Job Title: Executive Director, LIDÈ Haiti
Location: Hybrid: the position requires in-person presence with the LIDE Haiti team and communities in both the North (Gonaïves) and South (Les Coteaux) of Haiti to ensure the success of programs; in Port-au-Prince for representing the organization to the government and other collaborators as well as overseeing the administrative team based there; and events with board members, donors, diaspora stakeholders, and others in the US, Canada, Europe and potentially beyond to spread the good word and ensure the organization's financial success.
Type: Full-time, Exempt
Reports to: Board of Directors
Closing Date: Candidates are being considered on a rolling basis.
Salary: $85,000–$105,000 USD, commensurate with experience
Overview:
Founded in 2014, LIDE Haiti has spent over a decade accompanying adolescent girls in remote, underserved communities across Gonaïves (Artibonite) and Les Coteaux (South), currently serving 590 girls year-round across 8 sites (up to 700, security permitting), including 40 alumnae scholars. Our model integrates three pillars: Arts-Based Education and Creative Play (building literacy, voice, and confidence), Wellbeing Support Services, and Family and Community Engagement, using art activities to spark inner strength and joy. We are driven by our vision for a Haiti where every girl can play, create, learn, and lead.
We aim to grow community connections with families, local civil society, and philanthropic partners.
Our Mission
To accompany Haitian girls in underserved communities as they improve their learning, health, and well-being through art-centered educational programs in safe and nurturing environments.
Our Values
Mutual Aid, Integrity, Inclusive Creativity, Respect, Accountability, Community Collaboration, Lifelong Learning and Empathy
What This Role Must Accomplish:
Over its first decade, LIDE Haiti has built a professional, Haitian-led team embedded within the communities that have invited LIDE to join them. The next Executive Director will lead the organization through a period of direct programming consolidation and a transition to a new model of partnership-driven growth.
In the first two years, the Executive Director will:
Align the organization's structure and expenses with programs and budget so as to ensure as much of every dollar as possible directly reaches LIDE participants.
Ensure the documentation, standardization, quality control, and dissemination of the LIDE approach, innovations, and best practices throughout the organization.
Establish a network of community-based organizations and other local partners, further expanding the reach of LIDE-informed and inspired activities.
Grow the number of girls served, both directly and especially through this new network.
Sustain annual revenue in the range of $1.1M USD while growing recurring commitments and further diversifying sources of support.
Ensure that effective safeguarding and child-protection practices are in place and followed at every site and work with partner organizations to adopt similar standards and practices.
Primary Responsibilities:
Leadership and Management:
Oversees and works first and foremost with the In-Country Director and closely with each department head, including arts, programs, communications, accounting, operations, and fundraising.
Champions LIDE Haiti’s three-pillar model—Arts-Based Education and Creative Play, Wellbeing Support Services, and Family and Community Engagement—ensuring alignment across all program areas.
Embraces the role of mentor and guide to foster collaboration, setting the stage for success.
Stewards the annual operating budget of about $1.1M USD, sustaining it from recurring and increasingly diverse sources of funding support before growing it as programs expand.
Provides strategic guidance to department heads, setting annual goals with the Board and both annual as well as multi-year budgets and budget narratives with the Board's finance committee, and establishing effective community service standards for program staff and partners.
Ensures ongoing alignment with the mission, vision, and core values; strategic evolution of programming informed by effective monitoring, data collection and rigorous evaluation; and efficient systems development for streamlining finance, administration, fundraising, and communications.
Leads, coaches, nurtures skills, promotes self-sufficiency, and preserves the organization's foundation and strengths developed in our first decade, while building infrastructure for lasting organizational capacity.
Implements organizational structure and spending changes with care, transparency, and clear communication.
Safeguarding and Participant Protection:
Is accountable for the safety of every participant and team member.
Ensures that safeguarding and child-protection policies, reporting lines, and staff training are in place and followed at every site, and that concerns are acted on promptly and independently.
Works with partner organizations to adopt similar standards and practices throughout the LIDE network.
Fundraising and Financial Management:
Serves as LIDE Haiti's chief fundraiser, personally leading donor cultivation, major-gift solicitation, and institutional proposals, with the support of the Board and a small team.
