Regional Director - East Africa at Amnesty International

ROLE PURPOSE: Responsible for leading and overseeing our work in the East Africa, Horn of Africa and Great Lakes region through a high capacity International Secretariat presence located in Nairobi. This means being responsible for leading the development and implementation of integrated strategies to deliver human rights impact in, on and across
relevant countries in the region, ensuring they are coherent with globally agreed strategies and priorities and undertaken in collaboration with other key stakeholders within and outside Amnesty International.

As part of achieving this, you will responsible for ensuring the integrated working of multi-functional offices delivering on effective research, advocacy, campaigning, communication, movement building, growth, fundraising and key relationship building strategies. You will also represent the organization, strategically advocating our positions and building partnerships. As a member of the Amnesty International Management Team you will actively participate in the leadership, management and development of the International Secretariat and global movement.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
Reporting to: Senior Director, Global Operations
Posts that this job manages: Deputy Directors for Research and Campaigns, Finance and Office manager, and other staff, senior advisors, interns, volunteers and/or consultants as
appropriate. The role will work closely with the two other Regional Directors in Africa (located in Johannesburg and Dakar) and the Africa Research and Advocacy Director.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leadership and Management

• Oversee the management of the Regional Office, ensuring effective, cohesive working
• Scan the external world for opportunities and threats, maintain an overview of legal, political, human rights and other relevant developments within the region
• Provide strategic leadership for the work in the region, including development and effective implementation of human rights projects and initiatives (including research,
  advocacy, campaigns, communications, mobilisation and fundraising) in line with globally agreed priorities
• Enhance Amnesty International’s profile and presence in the region, including by leading the strategy for mobilization and growth of the movement in the region, playing
  an oversight role as necessary
• Represent Amnesty International, building relationships and undertaking advocacy
• Recruit and manage staff of the office and ensure performance is managed and talent is nurtured
• Establish and promote an organizational culture of collaboration and cohesion within the office and with other offices/programmes in the International Secretariat and wider
  Amnesty movement including Amnesty International Kenya
• Play a key role within the Regional Advisory Group, composed of internal and external experts
• Ensure that the values, standards and priorities of Amnesty International are instilled in staff and adhered to
• Deputize as agreed, for the Senior Director

Quality Assurance and Reporting

• Ensure compliance with globally developed quality assurance and impact assessment methodologies to ensure consistency and impartiality, and measure human rights impact within the region
• Ensure the timely delivery of agreed plans and that the team reports with sufficient clarity and detail on the impact of their work, including to funders
• Be accountable for all outputs from the regional office in line with globally agreed standards, including research, law and policy standards

Finance and Risk Management

• Determine the strategic allocation of the Regional Office’s resources
• With support from the Finance and Office Manager, ensure the Regional Office’s compliance with relevant laws, policies and practices and ensure best practice, including
  good financial management and regular financial audits as required
• Set, monitor, manage and report on budget and expenditure for the Regional Office and ensure the office has strong financial controls, supported by the Finance and Office
  Manager
• Be accountable for the duty of care of staff, including where necessary, the development and implementation of internal security, health and safety and human resources policies and standards, supported by the Finance and Office Manager and other staff

This is not an exhaustive list of duties. Flexibility is required and the post holder is expected to carry out any other related duties that are within the employee’s skills and capabilities whenever reasonably instructed.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Knowledge and Experience

• Good grasp of human rights issues in the region and a clear record of standing up for human rights and social justice.
• Demonstrated substantial knowledge and understanding of the political, economic, human rights and social context in the region
• Experience working in a key leadership role in a complex organization and matrixmanaging a cross-functional and multi-cultural team, coaching them toward new ways of
  working
• Demonstrated experience and capability as a leader who can influence the direction of our impact within the region, including by identifying and accessing the most effective channels for advocacy
• Experience in convening and building collaboration with civil society and maintains an active network of contacts in governments, domestic civil society, international
  organizations and media
• Demonstrated experience representing an organization at senior level, advocating positions with authority and credibility and dealing with media in the region
• Understanding and/or experience of campaigning and/or mobilization
• Experience of living and working in the region, and the ability to travel regularly

Competencies

• Strategic thinker with a developed capacity to build and convey the “big picture” while enabling others to identify the implications of this for their daily work
• Ability to inspire and motivate others; ensuring delivery under pressure while building collaboration
• Well-developed communication, presentation, advocacy and representational skills for diverse audiences, including donors and the media, and the ability to influence
• Willingness to be accountable and to receive and give performance related feedback
• Ability to lead and manage staff and financial resources including setting, managing and monitoring plans and budgets
• Proven ability to work under pressure including coping with deadlines, multiple tasks and competing demands
• Excellent political judgment
• Written and oral fluency in English is essential; and in other relevant languages (French) is desirable
• Ability to work in a manner that is consistent with the organization’s core behaviours and competencies

Personal Style and Attributes

• Personal credibility, with a professional demeanour that generates the trust and confidence of managers, staff and external stakeholders
• Record of leading by example and demonstrating a high degree of integrity and emotional intelligence
• High level of resilience and drive, with the ability to be flexible and work in a changing environment
• Inclination to set themselves and others challenging but achievable targets
• Ability to see links and opportunities that others might miss, and uses new approaches, theories and technologies to develop innovative solutions, taking calculated risks to enhance impact
• Ability to engage and influence, using a challenging but respectful approach, including when leading change and dealing with conflict, brokering solutions in order to achieve goals
• Personal engagement with human rights and social justice
• Ability to use participatory approaches and methodologies