Role purpose

The Executive Director (ED) serves as the chief executive of IAP2, responsible for leading the operational, strategic, financial, and cultural direction of the organisation. Reporting to the IAP2 Board through its Chair, the ED ensures organisational excellence, sustainability, and alignment with IAP2’s mission.

This is a leadership role requiring high emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, financial acumen, intercultural competence, and the ability to collaborate across global time zones. The ED manages staff, oversees programs, safeguards organisational compliance, and builds strong relationships with affiliates and stakeholders worldwide.

Principal Objectives

The Executive Director will:

• Lead the operational and strategic administration of IAP2.

• Partner with the Board in strategic leadership, organisational development, and goal alignment.

• Build a culture of respect, transparency, trust, innovation and collaboration.

• Prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across governance, staffing, and services.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Partner with the Board to develop and execute IAP2’s vision and strategic plan, identifying new opportunities for sustainable growth.
• Advise the Board on organisational issues, emerging trends, risks, and strategic opportunities, and lead board effectiveness assessments.
• Foster strong, collaborative working relationships between the Board, the Executive Director, and staff.
• Prepare Board meeting agendas, minutes, and supporting documentation to ensure effective governance and informed decision-making.
• Draft, implement, and periodically review organisational policies, recommending annual updates as appropriate.

Operational Management

• Lead a globally focused organisation operating across five continents.
• Develop operational plans that align with strategic priorities.
• Ensure smooth day-to-day operations and high stakeholder satisfaction.
• Oversee the secure management of confidential data and information.
• Represent the organisation externally to raise IAP2’s profile and visibility.
• Work collaboratively with the affiliates to support their growth and development.

Programs & Services

• Oversee development, delivery, and evaluation of programs and services.
• Maintain program quality and alignment with mission and Board priorities.

Human Resources

• Ensure excellence in recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and compliance.
• Determine staffing needs for organisational success.
• Promote DEI in staffing and Board recruitment.
• Coach, mentor, and support staff development.
• Maintain policies for staff performance, grievances, and contract changes.

Financial Leadership

• Prepare the annual budget with staff and Board.
• Interpret and oversee financial statements, cash flow, audits, and IRS Form 990.
• Ensure adherence to GAAP and FASB ASC 958 nonprofit accounting standards.
• Secure adequate funding and oversee fundraising strategies and proposals.
• Provide regular financial reports to the Board.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Keep stakeholders informed of organisational work and changes.
• Build collaborative relationships with affiliates, community groups, funders, academics, and partners.

Risk Management & Legal Compliance

• Identify and mitigate organisational risks.
• Ensure appropriate insurance coverage and Board/staff understanding of policies.
• Maintain compliance with legal frameworks for U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporations.
• Manage copyright, trademark, licensing agreements, and IP use requests.

Profile

Qualifications

• Candidates should bring a minimum of five years of progressively responsible management experience within nonprofit organisations, professional associations, or related sectors. This experience should demonstrate increasing leadership scope, strategic responsibility, and operational oversight.

• A Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), Public Administration (MPA), Nonprofit Management, or a closely related field is required. Equivalent advanced education that strengthens strategic leadership, financial management, and organisational governance will also be considered.

• The successful candidate must possess a strong understanding of global operating environments and the complexities of working within decentralized or federated organisational structures. Experience navigating cross-border governance, diverse regulatory frameworks, and distributed teams is highly desirable.

• A proven track record of driving revenue growth and improving organisational performance is essential. This includes experience in financial sustainability planning, membership growth, fundraising, partnership development, or other income-generating strategies aligned with mission objectives.

• The candidate should provide clear evidence of strong partnership-building and collaborative leadership. This includes successfully engaging stakeholders, building alliances, and fostering productive working relationships across multiple organisations or sectors.

• Excellent written and spoken English is required to effectively communicate with international stakeholders. Proficiency in additional languages is considered a valuable asset and reflects the organisation’s global orientation.

• The candidate should demonstrate a deep alignment with IAP2’s core values and public participation principles, showing a genuine commitment to and deep understanding of inclusive engagement, ethical practice, and meaningful stakeholder involvement.

Key Competencies

• The Executive Director must demonstrate adaptability and flexibility in navigating a dynamic and rapidly evolving global environment. This includes the ability to respond effectively to shifting priorities, emerging risks, and changing stakeholder expectations while maintaining organisational stability and strategic focus.

• The Executive Director is expected to model the highest standards of ethical behaviour and consistently act in alignment with the organisation’s mission, values, and governance principles. Integrity, transparency, and accountability must underpin all decision-making and leadership actions.

• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to positively influence others are essential. The Executive Director must cultivate trust-based relationships with board members, staff, affiliates, partners, donors, and external stakeholders, fostering collaboration and shared commitment to organisational goals.

• Intercultural competence is critical in working across diverse countries and cultural contexts. The Executive Director should demonstrate cultural sensitivity, inclusivity, and the ability to lead effectively in multinational environments, respecting different perspectives and operational realities.

• The role requires high-level communication skills, including the ability to articulate vision and strategy clearly to varied audiences. Advanced negotiation and conflict resolution capabilities are necessary to manage complex stakeholder relationships and address disagreements constructively and diplomatically.

• Creativity and innovation are important in driving organisational growth and sustainability. The Executive Director should demonstrate client and stakeholder focused thinking, proactively identifying opportunities to improve services, strengthen impact, and enhance value delivery.

• The Executive Director must exhibit strong teamwork and leadership capabilities, coupled with governance expertise and the ability to guide organisational change. This includes working effectively with the Board, supporting sound governance practices, and leading transformation initiatives in a structured and inclusive manner.
• Sound decision-making, organisational discipline, and strong analytical and problem-solving abilities are required to manage complexity and risk. The Executive Director must be able to assess information critically, prioritise effectively, and implement timely and well-considered decisions.
• Finally, the Executive Director should demonstrate the ability to build and sustain robust professional networks and actively support collaboration among Affiliates. This includes fostering knowledge-sharing, alignment of strategic objectives, and collective action to strengthen the overall federation or network.

Terms of Appointment

Reports to: IAP2 Board (via Board Chair)

Direct Reports: Project Manager, Accountant, Communications Specialist

Level: Executive – Negotiated Contract

Role Location

Remote

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please ensure you complete the Application Form provided below by 20 March 2026 (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 International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) to undertake this assignment.