Program Innovation Specialist

International Justice Mission; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision

Monthly commuter and parking benefits

Retirement benefit options

Paid leave starting at 23 days

Holidays and community formation

Staff care resources

Job summary

International Justice Mission (IJM) in Arlington, VA, seeks a Program Innovation Specialist to provide design support across interventions, survivor-centered approaches, and global evidence to strengthen impact. You will translate insights into briefs for senior leadership, lead rapid prototyping cycles, and design workshops for field teams, enabling scalable, survivor-informed interventions.

This hybrid role requires strong communication, design thinking, and collaboration with diverse

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience using human-centered design to co-design prototypes for global development challenges.
• Excellent design thinking, human-centered design, and prototyping skills for complex interventions.
• Strong analytical and synthesis abilities to translate evidence into actionable strategies.

Responsibilities

• Develop an evidence-informed innovation roadmap aligned with IJM’s models and global standards.
• Translate customer insights into clear briefs and presentations for leadership and field teams.
• Lead rapid research and prototyping cycles, synthesize evidence, and monitor pilots to inform scale-up decisions.
• Design and deliver workshops for field teams on innovation tools and prototyping methods.
• Identify program improvement opportunities through data analysis and stakeholder feedback.
• Participate in IJM’s community of spiritual formation.

Skills

Human-centered design

Design thinking

Prototyping methods

Communication

Facilitation

Project management

Job description

Who We Are

International Justice Mission (IJM) is the global leader in protecting vulnerable people from violence around the world. Our team of over 1,300 professionals are at work worldwide in over 30 offices. Together we are on a mission to rescue millions, protect half a billion, and make justice unstoppable.

We are a global community that cares for one another. We believe that the way we work is as important as the results we achieve. We provide professional excellence with joy and celebration to all those we serve.

The Need

For over 25 years, IJM has pioneered the work to protect vulnerable people from violence. 9 out of 9 times in the last decade, IJM’s Justice System Strengthening Projects have reduced slavery and violence between 50 and 85% for very large populations of people in poverty. As we grow to expand our impact to protect 500 million people from violence, we are seeking a Program Innovation Specialist to provide design support to strengthen global interventions and strategies addressing violence, exploitation, and protection gaps affecting women and children. This role supports the facilitation, synthesis, and management of key efforts to innovate using survivor voice, field insights, and global evidence to shape effective intervention strategies.

This position is hybrid (onsite Tuesdays & Thursdays) if located in the Washington, DC area or remote for non-local candidates. It reports to Director, Program Innovation and is only available for candidates with the right to work in the US.

Responsibilities

• Support the development of an evidence-informed innovation roadmap and best-practice guidelines for designing and testing interventions while ensuring alignment with IJM’s Theory of Change, Protection Model, and global standards for survivor-centered innovation.
• Translate complex customer insights and innovation findings into clear, actionable briefs and presentations for senior leadership and field teams to inform strategy and decision-making.
• Lead rapid research and prototyping cycles for interventions, synthesizing global evidence, and monitoring pilot outcomes to inform iterative design and scale-up decisions.
• Design and deliver targeted workshops for field teams on innovation tools and prototyping methods, equipping them to adapt and scale survivor-informed interventions effectively.
• Identify and anticipate opportunities for program improvement through data analysis, stakeholder feedback, and iterative design processes.
• Participation in IJM’s community of spiritual formation.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience using HCD to co-design prototypes for unique global development challenges.
• Overall excellence in design thinking, human-centered design, and prototyping methods; strong program design and evaluation skills for complex social interventions.
• Strong analytical skills for interpreting research and translating insights into interventions.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize global evidence and field insights into actionable strategies.
• Exceptional communication and facilitation skills, capable of advising diverse stakeholders, organizing training sessions, and sustaining engagement through clear, targeted messaging and materials.
• Capacity to oversee and drive multifaceted projects and initiatives with excellence, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and timelines.

Critical Qualities

• Eager commitment to IJM's Core Values: Christian, Professional and Bridge-Building;
• Self-starter with strong initiative;
• Disciplined with priorities;
• Strong interpersonal skills and self-awareness;
• Exceptional verbal and written communication;
• Flexible, collaborative and eager to support others;
• Effective team player who fosters collaborative environment; and
• Adept at creative problem solving.

What does IJM have to offer?

• Comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision benefits
• Monthly commuter and parking benefits in the DC metro area
• Retirement benefit options
• Paid leave starting at 23 days
• 12 holidays (plus early release the day prior)
• Daily, quarterly, and annual community spiritual formation
• Robust staff care resources

IJM holds strict safeguarding principles and a zero tolerance to violations of the Safeguarding Policy, Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy, and Code of Ethics. Candidate selection is based on technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring criteria subject to assessing the candidates value congruence and thorough background, police clearance, and reference check processes.

At IJM, we’re committed to building a diverse workforce through fair and equitable employment practices. IJM encourages people of any race, color, age, sex, marital status or political ideology to apply for employment. While we welcome everyone into this work, we truly believe that the work we are doing is God’s work, not our own, and practice spiritual disciplines together daily. That’s why we legally require under SEC. 2000e-1 [Section702] of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that all employees practice a mature orthodox Christian faith, as defined by the Apostles’ Creed.

IJM requires a background check, police clearance and thorough review of references with an employment offer and/or employment contract.