Womankind Worldwide – Co-Chief Executive Officers

CO-CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS /

ABOUT WOMANKIND WORLDWIDE

Everyday women, girls and people with diverse gender identities face intersecting forms of discrimination, poverty, and violence. Founded over 30 years ago, Womankind is a vibrant and successful international feminist organisation working hard, in collaboration with our partners and allies worldwide, to change that. Our focus countries are currently Afghanistan and Nepal in South Asia and Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe in Africa. Our Vision is a world where women, girls and people of all genders enjoy equal rights and freedoms and live with joy, choice, and dignity.

OUR VALUES

Feminism

This means as a feminist organisation we analyse the world through the lens of power. Our feminist approach informs the way we work and other values such as inclusion and a commitment to learning.

Inclusion

When we work collectively, we can propel ourselves to a new world – one where women and girls can live their best lives.

Partnership

We join with all women, partners and allies to achieve our feminist future.

Transparency

Being transparent and accountable builds trust in our partnerships so we can unmask and challenge patriarchal power structures.

Commitment to learning

We actively recognise all women have different experiences and that we can all learn from their expertise.

LETTER FROM THE CO-CHAIRS

Dear Candidate,

We are delighted that you are interested in becoming Co-CEO of Womankind Worldwide.

Everyday women, girls and people with diverse gender identities face intersecting forms of discrimination, poverty and psychological and physical violence. Founded over 30 years ago, Womankind is a vibrant and successful international feminist organisation working hard, in collaboration with our partners and allies worldwide, to change that. Our Vision is a world where women, girls and people of all genders enjoy equal rights and freedoms and live with joy, choice and dignity.

We work with a network of amazing women’s rights organisations in Africa and South Asia representing some of the most marginalised communities

of women in the world. Our current focus countries are Afghanistan and Nepal in South Asia and Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe in Africa. As a women’s rights organisation we work differently than international NGOs. Our small team is based in the UK and Kenya and we work in solidarity with independent women’s rights organisations in our focus countries to support their priorities and strengthen the women’s movements of which they are part, rather than build our own infrastructure. Our partners are tackling the root causes of gender inequality in their countries, and challenging governments and international agencies to protect and promote women’s rights. Our programmes, learning initiatives and collective policy and campaigns work support that. Further, in our policy work we bring particular expertise in ending violence against women and girls, advancing women’s economic rights and promoting women’s participation and leadership. Do explore our work further through our latest Impact Report and our Strategy 2030, as well as through broader

exploration of our website: www.womankind.org.uk

We are optimistic, positive and forward looking and we care deeply about overcoming structural inequalities, including as a result of colonialism. We are looking for passionate, enthusiastic feminists who share our values and are committed to shifting and sharing power and co leading. The key priority is to co lead our diverse, highly skilled and committed staff to realise our exciting strategy to 2030. In addition, to championing Womankind externally, using networks to increase the profile and the resources of the organisation and our work. You will be joining a very dedicated team standing hand in hand with women across the world to make a difference and co leading its ambitious journey forward.

Twasiima Patricia Bigirwa and Olga Ghazaryan Co-Chairs

JOB SUMMARY

We are optimistic, positive, and forward-looking and we care deeply about overcoming structural inequalities, including as a result of colonialism. We are looking for passionate, enthusiastic feminists who shares our values and bring experience and expertise honed through their leadership in women’s rights organisations and movements. Womankind is in a period of exciting and positive change. The organisation is well-financed and has a highly skilled workforce and a Board of Trustees. We are in the early stages of implementing a dynamic, forward-looking Strategy for 2030 which has been well received by partners and other stakeholders: Our Feminist Future | Strategy 2030 (womankind.org.uk)

The key priority now is to inspire and lead our diverse, highly skilled and committed teams to realise this exciting strategy to 2030, whilst learning, adapting, and growing as a feminist organisation working to decolonise our practice. In addition, to champion Womankind externally to support our policy and advocacy goals and increase the profile of the organisation, our Partners, and our work. You will be joining a dedicated team standing hand in hand with women across the world to make a difference.

As a member of the Womankind team, you understand and actively support Womankind’s vision, values and strategic goals and our feminist, anti-racist stance.

THE ROLE

Womankind is looking for Co-CEOs, based in UK and Kenya to provide joint leadership for the organisation. This is a four-day week position for both CEOs.

