Position Description

The Regional Director, MENA will lead Maestral’s work across the Middle East and North Africa by driving strategic business development, cultivating high-level partnerships, and overseeing regional project implementation. This role is externally-facing and relationship-driven, representing Maestral in meetings with funders, foundations, UN agencies, NGOs, and government counterparts.

The Regional Director will manage the MENA office’s portfolio, supervise consultants and staff, and ensure projects meet client expectations and organizational standards. The Director will set the strategic direction for the regional office—aligned with Maestral’s global strategy—and collaborate closely with the President and Board of Directors. As the MENA office grows, the Director will play a central role in expanding the portfolio and strengthening Maestral’s regional presence. This position requires a highly collaborative leader comfortable working in a small, dynamic, cross-functional environment.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

Provide strategic direction for the MENA office in alignment with Maestral’s organizational strategy and Board guidance.
Represent the MENA office within Maestral, collaborating with HQ team to ensure integrated global operations.
Recruit, engage, and manage a roster of senior regional experts (consultants) across Maestral’s three thematic areas—Care Reform, Child and Adolescent Wellbeing, and Social Policy—to strengthen technical leadership and delivery in the MENA region.
Oversee the MENA Program Specialist and regional consultants, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.
Business Development & Partnerships

High-level networking and relationship-building are central to this role.

Lead business development efforts in the MENA region, identifying new opportunities and cultivating relationships with funders, governments, foundations, and partners.
Represent Maestral at meetings, networking events, conferences, and donor briefings.
Guide the development of Expressions of Interest and technical proposals for opportunities in the region.
Strengthen and maintain strategic partnerships with UN agencies, INGOs, bilateral donors, and local organizations.
Provide regular insights into regional trends and opportunities to inform organizational strategy.
Project & Portfolio Management

Provide high-level oversight of project team leads and collaborating consultants to ensure MENA-based projects remain on track, within scope, and aligned with Maestral’s quality standards, while day-to-day execution rests with project teams.
Maintain strategic oversight of project performance and serve as a senior point of contact for clients, addressing concerns and supporting strong relationships.
Oversee project budgets, deliverables, and contract processes at a high level—ensuring alignment with funder requirements—while the Program Specialist and HQ teams manage day-to-day financial and administrative processes.
Ensure adherence to Maestral’s safety, security, and safeguarding systems across MENA-based projects.
Operations & Office Management

Oversee the establishment and ongoing operation of the MENA office.
Support legal registration, compliance processes, vendor management, and office systems, in collaboration with HQ Operations.
Provide oversight to the Program Specialist managing daily operations, procurement, logistics, and financial processes.
Ensure regional data, documentation, and systems are maintained according to Maestral standards.
Cross-Functional Global Support

During early years of the office, contribute to global organizational functions, including:

Business development support beyond the MENA region.
Participation in organization-wide learning, strategy development, and operations improvements.
Engagement in global working groups and initiatives.
Key Relationships

Internal

Reports directly to the President and works under the oversight of the Board of Directors.
Collaborates closely with Maestral’s HQ office including Operations & Compliance, Strategy & Impact, and Business Development.
Supervises the Program Specialist and independent consultants who are working on Maestral MENA assignments.
External

Represents Maestral in meetings with donors, government stakeholders, foundations, UN agencies, NGOs, and academic partners.
Builds and maintains relationships critical to expanding Maestral’s presence and portfolio in the region.
Requirements

Education:

Master’s degree in international development, public policy, social policy, social work, or a related field.

Experience:

Minimum 15 years of relevant experience in international development, child protection, social policy, or related fields.
Demonstrated success in business development, networking, and partnership cultivation with donors (UNICEF, USAID, FCDO, foundations, etc.).
Demonstrated management experience, including oversight of office operations, people, and workflows, ideally in small or start-up organizational settings.
Experience overseeing multi-stakeholder projects and managing consultants or teams.
Experience working in or with countries in the MENA region.
Experience supervising staff and fostering collaborative work environments.
Familiarity with donor compliance requirements and project management standards.
Skills and Competencies:

Exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
Strong strategic thinking and decision-making abilities.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Arabic and English.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, small-office environment.
Strong budgeting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; ability to adapt to new tools and systems.
Work Style and Values:

Self-motivated and able to work independently with minimal oversight.
Collaborative and adaptable, comfortable contributing across functions.
Committed to integrity, equity, and child safeguarding principles.
Comfortable representing Maestral in high-level settings.
Other Requirements:

Must be legally eligible to work in Jordan.
Must sign and uphold Maestral’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policies.
Ability to travel regionally and internationally, as required.

Please send your resume/CV