About ACAPS
Role purpose
This is a role for a mission-driven Chair who thrives at the intersection of strategy, people, and purpose. She/he demonstrates steady, principled leadership in line with the values of ACAPS. The Chair leads the formation of an effective, inclusive, and values-aligned board.
Key Experience and Background
- Senior leadership experience in the humanitarian or international development sector.
- Prior board experience, ideally also experience as Chair.
- Deep understanding of the operational, ethical, financial and governance challenges organisations face in this sector.
- Strong familiarity with sector-specific dynamics such as donor accountability, partnership-building, and working in crisis-affected contexts.
- Understanding the role and purpose of ACAPS in the humanitarian sector.
Leadership Attributes
- Collaborative Style: Builds trust, creates space for diverse voices, and brings people together around a shared vision.
- Critical thinker & Challenger: Supports high standards and critical thinking while maintaining strong relationships.
- Inclusive & Diversity-focused: Committed to building a diverse, representative board from day one, and to embedding inclusion in governance practice.
- Globally Networked: Brings a wide-reaching international network, preferably across humanitarian, nonprofit, philanthropic, and policy sectors.
- Builder: Comfortable navigating uncertainty, establishing new governance processes, and helping to shape organisational identity at an early stage of development.
As Founding Chair, this individual will:
- Lead the formation of an effective, inclusive, and values-aligned board.
- Work closely together with the senior management team to shape strategic direction and organisational priorities.
- Establish the board’s governance structures and practices, ensuring clarity of roles and responsibilities.
- Represent the organisation externally, helping to build its profile, credibility, and relationships within the global humanitarian ecosystem.
- Ensure early-stage decisions are grounded in purpose, accountability, and long-term sustainability.
Terms Commitment
Board meetings will be held quarterly (3 virtually and one likely in the Netherlands. Overall time commitment is likely 20 days in the first year as the Board gets established, decreasing to 10 days in the 2nd year.
Terms of Appointment
The Chair will serve a four-year term, renewable once for a maximum of eight years.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please ensure you complete the Application Form provided below by 15 August 2025 (23:59 hrs, GMT +2). It is essential that you submit your CV in English, specifically in Microsoft Word format (.doc/.docx), not exceeding 10MB.
Applications in other languages or formats will not be considered.
Rest assured, all information will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.
SRI Executive is exclusively retained by ACAPS to undertake this assignment.