Senior Regional Program Manager- Latin America and the Caribbean

## **Salary Range:**
$125,000.00 to $145,000.00 Annually

**Location:** Based in Miami, FL, due to its proximity to US SOUTHCOM headquarters.

**Work Days in Office:** Remote

**Travel:** Frequent regional travel (often 40–60%), including to fragile or conflict-affected environments.

**Position Type:** Full-time

**FLSA Status:** Exempt

—

## **About Spirit of America**

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. We do this by working alongside US troops and diplomats and providing private assistance to defend freedom, strengthen America’s national security, and save and improve lives.

Spirit of America leverages an unprecedented partnership with the US military based on a groundbreaking agreement with the Department of Defense. This agreement allows the military to collaborate with us, identify needs, receive and distribute our assistance, and provide logistical support. No other nonprofit has such an agreement. Every dollar invested in Spirit of America builds on and leverages investments made by the US government and military. That leverage — combined with our entrepreneurial, venture-capital capability — provides philanthropic investments in Spirit of America with asymmetric impact and return on investment.

Our work saves and improves lives, prevents conflict, and strengthens America’s security. In the world’s toughest places, people experience the best of who Americans are and what we stand for.

—

## **About the Role**

Spirit of America seeks an experienced manager to serve as a **Senior Regional Program Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean**, working in close cooperation with US military, development, and diplomatic personnel across the region. The mission is to design and manage Spirit of America’s programs and partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean, utilizing private philanthropic funds to engage citizens in preserving the promise of a free and better life.

The Senior Regional Program Manager supports the Regional Director in implementing and refining Spirit of America’s regional strategy to advance US national security interests and democratic resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean.

A successful candidate must have boots-on-the-ground experience in fragile or conflict-affected environments and recent experience working on US stability and security operations, development, or diplomatic initiatives. Prior service with the US Department of State, USAID, Department of Defense, other US government civilian agencies, or as a returned Peace Corps volunteer is strongly valued. Candidates should bring optimism, patience, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a great sense of humor in the face of adversity. **Professional Spanish fluency is required; Portuguese or Haitian Creole proficiency is a plus.**

**Reports To:** Regional Director, Latin America & the Caribbean
**Direct Reports:** None, at this time

—

## **Key Responsibilities**

The Senior Regional Program Manager will:

– Support the Regional Director in refining and operationalizing the regional strategy through country-level analysis, opportunity identification, and program proposals.
– Contribute to the development and implementation of the regional strategy to support US national security interests in Latin America and the Caribbean.
– Identify priority countries, sub-regions, and thematic lines of effort for Spirit of America engagement based on evolving political, security, humanitarian, and governance dynamics.
– Develop projects and initiatives where Spirit of America assistance can make a rapid and meaningful impact on mission success, complementing or filling gaps in US government and partner programs.
– Recommend projects and priorities for approval; major commitments and final program prioritization are reviewed with and approved by the Regional Director.
– Identify, build, and manage stakeholder relationships with US military command elements (including SOUTHCOM and subordinate commands), US Embassies and Country Teams, regional bureaus, host-nation institutions, civil society partners, and other key interlocutors.
– Serve as a credible Spirit of America representative in regional engagements, ensuring strong coordination and trust with US and local partners.
– Represent Spirit of America in regional meetings and field engagements as delegated by the Regional Director.
– Communicate and coordinate activities and projects with US military and civilian personnel and, as appropriate, donors.
– Manage the development, execution, and closeout of projects supported by Spirit of America funds, ensuring high standards of accountability and performance, including compliance, finance, procurement, and risk processes.
– Ensure programs are appropriately scoped, budgeted, monitored, and documented; support rapid response and adaptive management when conditions shift.
– Coordinate with Spirit of America headquarters teams to align project approvals, contracting, financial tracking, and reporting.
– Lead multi-country initiatives or serve as project lead for regional lines of effort, coordinating staff, consultants, and partners without formal supervisory authority.
– Monitor, evaluate, and document results and lessons learned from projects across the regional portfolio.
– Maintain and deliver timely financial reporting, forecasting, and budgeting for relevant program lines.
– Partner with Development and Marketing teams by generating field-based content, success stories, and visibility materials; review and provide input on content produced by regional and Headquarters teams.
– Provide timely field insights, draft success stories, and donor-brief inputs; participate in select donor briefings as delegated.
– Maintain situational awareness of regional security and operational risks; promptly flag concerns and follow Spirit of America safety protocols.

—

## **Key Qualifications**

### **Required**
– Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
– At least ten (10) years of professional experience in international development, diplomacy, defense, or related contexts, including a minimum of three (3) years on the ground in fragile or conflict-affected settings.
– Professional fluency in English and Spanish.
– Proven ability to engage directly with local populations and partner with host-nation militaries, governments, and NGOs.
– Experience relevant to stability operations, democratic resilience, humanitarian/disaster response, counter-transnational threats, civilian protection, or other non-lethal effects.
– Solid understanding of America’s 3Ds — defense, diplomacy, and development — and US interagency roles and processes.
– Excellent written and oral communication skills; strong attention to detail; excellent organizational skills.
– Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and budgets across more than one country.
– Prior US military service strongly preferred, especially with experience in the SOUTHCOM AOR; extensive experience coordinating with the US military may be accepted in lieu of service.
– Must be a US citizen and eligible for a US Government security clearance.

### **Preferred**
– Master’s degree.
– Experience working in or with a US Embassy, Country Team, USAID mission, or DoS/USAID regional bureau.
– Deep knowledge of Latin America and the Caribbean’s cultural, political, security, and migration dynamics.
– Portuguese and/or Haitian Creole proficiency.
– Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in complex, fast-moving environments and manage competing priorities across multiple countries.

—

## **Compensation Range**

Salary ranges from $125,000.00 to $145,000.00 based on experience. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, and a 403(b) contribution match up to 4%.

—

## **Equal Employment Opportunity**

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, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Learn more here