Position Profile

Medair’s mission is to bring life-saving relief and recovery to people affected by conflict, disease, and disaster so that the world’s most vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities can live with dignity and hope. As a Christian humanitarian organization, Medair’s work is driven by a deep faith in Jesus Christ and a belief that every person is made in God’s image and worthy of compassionate care.

Their vision is to join God in His work of restoration. Standing alongside those who suffer and helping to restore what is broken through acts of love, generosity, and hope. Medair’s work is grounded in seven core values that shape their culture and approach: faith, which guides their purpose and prayerful decision-making; compassion, which drives them to listen and respond with care; dignity, affirming the worth of every individual; integrity, shown in consistent and principled action; accountability, honoring commitments to those they serve and those who support them; hope, which sustains their courage amid crisis; and joy, which strengthens their community and outlook even in hardship.

Medair is a Christ centered organization rooted in compassion, prayer, and a deep sense of purpose. Across both the global headquarters and the growing US affiliate, team members share a strong calling to serve people in crisis with humility, excellence, and care. The work is challenging, but the mission is clear—and that shared sense of purpose shapes everything.

Faith in Action: Medair’s work is guided by Christian faith that is expressed through love, service, and prayer. The team includes followers of Jesus from a wide range of traditions, and faith is lived out with sincerity, respect, and a deep reliance on God. While external expression of faith is contextual based on location, the internal culture remains prayerful and spiritually rich.

Authentic and Relational: From the Global Support Office in Switzerland to emerging teams in the US, Medair fosters a culture of trust, honesty, and mutual encouragement. Staff invest in each other and in the people they serve, creating a sense of community that is both professional and deeply personal.

Humble and Purposeful: Team members at every level lead with humility and a strong awareness of the sacred nature of their work. Leadership is collaborative and grounded in a desire to serve—both inside the organization and out in the field.

Resilient and Entrepreneurial: While well established in Europe, the US culture reflects a startup spirit within a global mission. The work requires tenacity, adaptability, and faith fueled creativity. The team is building something new with limited resources and strong vision, holding space for both innovation and trust in God’s provision.

Focused on Stewardship and Impact: Medair operates with discipline and intentionality, directing as many resources as possible toward frontline work. The team values accountability, impact, and doing hard things with integrity and care.

Vision and Strategy: Lead the strategy and execution of Medair’s development efforts in the United States, building a fundraising program that reflects the organization’s mission, values, and international scope. Set clear goals, create scalable systems, and build the infrastructure needed to support long term growth. Serve as a strategic partner to both US and global leadership, offering insight and vision as Medair expands its reach.

Fundraising and Donor Engagement: Cultivate and steward a portfolio of major donors, foundations, and mission-minded partners with the capacity to give transformational gifts. Launch creative initiatives to increase donor acquisition and retention. Strengthen US church and foundation engagement and lead efforts to expand Medair’s network of supporters across the East Coast and Midwest.

Team and Culture Building: Hire, mentor, and lead a small but growing US-based development team. Foster a healthy team culture that reflects Medair’s faith-driven values, collaborative spirit, and commitment to excellence. Provide clear structure, professional development, and consistent feedback while supporting individual and shared goals.

Collaboration and Global Alignment: Serve as a bridge between Medair’s US affiliate and the global Engagement team. Adapt international strategies for the US context while contributing thought partnership and insight back to the global team. Partner closely with colleagues in Switzerland and other affiliates to align messaging, share data, and report impact with clarity and integrity.

Marketing and Communications: Work with internal and external partners to shape Medair’s brand presence in the US. Help strengthen digital campaigns, storytelling materials, and donor communications that reflect Medair’s unique identity as a faith-based humanitarian organization. Represent the organization at events and serve as a public ambassador for its mission and work.

Operational Oversight: Develop and monitor the US fundraising budget in alignment with Medair’s fiscal goals. Utilize Salesforce and other CRM tools to track performance, inform strategy, and strengthen donor relationships. Bring strong financial literacy and a focus on return on investment across campaigns and donor initiatives.

