International Director of Impact and External Relations
Light for the World
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Hybrid
Location: Vienna • 🇦🇹 Austria
Visit company websiteSalary
💰 €75,000 - €80,000 per year
Job Level
Lead
Tech Stack
Go
About the role
- Provide global strategic leadership for institutional and international foundation fundraising, shaping a forward-looking funding strategy, cultivating high-value partnerships, and aligning donor engagement with programme priorities
- Ensure growth and diversification of funding by expanding institutional and foundation partnerships, exploring innovative financing models (including advisory and consulting services), and strategically engaging Global South funding ecosystems
- Ensure organisational excellence in programme quality and learning, promoting coherent and high-impact approaches for planning, monitoring, evaluation, research, learning, and accountability
- Drive innovation in programme design and impact measurement, evolving beyond traditional reach indicators to deliver meaningful insights and evidence that inform decision-making and demonstrate long-term change
- Lead and develop the Impact and External Relations Department, guiding six specialist teams (Institutional Partnerships, Impact & Learning, Programme Quality & Systems Change, Advisory Services, Global Communication & Brand, Advocacy) and fostering collaboration, innovation, and team development
- Champion the operationalisation of Light for the World’s 2030 strategy, ensuring strategic alignment and participation in key organisational processes (MAPP, Go/No-Go, strategic reviews)
- Strengthen and expand external partnerships, building visibility, credibility, and influence through collaboration with institutional donors, advisory partners, and peer organisations
- Encourage thought leadership and innovation, ensuring Light for the World stays at the forefront of emerging trends and approaches in disability inclusion, development cooperation, and systems change
- Contribute to international leadership and governance as part of the Senior Management Team, supporting strategic decision-making, organisational development, and global coherence
Requirements
- Proven senior management experience in an international NGO or similar context
- Strong track record in institutional fundraising and partnership development, including engagement with institutional and foundation funders
- Proven experience in driving programme quality, learning, and innovation, with the ability to translate strategy into operational realities
- Strategic thinker with demonstrated capacity to guide multi-stakeholder processes and lead specialist teams
- Good to excellent understanding of disability inclusion and/or eye health sectors, with knowledge of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
- Good communication and representation skills, with experience in international advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and public speaking desirable
- Fluency in English; French and/or Portuguese are an asset
Benefits
- Enjoy a competitive salary within the international NGO sector, with full social insurance and a range of additional benefits
- Benefit from flexible working hours and the option to work remotely, empowering you to balance professional and personal commitments
- Experience a warm, dynamic, and inclusive work environment where everyone’s contributions are valued, and collaboration is at the heart of our mission
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard skills
institutional fundraisingpartnership developmentprogramme qualitymonitoring and evaluationimpact measurementstrategic planningstakeholder engagementinternational advocacypublic speakingconsulting services
Soft skills
strategic thinkingleadershipteam developmentcollaborationinnovationcommunicationrepresentationcapacity buildingthought leadershipdecision-making