ARTICLE 19
JOB DESCRIPTION
SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR PROGRAMMES (Asia, Europe, Middle East)
Responsible to:
Direct reports:
Key relationships:
Starting salary:
Working hours:
Location:
Tenure:
Executive Director
Senior Programme officer for Asia, Senior Programme officer for
Europe, Programme officer for Middle East, Consultants
Other Senior Directors
44,042 per annum
37 hours
London, travel to the region required
6 months initially. We intend for the post to be continuing,
following evaluation of the senior management team and
discussion of the most effective structure and allocation of
responsibilities across the team.
JOB SUMMARY
The Senior Director for Programmes will support the development and implementation of
impactful programmes of work in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, operating out of the
international office in London. In addition, he/she will examine with staff and partners
possibilities for establishing one or more regional presence (with local ownership and
legitimacy), and ensure and strengthen the strategic coherence of ARTICLE 19 across the
regions, in order to maximise our impact for freedom of expression.
In particular, he/she will be responsible for overseeing the development and implementation
of the programmes’ strategies and projects; leading and coordinating fund-raising activities,
project development and liaison with donors; providing political and strategic advice on
freedom of expression challenges in the regions; representing the organisation to key target
audiences. He/she will line-manage the senior programme officers for Asia and Europe and the
programme officer for the Middle East; as well as overseeing the management of interns and
consultants. He/she will be overall responsible for the allocation of resources of the regional
programmes and the quality of their outputs. He/she will oversee the development of the
regional offices and/or other field presences and participate in the corporate management of
ARTICLE 19.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the leadership of the Executive Director, you will develop, support and ensure the
effective functioning of programme teams, regional offices and managers if any and other staff
as required. You will provide direction, support and capacity building in of the following areas:
Oversee development and implementation of regional strategies
You will oversee and support the development and implementation of ARTICLE 19’s strategies
for freedom of expression in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, including through the implementation of
the strategic and operational plans, operational priorities and projects.
You will oversee and support the monitoring of developments and key freedom of expression
concerns across the three regions, identify appropriate responses to relevant situations, and provide clear
strategic guidance to ARTICLE 19 as a whole.
You will lead the strengthening of ARTICLE 19’s presence in these three regions, including by
identifying models for local presence and implementing them, in line with ARTICLE 19’s strategic
priorities, taking into account existing human and financial resources, projects implementation
progress, opportunities for growth, and regional needs. You will present these models and
analysis to the senior management team and the board, and be responsible for implementing the
decisions.
You will supervise the efficient and effective implementation of existing activities and projects
across the three programmes, and ensure that ARTICLE 19 keeps abreast of developments in the
regions and responds to threats and opportunities relating to freedom of expression.
You will draft or sign off reports, articles and other publications for ARTICLE 19
publications and website as well as part of ARTICLE 19 internal reporting requirements,
including quarterly narrative and financial reports
Oversee Successful Fundraising
With the fundraiser and the regional programme team members, you will oversee the
development and implementation of fundraising strategies and plans for income generation for
the three programmes. You will ensure the sustainability of the regional development policies
and ensure adequate resourcing of agreed plans, including through developing or supporting
proposals development. You will establish and maintain close relationship with existing and
potential donors, and identify funding opportunities.
Support and Manage Programme Staff
You will manage and provide professional support to existing staff members of the regional
programmes and when the model for regional presence model has been agreed, oversee the
recruitment of additional staff and managers in the region. You will ensure the proper
implementation of staff terms and conditions. You will provide professional support,
guidance and feedback to all staff reporting to you.
Manage and oversee Programmes Finances
With the support of the Operational team, you will manage and oversee the programmes’
budgets and regularly monitor reports on programmes income, expenditures and cash flow.
You will ensure all programmes officers manage their projects’ finances in accordance with
ARTICLE 19’s policies and guidelines.
Promote learning and ensure quality control
You will foster a community of best-practices and shared learning across the programmes
and the organisation, promoting cross-fertilization of ideas and innovation, ensuring the
effective input of the programmes into ARTICLE 19’s overall policy and strategy
development and reports. You will develop and put into place effective quality control and
performance measures for the programmes and for regional offices when these are set up,
promoting excellence in work and outputs.
Corporate Management:
You will participate in the corporate management of the International Office, including by
contributing to:

Development of the organisation’s strategic and operational plans;

Identification and solution of corporate management issues;

Sharing responsibility with other Senior Directors for the sound fiscal management
of the operations of ARTICLE 19

Representing ARTICLE 19 at relevant international forums, on fact-finding visits and
in other meetings.

