ITREB France is opening a full-time position of Executive Officer based in Paris. With proven management and entrepreneurial skills, and a minimum of 10 year of professional experience, the Executive Officer will supervise programmatic, organisational, financial and administrative aspects of the Institution.
The candidate will work closely with the existing academic and administrative team as well as with the board and international institutions.
A competitive salary commensurate with the candidate's profile will be offered for this senior management position. French language required.
The deadline for applications is June 30th 2021. Interested applicants should submit their résumé with a covering letter to the Honorary Secretary of ITREB France at [email protected].
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Executive Officer is the senior-most member of the ITREB’s staff. Under the supervision of the Board, he/she plays a leadership role in assisting the ITREB to fulfil its Constitutional mandate to provide religious education to all levels of the Jamat, train and upgrade religious education teachers and waezeen, engage in research, prepare materials and publications, be a point of reference and consultation for Mukhi/Kamadia in matters of religious practices, and to work in close collaboration with the Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS).
He/she is responsible for directing the ITREB’s administrative, academic and programme staff, and driving the implementation of its programmes and activities to achieve its strategic goals, in keeping with the guidance of the Imam-of-the-Time and with the goal of making the ITREB an organisation that applies best practices in all aspects of its work. He / she oversees the interface between the volunteers and staff, and manages its operations, secretariat and staff at the national and local levels.
The Executive Officer reports to the ITREB’s Chairman. The position is based at Paris, France.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Coordinate the development of the ITREB’s strategic plans and their translation into programmes and activities, operational plans, budgets and performance metrics.
2. Lead the preparation of the annual objectives, strategies and budgets.
3. Monitor the implementation of the annual operating plans across the various portfolios and areas of activity. Evaluate their impact and make recommendations, as appropriate. Propose and take corrective actions in case of slippage or under-performance. Responsible for ensuring that the approved budgets are adhered to.
4. Manage the performance, vigorously, of the ITREB’s programmes and activities to attain targets and benchmarks of quality and access, especially relating to the provision of religious education to various segments of the Jamat. Successful oversight and implementation of STEP is particularly important.
5. Oversee the management and financial systems to ensure the accuracy, timeliness and quality of information. Prepare regular and annual reports for the Board and for onward transmission.
6. Analyse the Board’s programmes, activities and performance to identify gaps and opportunities, and make recommendations as appropriate. Ensure the periodic evaluation of key programmes.
7. Stay abreast of external and internal issues and trends that may potentially impact the work of the Board and the Jamat (e.g., ethics / bioethics, secularisation, education practices, teaching of RE, social media, regulatory context for faith communities, etc.).
8. Draw on the expertise of TKN volunteers and other experts, as required.
9. Ensure that the Board’s organisational structure and staff deployment are streamlined, effective, and aligned with its priorities. Lead, inspire and motivate staff in order that they perform to their best capacities. Foster a positive and productive work environment. Ensure the implementation of human resource policies (e.g. staff recruitment, performance appraisal, succession planning, code of conduct). Make recommendations concerning recruitment, deployment, and/or replacement of staff. Encourage the continuing professional development of staff.
10. Ensure adherence to financial policies and procedures (i.e. financial discipline, accountability, cost management, record-keeping, transactions, procurement, asset and inventory management).
11. Organise and participate in Board meetings. Ensure timely preparation and circulation of meeting agendas and minutes, and follow-up on Board decisions and on matters that arise.
12. Work collaboratively with the National Council and Central Institutions to achieve strategic, programmatic and administrative synergies, especially in ECD, youth development, and aspects of the Council’s outreach agenda in which ITREB input is required.
13. Serve as the point of liaison the Grants and Review Board on financial, statutory and audit- related matters.
14. Support the liaison between the Board and the Mukhi / Kamadia.
15. Develop and sustain relationships with the Department of Jamati Institutions, the Institute of Ismaili Studies, AKDN agencies in-country, ITREBs in the region and internationally.
16. Serve as the institutional memory and the point of reference for the continuity of the ITREB’s work. Coordinate the transition / handover process from one leadership team to the next.
17. Ensure the timeliness and quality of the Board’s communications to its stakeholders.
18. Make proposals concerning his / her own continuing professional development.
19. Undertake assignments and duties as directed by the Chairman and/or Honorary Secretary.
PROFILE: QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES
The candidate should be a senior professional with 10 years of experience in management preferably in an education or non-profit context. He/she should have the skills and maturity to lead the Board’s professional staff and, from time to time, to represent the ITREB in various national and international fora. The role requires strengths in strategic thinking as well as operational management.
Experience with the Jamati system, either as a volunteer or professional, is highly desirable. Awareness of the provisions of the Constitution of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims and prior exposure to the Jamati religious education system would be an asset but not a prerequisite.
A Master’s degree in management, business administration, education administration or related field is a minimum requirement. A background in education, Islamic Studies, humanities, HR management / organisational development and/or an accounting designation would be an asset.
The following attributes and skills are essential:
1. Familiarity with and empathy for the Jamat, including cultural diversity within the Jamat.
2. Deep sense of responsibility, sound judgement and discretion.
3. Good inter-personal skills in dealing with senior leaders, volunteers and staff in the system.
4. Demonstrated experience in successfully managing teams, staff, and/or projects.
5. Capacity to be effective through collaboration and teamwork.
6. Well-organised, self-motivated, able to multi-task, pays attention to detail, a “can do” attitude and a problem-solving mindset.
7. A track record of delivering projects and results within deadlines. Sensitivity to budgetary prudence and an entrepreneurial approach in optimising the use of resources.
8. Good analytic and financial skills. Comfort in working with financial information, budgets, non- financial metrics and their interpretation.
9. Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills. An ability to articulate papers / reports that are concise and coherent.
10. Comfort in working with computing, information and communication technology.
A willingness to travel from time to time within the jurisdiction and internationally is necessary. Fluency in French and English is essential.
Interested candidates should send their cover letter and resume to Honorary Secretary Shaynoor Dramsi at [email protected]. Deadline to apply is June 30th, 2021.
