Co-Executive Director (extended)

Position: Co-Executive Director

Department: Management

Employer: The A Project

Reporting to: The A Project Advisory Board

Location: The A Project office - Beirut

Working Hours: 40 hours per week

We are looking for a full time (40 hrs/week) co-Executive Director to join our team at The A Project. The A Project, a non-profit non-governmental organization based in Lebanon since 2014, works on sexuality, gender justice, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and we envision a society where women and gender non-conforming people’s sexuality and mental health are reclaimed, cared for, respected, recognized in their diversities, and not weaponized against us.

In your role as a co-Executive Director, you will be in charge of co-setting an operational strategy for The A Project and ensuring the appropriate steps for the implementation of this strategic plan are accompanied by the necessary mechanisms, policies and procedures. This leadership role will oversee fundraising, finance, monitoring and evaluation, human resources, and other administrative functions; and along with the co-Executive Director the two roles will carry the overall leadership and management of the organization, ensuring alignment to The A Project’s mission and vision, code of conduct as well as financial and administrative guidelines. The co-Executive Directors are responsible for ensuring successful program planning and for overseeing implementation, funding and delivery, ensuring The A Project’s objectives are always met, and both report to the The A Project’s Advisory Board. This full-time job would be undertaken by someone with over 8 years of relevant work experience who is organized, strategic, efficient with time management, action-oriented, good with people, excellent at planning ahead, assessing and mitigating risks, and is passionate about progressing sexual rights and Reproductive Justice in Lebanon.

The A Project is a small team with a growing membership base. Similarly, to the breakdown of our group, we particularly encourage cis and trans women, trans men, and gender non-conforming people to apply.

Role Profile | Comprehensive Information

I. Areas of Contribution & Related Accountabilities

The Co-Executive Director’s key responsibilities in this area include:

  A. Leadership, Strategy and Representation

• Work with the Advisory Board, Co-Director and other senior management on deepening The A Project’s vision and strategic plan to guide the organization and ensure effective implementation of both.
• Ensure regular and timely communication with the Advisory Board on all aspects of the organization’s plans and activities
• Demonstrate, and lead the organization to maintain and uphold a strong commitment to inclusive and intersectional feminist movement building and feminist values, both internally and externally.
• Provide leadership, direction and vision to the organization, staff and programs.
• Provide strategic oversight and support the Head of Programs in the design and implementation of The A Project’s programs.
• Build enduring relationships, strategic partnerships and alliances across feminist and other movements. Promote The A Project as a supporter of sexual rights and contributor to the Reproductive Justice mobilization in Lebanon and the region.
• Identify, evaluate and monitor internal and external risks to the organization’s people, finances, goodwill, relationships (with communities and donors), and reputation. Implement and oversee measures to mitigate risks and ensure that adequate systems are in place to this end.
• Develop and maintain good representation for The A Project legally, with relevant government entities, donors and key partners, local and international, or delegate accordingly.
• Represent or select strong representation for The A Project at local and international conferences and forums, and to the media.
• Provide feedback or review of key content to be published and disseminated in The A Project’s name, when needed.

  B. Organizational Planning, Governance and Operational Oversight

• Within the first year of employment, provide oversight to the development of operational plans and logical frameworks with teams which incorporate goals and objectives that work towards the strategic direction of the organization, as designed in the Strategic Plan.
• Create, participate in the creation of, advise on and/or approve internal systems whose purpose is to facilitate and improve The A Project’s ways of work.
• Act as guardian of the internal decision-making process, key decision maker in strategic level decisions, key decision-maker in team level decisions for the following teams: fundraising, programs, MEAL, management
• Foster an effective team-work relationship with the Advisory Board
• Ensure that the infrastructure, systems and operations of the organization are fit for purpose: draft new policies, review existing ones, and ensure alignment between written policies and practice-in-action, making needed adjustments on an ongoing basis.
• Ensure that the partnerships, alliances, programs and services offered by the organization contribute to the organization’s mission, ensuring effective planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of The A Project’s programs, that are always centered around and led by feminist principles.

  C. Staff Management and Development

• Demonstrate day to day leadership of The A Project staff, providing technical support in line with The A Project core values and policies
• In particular, support, develop and guide The A Project program managers enabling them to effectively define priorities and lead their and their team’s work towards them.
• Manage or advise the board/hiring manager on the recruitment of new staff and the management of roles and team structures.
• Review staff job descriptions and lead on recruitment of managerial positions.
• Coordinate the development and implementation of all organization teams and programs and monitor their individual and collective progress.
• Ensure the integrity of sound management practices within the organization in consultation with the Advisory Board.
• Ensure that core values, policies and procedures, rules and regulation are accurate, fair, up-to-date and adopted by staff.
• Coordinate choosing adequate members to represent The A Project in external conferences, trainings and workshops.
• Lead staff wellbeing through HR, supporting interventions aimed to decrease work stress and mitigate impacts of contextual stressors.
• Assume responsibility for the health, safety and security of the team.

