Remote position - Home-Based Location
About WIEGO
Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO) is a global network focused on securing livelihoods for the working poor, especially women, in the informal economy. We believe all workers should have equal economic opportunities and rights. WIEGO creates change by building capacity among organisations of workers in informal employment, expanding the knowledge base about the informal economy, and influencing local, national and international policies.
The Law Programme
The Law Programme works toward international instruments, national and local laws, and regulations that recognize, include and protect the rights of workers in informal employment, and builds the capacity of these workers and their organisations to use the law to fight for secure livelihoods and labour rights.
The Position
We are currently seeking a Law Programme Director to provide strategic leadership to the programme and serve as part of senior leadership at WIEGO, participating actively in organisation-wide strategic planning, evaluation and fundraising processes. The incoming Law Programme Director will be a thought leader dedicated to pushing the boundaries of law to create a more enabling environment for workers in informal employment; a capable manager who can effectively lead a team in a virtual, multicultural environment; and an agile advocate who is open to collaboration and learning as part of a diverse global movement, working in partnership with our members, partners and stakeholders.
The Terms of Reference for the position are available here.
Responsibilities
A. WIEGO Programme Director Responsibilities
Perform ongoing duties of a WIEGO Programme Director as follows:
- Direct the programme’s annual work planning and budgeting process in accordance with the programme’s 5-year strategic plan (2023-2028) and WIEGO organisational priorities;
- Identify priority one-year outcomes towards which the programme is working during the planning process, and then monitor and report on the programme’s progress toward those outcomes at regular intervals via calls with the Director of Programmes, regular meetings with other programme directors, bi-annual intervals via the WIEGO reporting process, and via impact@wiego.org;
- Monitor the programme budget via the WIEGO Xero accounting system;
- Collaborate with other Programme Directors in implementing and monitoring cross-programmatic activities as identified in plans and budgets, keeping up to date with WIEGO work by reviewing other Programmes’ work plans, reports, and other relevant outputs;
- Work together with the Director of Communications to identify quarterly strategic communications priorities with regard to both production and dissemination, and monitor their implementation;Support and enable Law Programme team members to do their work and grow professionally;
- Contribute to WIEGO internal communication via intranet, use of wiego.org email and Google Workspace communications tools;
- Contribute to the WIEGO-wide Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation framework as needed;
- Regularly convene and communicate with the WIEGO Law Advisory Committee consisting of external members and allies committed to supporting the implementation of the Law Programme’s five-year strategic priorities;
- Prepare for and attend one in-person WIEGO Board meeting per year (March) and up to 2-3 other in-person WIEGO meetings as appropriate.
B. Specific management responsibilities and team outputs
Oversight and management of the Law Programme Priority Areas
The Law Programme consists of seven team members and key consultants who are leading on the following priority areas as per the five-year strategy (2023-2028):
- Administrative Justice ProjectSupporting the International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF) affiliates to realise Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 No 189
- Extending the Scope of Labour Law to Self-employed workers
- Human Rights and Labour Rights in Latin America
- Global Supply Chain work with homeworkers
The role of the Law Programme Director is to:
- Support the work of the Law Programme team members and consultants, including reading and providing feedback on documents they produce
- Convene regular Law Programme meetings and lead team members in developing a common understanding of law and legal developments
- Plan and lead an annual Law Programme Strategy meeting
- Supervise, manage and troubleshoot for team members so they can reflect, strategise and implement their annual work plans to the best of their ability
- Provide legal technical assistance and strategic thought leadership
- Build and sustain collaborative relationships with member-based organisations of workers in informal employment including the leadership of the four
- Global Networks (i.e. IDWF, HNI, International Alliance of Waste Pickers and StreetNet International) to design and implement joint activities and projects
- Represent the Law Programme priorities in external research, advocacy and training engagements with key allies, partners and stakeholders
- Develop and maintain strategic alliances with global legal experts, researchers and policymakers to advance the objectives of the Law Programme
- Engage in fundraising processes to leverage more resources for WIEGO, the Law Programme and the Global Networks
- Sustain a sense of trust and camaraderie among team members who are working virtually and across multiple time zones
About You
The successful candidate will bring familiarity with the informal economy and worker-led organisations. The candidate will be able to demonstrate experience in strategy development at a senior level and success in team management and leadership roles. Experience in a range of geographic locations (especially in the Global South) is a plus.
To be successful for this position you will need to have:
- At least five years of management and senior leadership experience in an NGO, research institute, trade union or law firm.
- A Law degree and legal practice experience in labour law, constitutional law, property law or human rights law, with preference to constitutional and property law.
- Experience in bringing about legal change, and in using law to bring about social outcomes that benefit marginalised groups or workers.
- A strong understanding of the informal economy and WIEGO’s approach to it.
- Exposure to and experience working with grassroots organisations.
- A strong work ethic (thorough, thoughtful and able to manage deadlines) and a demonstrated commitment to social justice.
- Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
- The ability to manage a team across multiple cultures within a virtual network.
- Fundraising and project management experience.
- Excellent spoken and written English, fluency in another language is a welcome asset.
What we offer
The position is offered on an initial 6-month trial contract (5 days per week) with a probation review at 3 and 6 months, extendable to two years subject to satisfactory performance and thereafter renewable on a two-year basis.
Pay is in US Dollars and is dependent on experience, location and the role profile as defined by WIEGO's Remuneration Policy. This will be discussed with the successful candidate.
The post-holder will work from home and therefore you will need access to your own computer equipment and a strong Internet connection.
WIEGO is particularly interested to hear from candidates based in the Global South.
Next Steps
To apply for this position, please submit a resume, writing sample and cover letter explaining your motivation and how you fulfil the above requirements to recruit@wiego.org by the closing date of 30th June 2023.