Program Manager JASS Southern Africa

JASS (Just Associates), a fast-growing international women’s organisation grounded in and driven by its regional networks in Southeast Asia, Southern Africa and Mesoamerica, is dedicated to strengthening the voice, visibility and collective organising power of women. We are looking for an energetic Program Manager with at least 8-10 years of demonstrated program management experience related to political activism, women’s rights and HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa. This is a great opportunity for an African professional who is deeply committed to strengthening grassroots activist leadership and organizing and who brings passion; demonstrated leadership; and interpersonal and organizational skills. The ideal candidate offers relevant strategic and programmatic experience as well as some experience with participatory training and grassroots organizing. Experience writing about women’s organization and social justice issues strongly preferred.

In Southern Africa (SNA), JASS’ strategy is to strengthen and mobilize women’s activist leadership to retool and rebuild women’s movements to address practical needs and change norms, institutions and policies that perpetuate inequality and violence. The program involves training, organizing, social media, documentation and strategic action in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. Now in its fourth year, the program is driven by a regional team and a unique regional alliance of LGBT activists, progressive religious leaders living with HIV/AIDS, youth organizers and ICT feminist activists to maximize their reach and impact on women’s rights and lives.

While decision -making relating to the overall JASS SNA strategy, planning and organizational development lies with the Regional Coordinator, the Program Manager will work closely with the Regional Coordinator and part-time organizers and consultants to facilitate country processes and communications, ensuring that relationships, programs and the regional partnership are on track and in line with JASS SNA’s mission and strategy. Concrete responsibilities are to:
• Provide leadership, mentoring and support to the broader JASS SNA community of women activists across the region virtually and in person;
• Coordinate and backstop country-level processes in Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe, including overseeing the planning, design, facilitation and documentation of activities and events;
• Establish/coordinate consultative processes for designing, planning and implementing JASS SNA strategies and programmes in line with JASS’ overall mission and strategic priorities; Refine and adjust plans as needed in accordance with opportunities and funding;
• Develop/consolidate regional systems for documentation, reporting and monitoring in close coordination with the regional team and global JASS;
• Maintain regular communication with the regional team and partnership to ensure programmes, relationships and deliverables are on track including regular check-ins with regional staff and partners to ensure continued ownership;
• Identify and pursue strategic opportunities to deepen and broaden the impact of the JASS SNA movement-building process;
• At times, represent JASS SNA and involve other regional team members and JASS SNA community in representing JASS in the region at important events and among a wide variety of people and organisations who are potential allies and donors.

Qualifications:
• Minimum 8-10 years of demonstrated experience with managing programs and people and administering projects related political activism and/or advocacy on women’s rights, HIV/AIDS young women leadership, social movements and related issues;
• Substantive knowledge on policy issues related to the core themes;
• Demonstrated commitment to facilitative leadership and democratic management principles;
• Experience in promoting teamwork and working collaboratively in a multigenerational, multicultural context;
• Ability to think critically and politically, and problem-solve with minimal resources;
• Proven ability to operate in a virtual, global organisation where e-mail and phone communication is paramount;
• Strong written and oral communication skills. Demonstrated ability to write for a variety of audiences and purposes;
• Experience working effectively with limited budgets and a corresponding ability to draft and implement budgets for regional projects and initiatives;
• Ability to think through staffing needs and priorities; comfortable building and developing organisational processes for a young organization with a unique and flexible structure that is continually evolving in careful and well thought-out strategic stages;
• Excitement about, and commitment to, bringing diverse interests together across boundaries of race, class, gender, sexuality and nationality in collaborative and creative ways; Sensitivity/awareness of difference, power and privilege as they shape interaction and of multigenerational processes;
• Comfortable dealing with and navigating the complex politics between traditional NGOs and women’s rights groups;
• Ability to plan on the move and to respond and adjust to shifting constantly priorities;
• Experience organising and facilitating events.


How to Apply: Please submit a cover letter and resume via email, fax, or mail (email is preferred) to:

Maggie Mapondera
Email: maggie@justassociates.org
Fax: +1-202-232-4715

No phone calls please.

JASS is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants with diverse backgrounds and members of the queer/transgender community are strongly encouraged to apply.