  D. Financial and Administrative Management

• Responsible for overseeing and managing the overall budget of The A Project.
• Ensure the integrity of sound financial and management practices within the organization and protect the assets of The A Project against fraud and financial abuse.
• Ensure the growth of the organization and its financial viability and sustainability.
• Ensure all financial, accounting and taxation procedures are carried out with maximum accuracy and transparency.
• Support the Accounting and Finance Manager to develop The A Project's financial guidelines including policies related to legislations and regulations of the Ministry of Finance, taxation laws and others as required.
• Ensure the annual budget is properly presented on time and work closely with Finance to ensure all other financial tasks are completed in an efficient and timely manner, keeping the annual budgets up to date and accurate.
• Produce and review all financial reports and presentations, provide complete and accurate information to the Advisory Board and external stakeholders on financial health of The A Project.
• Ensure proper office management and supervise the proper handling and archiving of all financial documents.
• Administer the funds of The A Project according to the approved budget and monitor the monthly cash flow of the organization.
• Make sure that finances are run efficiently to ensure maximum resource utilization.
• Approve expenditures within the parameters set forth by management and budgeting.

  E. Human Resources Planning and Management

• Lead and oversee all HR activities of The A Project and line manage/support the HR Coordinator to develop and implement an appropriate HR plan for the organization.
• Determine staffing requirements, up-skilling and training to meet The A Project’s growth, strategic goals and activities and to ensure appropriate staff are in place..
• Ensure the high performance of the teams, overseeing staff development, training and regular performance review cycles and manage HR in their role to implement and monitor these programs
• Ensure The A Project is a just and inclusive organization, where pluralism and diversity are valued, respected and built upon.
• Support and develop an organization culture that allows for shared leadership by establishing clear mechanisms allowing for input of others and appropriate delegation of coordination and leadership throughout The A Project

  F. Programming and resource mobilization

• Oversee the day-to-day execution of all The A Project programming.
• Oversee the development of fundraising plans and proactively participate in identifying and pursuing new funding resources to ensure continuity of programming and financial health of the organization.
• Supervise and support Fundraising Manager in all phases of grant management (seeking new grants, writing grant proposals, negotiating contracts, creating and updating all policies related to donors and grants, reporting, ad-hoc donor requests) to ensure continuity of programming and financial sustainability of the organization.
• Ensure that funding comes from sources that align with The A Project’s values and ethical standards, and ensure that The A Project does not compromise its core approaches and work values to align with donor constraints. Also ensure that the funding base is diverse and secure, including adequate reserves.
• Ensure healthy and productive work dynamics among the programs, fundraising, MEAL, and accounting positions / teams.
• Supervise and support Head of Programs to ensure the proper development and implementation of all project phases, and that all activities are of good quality and fit well within our mission, vision, strategic plan, and logical framework.
• Participate in the planning of projects, partnerships, services, and other opportunities that present themselves.
• Develop and maintain strong relations and partnerships, as well as proper accountability, with donors, public officials, and local and international organizations.

II. Communications & Work Relationships

Internal Communication

• Regular contact with The A Project Management
• Regular contact with Advisory Board
• Occasional contact with The A Project’s members

External Communication

• Regular contact with local authorities
• Regular contact with key partners
• Occasional contact with donors
• Occasional contact with consultants and key service providers
• Occasional contact with The A Project auditors

III. Knowledge, Skills and Key Qualifications

• Full commitment and adherence to The A Project's mission and vision and a feminist leadership framework.
• In-depth knowledge and analysis of, and involvement in either/or, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender justice, reproductive labor, Reproductive Justice, feminist approaches to community building and organizing. Plus demonstrated commitment to supporting the collective action of women’s rights, trans people, sex workers, refugees, migrant workers, and/or racialized groups and people.
• At least 10 years of professional experience in social change-oriented work and human rights advocacy in a senior role. Experience in supporting organizations at times of crises, growth and change is a plus.
• Experience of working directly with a diverse and international board and demonstrable understanding of board development and feminist governance.
• Ability to design and plan ahead and inspire/guide others to focus on the big picture.
• Demonstrated capacity to think strategically, systemically and analytically, and expertise in complex problem-solving, decision-making processes and critical thinking.
• Excellent organizational, managerial and time-management skills including knowledge of project cycle management, system design and implementation, financial planning and budgeting and organizational development.
• Proven success inspiring, building and leading strong and effective teams in a manner defined by clear communication, transparency, accountability, trust and respect.
• Bold and creative forward-thinker, innovative and flexible, comfortable with uncertainty and extremely harsh working conditions.
• Ability to travel internationally and represent The A Project externally at high level meetings.
• A Master’s degree or equivalent professional and lived experience, ideally in the field of women’s rights, international human rights, social sciences and/or organizational management.
• Strong proficiency in both English and Arabic
• Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills, alongside relationship building skills, listening skills, the ability to demonstrate diplomatic finesse and agility across cultures, including negotiation skills.

Secondary:

• Security management in complex security situations, cultural and conflict sensitivity approach, context and risk analysis.
• Experience in supporting organizations at times of crises, growth and change
• Knowledge of donor landscape in the region, priorities and requirements and experience working with international donors and organizational consultants.
• French language skills

IV. Schedule and Salary

• Schedule: 40 hours/week.
• Salary: Competitive, >2,900 month, based on experience.