Regional Director (m/f/d) for our Palestine/Israel programme in Jerusalem

Start of assignment

Ideally, you are available to start working on 1st of October 2024 (preparation courses, followed by at least two to three years’ work within the project with the option of extension).

Who we are

forumZFD supports people involved in violent conflicts on the path to peace and strives to help overcome war and violence. forumZFD is currently working with peace consultants in Germany as well as twelve other countries in Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia. Its Academy for Conflict Transformation offers a learning space for professional, international peace work. Through dialogue events, educational work and campaigns, forumZFD actively advocates civil peace policy.

forumZFD is recognized by the German federal government as a member of the Civil Peace Service (CPS) consortium. It finances its work through public and private grants, donations and membership fees.

Background

forumZFD opened its first international office in East Jerusalem in 1999. Together with the Willy-Brandt-Center in Jerusalem we are forming one programme, while independently and jointly implementing project activities. We work closely with diverse local partners, from Haifa to the South Hebron Hills, from Ramallah to Tel Aviv, from grassroots organizations and activists to women organizations and art collectives. We are collaborating with local key actor in Palestine and Israel, with cross-border initiatives as well as with organizations working for a shared society. For us, it is important to build long-term, eye-level partnerships with local civil society organizations that are based on mutual trust. In some partnerships, we offer process-related consultations drawing on our expertise in organizational development, non-violent communication, and strategic movement building. In other projects, we team up with our partners and implement activities together for example for nonviolent action campaigns, producing educational materials, facilitating workshops, organizing conferences, and conceptualizing art exhibitions. Due to the current situation, we are strongly involved in creating safe spaces for civil society actors, in increasing our advocacy efforts and expanding our work to stress and trauma management.

Your tasks and responsibilities

Based in Jerusalem, you will report to the Department of International Programmes and the respective Head of Programme at the Head Office in Cologne. You will be responsible for the implementation as well as the financial viability and the ongoing conceptual development of this programme in close coordination with the programme team. The financial management, project-related public relations activities and other duties will be carried out in close cooperation with the operational departments of forumZFD.

Specific tasks:

• Managing and guiding the current projects of forumZFD in Jerusalem with up to 12 staff members (personnel guidance and development, financial management, programme planning); providing direct supervisory management;
• Supporting the Willy-Brandt-Center in Jerusalem with up to 5 staff members in close consultation with the CEO of the Willy-Brandt-Center in Berlin;
• Further development of the programme in Palestine/Israel within the framework determined by the relevant organizational strategic markers;
• Supporting forumZFD’s advocacy and lobby work in Germany and the region and representing forumZFD vis-à-vis national and international actors, as well as authorities, government, ministries and other official bodies;
• Supporting forumZFD’s public relations and political communication;
• Safeguarding the quality of the programme’s operational processes in line with the internal standards of forumZFD and supporting the impact-oriented implementation of the various programme components by meeting forumZFD’s internal PME standards;
• Operational management of the programme office in Jerusalem: administration, financial management, personnel guidance, technical requirements;
• Ensuring the application of forumZFD’s security requirements for staff in the programme;
• External representation of forumZFD’s programme and expansion of organization’s network on a national and regional level;
• Acquisition of financial means – together with cooperation partners, if feasible.

Your profile:

• University degree (social sciences, political sciences, ethnology or related studies);
• Minimum five years’ experience in development and/or peacebuilding work (e.g. Civil Peace Service) in crisis/conflict impacted regions; desirable is work experience and a profound knowledge of the political situation in the Middle East;
• Profound management and advisory experience in the areas of personnel guidance, project planning, administration and financial controlling in a complex social environment;
• Significant experience in working in inter-cultural contexts including working with local civil society and local government structures;
• Physical and psychological stability to work and live in a complex society and hostile situation;
• Strong communication skills, high social competencies and intercultural sensitivity, flexibility and ability to work in a team;
• Qualifications as an expert advisor in the methods of non-violent conflict transformation and in the field of advocacy is an asset;
• Working experience in institutional fundraising is an asset;
• Fluent command of verbal and written English (the official programme language) is expected; German, Arabic and/or Hebrew are an asset;
• High confidence in using IT tools and online-based working platforms;
• Willingness to adjust to flexible working hours;
• Experience relating to Safety & Security Risk Management (SSRM), willingness to travel partly through areas in which security protocols have to be observed due to security risks
• Driving license and experience;
• This role is an international contract and is open to internationals only.

Our offer

As a Regional Director working for forumZFD, you will have the opportunity to apply your managerial and technical skills which enable the professional work of our teams within this innovative, dynamic, and inspiring field of conflict transformation and peacebuilding in Palestine/Israel.

We offer an attractive positionwith responsibilities for a minimum of two to three years (with the option of extension) in a growing organization. The position is remunerated according to the provisions of the German Development Workers law, including comprehensive social security benefits and financial reintegration assistance upon return. We also offer participation in qualification and professional development courses (among others, at forumZFD’s Academy for Conflict Transformation), a project-based preparation, regular coaching and, where appropriate, participation in a relevant language course.