Executive Director

Hashtag Nonprofit NPC; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 500,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

A nonprofit organization in Johannesburg is seeking an Executive Director to lead operations and drive fundraising efforts. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in nonprofit management and a passion for advocating women's rights. Responsibilities include strategic planning, financial oversight, and stakeholder engagement. This full-time role may involve occasional remote work and offers a negotiable salary.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5+ years of direct work experience in nonprofit senior leadership.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising and development.
• Experience working with victims of gender-based violence or other vulnerable groups.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the organisation's strategic plan.
• Oversee fundraising strategies and donor relationships.
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory obligations.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Financial management

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

Post-graduate degree in law or social sciences

Tools

Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Job description

Overview

Executive Director at Lawyers against Abuse

Deadline: 12 October 2025

Region: Johannesburg

Salary: Negotiable

Type of employment: Full time

Location: Executive Director to be based at LvA Diepsloot Centre, Johannesburg with occasional visits to satellite offices. Periodic remote work can be considered.

Job Description

Lawyers against Abuse (LvA) seeks a dynamic, dedicated leader who is passionate about our mission to join our team as the Executive Director. Reporting to and working closely in partnership with the Board of Directors, the Executive Director should be a seasoned leader and coach, with the ability to operate on both strategic and managerial levels. The Executive Director will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the organisation’s operations, including fundraising, program development, financial management, compliance and staff supervision. The Executive Director will be a passionate leader who inspires others to engage with our mission. They will work closely with the Board of Directors to ensure that the organisation is fulfilling its mission and serving its clients effectively. The Executive Director will also be responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, partners and community leaders.

Our ideal candidate will be a motivational leader with a proven track record of success in nonprofit management. They will be passionate about our organisation’s mission and committed to achieving our goals. The Executive Director will be a strategic thinker who is able to balance short-term needs with long-term planning. They will have excellent communication skills and be able to represent our organisation to a variety of audiences.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership
• Work with the Board of Directors and staff to develop and implement the organisation’s strategic plan.
• Articulate the organisation’s vision, mission, theory of change, statement of need, unique value proposition and overall strategic direction to staff, volunteers, partners, stakeholders and donors.
• Model and promote the organisation’s values and culture, setting a high standard for ethical and effective behaviour in all interactions.
• Foster a positive work environment that promotes teamwork, collaboration and open communication.
• Supervise and develop the organisation’s Deputy Director and Finance Manager, providing guidance, motivation and support to help them succeed in their roles.
• Identify and foster relationships with potential strategic partners who align with the organisation’s mission and goal, including government agencies, NGOs or community partners.

• Fundraising and Development
• Develop and implement a comprehensive financing strategy that aligns with the organisation’s mission and strategic plan.
• Identify and cultivate relationships with foundations, development partners, corporates, high-level donors and other potential funding sources, working closely with the Board of Directors and other stakeholders as needed to engage donors and secure donations.
• Build trust and rapport with potential and existing donors to persuade them to invest in the organisation’s mission, including presenting compelling proposals, articulating impact and value proposition, addressing concerns, and delivering high-quality donor reports.
• Ensure that the organisation raises funds to meet annual goals, monitoring progress and adjusting as needed.
• Develop and implement donor stewardship plans to maintain relationships and secure ongoing support, including regular communication, recognition and engagement.
• Lead a team of staff, volunteers and board members to plan and execute an annual fundraising event.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of best practices in nonprofit fundraising and development, and improve the organisation’s fundraising efforts.

• Board Engagement & Development
• Provide regular updates to the board of directors regarding the organisation’s operations and performance, including presentations at quarterly board meetings. Seek board input on critical decisions.
• Plan and prepare meeting agendas, in consultation with the Board Chairperson, and information pack for board meetings.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and induction of new board members.
• Support all board functions, including facilitating meetings, ensuring policy compliance, facilitating annual board evaluations and aligning the work of board committees.

• Financial Management
• Oversee the organisation’s financial management in partnership with the Finance Manager, ensuring sound financial controls.
• Develop and oversee the organisation’s annual budget, aligning with goals and priorities.
• Monitor financial performance, tracking revenue and expenses and ensuring alignment with donor budgets.
• Ensure timely and accurate financial reports to the Board, with detailed analysis as needed.
• Support the Finance Manager throughout annual audits.
• Maintain knowledge of best practices in nonprofit financial management and ensure compliance with policies and procedures.

• Human Resources
• Support recruitment, onboarding and induction of new staff.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures in consultation with the Board.
• Cultivate a culture of regular feedback, coaching and performance evaluations.
• Nurture a positive workplace culture promoting accountability, collaboration, inclusion, wellness, innovation, satisfaction and retention.
• Support line managers with disciplinary processes in compliance with LvA policy and the BCEA as needed.

• Operations and Technology
• Foster an enabling environment for staff productivity, innovation and performance (facilities, equipment, etc.).
• Ensure appropriate hardware and software for fundraising, collaboration, document management and communication.
• Establish policies for technology usage and plan for upgrades.
• Implement cybersecurity measures and maintain systems securely.

• Programme Development and Oversight
• Ensure LvA’s programmatic work is high quality, trauma-informed, best-practice compliant and legally/ethically sound.
• Lead annual work-planning with Deputy Director aligned to the strategic plan.
• Support day-to-day operation and evaluation of programmes, using data to improve outcomes.
• Expand programmes and services in collaboration with the Board and stakeholders.

• Marketing, Communication and Public Relations
• Develop and implement a marketing and communications strategy to increase visibility, including the website, social media, newsletters and annual reports.
• Maintain the organisation’s brand and messaging across all channels.
• Act as spokesperson and represent the organisation at public events.
• Contribute to a positive image through panels, webinars and interviews and publishing op-eds or materials.
• Develop and maintain relationships with media outlets to secure coverage.

• Legal and Regulatory Compliance
• Ensure compliance with all relevant legal and regulatory obligations, including tax, employment laws and nonprofit reporting.

Qualifications And Requirements

• Post-graduate degree in law, social sciences or relevant field.
• Minimum of 5+ years of direct work experience in nonprofit senior leadership.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising and development.
• Experience in community-based programmes and with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Experience working with victims of gender-based violence or other vulnerable groups.
• Proven success working with a board of directors.

Skills, Knowledge And Abilities

• Deep passion for and commitment to women’s rights and gender-based issues.
• Understanding of trauma’s impact on marginalized communities and programme design considerations.
• Ability to manage under difficult circumstances with resilience.
• Strong project management, monitoring and evaluation, financial management and budgeting skills.
• Ability to read and interpret financial documents (budgets, statements).
• Excellent supervision and people-management skills with inclusive leadership.
• Strong interpersonal, networking and relationship management abilities.
• Resourcefulness in resource-constrained settings and strategic problem solving.
• Ability to provide long-term vision while delivering pragmatic day-to-day results.
• Ability to work on multiple projects with focus on organisational priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

How to apply

Interested applicants should submit a CV and motivation letter to MaraisButton & Associate. Email: [e-mail]. Closing date: Sunday 12th October.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Keep #NGOJobsBoard thriving: Tell employers you found their listing on Hashtag Nonprofit!

Date posted: 29 September 2025

Back to #NGOJobsBoard