Executive Director Protection International (PI) Brussels, Belgium

Protection International

 Executive Director

 

 

Protection International is an equal opportunities employer

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

Protection International (PI) is an International NGO that contributes to the improvement of the protection of human rights defenders throughout the world. PI provides tools to develop defender’s capacity to man-age their own security as they struggle against impunity and work in favour of human rights and democracy in their respective countries or regions. PI seeks to contribute to a situation where human rights defenders are recognised as legitimate actors for social change and to an environment where they can exercise their right to defend universally accepted human rights.

 

Protection International has its head office in Brussels, but primarily works where protecting human rights defenders is needed. We have long term presence in Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Thailand and Indonesia; and we also work with partners in countries like Egypt, Italy, OPT, Israel, Brazil, Chad, Nigeria and Pakistan.

 

Further information on PI and its activities can be found on our website: www.protectioninternational.org

 

JOB DESCRIPTION
Job title: Executive Director

Location: Brussels, Belgium

Works as member of: Executive Committee / Legal Representative

Reports to: Board of Directors

Key objectives and responsibilities: The Executive Director leads the organisation’s development and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the organisation.
 

Strategic Planning and Organisational Development:

 

•       Leads PI’s Protection Program planning activities, which includes PI’s Strategic Plan 2011-2014, pro-ducing annual work plan in close consultation with the Executive Committee and staff.

•       Quality management: Working with the Executive Committee, monitors all program activities to ensure conformity with organisational statutes, PI’s mission and objectives, and to ensure lessons are learnt and integrated into future country and/or thematic programming.

•       Organisational development: Implements effective information management structures and systems to enable PI to develop effective decision making and planning.

•       Reports proactively to the board and leads the processes for improving strategy, plans and practices.

 

•       Represents the organisation in key events.

 

Administration and Staff Management:

 

•       Ensures that PI’s recruitment, performance management, staff development and other HR practices and policies are followed and/or implemented.

•       Ensures, through the Program Direction Unit, the ongoing development, adjustment, and implementa-tion of appropriate safety and security policies and procedures; and oversees the management of any major security incidents affecting PI’s field staff.

Finance and Fundraising:

 

• Working with the Finance and Fundraising unit, oversees budget management, including decisions on events and activity budgets, on supplier changes and all means to pursue financial efficiency and over-sees and signs for PI’s bank account.

 

•       Ensures, through the Finance and Fundraising unit, quality and accuracy of programmatic input in project funding proposals, adequate funding for all program work and on-time delivery of financial and narrative reports.

 

Program Management and Reporting:

 

• Oversees, through the Program Direction Unit, all field operations ensuring that they are fulfilling PI’s mission and mandate.

 

•       Ensures, through the Program Direction Unit, that Protection Desks provide written reports on progress to goals in a timely and professional manner.

•       Ensures, through the Program Direction Unit, appropriate, accurate and regular communication from the field feeds research, advocacy, outreach and fundraising.

 

Research and Training:

 

•       Ensures, through the Research and Training unit, the development of ongoing research projects and the exploration of new ones according to PI’s Strategic plan and annual working plan.

•       Advocacy / Outreach & Communication:

 

•       Oversees the advocacy activities through the Advocacy and Outreach & Communication units, ensuring that advocacy efforts are consistent with the work being carried out by the Research and Training unit and by the Protection Desks in the field.

 

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

 

1) Education and experience:

 

•       University Degree (Licence/Master) in relevant field (management/administration, economics, develop-ment studies or another relevant subject on organisational or program management).

•       At least ten (10) years of relevant work experience preferably with international NGOs, including at least five (5) years at the senior management level.

•       Proven ability to manage teams of colleagues and all facets of program or field operations, preferably in areas of human rights and human rights defenders.

•       Proven experience in all facets of project-based management cycles, including program monitoring and evaluation.

•       Demonstrated experience of reviewing budgets and accounting and financial reporting skills.

 

2) Skills:

 

• Strong organisational management skills including human resources, financial management, strategic

 

and operational planning and management.

 

•       Ability to meet tight deadlines, and to work both independently and as part of a team to achieve tar-gets.

•       Innovative and independent worker.

 

•       Good computer skills.

 

•       Excellent spoken and written English (native speaker level). Ability to understand, speak and write profi-ciently in French. Very good knowledge of Spanish a plus.

 

3) Personal Qualities:

 

• Commitment to PI’s values and clear understanding of the concept of universality of human rights.

•       Ability to manage relationships inside and outside PI in a constructive and diplomatic manner and with discretion, without losing her/his sense of humour.

•       Capacity to work in a multi-cultural environment.

 

•       Flexibility.

 

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

 

•       Experience in project development.

 

•       Excellent interpersonal skills.

 

•       Good knowledge of human rights defenders’ situation or at least human rights’ contexts in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and/or Latin America. Relevant field experience in any of these continents.

 

TERMS & CONDITIONS

 

•       Permanent contract under Belgian legislation (contrat à durée indéterminée), part-time (30 hours/ week) with a 6 months of trial period.

•       Salary based on previous experience and donors’ requirements. PI offers a number of additional em-ployment benefits that increase net salary.

•       Applicants need to hold a valid work permit for Belgium or citizenship of an EU Member State that requires no work permit in Belgium.

•       Target starting date: April 2013.

 

SELECTION PROCESS

 

Applications should be sent by e-mail to: recruitment@protectioninternational.org

 

Deadline to submit applications: 10 February 2013.

 

The application should include:

 

•       Cover letter in English only (no longer than two pages, including one concrete example of a successful experience in strategic and operational planning and management, and salary expectations).

•       Curriculum vitae.

 

•       Desirable: letters of recommendation.

 

Please note that only short-listed candidates for interviews will be contacted. Interviews will take place from 25 to 27 February 2013.