Executive Director

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is looking for a dynamic, inspirational, and experienced professional committed to human rights, democracy, and sustainable development to lead our organisation with offices in Bangkok, Geneva, Jakarta, and Kathmandu as its Executive Director.

Employment Duration

• A three-year contract, subject to completing a satisfactory 6-month probationary period and with a possibility of renewal for another three years.

Salary & Benefits

• A competitive salary in local currency from US$ 70,980 gross per annum (including 13th month salary)
• Health Insurance

Job Description

As the head of the Secretariat of FORUM-ASIA, the Executive Director (ED) will be responsible to lead and manage all offices, of FORUM-ASIA and serve as ex officio secretary of the Executive Committee (EC). The Executive Director’s specific roles and responsibilities will include the following.

Strategic Leadership

• Ensuring an enabling work culture and collegial and supportive team culture at the Secretariat;
• Responsible for ensuring that all the tasks are conducted in a transparent, all-inclusive accountable and professional manner in consonance with the values and policies of FORUM-ASIA; and
• Responsible for a strategic and unique positioning of the organization as an umbrella organization of civil society in the region.

Management Leadership

• Managing the Secretariat of FORUM-ASIA and all its offices, staff, programmes, and all day-to-day functions of the Secretariat;
• Ensure the overall integrity, reputation and positive profile of the organisation, and its Secretariat;
• Ensure the full implementation of all policies of FORUM-ASIA, including that in Governance Manual, Staff Handbook, the Financial Rules and Regulations (FRR), the Policy on Sexual and Gender-based harassment and the Environmental Sustainability Policy and Procurement Policy;
• To lead and convene the Senior Management Team (SMT), consisting of the Director and other relevant staff in the organisation, which will be the decision-making body on all operational and programme- related matters of all offices of FORUM- ASIA. The Executive Director will lead the SMT in consonance with the Terms of Reference and the mandate of SMT and to ensure an all-inclusive decision-making process;
• Implementation of all policy decisions taken by the General Assembly (GA), the Executive Committee (EC), in consultation with the Senior Management Team (SMT); and
• Convening the EC meetings, according to the direction of the Chair, and providing all necessary logistical and substantive support to the meeting.

Organisational Management

• To represent FORUM-ASIA in different settings including high-level meetings with donor organisations and other external partners as well as during advocacy and strategic events;
• Developing and maintaining a partnership with all member organisations and strategic partners in consultation with the SMT and providing active leadership in ensuring the participation of its members in the programmes of FORUM-ASIA;
• Conduct periodic reviews and reflections of programmes, policies, and overall functioning of the organisation;
• Managing the registration of the organisation and other legal issues in consonance with the decision of the Executive Committee and in regular consultation with the Chair of the Executive Committee, and SMT;
• Assist the Chair and the Executive Committee in expanding its membership base in present countries or expanding the membership base to other countries in Asia;
• Engage and communicate with the members of FORUM-ASIA and support the inclusion and participation of the members across all programmes of the organisation;
• Providing leadership, management and programmatic support to all networks hosted or supported by FORUM-ASIA, including but not limited to the Asian NGO Network on NHRIs (ANNI);
• Overseeing the financial, programmatic, and organisational reports periodically together with the Director and the Programme Managers;
• To ensure the development of staff performance plans, performance assessments and accountability of all staff; and
• Approve all publications of the organisation before they are published.

Human Resource Management

• To provide guidance and support in hiring, appointment, performance assessments and termination of staff under their supervision, in consultation with the SMT and the respective Programme team;
• To report to the Chair and the EC on a quarterly basis regarding all appointments and cessation of staff contracts;
• To consult with the Chair of the EC before deciding on any new position at the level of Director and get the consent of the Chair and decision of the Executive Committee before filling any new position at the level of Director; and
• To ensure the safety and wellbeing of the Staff.

Resource Mobilization, Donor Relations, Representation and Financial Management

• Maintaining financial resources from existing donors and approaching and establishing partnerships with new donors to ensure the long-term sustainability of the organisation;
• Ensuring long-term strategic and financial sustainability for FORUM-ASIA, including raising funds for the work of the Secretariat;
• Effective management of programme, finances and human resources of the organisation;
• To ensure the fiscal sustainability and integrity of FORUM-ASIA and for submission to the EC of a proposed annual budget and monthly financial statements, which accurately reflect the financial condition of the organisation;
• To take lead in donor relations, donor reporting and effective delivery of the programmes and projects in consonance with donor agreements and contracts; and
• Ensure financial sustainability, effective financial management and periodic audit of the organisation.