Industry
International Organization
Location
USA
Number of Employees
200+ employees
CLIENT OVERVIEW
Our client is an international development institution headquartered in Washington, D.C. It works with governments, public agencies, foundations, and development partners to deliver programs across multiple regions.
Its internationally distributed workforce manages complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives addressing economic development, institutional capacity, and public-sector cooperation. Continued program growth creates a need for experienced leaders who can combine strategic direction with strong institutional oversight.
CHALLENGE
Following the expansion of its global program portfolio, the organization needs to recruit a Vice President of Global Programs to oversee delivery across multiple countries and improve coordination between its headquarters and regional teams.
The position demands a rare combination of international program expertise, executive leadership, and familiarity with complex funding and governance structures.
The ideal candidate would need:
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Senior leadership experience within international development or a related field
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A record of managing complex programs across several countries
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Experience overseeing geographically distributed and multicultural teams
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Familiarity with donor requirements, institutional governance, and program accountability
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Strong relationships with government, nonprofit, and development-sector stakeholders
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The ability to translate organizational strategy into measurable program outcomes
Because many suitable executives may not be actively looking for a new role, the organization would need a confidential and highly targeted search rather than relying solely on applications.
SOLUTION
Avomind would develop an executive search strategy centred on senior leaders from international development organizations, multilateral institutions, foundations, public agencies, and globally active nonprofit organizations.
After consulting with the organization’s leadership and key stakeholders, Avomind then defined the experience, leadership characteristics, and institutional knowledge required for success in the role.
The search combined targeted market mapping with confidential outreach across the United States and relevant international talent markets.
Candidates were assessed against:
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Global program leadership and delivery experience
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Financial, operational, and governance oversight
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Management of international and remote teams
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Government and donor stakeholder engagement
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Organizational transformation experience
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Alignment with the institution’s mission and values
Avomind acted as a strategic partner throughout the assignment, providing market feedback, evaluating candidate motivation, and helping stakeholders compare profiles against consistent selection criteria.
OUTCOME
The search positions the organization to appoint an experienced global programs leader capable of improving delivery, accountability, and collaboration across its international portfolio.
With the right executive in place, the organization is able to:
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Strengthen oversight of international programs
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Improve coordination between headquarters and regional teams
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Establish more consistent program-management standards
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Enhance engagement with government and funding partners
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Build the leadership capacity required for sustainable global growth
This scenario demonstrates how Avomind approached complex executive searches for international and public organizations requiring specialized leadership, institutional understanding, and global experience.