Director – Africa Southern Region

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Ipas, Inc

  • Location: South Africa, Zambia, Malawi
  • Career category: Programme/ Project design & management
  • Job type: Job
  • Experience level: 10+ years
  • Organisation type: Civil Society
  • Remote option: No
  • Right to work requirements: International contract
  • Remuneration: Not Disclosed
  • Work schedule: Full-time
  • Length of contract: Temporary/ Fixed-term
  • Deadline: 16/01/2026
  • Location: South Africa, Zambia, Malawi
Sexual & reproductive rights (SRHR) Health
About Ipas
Our work began in 1973, with the provision of life-saving reproductive health technology for health systems in several countries. Since then, we have experienced amazing growth and change as an organization, but our singular commitment to expand access to legal abortion has remained constant because access to abortion is necessary to ensure reproductive justice for all.
 
Duties and Responsibilities
Program Leadership
  • Maintain and strengthen Ipas’s position as a sector leader primarily in Malawi, South Africa, and Zambia, including technical assistance for select scopes of work within the region.
  • Lead design and implementation of the Ipas Malawi, South Africa, and Zambia strategic plan, in line with Ipas's strategic plan, global vision and mission.
  • Work closely with Ipas’s global teams to ensure that regional/country programming meets Ipas Network standards and supports and is supported by the global organization.

Program Management
  • Ensure robust systems and processes are in place in region & country programs to support strong project and award management, including work planning, budgeting, and regular datadriven reviews of progress and problem-solving efforts.
  • Ensure full donor contractual compliance for each project in the country portfolios, as well as compliance with Ipas's network standards and policies and procedures.
  • Promote evidence-based decision-making and lead in the adoption of innovative solutions to improve regional and country program effectiveness and efficiency.

Finance and Governance
  • Ensure each country program entity meets good governance requirements, including support for strategic engagement with local boards.
  • Ensure that the Ipas ASR node stays in compliance with relevant government laws and requirements, including nonprofit registration requirements, labor laws, tax and other laws and obligations.
  • Ensure that human resource (HR) systems and policies are aligned with best practices and local laws, and that accountability is built into HR management processes and systems (e.g., annual performance goals, performance reviews).
 
External Relations and Resource Mobilization
  • Build and nurture strong partnerships with government, donors, health institutions, local organizations, media, and other stakeholders.
  • Lead in developing and implementing a program development and resource mobilization strategy.
  • Represent Ipas and our mission at the country/regional/international level, advocating for women's reproductive health and rights.
 
Profile
  • Master's level degree or higher preferred, in a relevant field such as Public Health, Medicine, International Development, Gender Issues, Policy, Administration or Related Studies.
  • A minimum of 10 years of increasing responsibility in Team Leadership and Program Management, preferably with an NGO / INGO and in the SRHR sector.
  • Strategic leader with sound general management skills; previous experience as a Country Director/ Country Manager for an international NGO preferred.
  • Experience and demonstrated success in fundraising and maintaining relationships with donors.
  • Commitment to sexual and reproductive health and rights, especially safe abortion and access to contraception.
  • Respect and credibility as an advocate for reproductive health and rights, strong advocacy and speaking skills in a context with stigma and opposition.
  • Knowledge of the issues and context of women's sexual and reproductive health and rights in the region.

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