Position Description: Director of Strategy and Operations (or Vice President, based on experience)
Ibis Reproductive Health is a global nonprofit driving change through bold, rigorous research and principled partnerships that advance sexual and reproductive autonomy, choices, and health worldwide. We believe that research can catalyze change when the entire research process is viewed as an opportunity to shift power, is undertaken in partnership with the communities most affected, and includes a focus on how data can be most effectively used to make change. We focus on increasing access to quality abortion care, transforming access to abortion and contraception through technology and service innovations, and expanding comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information and services. Ibis works with partners in more than 30 countries on six continents. Our staff is located in Cambridge, MA and Oakland CA, USA; and Johannesburg, South Africa. For more information, visit: www.ibisreproductivehealth.org.
Ibis Reproductive Health seeks a creative, collaborative, and dynamic leader to join our Senior Management Team as the Director (or VP) of Strategy and Operations. Over the last five years Ibis has grown significantly. We are extremely proud of our accomplishments since we were founded in 2002, believe our approaches to research and evidence-based advocacy fill an important gap in the reproductive health and rights field, and are committed to doing research and running our organization in ways that advance racial justice. Please see our description of our commitment to justice and equity here and our statement on what it means to approach research with a justice and equity lens here. A summary of our 2019-2022 strategic plan is here.
The Director (or VP) of Strategy and Operations will partner with the Ibis President and the Senior Management Team to support our ongoing organizational transformation and build/manage internal systems to monitor progress toward our strategic objectives and goals, ensure continued and clear communication across the organization, partner with our research and development and communications teams to disseminate our research, and play a key role in maintaining Ibis’s partnerships and representing Ibis with key stakeholders. This position can be based in any of our three offices. At present all staff have the option to work remotely or in offices following local public health guidance. When public health conditions related to COVID-19 allow, full-time work in offices will resume.
Responsibilities:
Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Ibis President and the Senior Management Team (including the Director of Finance and Administration, Director of Southern Africa Programs, VP of Development and Public Affairs, and VP of Research)
Develop and manage systems, and provide ongoing leadership of efforts to measure progress toward our 5-year strategic plan goals; work with the President and other members of the Senior Management Team to identify places where course corrections are needed; develop and manage organizational annual planning and support teams with work plan processes; partner in improvement and implementation of contingency planning processes
Represent Ibis with donors, partners, and the general public (i.e. attend meetings where Ibis’s presence is critical; work with President and VP for Research/VP for Development and Public Affairs/Director of Southern Africa Programs to ensure we are maintaining partnerships; ensure our partners and key stakeholders know about our work/results/use our data)
Partner with President, the Senior Management Team, and the staff-led Culture Design Team to continue and deepen our internal work to address racial justice and equity at Ibis and build a work culture that supports staff resilience and wellbeing; support work planning and monitoring of progress toward Culture Design Team-determined priorities and link this work to work planning and strategic plan monitoring across the organization
Partner with President, the Director of Finance and Administration, the Culture Design Team, and consultants to ensure effective and equitable HR policies and practices; ensure consistent communication and application of policies and procedures, including performance management procedures and determine/implement training and support for supervisors
Play a key role in ensuring increased transparency and more effective internal communications across teams and offices at Ibis; partner with the Development and Communications team to build effective internal communications processes and practices, including supporting more effective meetings, dissemination of policies, and sharing of/highlighting successes and progress across our research and advocacy, development/communications, and finance/administration teams
With the Ibis President and Senior Management Team, support effective functioning of the Ibis Board, including the two Board Committees (Development and Nominating, and Audit and Finance), and Board self-evaluation work; facilitate greater engagement between the staff and Board
Monitor trends in reproductive health, rights, and justice and social justice movements to identify opportunities for new partnerships and spot places where Ibis’s research/data/approach can help advance allied/linked social justice causes
Qualifications:
We recognize that strong candidates may not have every qualification listed here, and encourage applications from individuals who bring passion, skills and experience in many or most of these areas.
Passion for work across the globe to advance sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice
Commitment to racial justice and equity, and willingness to have/lead critical/challenging conversations around race and white supremacy in our organization and in our field
Commitment to and experience partnering with communities with the most to gain from expanded access to sexual and reproductive health services and information, including Black people and people of African descent, Indigenous people, people of color, women, young people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people who identify as transgender, non-binary, or gender expansive
Experience being part of an executive or leadership team; at least 5 years of leadership experience required
Strong people management and supervision experience
Commitment to/experience with mentorship and supporting staff professional development
Experience leading the development of collaborative, cross-functional teams; proven ability to coach and inspire the leadership capacity of team members
Experience developing and/or monitoring progress toward strategic plans
Willingness to travel
Collaborative approach to leadership and commitment to transparency in decision-making
Excellent facilitation skills; outstanding interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
Excellent planning, forecasting, strategic thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills
Committed to developing and maintaining principled partnerships
Optimistic and resourceful, with strong self-awareness, cultural competence, emotional intelligence, and humility
Experience working in a research organization or training in research methods is a plus
Experience working in a global organization/in a range of global contexts is a plus
Salary: The starting salary for the Director position is approximately $100,000-130,000 per year depending on experience/qualifications if US-based; if based in the Johannesburg office, starting salary will be approximately 800,000-1,000,000 Rands per year.
Start date: Position starts as soon as it is filled.
Benefits: Ibis’s generous benefits package includes: medical insurance/medical aid, with most of the premium paid by Ibis; dental, disability, and life insurance; paid sick leave; a 403(b) retirement savings plan/provident fund with employer contributions after the first year; four weeks of vacation per year; transit benefits; and professional development opportunities.
Deadline for applications: Interested candidates should apply at this link. Priority will be given to applications received by March 31, 2021. No phone calls, please.
Ibis is an equal opportunity employer. Ibis seeks to build and maintain a diverse and inclusive workplace; we encourage applications from Black people and people of African descent, Indigenous people, people of color, women, young people, LGBTQ+ individuals, including people who identify as transgender, non-binary, or gender expansive, people with disabilities, first-generation college graduates, those from communities with the most to gain from expanded access to sexual and reproductive health services and information, and people from other underrepresented communities.