Drafting and/or editing relevant materials for publication.

Undertake any other duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Executive Director.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Experience:
 Substantial experience in managing and implementing human rights programmes,
including overseas programmes
 Substantial experience with capacity-building and development of field offices
 Experience with advocacy/campaigning organisations
 Demonstrated successful experience of strategic planning, fund raising and financial
management
 Proven capacity to understand and anticipate the need for change management and
experience of delivering effective frameworks to plan and manage the continuous process
of change.
Skills and abilities
 A Doer – this post requires extensive hands-on work and an ability to deliver tangible
outputs.
 Ability to multi task working quickly and effectively.
 Ability to work on own initiative and to play a leadership role within an organisation.
 Ability to work under pressure and manage time effectively.
 Ability to recognise talent with commitment to the professional development of staff.
 Excellent written and spoken English; knowledge of at least one other language,
particularly French, Spanish, or Arabic, is highly desirable.
 A commitment to excellent performance and a practical understanding of how to promote
shared learning and innovation across diverse regions
 Good interpersonal and advocacy skills with a range of actors
Knowledge
 Educated to degree standard essential with a post graduate qualification desirable.
 Knowledge of human rights and/or key freedom of expression issues, international human
rights law and awareness of mechanisms for the protection of human rights.
 Knowledge of systems for quality control, performance management, good administration
and financial management
Other Requirements
 Commitment to work within ARTICLE 19's philosophy and objectives with strong desire to
contribute to the effectiveness of regionalisation policy.
 Cultural sensitivity and commitment to equal opportunities
 Knowledge of, or experience of working in, Europe, Central Asia, Asia and/or the MENA
Regions
 Willingness to work outside normal working hours including weekends and evenings
 Willingness and availability for regular, and sometimes extended, overseas travel.
Background Note
ARTICLE 19 is the leading international NGO promoting and protecting freedom of
expression, including access to information, across the world. We believe that full enjoyment
of these rights is the most potent force to strengthen peace and pre-empt conflict. They are
central to achieving individual freedoms and developing democracy and play a critical role in
tackling the underlying causes of poverty. Through our focus on developing and enforcing
international standards and domestic legislation, the empowerment of civil society and
practical actions on the ground, we deliver a unique contribution to the protection of human
rights and development process.
As a result of a major review in 2005/6 of the key trends in our field of work and of our
organisational strengths and weaknesses, we set a new organisational model designed to
sharpen and focus our impact.
One of our key goals was to strengthen our international reach by consolidating our presence
outside London, recruiting national or regional staff, and establishing strong and
operationally autonomous national or regional offices.
Being based in the countries and regions on which we work, we believe we have a better
understanding of regional and national realities and local needs and thus have greater impact
on freedom of expression developments. We are able to respond more swiftly to opportunities
or crises. We are closer to our partners, and thus more capable to respond to their demands
and strengthen interactions and capacities.
ARTICLE 19 regional/national offices are able to rely on A19’s international work, legal and
policy expertise, and its reputation for delivery and impact, and bring all of these qualities
and characteristics to national debates for a stronger protection of the right to access to
information and freedom of expression.
Since 2006, ARTICLE 19 has established A19 Mexico and Central America (about 10 staff);
A19 Brazil (3 staff); A19 Bangladesh (4 staff), A19 Kenya (4 staff) and A19 Senegal (1
staff). Under the leadership of country/regional directors and the support of A19
International office (based in London), these offices have moved progressively towards
operational autonomy on the ground, and stronger impact.
In addition, ARTICLE 19 has strengthened and/or established programmes of work in
Europe, Asia and Middle East, operating from the International Office.
The priorities for the years ahead are to strengthen ARTICLE 19 existing regional offices and
ensuring their strategic and financial sustainability. In addition, we will implement a strong
programme of work fully supported by fund raising in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and
explore options towards an additional regional office in one of these regions.
It is a 6 month post because we are seeking to rapidly fill it. However, we intend for the post
to be continuing, following evaluation of the senior management team and discussion over
the most effective structure and allocation of responsibilities across the team.