Managing Director at Civil Society Academy Africa, Ethiopia

Job Description: Managing Director
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Organization: Civil Society Academy Africa Contract Type: Full-time

About Civil Society Academy Africa

Civil Society Academy Africa (CSA Africa) is a young and dynamic civil society organization rooted locally and part of the global Civil Society Academy International network. While Civil Society Academy Africa itself is in its early stages, the wider network has been active across Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Somalia, Liberia, Burkina Faso, and Zimbabwe, supporting coalitions and civil society actors on a range of pressing issues.

At its core, Civil Society Academy Africa focuses on advocacy, human-rights-based approaches, leadership and team management, coalition-building, multi-actor approaches, and fundraising. We are known for creating engaging and enduring spaces for dialogue, facilitating creative and adult-learning-based training sessions, and supporting civil society actors to sharpen their skills and strategies

Through the international network, Civil Society Academy Africa has also contributed to initiatives around complex development themes such as the right to adequate food, rural governance, responsible agricultural investment, and land governance, as well as peacebuilding through advocacy and dialogue.

Role Overview

Civil Society Academy seeks a Managing Director (MD) to provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, and external representation. The MD will steward Civil Society Africa’s next phase of growth, ensuring sustainability and impact by:

Driving resource mobilization through successful grant acquisition.

• Representing Civil Society Academy Africa as a credible and compelling voice within the civil society and donor community.
• Building partnerships and networks locally, regionally, and globally.
• Leading a small but dedicated team while maintaining close collaboration with international partners.
  This is a mid-career leadership role suited to a dynamic professional who thrives at the intersection of NGO management, facilitation, and consultancy.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Organizational Leadership

• Provide visionary leadership aligned with Civil Society Academy Africa’s mission and the
  wider Civil Society Academy International manifesto.
• Oversee organizational development, governance, and strategic planning.
• Ensure strong financial management and accountability.
• Build and sustain a healthy organizational culture rooted in creativity, collaboration, and
  integrity.

Programmatic & Facilitation Leadership

• Lead design and delivery of impactful training workshops and accompaniment processes
  using adult learning and andragogical approaches.
• Provide conceptual and practical leadership in building and strengthening civil society
  coalitions and multi-actor platforms.
• Ensure program quality, innovation, and responsiveness to the evolving civic space.

Resource Mobilization & Partnerships

• Develop and implement a robust fundraising strategy, with emphasis on grant proposal
  writing and donor engagement.
• Represent Civil Society Academy Africa at national, regional, and international fora; act
  as a credible spokesperson for the organization’s mission
• Strengthen networks and partnerships with NGOs, donors, governments, and private
  sector actors.

Team & Operational Management

• Lead, mentor, and support a small, high-performing team.
• Ensure smooth day-to-day operations across administration, finance, and program
  delivery.
• Foster collaboration across international and virtual teams.
  Candidate

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Mid-career professional with 7 or more years of experience in the NGO sector and/or
  consultancy.
• Proven track record of successful grant proposal writing and resource mobilization.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitation and training, with engaging and creative approaches rooted in adult learning.
• Strong background in coalition-building, advocacy, or civil society strengthening.
• Excellent communication skills, with fluent English and Amharic (both written and spoken).
• Experience working with international partners, networks, and virtual teams.

Desirable Attributes

• Knowledge of fundraising trends and donor landscapes in Africa.
• Familiarity with development themes.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with ability to manage resource-constrained environments.
• Ability to represent Civil Society Academy Africa with confidence, empathy, and credibility in diverse spaces.

Why Join Civil Society Academy Africa ?

• Compensation: Receive a competitive salary package aligned with experience and responsibilities.
• Impact: Lead an organization at the forefront of civil society strengthening and human rights advocacy.
• Collaboration: Work within a global network committed to social justice.
• Innovation: Shape pioneering training and coalition-building initiatives across Africa.
• Growth: Grow as a leader while empowering the next generation of change-makers.