Clowns Without Borders South Africa 2024 Position Available
Clowns Without Borders South Africa (www.cwbsa.org) is recruiting a new Executive Director to lead our humanitarian non-profit organisation in its next phase of growth and sustainability. We are seeking a dynamic, motivated person whose work experience demonstrates successful leadership in fundraising, organisational development, and programme management.
Clowns Without Borders South Africa is a humanitarian nonprofit organisation dedicated to improving the psychosocial condition of children, families, and communities in areas of crisis. We also seek to raise our society’s awareness of conditions in these areas. Since 2004, we have implemented projects for over 450,000 vulnerable children and families in South Africa, throughout sub-Saharan Africa, and internationally.
Job Title: Executive Director
Reports to: The board of Clowns Without Borders South Africa and works closely with the CWBSA Management Team
Job Location: Based in either Cape Town or Johannesburg, South Africa, with frequent travel to regional offices in South Africa, regionally, and internationally
Duration: Starting March 2024, with 3-year contract renewal subject to performance
Remuneration: Salary is commensurate of experience (package will be cost to company and performance based)
Please note: This position is open to candidates living in either Cape Town or Johannesburg. CWBSA will not cover relocation costs.
If you are interested in applying please email a copy of your CV with a Personal Statement outlining how you meet each of the essential and desired qualifications to recruitment@cwbsa.org BEFORE 31 January 2024.
Preference will be given, but not limited to, candidates from designated groups in terms of the Employment Equity Act. Clowns Without Borders South Africa reserves the right to refuse any application.
Responsibilities:
Strategic leadership – 20%
- Ensure that CWBSA maintains a commitment to using the arts and humour as a means of empowerment, healing, and transformation by “Putting a Red Nose” on all of our activities;
- Maintain a collaborative spirit of peace, joy, compassion and loving kindness in all of the organisation’s endeavours;
- Work with the CWBSA Board of Directors and staff to develop, communicate, and implement CWBSA’s strategic vision and role in the non-profit humanitarian and psychosocial support sector;
- Work with the CWBSA Board of Directors and staff to design and implement (or continue) programmes that respond to beneficiary needs and are consistent with CWBSA mission and vision;
- Identify, assess, and inform the CWBSA Board of Directors of internal and external issues that affect the organisation;
- Foster effective team work and an inclusive work environment between the CWBSA Board of Directors and the Management Team and between the Management Team and CWBSA staff;
- Establish a positive, healthy, safe, and happy work environment in accordance with all appropriate legislation, regulations, and core principles.
Management – 20%
- Establish staffing structure to meet programmatic needs, hiring highly qualified staff and contractors, and managing them to succeed
- Ensure regular performance evaluations of CWBSA employees and support the Managing Director in respect to programme needs
- Ensure that the management and operations of CWBSA adheres to CWB International and CWBSA’s core principles protocols as indicated in its constitution and associated code of ethics (www.cwbsa.org/code-of-ethics)
- Work with the Managing Director to develop objective performance measurements across all programmes to ensure consistent, high quality evaluation, and goal setting
Organisational development – 20%
- Build CWBSA’s capacity to implement its Strategic Plan by continued recruitment and development of CWBSA leaders
- Raise and maintain public awareness of the accomplishments and goals of CWBSA
- Ensure the organisation is adhering to its internal policies and practices
- Support the CWBSA Board’s engagement and commitment in achieving CWBSA’s objectives
- Promote open communication within the organisation, and with communities of interest
- Engage partners and communities who share overlapping objectives in CWBSA’s projects and activities
Fundraising – 20%
- Diversify funding sources to a balanced representation of income generation, grants, foundations, membership and local donations
- Cultivate effective personal relationships with private donors, foundations, and businesses (actual and prospective)
- Work with and support the Development Director and the Board Fundraising Committee to develop and implement annual fundraising plans
Financial Management – 10%
- Ensure, together with the Managing Director and the external auditor, the timely finalisation of CWBSA’s annual accounts and reporting
- Help prepare and manage annual budget with the Board Finance Committee and Managing Director
- Regularly report to the CWBSA Board of Directors on financial status
Communications, Advocacy and Representation – 10%
- Represent CWBSA in meetings and act as spokesperson in various platforms including with other NGOs, beneficiaries, government officials, institutions, community groups, academia, corporates, and major donors, etc;
- Ensure that CWBSA’s identity, mission and name is used in a representative and consistent manner across all activities of CWBSA;
- Act as CWBSA’s official spokesperson, in co-ordination with the CWBSA Board of Directors, and ensure that this function is delegated, encouraged and assisted among other members of the Board, management, and implementing team.
Requirements:
- At least 8 years of proven senior management experience;
- A relevant Masters or PhD degree (minimum Honours degree);
- Fluent written and spoken language in English;
- Proven fundraising abilities;
- Strong track record as a highly productive and motivated individual with an ability to multi-task and still avoid burnout;
- Excellent written, verbal and electronic communications skills;
- Skill in public speaking and ability to represent CWBSA in public forums;
- Flexibility in work schedule to accommodate occasional evening and weekend meetings, events and outings;
- Tact and a sense of humour in working with a diverse array of colleagues and stakeholders;
- Strong leadership capacity and ability to lead and support a healthy working environment;
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, conflict resolution and management skills, and organisational, reporting, and planning skills;
- Ability to respond to changing circumstances and priorities in a positive, focused manner and remain composed under stress;
- Knowledge of culture, racial, gender, and economic social justice and how it relates to working and implementing programmes in South Africa and internationally.
Essential knowledge and experience
- Knowledge and/or experience in delivering psychosocial programming to vulnerable children, youth, and adults;
- Knowledge and experience with providing technical assistance and scale up of programmes;
- Relevant fundraising experience within a non-profit environment and ability to cultivate and maintain long-term donor/customer relationships;
- Knowledge of evidence-based research methods and approaches;
- Direct experience of budgeting, fiscal control and financial planning;
- Understanding of financial management issues.
Desired technical skills and experience
- Ability to develop vision and a proven track record of translating vision into practice;
- Ability to develop and sustain innovative programming for vulnerable children and families;
- Excellent understanding of public policy, media engagement and advocacy;
- Excellent presentation skills including for media interviews and speaking in public;
- Ability to adapt to various computer-assisted management tools;
- Ability to travel at short notice both nationally and internationally;
- Willingness to deal with crises outside of office hours if and when they arise.
If you are interested in applying please email a copy of your CV with a Personal Statement outlining how you meet each of the essential and desired qualifications to recruitment@cwbsa.org before 31 January 2024.
Preference will be given, but not limited to, candidates from designated groups in terms of the Employment Equity Act. Clowns Without Borders South Africa reserves the right to refuse any application.
Disclaimer: The incoming Executive Director will be required to sign the code of conduct. Background checks, including police clearances, will be undertaken on all applicants. Compliance with our policies and practice with respect to child safeguarding, staff safeguarding, child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures constitute mandatory measures in the recruitment process.