Executive Director

Job Description

DFS’ Executive Director is the most senior leadership role in the organization, managing the overall strategic direction, culture, networking, and fundraising of the organization. Through guidance from the DFS board, the ED sets the tone and vision for the organization at large.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Execute the mission of DFS to enable data-driven responses to global crises and to ensure that its humanitarian goals are implemented and achieved
• Maintain a progressive and dynamic organizational spirit encouraging innovation and challenging the existing norms of the humanitarian sector
• Maintain existing networks of DFS and diversify DFS’s portfolio to ensure that appropriate funding is received to support organizational growth
• Manage and grow the senior leadership team with direct reports including the Director of Operations, Director of Partnership, Director of Technology (to be hired), Director of Analysis
• Promote DFS to members of the humanitarian community as well as external partners and media
• Ensure growth of existing software development projects and secondary data review/analysis activities in addition to identifying and implementing new activity streams
• Provide strategic support for the establishment of field presence

Language: Fluent in written and spoken English. French or other languages are a perk.

Terms: Open-ended

Required Skills:

• Out-of-the-box thinking and a desire to improve how the humanitarian community operates
• Knowledge of the software development cycle or secondary data review/analysis
• Experience working in the humanitarian or development sectors, and a strong history of field experience is a plus
• Experience with fundraising or service contracting from traditional donors in addition to novel sources
• Ability to be comfortable working remotely and set your own schedule
• Strong team management and public speaking skills
• Ability to manage the macro and selected micro-processes of DFS

What we are looking for in you:

• At least 7 years of experience in humanitarian settings with a preference for experience in senior management roles
• Familiarity with the humanitarian networks community and the United Nations/INGO systems

Salary: $120,000 USD (Commensurate with experience)

Apply Before: 7 Nov 2022

Start Date: The start date is ASAP and the duration of the contract will depend on the candidate’s availability.

Location: Remote with a preference for easy travel to Geneva and within 5 hours of GMT

About Us

Data Friendly Space (DFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in the United States with a presence in Switzerland and Nepal. DFS’ guiding principle is to improve information management and analysis capacity, tools, and processes in the humanitarian and development community to enable better informed and more targeted assistance.

DFS staff is composed of experts from the humanitarian information management and analysis field who specialize in real-time secondary data review and build humanitarian applications that support the fast extraction of information from large volumes of unstructured data.

DFS also focuses on the creation of data-centric web applications, websites, and mobile applications to support humanitarian organizations. When building software, DFS focuses on the intersection between data automation processes powered by Artificial intelligence and human knowledge and skills, in particular when one can help the other to execute the analysis.

DFS is closely linked to the DEEP project, with several of its staff members have contributed to its foundation and development.

Data Friendly Spaces (DFS) core principles include:

• Technology for humans, by humans: Understanding user design process and developing interfaces that facilitate interaction with your data, at the speed of thought.
• Technological responsibility. While we are passionate about new technologies, we are also realistic about how much can be expected and achieved from them. DFS takes a forward-thinking approach to reviewing and selecting tools and approaches that are the most appropriate to solve given problems. We firmly believe that technology is best used when it enhances human expert capabilities.
• Creating sustainable solutions. The ultimate success of DFS comes when its services are no longer needed and humanitarian organizations are able to make the best of their data without external support. DFS aims to empower organizations with self-sufficient methodologies, technologies, and workstreams through appropriately tailored solutions and capacity building. There is nothing more rewarding for us than seeing projects we supported still producing value years after we have stopped supporting them.

How to apply

In order to apply, please send an updated CV and cover letter stating why you are a good candidate for the job as well as what motivates you to join DFS to the following address:

[email protected]