceed customer expectations.
• Create an office environment that promotes retention, develops the skills of the current staff and recruits new staff with the appropriate experience to take on the new work coming to the office. Demonstrate cultural dexterity, fostering an inclusive environment that respects local and regional practices while aligning with organizational values.
• Set goals and objectives for the team in support of organizational objectives and hold them accountable for performance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration, Growth & Partnership Building:

• Strengthen partnerships with all CRDF Global offices, functions, and programs, fostering a collaborative approach to achieve shared goals.
• Serve as the primary representative of the SEA Office, engaging with local and regional stakeholders to build relationships based on trust and mutual respect.
• Establish and nurture relationships with local partners, stakeholders, and thought leaders to deepen the organization’s regional intelligence on market trends, competitor analysis, and emerging needs.
• Work with CRDF leadership to understand regional needs and support new business efforts to provide solutions to those needs.
• Enable knowledge-sharing and best practices among CRDF Global offices to drive alignment, consistency, and operational excellence.

Compliance, Quality, & Risk Management:

• Ensure compliance with local regulations, organizational policies, and standards to maintain operational integrity.
• Uphold and enhance the organization’s brand reputation within the region, positioning CRDF Global as a trusted and recognizable entity.
• Implement quality management practices aligned with CRDF’s values, fostering a culture of excellence and customer-focused service.
• Identify and mitigate risks, maintaining robust processes for quality assurance and integrity.

Financial Management and Accountability: 

• Develop and oversee budgeting and financial reporting processes for the region to ensure financial sustainability and accountability, including the management of fringe benefits and occupancy costs.
• Implement financial forecasting and resource allocation strategies to maximize project funding and optimize expenditures, while monitoring financial performance to ensure compliance with organizational policies and funder requirements.

Required Skills and Experience: 

• 10+ years of experience in operational leadership, project, and program management, ideally within an international or field-based context.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, international relations, project management, or a related field.
• Proven expertise and experience in program/project management handling a diverse portfolio for international funders at a combined value of 10M+
• Experience in successfully managing teams of at least 20 staff.
• Strong budget and financial acumen.
• Strong written and verbal English language skills.
• Proven ability to lead teams through change, develop operational processes, and implement performance management framework
• Strong communication and diplomacy skills. Strong relationship-building skills with cultural dexterity, adept at working collaboratively across diverse geographies and with multiple stakeholders. Ability to be flexible in a dynamic, rapidly changing environment.
• Experience in resource allocation and strategy implementation to support independent project execution.

Preferred Skills

• Business development experience, including relationship management and strategic growth planning and competitive positioning in Southeast Asia.
• Proven ability to identify and explore new market opportunities aligned with organizational strategy and mission area priorities.
• Ability to develop strategies to target new customers, expanding CRDF Global’s reach through innovative approaches.
• Skills in service delivery and customer engagement for regional growth.

CRDF Global is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran, age, or disabled status.

We are committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in all aspects of our operations. We recognize that fostering an inclusive environment that celebrates and embraces diverse perspectives is not only essential for our organizational success but also crucial for the advancement of security, global health, and development worldwide. We understand that by fostering diversity in a global manner, embracing inclusion, and prioritizing accessibility, our organization will become stronger and more innovative in identifying solutions to the world’s complex challenges 

APPOINTMENT TERMS

Location: Manila, Philippines. Candidates must have the right to work in The Philippines.

Salary and Benefits: National salary and benefits package. Salary set and disbursed in PHP within a range of $75, 000.00 – $85, 000.00 (USD).

HOW TO APPLY

Closing date: January 12th, 2025

To apply please click ‘Apply Now’ above

As part of the application process kindly submit your CV and a cover letter, preferably in MS Word. All application documents (cover letter and CV) should be submitted in English.

Should you require access to information in a different format to facilitate your application please contact us via [email protected]

Please name your submitted files with the following reference: CRDF_SEA

Red Sea takes our responsibility towards protecting your personal data very seriously. The data you provide is processed in line with relevant data protection legislation. For the purposes of this recruitment, and as defined under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Red Sea is defined as the Data Controller.

Red Sea is committed to meeting the standards set out in our Equality and Diversity statement, acting in line with the UK Equalities Act 2010 and building an accurate picture of the make-up of the workforce in encouraging equality and diversity.