Reporting to: Co-Chairs of Board of Trustees

Responsible for: Director Fundraising & Marketing, Director Finance & Resources, Director Policy & Communications, Director Programmes & Learning, Leadership Support Manager

CO-CEO DETAILS FOR KENYA

Consolidated salary range: GBP £86,000 - £97,000 (gross per annum) pro rata

USD $110,588 - $124,733 (gross per annum) pro rata

Pension: Employer contribution of 6%

Healthcare: Included for the incumbent in addition to consolidated salary

Hours: 4 days per week or equivalent

Location: Option of hybrid working from home, and Nairobi location (still to be defined)

Annual Leave: 25 days + Kenya public holidays + 3 days office closure 27th – 29th December

Work visa: Right to work in Kenya is strongly preferred.

CO-CEO DETAILS FOR UK

Salary range: GBP £86,000 - £97,000 (gross per annum) pro rate

Pension: Employer contribution of 6%

Hours: 4 days per week or equivalent

Location: Option of hybrid working from home and the London office

Annual Leave: 25 days + UK public holidays + 3 days office closure 27th – 29th December

Work visa: Required. If you are applying for the UK position, please note that all our clients recruiting in the UK are legally obliged to confirm that the appointee is eligible to work in the UK. As of 1 January 2021, the government’s new regulations will apply. For further information visit the Home Office website at https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas.

RESPONSIBILITIES

When Co-CEOs are appointed, it is the responsibility of both to ensure effective joint leadership and to maintain coordination with and accountability to each other, as well as to the Co-Chairs and other Officers of the Board of Trustees and to the Womankind staff.

1. ORGANISATIONAL LEADERSHIP

• Model feminist and anti-racist values and practice, including wellbeing strategy and activity.

• Ensure organisational integrity through a unified, transparent, valuesdriven culture, in which policies are understood and consistently and objectively practised in all parts of the organisation.

• Create an inspirational organisational culture that values and encourages all staff to contribute fully as individuals and collectively, both in our in-person and virtual environments.

• Lead, support, and develop Womankind’s Senior Management Team in the implementation of strategy, ensuring effective systems are in place for robust financial management and planning, equitable, best practice human resources management, effective internal communications, and ongoing monitoring, review, risk management, lesson learning and adaptation.

• Ensure effective management and development of all teams and staff to perform to high standards and promote cross-organisational working.

• Ensure that organisational development and change, including in relation to decentralisation, is well planned and communicated, and centres team members’ wellbeing.

2. STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

• Lead long-term vision and ongoing strategic development of Womankind to maintain and further enhance its relevance as a leading international feminist women’s rights organisation and its distinctive position as the only such organisation in the UK.

• Lead staff and collaborate with trustees in the implementation of Womankind’s strategy, ensuring that partners’ needs and perspectives are prioritised in the allocation of resources.

• Ensure continuation of a coordinated and consultative approach to strategic planning and review processes, across the organisation and the partnership.

• Identify emerging strategic opportunities and work with the team to realise potential for innovation.

• Anticipate changes in the external environment including regulatory and funding changes which could impact Womankind’s ability to deliver its strategy.

3. REPRESENTATION

• Ensure that Womankind’s vision, purpose, strategic goals, and brand are understood by all staff and trustees and are clearly and consistently communicated externally.

• Lead efforts to enhance Womankind’s international profile in the South and North, based on the quality and strength of its work, and ensuring that the organisation grows in respect and authority.

• Develop and maintain high-level external relations, including policy /

decision makers, donors, and key networks in the South and North.

• Ensure that Womankind is represented in significant government and institutional bodies and acts as a leading influencer amongst key stakeholders.

• Work with the Directors to strengthen existing partnerships with a wide variety of civil society organisations and networks and build strategic alliances and partnerships with new organisations and individuals working to promote and protect women’s rights internationally.

4. ORGANISATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY

• Provide overall leadership to Womankind’s business development activities to enable the organisation to maintain and develop relevant activities in support of the partnership.

• Ensure that good relationships are sustained with a diverse range of donors, including governments, inter-governmental organisations, charitable foundations, and individuals.

• Oversee the development of longer-term strategy and planning for greater unrestricted funding of the partnership, including the development of a broader funding base.

• Lead the development and management of the organisation’s annual 3-year budget forecast and operational plans, including scenario plans as required, ensuring delivery of agreed priorities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

5. GOVERNANCE AND COMPLIANCE

• Work closely with Co-Chairs and other trustees, ensuring they receive relevant, accurate and timely information to enable them to carry out the governance function to a high standard and meet their responsibilities under the Governance Code.

• Promote positive relations between the Board of Trustees, the Senior Management Team, and the broader staff.

