Program Director, Countering Terrorist Recruitment Online, Washington, D.C.

Program Director, Countering Terrorist Recruitment Online Location: Washington, DC 20006, USA Full-time, Hybrid Program Overview PADF, through its Peace, Justice & Security thematic area, is implementing a program funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT Bureau). The program aims to counter online recruitment efforts of U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) by strengthening partner‑country law enforcement and justice‑sector institutions, building digital literacy among youth in vulnerable communities, and engaging relevant industry and civil‑society stakeholders. The Program Director will lead strategic direction and management of the program and serve as PADF’s primary liaison with the U.S. Department of State CT Bureau. The role requires a blend of traditional counter‑terrorism program management expertise and fluency in digital and technical aspects of online recruitment, including platform dynamics, prevention and counter‑messaging campaign design, and digital literacy education. Responsibilities Strategic Leadership and Program Vision Lead overall leadership and strategic direction for program implementation across participating countries. Ensure that the program aligns with U.S. Department of State CT Bureau priorities, including detection of AI‑generated and platform‑based terrorist content, youth digital literacy, and citizen reporting in coordination with law enforcement. Guide program strategy to remain responsive to evolving online recruitment tactics, partner‑country needs, and U.S. Government policy priorities. Program Management and Operations Develop and execute workplans, logic model, theory of change, performance monitoring plan, and implementation strategies across all participating countries. Ensure timely, efficient, and compliant delivery of all program activities, deliverables, and reporting requirements in line with cooperative‑agreement provisions. Oversee program budget and operations, ensuring effective use of resources and alignment with program objectives. Technical Oversight and Quality Assurance Provide high‑level technical oversight of activities spanning detection of online recruitment content, youth‑facing digital literacy and prevention education, law enforcement investigative training, and citizen reporting mechanisms. Guide the design and delivery of prevention and counter‑messaging content and campaigns appropriate to youth and vulnerable‑community audiences across participating countries. Maintain knowledge of major digital and social media platforms, gaming‑adjacent environments, and encrypted channels relevant to FTO recruitment, translating that knowledge into program design. Ensure program implementation reflects Do No Harm principles, participant safety, and politically sensitive engagement. Donor, Government, Platform, and Regional Engagement Serve as PADF’s primary liaison with the U.S. Department of State CT Bureau throughout the performance period, including monthly meetings and written progress updates. Coordinate with U.S. Government agencies, U.S. Embassy country teams, partner governments, and implementing and technology‑sector partners to ensure complementarity and avoid duplication. Build and maintain relationships with law enforcement agencies, ministries responsible for youth and education, civil society organizations, and relevant technology platforms. Team Leadership and Learning Supervise senior program staff, including technical, digital/content, and country‑level implementation personnel. Promote a collaborative, accountable, high‑performing team environment with clear roles and decision‑making processes. Use performance data and implementation experience to inform adaptive management and strengthen program results. Nurture knowledge – Model continuous learning, build systems that institutionalize knowledge, and use insights to drive strategic decisions. Be creative and promote creativity – Drive a culture of innovation and align creative initiatives with organizational strategy. Lead & inspire – Inspire at organizational scale through values‑driven leadership. Adapt – Lead strategic adaptation, anticipate change, and ensure organizational agility. Optimize resources – Drive organizational excellence through strategic resource allocation and continuous improvement systems. Communicate effectively – Convey vision, strategy, and priorities with clarity and inspiration to diverse internal and external audiences. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Communications, Digital Media, International Relations, Criminology, Public Policy, Security Studies, or related field; postgraduate degree desired. Minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible experience managing U.S. Government‑funded programs, grants, cooperative agreements, or other international donor‑funded initiatives. Experience working with or within technology/social media platforms on trust and safety, content moderation, or platform policy. Experience as Chief of Party, Program Director, Deputy Chief of Party, or equivalent senior leadership role on a U.S. Government‑funded program. Demonstrated experience in online safety, trust and safety, digital communications, content moderation, countering violent extremism (CVE) online, public policy, or digital literacy/prevention education. Understanding of youth and vulnerable populations’ engagement with digital platforms and how these spaces are exploited for radicalization and recruitment. Experience designing or overseeing prevention, digital literacy, or counter‑messaging content or campaigns. Experience working with government counterparts such as law enforcement, ministries of education/youth, or digital regulatory bodies. Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, including technical/digital specialists and country‑level program staff, in complex or high‑risk environments. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Spanish. Authorized to work in the United States. Experience with U.S. Department of State CT Bureau programs or cooperative agreements. Experience designing or implementing digital literacy or online safety curricula for youth in vulnerable communities. Familiarity with the current FTO and online recruitment threat landscape in one or more regions of interest to the CT Bureau. Experience living or working internationally in regions affected by FTO‑related recruitment activity. Salary Salary Range: $125,000 - $144,000 A candidate’s salary is determined by multiple factors, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, job-related knowledge, skills, abilities, and internal organizational equity. EEO Statement PADF actively seeks a diverse applicant pool and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply. PADF does not discriminate based on ability, age, national origin, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal record. PADF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor. #J-18808-Ljbffr Pan American Brand