Location: Nqileni Village, Xhora Mouth Admin Area, Eastern Cape

The Equality Collective (EC) is on the lookout for a dynamic activist and leader to enhance our team. This role encompasses broad management duties and, in collaboration with the Director, this person will be responsible for the general management, leadership, and development of our team to achieve the objectives of EC’s strategy.

The successful candidate will take the lead in providing substantial direction and support for the anticipated growth of our local government and right to water initiatives. This expansion, in partnership with three other rural justice organisations, will extend our efforts to two additional regions within Amathole District Municipality (ADM).

This individual will play a pivotal role in nurturing our culture of self-management and self-leadership, while also developing practices of accountability—both horizontal and vertical. They will be instrumental in promoting a passion for personal growth, our work, our team, and the communities we serve, all within a framework of excellence, constructive advocacy, and collaborative effort.

We are in search of a candidate who not only shares our core values but is also enthusiastic about bringing these principles to life in our everyday work. We are a burgeoning NGO in the 'start-up' phase and seek a candidate with energy and dynamism who is willing and able to build this organisation and demonstrates flexibility by tackling a variety of tasks beyond a conventional job description.

 Programme planning, management, and implementation of tasks:

• Lead the development and evolution of strategic plans and budgets for all programmes.
• Provide leadership and support to the programme team to achieve strategic objectives.
• Inspire and lead innovative thinking and long-term planning to anticipate future challenges and opportunities.
• Ensure quality implementation and documentation of impact and value across all projects.
• Ensure that programme initiatives are sensitive to and reflective of the communities served and of local customs, processes, and procedures

Fundraising and donor relationship management

• Support the Director in developing and managing relationships with donors.
• Spearhead the conversion of programme ideas into compelling grant proposals.

Programme reviews, monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting

• Conduct close monitoring to ensure strategic alignment and impactful implementation.
• Oversee community-data systems and social audits and conduct relevant analyses.
• Deliver quality and timely programme and project performance reports.
• Promote evidence-based learning and reforms.

Advocacy and influence

• Understand and navigate the local political landscape to effectively advocate for the community's needs.
• Influence policy and decision-making processes at various levels through strategic communication, campaign activities, and partnerships.

Partnerships, collaboration, and networking

• Develop strategies for constructive advocacy, deep community engagement, collaboration, and collective power.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including beneficiaries, community leaders, councillors, traditional leaders, government officials, and funders.
• Initiate and strengthen our relationship with strategic networks and alliances.
• Represent EC and participate in network and alliance meetings, events, and forums at the provincial and national levels.
• Ensure clear, consistent, and effective communication both internally and externally.

Financial and administration management

• Oversee activities and work plans to ensure cost-effective attainment of objectives.
• Handle financial requests and manage expenditure in line with EC policies and budgets.
• Handle admin requests and operational procedures in line with EC policies.

Human resources management

• Lead the co-creation of quarterly work plans with the programme team.
• Cultivate an empowering work environment that encourages self-management, accountability, passion, and excellence.
• Foster a culture of innovation within the team to explore new solutions to complex challenges.
• Participate in recruitment and performance management processes.
• Provide training, coaching, and mentoring to staff to build their capabilities.
• Focus on building local capacity for sustainable programme management and leadership, reducing reliance on external expertise.

Policy management and compliance

• Ensure the implementation of and adherence to EC policies, procedures, and guidelines by all staff.

• Bachelor’s degree in management, law, social sciences, or development studies; postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline preferred.
• Demonstrated training or experience in project planning and management, local government, governance, anti-corruption, civic participation and action, movementbuilding, accountability, and monitoring and evaluation.
• A minimum of five years’ relevant work experience for someone with a postgraduate qualification, and seven years for someone with an undergraduate degree. -- This should include work experience in the NGO sector, with at least two years of management experience.
• Sound and up-to-date knowledge of rights-based, law, and development concepts, methodologies, and techniques including demonstrated understanding of localgovernment and rural community issues.
• Sound knowledge of the political, social, economic, and historic environment that the Equality Collective operates in.
• Cultural competence and sensitivity to the traditions and practices of the rural communities served.
• Demonstrated skills of being a self-directed worker who embodies the skills of self-awareness, listening and empathy, facilitation, empowerment, adaptability, conflict resolution, integrity, coaching and mentoring, and systems thinking.
• Demonstrated skills in coalition and partnership building and donor and government relationships.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required.
• Good knowledge of monitoring and evaluation methodologies, including the ability to work with qualitative and quantitative data. Ability to use data management systems such as Power BI will be considered an asset.
• Basic knowledge of finance and accounting systems required.
• Comfort navigating a startup non-profit environment, including the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively and to work well in a growing organisation.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Proficiency in isiXhosa will be considered an asset.