Executive Director

Monday, February 27, 2012

Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights
Job Announcement: Executive Director
January 9, 2012‐ opened until filled

POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Organization

Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights (UAF) is an international human rights foundation dedicated to the support of women activists working in conflict or crisis situations. Through our programs of Rapid Response Grantmaking (RRG), Research & Publications and Advocacy & Alliance Building, we support women who are striving to promote and protect the rights and interests of women and girls by ensuring women’s security and participation in conflict prevention and resolution, peace building, and post‐conflict reconstruction. Based in San Francisco, California USA, we work in partnership with independent Sister Funds, Urgent Action Fund ‐ Africa, located in Nairobi, Kenya and Fondo Acción Urgente –América Latina, located in Bogotá, Colombia.

Position: Executive Director

Schedule: Full time
Reports to: Board of Directors
Salary: Depending on Experience
Location: San Francisco

Essential Responsibilities

1. Strategic Direction (10% of ED’s time)
The ED oversees the strategic direction of the organization in collaboration with Board and staff, and is responsible for coordinating the definition of annual objectives and intended outcomes, the annual budget, program plans, fundraising and marketing plans. The ED ensures that organizational strategies are in line with the mission, vision and values of the organization are realistic within the projected resources of the organization. In addition, the ED ensures effective systems of monitoring and evaluation for all aspects of the organization, particularly financial and fundraising. The ED maintains a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the field of women’s activism and human rights, especially in areas of conflict, and incorporates this knowledge into on‐going programming. The ED also initiates and coordinates a strategic document that pulls together and advances the ongoing strategic thinking. This is done with input from a wide variety of stakeholders and is used to guide the work of the organization, and as a fundraising tool.

2. Fundraising and Marketing (40% of ED’s time)
The ED has oversight of fundraising and marketing, and ensures that the annual fundraising targets are met. The ED will:

Create and implement annual and multi‐year development plans that will ensure organizational stability and continued progress toward achieving UAF’ mission.
Actively pursue annual fundraising goals in cooperation with the Development staff and ensure these goals are effectively communicated to relevant parties on the staff and Board of Directors.
Build strong personal relationships with donors, acting as the primary connection between donors and UAF.
Provide leadership, motivation and guidance to staff and Board efforts focused on fundraising approaches that complement the organization’s mission, strategic plan, and organizational strengths.
Work with Development staff to create strategies for foundation fundraising.
Build strong relationships with foundation staff of major national and Bay Area foundations.
Work with the Communications/Development staff, providing editorial guidance where necessary, to ensure that the organization and its mission, programs, products and services are consistently presented in a strong, positive image, both in print and online publications.
Network with international development agencies, the media, key influencers and policy makers.
Travel to promote UAF’s work at conferences, speak at public events, and meet with donors and foundations.

3. Program Management and Development (15% of ED’s time)

Ensures collaboration and sharing of information with UAF‐Africa and UAF Latin America exchanges information when appropriate.
With guidance from the Board of Directors, facilitates the establishment of sister‐UAF organizations in other areas of the world where and when deemed appropriate and feasible; and ensures the required financial resources for set‐up.
Provide vision, guidance, and support to program staff's grantee and activist decision‐ making process.

4. Board of Directors (10% of ED’s time)
The ED is a member of the UAF Board of Directors, and is required to attend all Board meetings. The ED consults regularly with the Chair, Vice‐Chair and Treasurer of the Board of Directors, and may call on other members of the Board of Directors at any time to discuss issues of complexity and concern. The Chair of the Board of Directors and the ED are responsible for promoting good Board‐Staff relations. The ED coordinates most Board matters including Board meeting agendas, materials and minutes; materials and minutes; nomination, appointment and induction of new Board of Directors members; self evaluation of Board.

5. Staffing (10% of ED’s time)

The ED has overall responsibility and final decision for the staffing structure of UAF, except in relation to the ED position, which requires Board of Directors approval. The ED develops a structure on the basis of consultation with staff, who may present specific proposals for staffing their own team. The ED works with the Office Manager to effectively manage the Human Resources of the organization according to authorized personnel policies and procedures that fully conform to current laws and regulations; and supports the motivation of employees in the realization of programs and operations. The ED liaises with the Office Manager to select the Hiring Committee for each new hire and serves as a member of the Hiring Committee when appropriate. The ED negotiates and confirms the terms of appointment for all permanent staff. Where termination of permanent staff becomes necessary, the ED ensures that any termination is done according to the UAF personnel policy and current laws and regulations.

6. Budget & Finance (5% of ED’s time)

The ED works with the Board of Directors’ Treasurer to produce and manage an annual budget that:

Is in accordance with current laws and regulations;
Has formal Board of Directors approval;
Has been developed in collaboration with staff;
Provides a breakdown for each program;
Allocates at least 50% for international grants for activists;

The ED liaises with the Treasurer to ensure:

The presentation and review of financial reports and cash flow projections to the Board of Directors and staff;
The annual audit is completed within four months of the end of the fiscal year;

Minimum Qualifications

At least five years experience running a non‐profit organization or in a position of increasing responsibility within an international program with an operational budget of at least $1 Million.
Proven experience in fundraising, including at least $500,000 from foundations and major individual donors funding international work.
Strong connections with, and understanding of, the foundation world and individual philanthropists.
Practical knowledge of grassroots activism, human rights defender internationally
Excellent written and verbal skills relevant to cross‐cultural work; good public speaking skills.
Strong leadership skills and the ability to integrate diverse contributions from staff, Board of Directors and volunteers.
Ractical knowledge of financial management and grantmaking systems
Commitment to, and an ability to articulate a progressive model of philanthropy.
Speak and write a language in addition to English is a plus
Good computer skills; Microsoft Word and Excel.

Core Competencies

The Executive Director is a dynamic leader who ensures UAF’s strategic vision, mission, and goals. The person is accountable to the International Board of Directors and is responsible for the consistent and effective delivery of the organization’s programs. She is committed to supporting the establishment of sister UAF organizations, according to identified needs, in other parts of the world. Supported by a small staff team, she has experience at the senior management level, knowledge of and commitment to the feminist movement and women’s human rights issues, and the ability to network with other organizations, donors, volunteers, and interns. She must be willing to travel nationally and internationally, and have knowledge of the U.S. and international donor base and different women’s funds. She has excellent communication skills, including written and verbal skills, proven experience in personnel management of staff and volunteers, knowledge of fund‐raising and financial management, and keeps abreast of new trends in the women’ movement. Respect for diversity, a collaborative working style are essential.