Director of Development Department

Saint Andrew’s Refugee Services, Cairo

Call for Applications: Director of Development Department

Founded in 1979, StARS is a refugee service provider in central Cairo that works to enhance the quality of life for refugees and vulnerable migrants through five broad program areas: education, psychosocial, legal, community outreach and unaccompanied youth and children support services. We provide high-quality services meeting the unaddressed needs of refugees, and we provide a safe and inclusive space for displaced people to come together as a community. We work for refugees, with refugees, to make rights recognition a reality.

StARS’ Mission: Driven by a commitment to solidarity and human dignity, StARS works both as displaced people and for displaced people to support the resilience and leadership of individuals and communities in their pursuit of an enhanced quality of life.

StARS’ Vision: StARS envisions a future where displaced people and the societies they join stand in solidarity, recognizing the strength and leadership of refugees. In this world, the displaced thrive with dignity, claiming their rights and enriching our shared human experience.

Standard of Professional Conduct: StARS and all its staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in StARS’ Code of Conduct, Child Safeguarding Policy, and PSEAH policy.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: StARS is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. StARS expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.

We serve people from many places, including Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

To learn more please visit our website: www.stars-egypt.org or our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/standrewsrefugeeservices?fref=ts

Role

The Director of Development Department is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic plans to raise and maintain financial and material resources cost-effectively and time-efficiently. Duties include overseeing and managing resource mobilization efforts, building strong and successful relationships with external partners, and overseeing external communications with donors, partners, and other relevant actors. The Policy and Advocacy, Fundraising and Comms teams sit within the department.

The Director of Development Department is a central role in StARS’ Co-Leadership group, working within StARS’ team of Directors to oversee the effective management of StARS as an organization.

Responsibilities

As Director of Development Department

Grant seeking

• Identify funding needs in close cooperation with the Executive Leadership Team
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities for StARS, through a range of potential donors, including traditional and long-standing StARS’ donors, as well as new funding opportunities through foundations and other philanthropic flexible sources of funding
• Oversee grant seeking, including proposal writing, and reporting requirements, with an aim to ensure the continuous delivery of services
• In close cooperation with Departments, develop funding proposals for StARS as a whole and projects individually, as needed.
• Cooperate closely with and provide feedback and support to the Programs Department, in particular, the Monitoring and Evaluation Team, and the Reporting Specialist

Finance

• Work closely with StARS Finance department in the identification of funding gaps for new proposals
• In conjunction with Finance, draft budgets for new proposals, and budget amendments where appropriate and requested
• Be a part of the team that reviews expenditure, maintaining an in-depth, up-to-date understanding of the financial needs of the organization.

Communications with Donors and Partners

• Establish and cultivate meaningful communications with prospective and current partners and donors (institutional and individual) through meetings and regular communications
• Develop in-depth knowledge of StARS’ donors, including donor and project direction, interests, budgets, and other requirements
• Develop and oversee StARS’ fundraising database and tracking systems.
• In support of the Programs Department, contribute to the drafting of Annual Reports and Newsletters, or other communication initiatives
• Support StARS management and ‘Ambassadors’ staff group in effective approaches to donor relationships.
• Working closely with Fundraising and Communications, and with StARS partner organizations develop fundraising materials for individual giving, events and fundraisers

Policy and Advocacy

• Oversee and support the work of the Policy and Advocacy Team. In consultation and cooperation with Directors,the Policy and Advocacy Teamadvocates with service providers, partners, Refugee-Led Organizations and UNHCR, other UN agencies, INGOs, and local organizations regarding the service delivery for displaced communities.
• Monitors policies and external developments affecting refugees in Egypt, paying special attention to particularly vulnerable or marginalized groups.
• Advocates, particularly with UNHCR, on issues relating to refugees, migrants, Refugee-Led Organizations, and displaced communities.

Staffing and Human Resources

• Oversee and supervise the Policy and Advocacy Program, Communications and Fundraising Teams
• Closely cooperate and provide support, to cross-cutting positions as needed, in particular, the Monitoring and Evaluation Team and the Reporting Specialist
• In cooperation with the Executive Leadership Team recruit, interview, and select senior program staff.
• Provide training as needed for StARS staff and Refugee-Led Organizations management on fundraising, project planning, proposal writing, and reporting.

As a Member of the Executive Leadership Team

All duties are carried out in collaboration with StARS Directors, as part of the Co-Leadership of StARS. An excellent collaborative working relationship with StARS Directors is essential to the success of this role. The Director of Development Department shall take part in the decision-making process at the level of the Executive Leadership Team and the Executive Leadership Team Sub-Committees.

The Executive Leadership Team is responsible for

• Operational oversight of all StARS programing
• Revising StARS strategic orientations, and ensuring their coherent implementation.
• Ensuring adequacy between available resources and programmatic needs,
• Ensuring efficient and effective program delivery
• Ensuring financial and Human Resources planning
• Ensuring the revision and consistent implementation of StARS governance structure, systems, policies, and procedures
• Ensuring that staff members receive adequate support in terms of their professional development and general well-being
• Active engagement in two to three sub-committees, deciding over Human Resources, Finance, Procurement, Security, and other organizational decisions.
• Other duties as assigned

Person Specification

Experience

• At least five years’ experience in a senior management role within an NGO
• At least five years’ experience developing successful six figure fundraising applications
• Experience working in complex protection environments

Skills

• Excellent oral and written English. Fluency in Arabic is an advantage.
• Strong writing skills, with experience in developing and reviewing program plans, proposals, and reports.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with an ability to develop and maintain nuanced relationships according to interests, requirements, and need.
• Strong and demo financial skills, including budgeting and financial planning

Qualifications and knowledge

• Knowledge of the funding landscape in the Humanitarian Sector
• University degree in a related subject (development, not-for-profit management, law, etc.).
• Knowledge of issues related to urban refugees in the Global South. Knowledge of the Egypt operating environment is a distinct advantage.
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft word and Excel, other computer packages desirable

Other

• Lived experience of forced displacement is an advantage.
• Experience of working in Co-leadership is an advantage
• Commitment to StARS’ vision and mission.

The Director of Development Department should demonstrate competence in some or all of the following

• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behavior and business practices, and ensure that own behavior and the behavior of others are consistent with these standards and align with StARS values.
• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of StARS.
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough, and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Creativity and Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve operations of StARS and to create new opportunities.
• Focus on Client Needs: Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of clients, staff, and students.
• Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Lead: Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of StARS.
• Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency, and risks, and make clear decisions that are timely and in the best interests of StARS.
• Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information, and activities.
• Plan: Determine strategies to move StARS forward, set goals, create and implement action plans, and evaluate the process and results.
• Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.

Schedule: The Director of Development Department is expected to be at work for 40 hours per week, between the hours of 9am and 5pm, from Sunday to Thursday. Longer hours, evening and weekend work are sometimes necessary. Work will be conducted both in StARS premises and also in refugee communities and centers.

StARS Remuneration are standardized per position according to a pay scale and are not negotiable based on the individual experiences and qualifications of the candidate. StARS salaries are competitive with the local market. Position salary will be discussed at the shortlisting and interview stage.

Closing date for applications: 3 June 2026

Anticipated Starting date: As soon as possible