Executive Director Job Description
Background
ATHENA Network is seeking to recruit an Executive Director to lead the network into the next chapter. ATHENA’s aim is to advance gender equality and human rights through global health to realize a world where women in all of their diversity have the power, choice, and agency to make and enact their own decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing, and to claim their human rights: where HIV and emerging pandemic are no longer a public health emergency; and where gender-based violence in all its forms is eradicated. As a global network of organizations and individuals, we bring expertise through lived experience, and work through on-going partnerships. Our approach is based on a durable and transformative model of change based on seeding transformation from the bottom up and ensuring that global processes are reflective of local realities. We mentor young women leaders, invest in lasting collaboration and mutual knowledge exchange, bridge movements towards a more inclusive, stronger women’s rights and gender equality movement, and in so doing strengthen, build and invest in women-led civil society.
ATHENA works to address gender inequality, both the causes and systems that create and sustain it and the manifest inequities, actions and power imbalances that enact it in the lives of women and girls. We work to promote voice, rights and agency through the HIV response, working at the intersection of HIV, women’s rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and gender-based violence. Our core team of 7 women are currently based in the USA, Eastern, Southern and Western Africa, bringing our expertise across policy development, participatory action research, advocacy, programming, youth involvement, meaningful engagement, leadership development, and consultation, while ensuring and advancing local accountability.
ATHENA currently operates from a virtual secretariat comprised of 7 core team members; we also work with a team of consultants based in different countries. ATHENA’s administrative home is in Windhoek Namibia where we are fiscally hosted by ARASA. As a global network, ATHENA maintains deep partner relationships across East, Southern and West Africa with a broader global footprint across Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. ATHENA is governed by a regionally diverse young women with the support of the global Advisory Board, comprised of individuals representing a range of professional backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of the HIV epidemic, as well as technical expertise.
Our Mission is to advance gender equity and human rights across global health; to bring forward feminist leadership; and in so doing, to promote and facilitate the inclusive leadership of adolescent girls, young women, and gender diverse people.
Position:
We are looking for an individual with strong commitment to feminist leadership, who has a demonstrated track record of creating space for young women; has a commitment to leading from behind and sharing their power; who will continue to grow the strength and vitality of ATHENA’s programmatic and advocacy work through support to Core Team members holding these portfolios; who has very strong management skills; who will ensure continuity in resource mobilization and partnership development.
The Director will report to the Chair of the Governance Board and work in consultation with ATHENA’s Advisory Board, Core Team and Network stakeholders. The Director will continue with organizational strengthening process; resource mobilization; and feminist leadership.
- Board Governance
- Reports to and works closely with the Board on policy decisions, fundraising initiatives, and to ensure the sustainability and coherence of ATHENA
- Communicates effectively with the Board via regular meetings and provides, in a timely and accurate manner, all information necessary for the Board to function properly and to make informed decisions
- Serves as the liaison and facilitates engagement between the Core Team, Network Members, and the Board
- Fundraising and Financial Viability
- Oversees the fiscal integrity of ATHENA, including planning and operation of program budgets with project leads
- Ensures organizational operations are maintained within the approved budget, and ensures maximum resource utilization to maintain ATHENA in a positive financial position
- Oversees and leads fundraising and development efforts to support ATHENA’s long-term sustainability
- Provides oversight in liaison with financial focal point on monthly and quarterly expenses
- Organizational/Network Guidance and Strategy
- Supports ATHENA’s Core Team to carry out the organization’s mission
- Guides strategic planning to ensure that ATHENA can successfully fulfill its mission into the future, with a Core Team structure aligned with the new strategic plan
- With the Core Team, advocates for ATHENA and coordinates/maintains the organization’s external presence by being active and visible in the community and working closely with partners
- Organization Operations
- Hires and retains talented, competent, qualified staff and independent contractors to effectively execute ATHENA’s programs and mission using a collective, iterative, and inclusive process to garner the input of the Board, the Core Team, and key stakeholders as relevant
- Supports and facilitates internal communications, policies and procedures governing the work of external consultants and staff
- Working with the Core Team, supports the monitoring, evaluation, and learning of ATHENA’s programs
- Working with the Core Team, provides documentation and reporting of the organization’s activities and programs
- Working with the board, creates a working environment that centers, prioritizes well-being of core team members, responds to the team needs and is safe and free from harassment and bullying
- Commitment to ATHENA’s mission to advance the recognition, protection, and fulfillment of women’s and girls’ human rights, comprehensively and inclusively, as a fundamental component of the HIV response
- Understanding of and experience working in Eastern, Southern and West Africa
- Demonstrated ability to develop partnerships and mobilize resources
- Fluency and strong writing skills in English
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience required with progressive, feminist organizations and movements, SRHR/HIV movements or grassroots networks working to advance girls’ and women’s human rights, especially young women living with HIV; or in global health
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience required in executive level management and decision-making (we shall however consider qualified young women candidates with less experience).
- Successful track record leading a project or organization with an annual budget of $50,000USD-$500,000USD
- Excellent management, communications, and organizational skills, follow-through, attention to detail and ability to multitask
- Action-oriented, self-directed, flexible, and principled in organizational management
- Demonstrated ability to work across languages, cultures, and lived experiences with deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and shared power
- A growth mindset, actively seeking input and learning from other others while innovating and evolving to respond to a highly dynamic moment
- Willingness and ability to travel should COVID19 restrictions be lifted, and that travel is feasible and safe.
- Demonstrated commitment to feminist leadership, working in network settings and working in coalition settings
Compensation and benefits will be offered in line with ATHENA policy and established practice. Benefits and terms of employment are to be negotiated and determined based on experience and demonstrated track record.
- N.B We strongly recommend young women below 35 years to apply.
Interested candidates should provide:
- Expression of interest
- Up to date CV
- 3 references
- 2 writing samples (articles, reports).