Job Title : Advisor Strategic Initiatives
Cluster : Programmes
Salary : USD 64844.68 per annum (excluding benefits)
Location : Global - Remote
Reports to : Chief operations Officer
Direct Reports : Coordinator Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Project, Coordinator Local Leadership Labs
Contract Type : Permanent (Subject to successful completion of probation and funding availability)
Role Overview
The Advisor Strategic Initiatives will support CIVICUS’s programmatic priorities for enhanced impact including in relation to defending civic freedoms, promoting civil society participation and ensuring organisational financial sustainability. They will oversee the management of cross cutting CIVICUS projects as well as stand-alone programmatic areas including but not limited to freedom of peaceful assembly, local leadership and resource mobilisation. The Advisor will represent CIVICUS in civil society platforms, international institutions and other relevant forums. They will drive support and expansion of CIVICUS’s network of funders and ensure the fulfilment of reporting requirements to funders.
Areas of Responsibilities & Key Activities
Project Oversight and Funder Relationships
- Shape, devise and steward project areas entrusted for oversight including but not limited to freedom of peaceful assembly, civil society resourcing and enhancing local leadership.
- Actively participate in the programmes management forum to support strategy setting and implementation in line with CIVICUS’s strategic objectives and annual plan.
- Manage cross organisational grants that cut across workstreams and funder relationships with a view to ensuring timely quality reporting.
- Support efforts to ensure CIVICUS’s financial sustainability including by identifying opportunities to secure new and diverse funding.
- Support the evolution of CIVICUS’s organisational culture with a view to advancing citizen action and fostering collaboration for impactful programme delivery.
Representation
- Provide thought-leadership and represent CIVICUS at key civil society platforms, multilateral institutions and policy forums connected to CIVICUS’s mission and vision.
- Develop and maintain relationships with key organisational stakeholders and networks to advance strategic priorities and support the needs of CIVICUS members and civil society at large.
Coordination and Harmonisation of Programmatic Teams.
- Ensure coherence of entrusted project activities and teams with a view to advancing CIVICUS’s mission and vision, strategic objectives, and annual plans.
- Ensure effective harmonisation of CIVICUS’s programmatic priorities and coordination between programmatic teams.
- Initiate relevant knowledge offerings, advocacy actions and convenings to advance programmatic priorities.
People and Budget Management
- Ensure effective management of project coordinators and other direct reports while supporting their well-being and professional development.
- Conduct probation, performance management according to HR timelines ensure high performance from staff.
- Oversee proper disbursement and reporting on entrusted budgets.
- Develop a team culture that values collaboration, coherence and effective internal and external partnerships.
CIVICUS Values and Change Management
- Support innovation and change management by fostering a culture of excellence within teams to ensure continuous improvement and evolution of CIVICUS’s programmatic work.
- Create a culture of professional integrity within teams based on CIVICUS’s values and through personal example.
Other
- This job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder will, from time to time, be required to carry out any other duties that are within the scope of the job and commensurate with the role, as reasonably assigned by management.
- All staff will demonstrate CIVICUS values and principles in all their professional relationships and any interactions that may reflect on CIVICUS
Person Specification
Education, Language & Qualifications
- Masters in social sciences, international relations or law (in cases of exceptional experience this requirement can be waived).
- Excellent communication especially writing skills in English.
Essential Knowledge, skills and Experience
- Significant work experience across a range of civil society organisations with minimum 5 years in a management role.
- Commitment to and knowledge of human rights and social justice principles.
- Strong analytical, strategic thinking and project management/ planning skills.
- Commitment to CIVICUS’s vision, mission, values and ways of working.
- Demonstrated experience of having worked nationally and internationally.
- Demonstrated management experience in a multi-cultural environment and substantial networks within international civil society.
- Demonstrated experience of working remotely with globally distributed teams.
Desirable Knowledge, skills and Experience
- Knowledge of one or more UN languages other than English is desirable
The closing deadline for applications is on the 23rd September 2025 at 11:59pm SAST. Short listed candidates will be contacted 2 weeks after the closing date to schedule interviews.
We appreciate and consider each application submitted. However, given the large volume of applications received, we find it impossible to respond to each applicant immediately. You will hear from us within three weeks only if you’re shortlisted for the next steps. We will update all applicants once the position has been filled.
CIVICUS reserves the right to withdraw any of our vacancies at any time.