Role: Co-Executive Coordinator (CO EC)
Reports to: Board of Directors
Location: Remote (Within Africa)
Compensation: Competitive compensation based on national/regional labor conditions commensurate with experience and expertise. Annual and sick leave and contributions to health insurance. Contract renewal based on performance.
Deadline: Open until filled.
The Organisation
African Queer Youth Initiative (AQYI) is a regional youth-led organization comprising a group of motivated, dedicated, and resourceful young people across Africa. From southern to northern Africa, eastern to western Africa, including the African Islands, all working together to amplify the voices of LGBT+ youths in Africa.
Since its founding, AQYI has been putting queer African youths at the forefront of advocacy efforts to advance LGBT+ equality and elevate their voices on issues that directly affect them, thereby eliminating all forms of tokenism. AQYI continues to support African queer youths’ participation in critical spaces where issues that affect them are being debated and helping to grow and sustain the empowerment of young and emerging LGBT+ youths/activists.
Position Overview
The Co-Executive Coordinator (CO EC) will work closely with the existing Executive coordinator, report to the AQYI Board, and share the overall operational responsibility for the successful leadership and management of the organization with the existing EC. This position requires a highly effective, youth-friendly leader with passion and expertise in effective movement building. The CO-EC will need solid interpersonal skills for building relationships and trust with community members, board and staff, donors, CSOs, partners, stakeholders, and positively impacting the lives of African LGBT+ youth. The ideal candidate will also have competence and knowledge in human rights with an understanding of the issues that intersect with the lives of African queer youths.
AQYI is looking for another Co-Executive Coordinator to join the organization and help lead and strengthen it into its next chapter of growth. Key responsibilities include but are not limited to organizational development by way of creating and strengthening systems and structures to help staff and the Board meet the goals of the organization and community’s priorities, solid fundraising, managing human resources, and general administration.
Regardless of formal education, applications from candidates with diverse qualifications, experience, and expertise are encouraged. Please apply if you meet the criteria below.
Key Responsibilities
- Share organizational leadership for AQYI as a Co-Executive Coordinator.
- Analyze and troubleshoot internal and external issues that affect the organization with the board and team members.
- Develop and implement creative and effective teamwork spirit between the Board and team members.
- Lead team members, board, and general membership on processes to develop and implement necessary strategic plans for AQYI.
- Set organizational priorities by developing relevant work schedules and monitoring progress toward goals and objectives.
Operational Management
- Assist in leading and overseeing the efficient day-to-day operations of AQYI as a Co-Executive Coordinator
- Contribute to the design and implementation of innovative strategies to achieve organizational goals and objectives that contribute to the long-term sustainability and success of AQYI.
- Contribute to designing and implementing strategies to sustain communication and interaction between members.
- Ensure that the operation of AQYI meets the expectations of its stakeholders, funders, members, staff, partners, and Board.
Financial Management
- Contribute to developing and implementing effective and robust fundraising strategies, including securing and maintaining a diverse source of funding.
- Cultivate new relationships and seek new funding for AQYI while maintaining and strengthening relationships with current donors and partners.
- Contribute to the oversight and accountability for AQYI finances and the relevant staff members by ensuring accurate documentation, completion of reports, accurate accounting, and timely audits.
- Support the organization in establishing strong policies and procedures to manage financial resources effectively.
- Assist in monitoring and evaluating the financial performance and taking prompt corrective action where required.
- Assist in administering AQYI funds according to the approved budget and monitor the monthly cash flow of the organization and any adverse situations.
Performance Management
- Support in creating and implementing systems for tracking progress and monitoring and improving the effectiveness, efficiency, quality, and impact of AQYI activities.
- Ensure team members are effectively led by the organization’s core principles and values.
- Contribute to ensuring that staff members understand the big picture and their individual contributions to the same, including how their performance will be appraised.
- Support human resources activities within the organization.
- Contribute to determining staffing requirements in consultation with the Board for effective organizational management and program delivery.
- Support the development and implementation of human resources policies, procedures, and practices.
- Contribute to investing in staff’s professional development, skills development, and sustainability.
- Support staff members as appropriate to improve their effectiveness and performance.
- Assist in ensuring that staff members are appropriately disciplined, including termination when necessary.
The Ideal Candidate
- Passionate about the human rights and well-being of queer youths in Africa.
- Committed and dedicated to the movement-building efforts for the queer youth movement in Africa.
- Committed to building and fueling an ecosystem of new and emerging leaders of African queer youth with the right tools and support to succeed.
- Experience and commitment to leading diverse staff, board, and organizational members through innovation and inspiration.
Core Attributes
- A transformative leader with the ability to positively influence others to achieve results.
- Unique experience and expertise working with and leading young people from diverse backgrounds.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to move an organization forward with clear goals by creating and implementing action plans and monitoring and evaluation.
- Commitment to organizational goals, principles, and values with the ability to support and lead staff within those frameworks and create a healthy working environment.
- Excellent organizational skills with the ability to develop work plans and schedules, set priorities, monitor and track progress, and document and report on achievements with flexibility for constant learning and adaptation.
- Solid flexibility in a unique and dynamic work environment focusing on effectiveness and efficiency.
- Experience and willingness to adapt in a membership-style organization mostly constituting diverse young people from different backgrounds.
- Able to assess, improve, and develop new ways to sustain organizational operations that help rebuild and strengthen organizational culture and structures.
- Able to assess situations to determine the importance, urgency, and risks and make timely and clear decisions that are in the organization’s best interests.
- Expertise and experience in setting and implementing policies, working with budgets, grant reports, and financial statements.
- Passion and strong dedication toward achieving organizational and financial sustainability.
Professional Experience
- Five years of senior management or leadership experience in an NGO with experience hiring, managing, and supervising staff.
- Knowledge of leadership and management principles for NGOs and social justice movements.
- Academic credentials relevant to the Co-Executive Coordinator role (Bachelor’s degree or higher), although candidates with substantial relevant experience with no university degree will also be considered.
- Prior experience in human resources management.
- Possesses solid knowledge for effectively managing a dynamic regional youth-led organization, including relevant legislation guiding NGOs in Africa.
- Has experience dealing and engaging with a governance board (even if in a voluntary role).
- Experience with public speaking and serving as an organization spokesperson.
- Solid experience working with the LGBT+ community in Africa, policymakers, donors, international organizations, mainstream youth groups, and other broader SRHR organizations.
- Fluency in speaking, reading, and writing in English and French is a highly desirable asset.
AQYI is an equal opportunity employer; we encourage applications from women, trans, non-binary, and intersex people, migrants and refugees, people with disabilities, and people living with HIV.
How to apply
Click here to apply.
Only short-listed candidates will be invited to interview.