Women’s Environment and Development Organization

Executive Director Position

The Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), an international organization that advocates for gender equality and women’s human rights in global policy, seeks a new Executive Director. Created in 1991, WEDO has built a reputation as a trailblazer on international women’s rights in the areas of sustainable development, economic and social justice, and governance. WEDO is in a process of reorganization and change, and is seeking a candidate with the vision, leadership, and skills to oversee and manage the transition process with the active guidance and support of WEDO’s Board of Directors.

Key qualifications:

- A Master’s degree or equivalent diploma in social or development sciences, training in gender studies preferred.
Track record of at least 10 years regional or international work on women’s rights, including strong substantive and strategic capacity. Experience in engendering the fields of sustainable development, economic justice, and/or governance preferred. Proven track record of financial and organizational management skills, especially in an international organization.

- Excellent personnel management and strong interpersonal skills – a team builder and motivational leader able to work with staff from diverse backgrounds, and with partners in multiple developing country locations.

- Proven track record in fundraising, including ability to develop a fund-raising strategy, write effective proposals, and lobby key private, regional, bilateral, and multilateral donors.

- Strong experience in gender/women’s rights advocacy with the UN and other international institutions, including designing and implementing international campaigns.

- A powerful and inspiring communicator, presenter, who is able to represent the organization at many different levels. Capacity to design and implement an effective monitoring and evaluation system for WEDO’s programs, as well as an annual performance assessment system for staff and self. Familiarity and/or linkages with social and women’s movements and organizations.

- Fluency in written and spoken English is a must; however, given WEDO’s partnerships with women in non-English speaking regions, knowledge of at least one other major UN language (i.e. French or Spanish) will be considered an asset.

Location and benefits:
WEDO’s current office is located in New York, USA. However, the selected candidate will work with the consultant who is guiding Page 2 WEDO’s transition into a multi-locational organization that will have a continued presence in New York and a stronger presence in the South. This will involve setting up an office in the South (location to be determined), and commuting between the two locations. As a new pattern of organizing WEDO’s work evolves over time, more dispersed locations of key staff may require virtual forms of work and the capacity to manage and monitor such virtual arrangements. The annual salary is commensurate with experience, plus health insurance and retirement benefits. Some relocation costs may also be considered.

Assistance will be provided to candidates to obtain appropriate visas for working part-time out of the U.S.
WEDO is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation or family status.

Interested candidates may send their current CV, with references and contact information, and a letter of interest by August 31, 2008 to [email protected] We are sorry, but incomplete applications cannot be considered. No phone enquiries please.

Women’s Environment & Development Organization (WEDO)
355 Lexington Ave., 3rd Floor • New York, NY 10017 USA
p: +1 212.973.0325 • f: +1 212.973.0335
www.wedo.org•www.misfortune500.org • [email protected]