Director of Strategic Operations and Organisational Effectiveness

Director of Strategic Operations and Organisational Effectiveness latest vacancies in Malawi Just Associates (JASS) Careers in Malawi Director of Strategic Operations and Organisational Effectiveness Jobs in at Just Associates (JASS) Malawi

Closes*> March 8, 2021

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Just Associates (JASS)

TITLE Director of Strategic Operations and Organisational Effectiveness

LOCATION Ideally based in one of JASS’ regions (MesoAmerica, Southern Africa,
or Southeast Asia)

POSITION Full-time, remote for the foreseeable future

DEADLINE March 8, 2021

ABOUT JUST ASSOCIATES (JASS)

JASS is a feminist movement support organisation that strengthens the voice,
visibility, leadership and collective organizing power of women to resist
injustice and transform institutions, policies, practices and social norms
that perpetuate violence and inequality. Our partnerships, programs and multi-
generational team of activists and organizers are anchored in MesoAmerica,
Southern Africa, and Southeast Asia.

JASS embraces the tension between the rigidities of institutionalization and
the flexibility and agility needed to support innovative social movements. To
ensure our responsiveness and accountability to changing regional contexts and
the needs of women on the frontlines of crisis and change, our nimble
operations have relied on relationships of trust, shared leadership, strategic
coherence, and light internal structures. In 2020, we saw the advantage of
this agile organisational model as JASS quickly shifted to creatively support
our allies and constituencies in the face of multiple global crises.

POSITION OVERVIEW

JASS is seeking an experienced senior leader to join our team as Director of
Strategic Operations and Organisational Effectiveness. This new position will
be critical in identifying and operationalizing the infrastructure needed to
strengthen our systems and expand our impact, without losing our
responsiveness and grounding as an activist-driven movement-support
organisation.

As a member of a shared leadership team, the Director will report to and act
as a strategic partner to the Executive Director (ED). Overseeing a team of
regional finance and operations staff, the Director will closely monitor and
participate in JASS’ annual planning cycle, provide strategic leadership on
operations, finance and human resources, and support JASS’ inter-connected
multi-regional parts. This is not an administrative role; it is a highly
strategic and facilitative one that requires the candidate to be a skilled
listener, open learner, micro and macro thinker and decision framer,
connector, project manager and change agent rooted in the feminist values and
principles of the organisation. The successful candidate will be a leader who
shares JASS’ enthusiasm for making change happen through shared leadership and
decision making and who thrives working in teams of strategic thinkers.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND AREAS OF OVERSIGHT

Organisational Planning, Strengthening and Capacity Building. To ensure our
complex, multi-regional organisation is equipped to respond to the demands and
opportunities before us as JASS enters a period of institutional strengthening
and capacity building, the Director will

Contribute to a robust review, visioning and planning process designed to
optimize JASS’ organisational architecture;
Play a key leadership role in our annual organisational-wide planning process;
ensure that infrastructure and resources enhance our capacity to be effective,
efficient and aligned to annual strategies, budgets and operational
priorities;
Financial and Operational Oversight. In line with an ambitious plan to expand
our movement offers and impact, the Director will ensure fiscal and
operational strength, including

Lead budget forecasting and long-term sustainability planning in collaboration
with other Directors; ensure alignment with our Road Map; create benchmarks to
measure progress and keep staff and Board informed;
Provide leadership and oversight to our Finance, Operations and IT teams;
strengthen capacities for effective operations and systems;
Oversee an IT needs assessment to identify and implement systems and practices
to improve online communication and collaboration across JASS, seeking out
solutions that reflect our activist values and need for accessibility and
security;
Oversee legal, fiscal and administrative compliance across the organisation;
stay abreast of laws and regulations that impact regional operations and
govern US 501(c)3 operations and registration;
Oversee risk assessment, management and mitigation protocols
Human Resources Development and Implementation. JASS’ 42 person staff are
located in 6 international offices, though the majority of staff operate
virtually. We also rely on a talented network of activist and professional
consultants who play a critical role in our work. The Director will manage
human resources and as an immediate priority, will

Scale and strengthen JASS’ human resources systems, in alignment with our core
values and feminist practice;
Oversee and provide recommendations for strengthening staff recruitment,
hiring, orientation, performance evaluation and retention;
Enhance work planning in a way that reflects JASS’ strategic priorities and
integrates individual work related goals
Senior Leadership. As a member of the Organisational Management Group (OMG),
the Director will

Serve as a key member of the JASS Leadership Team (JLT) with shared
responsibility for achieving the organisation’s vision and goals; advise the
JLT on financial and operational health and growth trajectory; collectively
explore opportunities that strengthen and/or challenge our capacity and
resources;
As this new role evolves and integrates within the organisation, and in
response to the interests and skills of the successful candidate, we expect
some responsibilities to emerge and/or be adapted.

QUALIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES OF OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE

While we intend to bring on a candidate with commensurate qualifications, it
is essential that our Director of Strategic Operations and Organisational
Effectiveness values and thrives in JASS’ ecosystem and has a deep desire to
listen to, learn from and collaborate with our talented and diverse teams. For
this reason, we will strongly prioritize qualified candidates whose lived and
professional experiences align with the feminist values, culture and
principles of JASS. To be successful in this role, a candidate must
demonstrate

Deep desire to work in an organisation whose mission and culture are rooted in
intersectional feminism and a transformative approach to equality and justice;
Experience as a senior level non-profit leader overseeing and/or directing
finance, operations, and HR functions and managing compliance with laws that
govern non-profits; previous role as a COO/CFO, Director of Operations,
Executive, Deputy, or HR Director with operations functions, or equivalent, a
plus;
Excellent planning, forecasting, strategic thinking, problem solving and
analytical skills; expertise in project management with demonstrated track
record managing detailed processes and people;
Experience guiding organisational growth, navigating uncertainty and holding
complex processes including big leaps of faith; a sense of how to build
structures that value and draw on a vast and diverse community of people;
Facilitative and collaborative approach to feminist leadership with ability to
inspire and strengthen cross-functional and cross-regional teams as a fellow
do-er rather than a delegator; sensitivity to multiple cultures and contexts;
ability to leverage diversity as an organisational strength;
Earned reputation for being a consensus builder, with excellent judgment and
discretion; skilled at communicating respect to people at all levels;
effectiveness in proactively assessing and managing conflict;
Strong self-awareness, emotional intelligence, sincerity and humility;
Ability to self-manage, prioritize, be resourceful, and adapt in a fast
changing environment with multiple demands; combination of focus and agility;
Ability to work remotely, across time zones, with flexibility in working hours
as needed;
Ability to travel internationally as needed;
English fluency and excellent written, oral and virtual communication,
presentation and negotiation skills; Spanish fluency a strong plus. (JASS is a
bilingual English-Spanish organisation and values language diversity.)
COMPENSATION

The salary range and benefits package is competitive for a senior level NGO
position and will be based on location and experience. Benefits include
employer paid health insurance, generous vacation leave, national holidays and
sick leave. Non-monetary benefits include the opportunity to make significant
strategic contributions to an innovative and respected movement support
organisation with a global presence, a supportive and feminist work
environment that encourages leadership development, and the ability to work
remotely and travel internationally.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send the following materials (in English) to [
demetri@justassociates.org ](mailtodemetri@justassociates.org) with the
subject ‘Director Applicant – YOUR NAME’

Full curriculum vitae (detailing the nature, scope and scale of
responsibilities held)
A cover letter highlighting relevant skills and experience for this position;
including 2 paragraphs on why you are the ideal “fit” for JASS and how and
what you would contribute to the organisation
Names and contact details of 3 references. At least one should be someone with
whom you have worked on organisational leadership and management and one
should be able to speak to your political and strategic leadership.
The deadline for applications is March 8, 2021. Successful candidates will be
invited to begin interviewing in early March. Due to the volume of applicants,
only candidates who advance to interviews will be contacted. No phone calls
please. The successful candidate is expected to assume the role as soon as
possible but not later than May 2021. JASS is not able to support visa or
relocations costs.

JASS is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an equitable,
inclusive, feminist working environment for all employees. We value and are
enriched by diversity and our leadership, staff, culture and structures
reflect this. We strongly encourage qualified candidates of all races,
ethnicities, colors, religions, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual
orientations and abilities to apply. For this role, candidates from the Global
South, particularly one of JASS’ three regions, will be prioritized.

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