Natural Justice is a pan African non-profit organization specializing in environmental justice. Natural Justice uses the law to support communities participate in decisions that affect their land, culture and environment. Natural Justice works in a number of African countries, with regional Hub offices in Cape Town, Nairobi and Dakar.

Natural Justice has been working with local communities, civil society and governments in Africa since 2007. Through legal empowerment, research, policy influencing and litigation, and as part of coalitions and campaigns, we work with communities to know the law, use the law and shape the law. Natural Justice’s work has three main pillars: standing with communities in defence against impacts on their rights and ecosystems; supporting communities to assert their rights and stewardship of lands, natural resources and knowledge; and partnering with communities to make their voices heard through community organising. To learn more about the work of Natural Justice please refer to www.naturaljustice.org

What are we looking for?

Natural Justice seeks a Director for the Dakar Hub who is committed to the organisation’s mission of pursuing social and environmental justice.  The Dakar Hub has been operating since 2018 and oversees work in Senegal, Guinée, Madagascar, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. The Hub Director will serve as the principal strategist and thought leader of the Dakar Hub, and will be responsible for the overall strategy, management (programmatic, financial and administrative) in these countries. As a member of the Africa-wide Management Team, the Hub Director will work collaboratively with the team to advance the organizations vision and mission, strategic plans, budgets and policies.

How to Apply:

Applications should be submitted via email to admin.dkr@naturaljustice.org with ‘Dakar Hub Director’ in the subject line at the latest on May 30.

Applications must include:

1. A motivation letter that indicates: a) why you are interested in this position and what inspires you about environmental justice; and b) aspects of your background that demonstrate the required competence for this role;
2. A detailed CV with three contactable references; and
3. two samples of your past written work (for example, articles or research reports).  

Please ensure that your application as a whole speaks to the required qualifications, experience, personal profile and key roles and responsibilities. Please do not apply if you do not meet the required experience. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, we therefore encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Key Roles and Responsibilities – Hub Director Dakar

Natural Justice is a pan African non-profit organization specializing in environmental justice. Natural Justice uses the law to support communities participate in decisions that affect their land, culture and environment. Natural Justice works in a number of African countries, with regional Hub offices in Cape Town, Nairobi and Dakar.

Natural Justice has been working with local communities, civil society and governments in Africa since 2007. Through legal empowerment, research, policy influencing and litigation, and as part of coalitions and campaigns, we work with communities to know the law, use the law and shape the law. Natural Justice’s work has three main pillars: standing with communities in defence against impacts on their rights and ecosystems; supporting communities to assert their rights and stewardship of lands, natural resources and knowledge; and partnering with communities to make their voices heard through community organising. To learn more about the work of Natural Justice please refer to www.naturaljustice.org

What are we looking for?

Natural Justice seeks a Director for the Dakar Hub who is committed to the organisation’s mission of pursuing social and environmental justice.  The Dakar Hub has been operating since 2018 and oversees work in Senegal, Guinée, Madagascar, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. The Hub Director will serve as the principal strategist and thought leader of the Dakar Hub, and will be responsible for the overall strategy, management (programmatic, financial and administrative) in these countries. As a member of the Africa-wide Management Team, the Hub Director will work collaboratively with the team to advance the organizations vision and mission, strategic plans, budgets and policies.

How to Apply:

Applications should be submitted via email to admin.dkr@naturaljustice.org with ‘Dakar Hub Director’ in the subject line at the latest on May 30.

Applications must include:

1. A motivation letter that indicates: a) why you are interested in this position and what inspires you about environmental justice; and b) aspects of your background that demonstrate the required competence for this role;
2. A detailed CV with three contactable references; and
3. two samples of your past written work (for example, articles or research reports).  

