Medair is looking for a US Director of Development to help grow their presence and deepen their impact across the United States.

This is a unique opportunity for an entrepreneurial leader to build something that is innovative, impactful and integrated with your faith.  You will be inspiring others to join in the work of saving and restoring the lives of people facing humanitarian crises around the world.  The Director will lead fundraising efforts in the US through cultivating strong relationships with generous individuals, churches, and foundations. You will help shape a strategy for sustainable growth and be at the heart of Medair’s pioneering approach to social impact investing and outcome-based funding.. 

Medair is a Christian humanitarian organisation that responds to conflict, disease and disasters so that the world’s most vulnerable and hard-to-reach people can live with dignity and hope. We are neutral and impartial. We go the extra mile to reach people impacted by emergencies and crises, regardless of race, creed or nationality

Founded in 1989 after a group of volunteers responded to conflict in Uganda, Medair has since served more than 53 million people across 43 countries—delivering quality and impact in the midst of war zones, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks..

Headquartered in Switzerland with affiliates in South Korea,UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, , and now the US, Medair operates with a simple conviction: where you live should not determine whether you live. Their work spans emergency health care, shelter, clean water, nutrition, and sanitation—offering both urgent assistance and sustainable support to communities rebuilding from devastation.

Medair’s US presence relaunched in 2024 with a vision to expand awareness, prayer support and private funding across the United States. With strong roots in Europe and deep faith at the center, Medair is now building momentum through a growing network of US donors, churches, and mission minded partners.

Intentionally streamlined and impact focused, Medair’s global team includes more than 1,300 staff from 67 nationalities, who live and work alongside communities in crisis. The organization directs its resources to frontline response, operating with clarity, discipline, and a deep sense of stewardship. Its leadership culture is humble and prayerful—guided by a commitment to serve the world’s most vulnerable with compassion, courage, and integrity.

Today, Medair operates in some of the most fragile regions of the world, including South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Lebanon. Their work is not only practical but deeply personal, rooted in the belief that every person is made in the image of God and deserves to be seen, known, and cared for.

With new leadership and vision in the US, Medair is poised to expand its impact and connect more people to a mission that is as urgent as it is hopeful.

Why I Love This Opportunity

Medair’s mission is bold, deeply faithful, and urgently needed, and the chance to help grow that mission in the US feels like an incredible opportunity. This is an organization that shows up in some of the hardest places on earth with humility, courage, and practical care. What excites me most is the chance to connect generous people here in the US to that work in a real and meaningful way.

The foundation is there, a respected global team, a renewed vision, and strong faith at the center, but there is so much room to build. For the right person, this is a rare opportunity to shape strategy, grow a team, and help bring Medair’s life saving work to more people than ever before.

• Hillary Weston 

A Great Match For This Position Would be

Leads with Purpose and Faith

Deeply aligned with Medair’s mandate to serve the most vulnerable, this leader grounds their work in Christian faith and lives it out with humility, prayer, and conviction. They carry a quiet strength and a deep sense of purpose, embodying both spiritual leadership and practical action.

Strategic and Impact Oriented

Understands how to move from vision to measurable results. Skilled at building and executing growth strategies, setting clear goals, and translating complexity into action. Brings a strong command of data, metrics, and systems, while always keeping people at the center.

Experienced Fundraiser and Relationship Builder

Brings a proven track record of securing major gifts and building donor communities. Confident in engaging with churches, foundations, companies, and high net worth individuals. A natural connector who listens well and communicates with clarity and warmth.

Collaborative and Cross-Cultural

Thrives in multicultural and matrixed environments. Navigates global dynamics with sensitivity and grace. Works well across time zones, perspectives, and personalities—adapting strategies for the US market while honoring a global brand.

Resilient, Curious, and Ready to Build

Loves a challenge and brings energy to starting something new. Comfortable with ambiguity and limited infrastructure. Leads with a learner’s mindset, ready to build systems, strengthen teams, and pioneer new approaches with tenacity and hope.

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Position Profile 

+Mandate, Vision, & Values

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.

+ Culture 

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.

+Role Responsibilities

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.

+Key Qualifications

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 & Opportunities

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.

+ First Year Wins

• 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