Executive Director YWCA

Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Zambia is a Christian, Membership, Non-partisan, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) dedicated to the empowerment of the community (especially women, youth and children) to contribute to the attainment of a just society through rights- based approaches and sustainable interventions such as provision of safe spaces through shelters for survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV). The organisation’s works aims at contributing towards the implementation of National plans and policies such as the Eighth National Development Plan, National Aids Strategic Framework, Vision 2030 and also, the World YWCA Vision which states that “By 2035, 100 million young women and girls transform power structures to create justice, gender equality and a world without violence and war; leading a sustainable YWCA movement, inclusive of all women. We work in all the ten (10) provinces of Zambia.
YWCA seeks to employ an Executive Director who will give oversight to YWCA Operations and drive strategic planning, fundraising, and build strong stakeholder and donor relationships to achieve the organization’s mission and goals through its strategic objectives. The successful leader will constantly be required to strengthen, pursue and enhance growth to achieve positive outcomes for YWCA as well as ensure good governance and leadership.

Position reports to: The National Board through the President.

The position supervises: 5 positions
Contract type: performance based and renewable.
Child and Adult Safeguarding scope: The position holder will have contact with children, young people and/or vulnerable women either frequently (e.g., once a week or more) or intensively because they will work with vulnerable communities as they visit or monitor YWCA mainstream programmes and donor funded projects.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Contribute to strategic development and delivery of project and mainstream programming, effective and efficient communication and advocacy as well as sustainability of the Association, at both Branch, Regional and National Levels in line with the YWCA mandate and strategic focus.
Main Responsibilities

• Provide vision and direction for the Association
• Give technical strategic oversight to the branch/regions
• Effectively build and lead Management Team for successful project and mainstream programme delivery in alignment with the associations’ strategic plan.
  Responsible for the overall leadership and management of staff and volunteers
• Lead and develop the YWCA National Strategy when due and ensure ongoing review of progress against key country and organisational level objectives, indicators and targets.
• Contribute to Global, Regional and National knowledge and learning in all spheres besides World YWCA and ECOSOC
• Support the development of the annual plans and annual reports
• Ensure implementation and monitoring of the association’s annual plan in line with the Strategic Plan.
• Ensure project and programme interventions are properly aligned with the technical best practices and approaches.
• Ensure alignment to World YWCA, SDGs, NDP, emerging issues and national policies as well line ministry strategic objectives and frameworks.
• With the program team, develop a disaster preparedness and mitigation plan for emerging emergencies like draught, floods, Cholera, COVID among others. to address GBV issues
• Lead the development, review and operationalization of the membership mobilization and retention strategy for the association that will result in significant impact for mainstream programming.
• Lead the development, review and operationalization of the Shelter, Crisis Centre, One Stop Centre and Drop in Centre management and sustainability plan
• Ensure that effective monitoring and evaluation systems are implemented in line with policies, systems and guidelines throughout the association.
• In liaison with the Program department, support annual and mid-year reviews and evaluation to determine strategic performance
• Use the best practices, lessons learnt and approaches for decision making, funding and sustainability planning for the projects and mainstream programmes.
• Provide M&E tools and Strengthen M&E systems for effective GBV data management and tracking as well as membership tracking across the country.
• Strengthen documentation and success story sharing for sustainability and advocacy
• Develop and review the risk and mitigation plan for the association to address issues under projects, mainstream programming and membership.
• Provide efficient, transparent and effective management of the Associations resources including asset management systems and controls.
• Ensure effective compliance with financial and procurement standards as well as donor regulation compliance.
• Ensure YWCA Property is properly managed and utilized well for sustainability of the Association
• Must ensure effective financial budgeting and management systems, processes, procedures and controls are in place and are fully compliant with operating standards and local legal requirements
• Ensure a succession plan is in place for the Association, proactively develop a talent management system to optimize potential in pursuit of YWCA’s objectives through retention of talent as an asset
• Implementation and proper administration of HR policies, procedures, guidelines and labour Laws in liaison with the Human Resources Department.
• Ensure to create and build a well-coordinated organisational culture that is diverse and inclusive fostering team work, respectful, support and a conducive.
• Ensure compliance with all government requirements in relation to registration, taxes (where applicable) of the association
• Ensure meetings for Board and Board of Trustees as well as Standing Committees are held in accordance with constitutional provisions.
• Facilitate board monitoring visits to mainstream and project sites.
• Lead preparation and provide support to National Council meetings and/or any extra ordinary meeting that may be called for.
• Be the secretary to the National Council meetings as provided for in the constitution.
• Ensure affiliations with World YWCA and other international organizations as well as local affiliations are fully paid and achieved
• Facilitate proper documentation, filling and implementation of minutes, policies and inform the Board accordingly
• Ensure proper planning and budgeting for the quadrennium World YWCA Council meeting and Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and prepare for side events.
• Develop a resource mobilization plan to sustain day-to-day operations
• Network actively and play a lead role in management level dialogue with members, donors and other NGOs on accessing and managing funding awards and grants as well as identify and mobilize resources internally and externally
• Maintain, retain and grow corporate social responsibility (CSR)
• Develop and review the Association’s sustainability plan to help sustain mainstream programming and staffing.
• Develop a good communication strategy to enhance and maintain good relations with Membership, stakeholders and donors
• Represent YWCA’s interests in country including Government Institutions, UN agencies, donor delegations, international & local NGOs
• Develop position papers and statements for advocacy

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE & ATTRIBUTES

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Development studies, social sciences, finance, project management, economics or other relevant related field is added advantage
• Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Public Health, Social Work, Gender Studies or any related and relevant discipline
• A minimum of 6 – 10 years of demonstrable broad program, financial and operations management experience in a senior position
• Excellent organizational development, interpersonal, communication, administration and human resources management skills essential.
• Strong GBV, SRH, Gender and child protection working experience
• Experience in raising the visibility of an institution through the development and implementation of a sustainable marketing campaign tailored to its various stakeholders as well as the public
• Proven advocacy work and/or development of position papers/statements for advocacy
• Experience working with Boards of directors and volunteers
• An affinity for working with culturally and politically diverse stakeholders
• Visionary, trustworthy, diplomatic, understanding and innovative with high energy level
• Experience in Resource Mobilization, proposal development and managing a complex budget
• Must be able to demonstrate initiative and creativity in identifying and addressing strategic issues facing the Association
• Must be able to effectively manage continuity, change and transition
• Must be able to set and achieve clear and measurable goals and reasonable deadlines
• Must be able to deal effectively with demanding situations and being able to implement effective interventions.
• Must be able to consistently display integrity while modeling the Association’s culture and values of Christianity, accountability, volunteerism and transparency.
• Understanding of the NGO sector, funding landscape and donor unique dimensions
• Passion for the YWCA mission and must not engage in active party politics during her tenure.

YWCA SAFE GUARDING STATEMENT

YWCA is an organization that is committed to the safeguarding of all, and has zero tolerance for incidents of violence including sexual exploitation or abuse, committed either by employees or others affiliated with their work. Therefore, YWCA does not hire staff whose background is not suitable for working with children or vulnerable adults, even if their role does not interact directly with them.