The Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) is seeking to recruit an Executive Director with vision and strategic thinking, experience in working with the African human rights system and management strengths.

The Executive Director will provide strategic direction and professional leadership, sustaining and building on IHRDA’s unique contribution to the human rights movement in Africa, and developing a team of professional staff.  The Executive Director will be responsible for managing the programmatic, development, communications, financial and other organisational objectives of IHRDA.  The Executive Director will report to the Board of Directors and her/his responsibilities will include:

Leadership, Strategic Direction and Fundraising

• Lead IHRDA’s strategic planning and implementation process;
• Develop and implement IHRDA’s annual work plans and managing budgets;
• Provide internal leadership, direct, motivate and develop IHRDA’s staff;
• Oversee fundraising activities, including grant writing.

Programme Development and Direction

• Develop the programme work in each of IHRDA’s four main programme areas;
• Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends of human rights globally and more specifically in Africa;
• Ensure IHRDA’s litigation is of the highest quality and has maximum impact in furthering IHRDA’s thematic areas (ESCRs, Child Rights, Discrimination and Refugees).

Management, Administration and Organisation

• Manage the day to day affairs of IHRDA;
• Provide financial oversight;
• Coordinate meetings of the Board of Directors and Board Committees and maintain effective communication with the Board;
• Personnel management.

Public Relations and Advocacy

• Serve as the main IHRDA spokesperson, including through interacting with the media and representing the organisation at high-level conferences and meetings;
• Maintain and build links with national, regional and international organisations.

Person Specification

The ideal candidate will have:

• A high degree of familiarity with and commitment to strengthening the African human rights system, in particular the jurisprudence and procedures of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the African Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACrtHPR) and the Regional Economic Courts (RECs);
• Expertise advising individuals and organisations who wish to bring communications/cases before the above bodies;
• Ability to lead training sessions on the African human rights system, specifically on litigation;
• Strong organisational skills;
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work collaboratively internally and externally;

Qualifications and Language Skills

• A degree in law, with specialisation in international human rights law;
• A legal practitioner’s qualification is highly desirable;
• 7+ years’ experience in management, administration, fundraising and recognised leadership in the non-profit sector, preferably at senior level;
• Excellent writing, editing and speaking skills in English/or French and working knowledge of the other.

Terms and Conditions

Salary: Attractive

Location: Banjul, The Gambia, with regular travels, mainly in Africa

Contract Duration: Five years

Working Days and Hours: 8.30 to 17.00 Mondays to Thursdays and 08.30 to 13.30 Fridays

Annual Leave and Holidays: 25 working days leave per year and IHRDA observes public holidays in The Gambia. IHRDA closes each year for approximately two weeks at the end of December, and reopens on the first working day of the New Year.

Other benefits: Relocation assistance will be available for the staff member and dependants. Medical insurance; travel insurance; pension.

A six-month probation period will be included in the contract.

How to Apply

Please send (in English or French) a Curriculum Vitae; a motivation letter, an unedited writing sample of 5 to 20 pages and a list three references who are not related to the candidate, with their full contact details.

Further information is available at bb8.rustyrobot.co.za/ or contact

Mr Musa Secka,

IHRDA,

PO Box 1896, Banjul, The Gambia.

Email: recruitment@ihrda.org , cc. msecka@ihrda.org

Closing date: 01^st March 2012

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

IHRDA is committed to equal opportunities.  Women candidates are encouraged to apply.