Please ensure that your application as a whole speaks to the required qualifications, experience, personal profile and key roles and responsibilities. Please do not apply if you do not meet the required experience. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, we therefore encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Key Roles and Responsibilities – Hub Director Dakar

1. Overview

• Provide leadership and oversight for all strategic and managerial (programmatic, financial and administrative) aspects of the Dakar Hub which covers the work in Senegal, Guinée, Madagascar, Burkina Faso and Nigeria.
• Provide collective leadership for Natural Justice as part of the Natural Justice
• Management Team

2.     Strategic planning and project implementation

• Ensure the alignment of the organization’s program strategies with the hub strategy and with the overall Natural Justice strategy
• Developing Hub program plans and providing oversight on their implementation in collaboration with the Director of Programs and Development and Executive Director
• Analyse, understand, update and inform the Hub’s strategy according to the region’s changing context 
• Facilitate transfer of information, successful approaches, experiences, lessons and updates from projects across the region in collaboration with the Director of Programs and research team
• Foster collaborations with other Natural Justice Hubs and provide strategic leadership towards the growth of the organization in the sub-region.

3.     Technical Advice, Legal Empowerment and Litigation 

• Embodying the shared values of collaboration and teamwork, lead the Hub team to ensure sound and quality technical and legal advice is offered to partners, affected communities and other relevant stakeholders for all the programs
• Provide support and oversight to the program managers in implementing legal empowerment and litigation objectives in the Hub.

4.     Policy and Legal Reform

• As a strong advocate of indigenous community rights and environmental justice, the hub director will provide leadership in identifying and engaging with key legal and policy issues and key collaborators to promote the participation of communities in the decisions that affect them.

5.     Research and M&E

• Guide the development, implementation and continual refinement of the Hub’s Monitoring and Evaluation framework, tools, and methods, employing a collaborative approach to ensure that these address program needs, strengths and constraints, in collaboration with the Head of Research and Director of Programs
• Provide leadership on research assignments and ensure they are aligned with program strategy and are implemented and learnings shared

6.     Partnerships, Networks, Communications and Campaigns

• Represent Natural Justice in diverse communities and in a variety of settings in Senegal and the region, nurturing relationships with humility and respect for all people and cultures 
• Lead the Hub’s development of environmental justice networks in the region to build and advance programmatic vision 
• Raising and maintaining a positive profile of the organization
• Oversee the development and execution of the Hub communications and campaigns strategy to share learnings and to promote and inspire ideas and action towards environmental justice.
• Play a key role in developing partnerships at the Panafrican level and ensure strong representation from indigenous and local communities from West Africa

7.     Finance, Administration and Fundraising

• Develop, seek approval, manage and control the Hub budget in collaboration with the CFOO and ED
• Develop and implement the Hub’s fundraising strategy which brings stability and long-term sustainability to the hub and enable it to achieve programmatic success
• Engage existing and potential donors to bring in additional resources to advance the work of the Hub, and the mission of the organisation as a whole.
• Develop and build funding relationships with donors located within the Hub countries of focus; regularly update donors on work progress and involve them in ongoing work.
• Ensure grant compliance for all projects in in line with donor requirements.

8.     Oversight and Leadership

• Develop the organisation by strengthening capacity, building and mentoring high performance teams, identifying and promoting talent and managing performance; foster a positive culture based on inclusivity, collaboration and teamwork; constantly seeking feedback and continual improvement with input from CFOO and ED
• Provide input to NJ’s policy documents and ensure human resource policy and procedures are in place and in line with best practice and Senegalese legislation
• Encourage and foster a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation

Selection Criteria

Qualifications and experience required:

• At least 8 years of demonstrated work expertise in environmental justice, human rights and/or environmental law, including natural resource and/or land law
• A post graduate degree in law, environmental, social science or equivalent degree or experience
• Strong experience in working with indigenous and local communities and communicating complex legal issues in an accessible way
• Strong experience in fundraising and maintaining donor relationships
• Very good understanding of and experience in the socio-political and civil society project work in Senegal and in the region
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including in programs, human resources, budgeting and fundraising. 
• Fluency in French and English
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proactive approach to work and good self-motivation
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• Ability to undertake frequent local and international travel