Education: Bachelor’s degree required; a graduate degree in nonprofit management, fundraising, marketing, business, or a related field is preferred. Additional training or certification in leadership, strategy, or development is a plus.

Critical Experience: Minimum of 5 years in a senior fundraising or development role with a proven track record of securing major gifts and meeting ambitious targets. Strong background in donor engagement, relationship management, and campaign execution across multiple fundraising channels. Experience with international nonprofits, humanitarian aid, or global missions is highly valued.

Relevant Experience: Prior work in a faith-based organization is ideal. Comfort navigating a cross-cultural, matrixed environment and collaborating across international teams. Familiarity with the unique dynamics of launching or scaling a US affiliate is a strong asset.

Strategic Leadership: Demonstrated ability to build strategy from the ground up, set clear goals, and lead through ambiguity. Experience hiring and mentoring staff, building systems for growth, and balancing both visionary thinking and tactical execution.

Communication and Presence: Excellent communicator and storyteller with the ability to inspire generosity, articulate mission and impact, and represent the organization across diverse audiences. Comfortable engaging with high-capacity donors, churches, foundations, and cross-sector partners.

Challenges

Medair’s US affiliate is still in its early stages. Building strategy, structure, and systems from scratch will require vision, grit, and strong execution.

The US team is lean and evolving. This leader will need to take on both strategic and operational responsibilities while gradually hiring and developing additional staff.

Collaboration with the global team adds complexity. Navigating time zones, cultural nuance, and a matrixed reporting structure will require emotional intelligence, clear communication, and relational maturity.

Medair’s faith identity is central but expressed differently across global contexts. The new Director must balance bold, personal faith with thoughtful cultural sensitivity in donor conversations and public representation.

Name recognition in the US remains limited. The leader will need to shape messaging, clarify brand voice, and creatively engage new audiences who may be unfamiliar with Medair’s mission.

Opportunities

This is a rare chance to launch and lead the US development strategy for a globally respected Christian humanitarian organization. The foundation has been laid—now it is time to build.

Medair’s mission is powerful and compelling. Donors are often deeply moved by the organization’s courageous work in places few others go. The right leader will be able to grow a meaningful portfolio by connecting people to that story.

The global team brings experience, humility, and a deep commitment to partnership. With strong collaboration and trust already in place, the Director will help shape strategy not only in the US but across the broader engagement team.

This is a role with real spiritual significance. The leader will not just raise funds—they will invite people into a deeper understanding of global suffering, Christian service, and radical generosity.

There is ample room for innovation. With no legacy systems holding them back, the Director will have the freedom to pilot new campaigns, test messaging, and help define what faith-based development can look like in a global, modern context.

Collaborate to Shape the Future of Medair in the US: You’ll partner with headquarters to lead the relaunch of Medair’s US affiliate, building the foundation for a strong, mission aligned development program. From refining strategy to aligning with global partners, you’ll help shape a structure that supports long term growth and impact.

Tell the Story, Invite the Mission: You’ll craft messaging that speaks to US donors with clarity and conviction—translating Medair’s global work into stories that move hearts and inspire generosity. Your voice will help donors see how their gifts bring relief and restoration in some of the world’s hardest places.

Build the First Layer of Support: You’ll raise early funds through strong donor relationships and thoughtful engagement—securing at least $750,000 in private gifts from individuals, churches, and foundations. These first wins will generate momentum and signal what’s possible.

Lay the Groundwork for Growth: You’ll introduce tools and systems that support donor tracking, reporting, and stewardship—ensuring Salesforce becomes a reliable hub for growth. As part of this, you’ll help hire and onboard one or two additional team members to expand capacity.

Strengthen the Bridge Between US and Global: You’ll build trusted relationships with both the US board and the global engagement team. By aligning priorities, sharing insight, and communicating regularly, you’ll serve as a connector between Medair’s global mission and its US future.