The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is a family foundation working both domestically and internationally to improve the lives of individuals living in poverty and experiencing disadvantage. Guided by the intent of our donors, Conrad and Barron Hilton—who gave virtually all of their personal wealth to the Foundation—we pursue a noble, global philanthropic mission. “As the funds you will expend have come from many places in the world,” Conrad Hilton counseled, “so let there be no territorial, religious, or color restrictions on your benefactions.” In our workplace and in our collaborative efforts to accomplish our mission, we apply our values of integrity, thinking big, humility, stewardship, and compassion. The Program Department, which oversees approximately $300 million in annual grantmaking, is currently developing new five-year strategies, recognizing that at this moment in time, it is especially important to focus our efforts where we can have the deepest impact.

The Director of Global Early Childhood Development (United States and East and Southern Africa) and Refugees provides visionary yet disciplined leadership across two distinct but complementary strategies: Global Early Childhood Development (ECD) and the Refugees Initiative. Together, these strategies aim to create measurable improvements in the lives of young children, caregivers, and families facing systemic barriers or displacement.

The Director will lead a newly formed team across domestic and international geographies to deliver impact through grantmaking, advocacy, research, and partnerships. A key responsibility is to develop and drive clear strategic visions for both initiatives, articulating bold five‑year impact statements and defining specific indicators to track progress. These impact statements and indicators will serve as a roadmap clarifying what success looks like, how we measure it, and how we hold ourselves accountable for achieving it.

While Early Childhood and Refugee strategies remain separate, the Director will actively foster cross‑initiative learning and alignment, exploring connections such as two‑generation approaches, family economic security, and shared measurement frameworks. Working closely with the Strategy, Learning, and Evaluation Division (SLED), the Director will champion a continuous learning and improvement culture, ensuring that evidence and data inform decisions and that strategies evolve to deliver greater impact over time.

The Director will also oversee advocacy efforts across both initiatives, ensuring that policy and system-level work advances the broader goals of each strategy. They will provide strong day‑to‑day management, set clear expectations for staff and partners, align resources, and build a high-performance, accountability, and inclusive culture that aligns with the vision and priorities for the department.

This role is for a proven strategic leader and team builder with expertise in one or both program areas. The Director will inspire the team to bolster ambition, work collaboratively, and take responsibility for results, ensuring that grantmaking, advocacy, and field‑building efforts reflect the Foundation’s core values of integrity, humility, stewardship, compassion, and thinking big. This position reports to the Vice President of Strategy and Programs.

Other responsibilities as assigned — Additional time as needed