Position Available

Director, Cape Town Hub

Natural Justice seeks a Director for the Cape Town Hub who is committed to the organisation’s mission of pursuing social and environmental justice.  The current geographic focus of the Hub is South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique. The Hub Director will serve as the principal strategist and thought leader of the Cape Town hub, working closely with the Executive to realise the programmatic and operational strategy of the hub.   As a member of the Africa-wide Management Team, the Hub Director will work collaboratively with the team to advance the objectives of the organisation.

The Hub Director is a key leadership position, responsible for the overall strategy, management (programmatic, financial and administrative) in the Hub. The Hub Director reports to the Natural Justice Executive Director (ED) and Chief Financial and Operations Officer (CFOO). In collaboration with the Management Team, the Hub Director will provide input and direction to the organizations vision and mission, strategic plans, budgets and policies.

How to Apply:

Applications should be submitted via email to Applications@naturaljustice.org with ‘Application for Cape Town Hub Director’ in the subject line.

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.

Due Date: Friday, the 19 March 2021. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Key Roles and Responsibilities – Hub Director Cape Town

  1. Overview
    • Provide leadership and oversight for all strategic and managerial (programmatic, financial and administrative) aspects of the Cape Town Hub including the Southern Africa countries in which Natural Justice operates
  2. Strategic planning and project implementation
    • Ensure the alignment of the organization’s program strategies with the Cape Town hub 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 Southern African 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 Southern Africa
  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
    • 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 South Africa and regionally, nurturing relationships with humility and respect for all people and cultures
    • Lead the Hub’s development of environmental justice networks in Southern Africa 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.
  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 South Africa 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 South African 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 law, including natural resource and/or land law, and administrative law
  • A bachelor of laws, environmental, social science or equivalent degree and/or equivalent experience
  • A post graduate degree in law, political science or other relevant social science discipline is desirable
  • 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 South Africa and/or Southern Africa
  • Demonstrated leadership experience, including in programs, human resources, budgeting and fundraising.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Proactive approach to work and good self-motivation
  • Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
  • Fluency in English and any other Southern African language
  • Citizen, permanent resident of South Africa or a valid work visa to work in South Africa
  • Ability to undertake frequent local and international travel

Closing Date

19 March 2021

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