Executive Director

LIDE Haiti seeks an Executive Director to build on over a decade of Haitian-led, arts-based programming for adolescent girls, toward our vision of a Haiti where every girl can play, create, learn, and lead. Hybrid role based in Haiti, reporting to the Board. $85,000–$105,000 USD. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.

JOB TITLE: Executive Director, LIDE Haiti

LOCATION: Hybrid: In-person presence required with the LIDE Haiti team and communities in Gonaïves (North) and Les Coteaux (South); in Port-au-Prince to represent the organization to government and partners and oversee administration; and travel across the US, Canada, Europe, and beyond for board, donor, and diaspora engagement.

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
• Family and Community Engagement

Using art 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, 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 partner communities. The next Executive Director will lead through direct programming consolidation and a transition to partnership-driven growth.

In the first two years, the Executive Director will:

• Align organizational structure and expenses with programs and budget to ensure maximum funding directly reaches participants.
• Ensure documentation, standardization, quality control, and dissemination of the LIDE approach, innovations, and best practices.
• Establish a network of community-based organizations and local partners, expanding the reach of LIDE-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 diversifying support.
• Ensure effective safeguarding and child-protection practices are in place at every site, working with partners to adopt similar standards.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Management:

• Oversees and works first and foremost with the In-Country Director and closely with department heads (arts, programs, communications, accounting, operations, fundraising).
• Champions LIDE Haiti’s three-pillar model across all program areas (Arts-Based Education and Creative Play, Wellbeing Support Services, and Family and Community Engagement).
• 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 diverse funding before growing it as programs expand.
• Provides strategic guidance to department heads, setting annual goals with the Board, multi-year budgets/narratives with the finance committee, and service standards for staff and partners.
• Ensures ongoing alignment with the mission, vision, and core values; strategic evolution of programming informed by monitoring, data collection, and rigorous evaluation; and efficient systems development for finance, administration, fundraising, and communications.
• Leads, coaches, promotes self-sufficiency, and preserves 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 safeguarding and child-protection policies, reporting lines, and staff training are followed at every site, and 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 chief fundraiser, personally leading donor cultivation, major-gift solicitation, and institutional proposals, supported by the Board and a small team.
• Builds conditions for fundraising success, including soliciting major gifts and proposal invitations.
• Ensures prudent, respectful use and efficient engagement of all organizational assets including facilities, people, networks, and goodwill.
• Identifies, establishes, and nurtures relationships with donors who share our vision.
• Expands and diversifies our donor base, securing recurring and multi-year funding to sustain and grow programs.
• Leads budget preparation and financial oversight: builds and defends annual and multi-year budgets, separates recurring from one-time costs, manages restricted funds/grant compliance, monitors cash flow/currency exposure, and maintains internal controls across U.S. and Haiti operations per Bylaws and Fiscal Policies.

Public Relations:

• Shares the role of being the public face of the organization with the Board, attending and hosting events to share our story, rally support, and demonstrate genuine community partnership.
• Actively engages and energizes Board Directors, committees, emeritus members, partnering organizations, and funders.
• Maintains working knowledge of significant developments and trends in Haiti, the non-profit sector, and relevant advances in informal educational curricula.

Compliance and Best Practices:

• Complies with U.S. and Haitian laws (including Haitian labor law, statutory contributions, foundation registration), ensuring grant/donor requirements are met and systems meet industry standards.
• Oversees optimized systems and processes to uphold industry best practices while ensuring nimble, effective programming.
• Brings policy questions, conflicts, or financial concerns promptly to the relevant committee and the Board for resolution.

Board Development:

• Attends Board and committee meetings, preparing materials and updates in advance to support informed decision-making.
• Develops and supports a strong Board of Directors; serves ex-officio on committees; seeks board involvement with strategic direction for local operations, working closely with the Board Chair.
• Fosters a culture of engagement and accountability, empowering the Board to make a meaningful difference for participants.
• Provides the Board regular reports on programmatic, financial, and operational performance to support informed governance.

Strategic Planning:

• Leads implementation of the strategic plan, driving innovation and growth. Continually drives strategic planning, fundraising, and stakeholder relationships to fulfill LIDE's mission.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's or non-profit management training preferred.

Experience & Competencies:

• Direct experience working in Haiti is critical for success.
• 3–5 years experience in non-profit management.
• Proven track record of personally securing major and institutional gifts and raising revenue at a scale comparable to LIDE Haiti's (~$1.1M USD/year).
• Experience coordinating teams in multiple settings (hybrid and virtual) preferred.
• Proficiency in French, Haitian Kreyòl, and English.
• Experience building partnerships or networks with community-based organizations, including training 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 Form 990 reporting and in-country banking systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to lead diverse, cross-cultural teams and adapt in dynamic environments.
• Demonstrated judgment in child protection or safeguarding, including acting decisively on concerns involving 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 teams and communities in Gonaïves, Les Coteaux, and Port-au-Prince, and travel to the U.S., Canada, Europe, and beyond.
• 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 written exercise in their own time (~two hours), followed by a conversation with the committee. Successful candidates will be further interviewed by the committee, board members, and senior leadership.

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.