• Working with the Senior Management Team and Board of Trustees, ensure that Womankind complies with legal and regulatory requirements across jurisdictions, including company law, employment law, charity law, GDPR, and UK Charity Commission guidelines and audit requirements.

• Ensure implementation of robust systems and internal accountability mechanisms for risk management and organisational effectiveness.

• Ensure that costs are controlled, and organisational risks identified and managed.

• Ensure that Womankind follows best practice in all areas of its work.

6. LEARNING, MONITORING & EVALUATION

• Oversee the effective implementation of Womankind’s agreed Programmes of Work, in line with strategic goals.

• Work with the Senior Management Team to ensure Womankind is gathering and communicating appropriate evidence of impact in all areas of its work.

• Work with the Senior Management Team to ensure that there are regular mechanisms for reflection and review and develop its culture as a learning organisation.

• Ensure that Womankind is able to demonstrate and clearly articulate the value and impact of all its work to all key audiences (donors, supporters, partners).

CANDIDATE PROFILE

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE

• Feminist actor working within feminist movements at national/international levels.

• Experience working in a leadership position in a feminist organisation.

• Track record as an accomplished networker, with the skills to build strong relationships with activists, influencers, funders, and politicians.

• Lived experience / working knowledge of contexts in our focus countries and regions.

• Experience of leading participatory processes with multiple stakeholders, including development of organisational strategy.

• Track record of successfully leading organisation development and change processes.

• Experience of overseeing some of the core functions of non-profit organisations, including policy and advocacy, programmes, fundraising, finance, and human resources.

• Experience of ensuring compliance with regulation and working with and being accountable to a Board of Trustees / Directors.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND APPROACH

• Understanding of and commitment to working in line with Womankind’s feminist, anti-racist stance and values alignment with the approach shared in the 2030 strategy.

• A strong commitment to, and ideally experience of, co-leadership and power sharing.

• Exceptional staff leadership and management skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Demonstrably credible, confident feminist leader with a collaborative, non-hierarchical working style, and ability to work effectively across cultures and geographies.

• Strategic thinker with the ability to see the bigger picture and make clear, well-reasoned decisions.

• A flexible, creative, solutions-focused approach to problem-solving.

• Good generalist with high level of expertise in one or more relevant functional areas.

HOW TO APPLY

All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter as two different documents, which should be prepared before applying as they will be considered in the application process. The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit.

The document should be saved in PDF in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (mmyy) e.g., Lupita-AkelloCV-082023-WomankindWorldwide or Lupita-Akello-CoverLetter-082023WomankindWorldwide.

TIMELINE

Closing Date: 20th October 2023 at midnight. Applications before the deadline are strongly encouraged.

First stage interviews with Oxford HR: Week of 13th and 20th November 2023.

Second interview with Womankind Trustee Panel: Monday 11th December to Thursday 14th December 2023 (avoiding Jamhuri Day)

Third interview with Womankind Trustee Panel: Week of 8th January 2024

The process may include additional steps, including a meeting with a staff representative group.

Final Candidates will be given the opportunity to meet a potential CoCEO before the process concludes, but no personal details will be shared without mutual agreement.

Joint applications are welcome. Please submit separate CVs, and cover letters, and indicate your preferred co-leader in the letter.

In planning this recruitment process Womankind and Oxford HR have endeavoured to avoid scheduling anything during public holidays, festive periods and the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (25th November – 10th December 2023).

SELECTION PROCESS

All candidates will receive an update regarding their application with 14 days of the closing date. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder.

The appointment process for this role is designed to be robust and informative for everyone and we will endeavor throughout to give shortlisted candidates every opportunity to learn more about the organisation and have open conversations throughout the process.

EQUALITY STATEMENT

Equality and diversity are at the core of Womankind’s values. Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

WOULD YOU LIKE A DISCUSSION?

If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email womankind-co-ceo@oxfordhr.com in the first instance and we will arrange this for you.

ABOUT OXFORD HR

Exceptional leaders can inspire change and propel purpose-led organisations towards reaching their world-changing goals. Finding such leaders can be a challenge; and yet their transition into leadership is vital to an organisations mission and success.

Oxford HR is a global leadership consultancy dedicated to searching for and supporting remarkable leaders and teams in purpose-led organisations.

We understand the nuances of purpose-led leadership because we’ve worked in organisations across the breadth of the sector ourselves. We’ve also worked with such organisations since 1995; so we appreciate just what benefits impactful people can bring.