Regional Director - Asia-Pacific

Spirit of AmericaGeneral Santos, Soccsksargen, Philippines

15 hours ago

Job description

Regional Director - Asia-Pacific

Spirit of America is a privately funded 501c3 nonprofit headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Our mission is to engage citizens in preserving the promise of a free and better life by working alongside U.S. troops and diplomats and providing private assistance to defend freedom, strengthen America’s national security, and improve lives.

Location : Manila, Philippines

Travel : Frequent (up to 50%) around Asia–Pacific, including conflict‑affected and fragile states.

Position Type : Full‑time – REMOTE

FLSA Status : Exempt

About the Role

Spirit of America seeks an experienced, strategic leader to serve as our new Regional Director (RD) for the Asia‑Pacific (APAC) region. The RD will lead initiatives in close cooperation with U.S. military, diplomatic personnel, partner militaries, and civil society organizations, guiding international operations and supervising a small team of Program Managers.

Candidate requirements include boots‑on‑the‑ground experience in conflict‑affected environments, recent work on U.S. stability and security operations, and proficiency in an Asian language with complete fluency in English. Prior U.S. military service, experience with the Department of State, USAID, or returned Peace Corps volunteers is highly valued.

Key Responsibilities

Cultivate influential relationships and strengthen existing ties throughout the region.
Lead the development and execution of a regional strategy aligned with U.S. national security interests.
Develop projects that complement or fill gaps in U.S. government and military programs.
Identify, develop, and manage stakeholder relationships with U.S. military, embassies, and other key partners.
Coach and mentor Program Managers through the full project lifecycle.
Oversee project development, execution, and closeout with a high standard of accountability and performance.
Collaboratively evaluate and document results and lessons learned, using findings to inform future initiatives.
Maintain timely financial reporting, forecasting, and budgeting.
Collaborate with the strategic initiatives team on larger projects that touch the region.
Partner with Development and Marketing teams to engage donors and partners through media content.
Represent Spirit of America and projects with U.S. military and civilian personnel at all levels.
Monitor regional security and safety and coordinate risk management with Program Operations.

What Success Looks Like in This Role

Built trusted partnerships with U.S. military and diplomatic leaders.

Delivered tangible impact through high‑impact projects that advanced U.S. national security objectives.

Implemented a clear Asia‑Pacific regional strategy with priority countries and focus areas.

Recruited, mentored, and empowered a high‑performing team of Program Managers.

Managed regional operations with sound financial stewardship and risk management.

Enhanced visibility and reputation through strategic communications and donor engagement.

Modeled mission‑first leadership, fostering initiative, adaptability, and respect.

Key Qualifications

Required

At least 12 years of professional experience in international development, diplomacy, or defense contexts, with a minimum of 3 years on the ground in fragile or conflict‑affected states in a leadership role.

Proven ability to engage directly with local populations and partner with host nation militaries, governments, and NGOs to solve problems.

Experience in representational roles, public speaking, and briefing senior officials.

Minimum 3 years of direct counterinsurgency, stability operations, humanitarian / disaster relief, or non‑lethal effects experience at the field level.

Sound knowledge of Asia‑Pacific culture, history, politics, and security dynamics.

Solid understanding of the U.S. “three Ds” of foreign affairs—defense, diplomacy, development—and U.S. government interagency processes.

Excellent written and oral communication, strong attention to detail, and organizational skills.

Complete fluency in English and proficiency in an Asian language (Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, or a Southeast Asian language).

Preferred

Substantive experience working in a U.S. Embassy or on a deployed Defense Cooperation or Civil Affairs mission.

Experience with INDOPACOM.

Program / project management experience, including budget and schedule oversight.

Willingness to work outside regular hours and frequent travel within the region.

Compensation Range

Salary ranges from $145,000 to $170,000 based on experience. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, and a 403(b) contribution match to 4%.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Spirit of America is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, or other protected characteristics in accordance with applicable laws.

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Director • General Santos, Soccsksargen, Philippines