EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Country: Kenya

Organization: Coalition on Violence Against Women

Closing date: 17 Sep 2023

Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW) is a registered Kenyan-based non-governmental women’s rights organization that works to advance women’s rights. COVAW envisions a society free from all forms of violence against women and girls, where women and girls enjoy equal rights, freedom and thrive in safe spaces.

COVAW works to influence law, policy, practice, and public opinion on violence against women and girls. They continue to do so by empowering women and girls to claim their rights, advocating for improved services, facilitating greater access to justice for survivors of violence, and supporting change agents opposed to and committed to eradicating violence against women and girls. They achieve this through engagement with strategic rights holders and duty bearers and sustained efforts to hold perpetrators of violence to account.

The Organization’s key target actors are women and girls, the community, civil society, government at the county and national levels, and the private sector. Our strategic areas of focus are sexual and gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health and rights, economic empowerment, leadership development, access to justice, and institutional development

PURPOSE OF THIS ROLE:

COVAW is seeking a dynamic, highly motivated, and innovative person to lead and oversee the development and implementation of organizational strategies while managing all organizational operations. The Executive Director will ensure adherence to statutory, policy, and donor requirements when collaborating with key stakeholders to deliver on organizational goals. She/He will effectively lead the design and delivery of programs, demonstrate value for money, and be accountable to partners and beneficiaries. In order to achieve this, She/He will identify and build strategic partnerships, undertake resource mobilization, represent the organization, and advocate for our positions.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide strategic leadership in the implementation of the strategic plan 2023 -2028


• Serve as secretary to the Board of Directors


• Lead the development and effective implementation of programs in line with identified organizational goals and priority focus areas


• Ensure the timely delivery and reporting of agreed project outcomes to donors and partners for financial and programmatic components.


• Ensure compliance with statutory obligations


• Ensure effective, accurate, and timely monitoring and evaluation of programs.


• Create and maintain best practices to attract retain and motivate competent staff.


• Lead on resource mobilization and proposal development, including attracting and managing new donors and partners geared towards achieving financial sustainability


• Provide oversight to all financial management processes, ensuring financial management is aligned with internal controls and adherence to international accounting standards.


• Represent COVAW externally, continuously enhancing organizational visibility and profile


• Undertake advocacy for women’s rights nationally, regionally, and internationally


• Manage staff to ensure cohesive working in the head office and all field offices and ensure supportive and legally compliant human resources policies are in place and adhered to


• Uphold the organization’s values and ensure they are actively demonstrated by all

REQUIREMENTS FOR ROLE

Education, skills, competencies, and experience

• Advanced Degree in Human Rights, Law, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, Development Studies, Gender studies or related disciplines.


• Minimum of 5 years of experience as Executive Director or equivalent and a track record of influencing people management, and organizational leadership.


• Extensive experience of 8 to 10 years in a Senior Program Management role may be considered in lieu of experience as an Executive Director.


• Demonstrate knowledge of human rights, women’s rights, and gender issues


• Past record of standing up for human rights and social justice


• Proven success in resource mobilization, proposal development, project design, and implementation.


• Experience in human resource and people management


• Experience in undertaking quality research and communications work


• Experience in building partnerships and collaboration with strategic key stakeholders


• Ability to manage financial resources including developing, managing, and monitoring budgets


• Proven ability to work and perform under pressure and with limited resources including coping with tight deadlines, multiple competing demands


• Excellent communication and presentation skills for diverse target groups, in both English and Kiswahili


• Excellent interpersonal skills and negotiation skills.


• Commitment to human rights and feminist values.


• Willingness and ability to travel nationally and internationally.

PERSONAL STYLE AND ATTRIBUTES:

• High integrity and personal credibility, with a professional demeanour that inspires the trust and confidence of staff and partners


• Able to lead by example and demonstrate high emotional intelligence


• Able to challenge and motivate self and with a high level of resilience


• Adaptability and flexibility to cope with a rapidly changing work and political environment


• Inclination to set themselves and others challenging but achievable targets


• Ability to see and develop innovative solutions, taking calculated risks on new and innovative programs and solutions


• Ability to deal with conflict in a respectful approach


• Ability to use collaborative and consultative approaches that build teams

How to apply

Please email your application consisting of:

1. Current CV with 3 referees and cover letter


2. A personal statement, of not more than 800 words expressing why you think you are best suited for the position and why you want to become the next Executive Director.

E-mail: recruitment@kazy360.com (please include "Executive Director” as the subject of the email)

Closing date: 17th September, 2023, midnight, East Africa Time.