Builds on and cultivates ever greater conditions for fundraising success, including soliciting major gifts and invitations for proposals.
Ensures prudent, respectful use and efficient engagement of all organizational assets including facilities, people, networks, reputation, and good will.
Identifies, establishes, and nurtures meaningful relationships with donors who share our vision.
Expands and diversifies our donor base, securing recurring and multi-year funding to sustain, strengthen, and grow programs so that together we can support every girl on her path to thrive.
Leads budget preparation and financial oversight. Builds and defends both annual and multi-year budgets, separates recurring from one-time costs, manages restricted funds and grant compliance, monitors cash flow and currency exposure, and maintains internal controls across the U.S. and Haiti consistent with the organizational Bylaws and the Board-approved Fiscal Policies and Procedures.
Public Relations:
Along with the Board of Directors, shares the role of being the public face of the organization, attending and hosting fundraising and public events to share our story, rallies support for the cause and demonstrates genuine support for the community at large.
Actively engages and energizes the Board Directors, committees, emeritus Board members, partnering organizations, and funders.
Maintains a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in Haiti, the non-profit sector, and relevant programmatic advances especially with respect to informal educational curriculum.
Compliance and Best Practices:
Complies with all laws and regulations in the U.S. and Haiti, including Haitian labor law, statutory contributions, and foundation registration. Ensures grant and donor requirements are met and internal systems meet or exceed standards for the industry and region.
Oversees optimized systems and processes to uphold industry best practices while ensuring nimble and effective programming.
Brings policy questions, conflicts, or financial concerns promptly to the relevant committee and the Board for discussion and resolution.
Board Development:
Attends all Board meetings and relevant committee meetings, preparing materials and updates in advance to support informed decision-making.
Develops, maintains, and supports a strong Board of Directors; serves as ex-officio on relevant committees; seeks and builds board involvement with strategic direction for ongoing local operations. Works closely with the Board Chair to support the individual in this role.
Fosters a culture of engagement and accountability, empowering the Board to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the girls we serve.
Provides the Board of Directors with regular reports on programmatic, financial, and operational performance to support informed governance and decision-making.
Strategic Planning:
Leads the implementation of our strategic plan, driving innovation and growth to achieve our long-term goals. Continually drives strategic planning, fundraising, and stakeholder relationships to achieve the organization’s mission, goals and outcomes.
Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor's degree required; Master's or non-profit management training preferred.
Experience:
Direct experience working in Haiti is critical for success.
3-5 years experience in non-profit management.
A proven track record of personally securing major and institutional gifts and of raising revenue at a scale comparable to LIDE Haiti's (about $1.1M USD a year).
Experience coordinating teams in multiple settings (i.e. hybrid and virtual) preferred.
Proficiency in French, Haitian Kreyòl, and English.
Experience building partnerships or networks with community-based organizations, including training or accompanying partners to adopt a program model.
Experience with Financial Management and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms/software.
Experience with financial oversight and regulatory compliance across U.S. and Haiti operations, including U.S. nonprofit reporting requirements (Form 990) and in-country banking and financial systems.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to lead diverse, cross-cultural teams and adapt quickly in a dynamic operating environment.
Demonstrated judgment in child protection or safeguarding, including acting decisively on concerns that involve staff.
Experience leading an organization or team through restructuring or cost reduction while protecting program quality and staff trust.
Experience building relationships with team members and partners over virtual platforms and in-person engagement.
Ability and willingness to work in person with the team and communities in Gonaïves and Les Coteaux and in Port-au-Prince, and to travel to the U.S., Canada, Europe, and beyond for board, donor, and diaspora engagement.
Valid U.S. visa.
To Apply: Please submit your resume and cover letter to board@lidehaiti.org with the subject line “Executive Director Application”.
Shortlisted candidates will complete a set of written exercises in their own time (about two hours), followed by a conversation with the committee about their submission. Successful candidates will be further interviewed by the committee, other members of the board, and members of the senior leadership team.
We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.
We thank all applicants for your interest.
Those selected for an interview will be contacted.
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