Country Director

Country Director

Langa, Cape Town

About 

Bridges for Music is a global non-profit organisation that harnesses the power of music to create positive social change in underserved communities. With a focus on education, creative entrepreneurship, and community development, Bridges for Music operates mainly in South Africa, providing opportunities for young people to uplift themselves through music and creative education. 

Purpose

As the Country Director, you will participate in strategy development and lead the operational management of the South African organisation. Working closely with the global CEO, Board of Directors, local stakeholders, and community partners you will drive the implementation of impactful, sustainable programs that align with the organisation’s mission. You will foster a positive, inclusive workplace culture and champion the professional and personal development of the Bridges for Music team.

The successful candidate will be a visionary, inspirational leader with a passion for the creative arts and education and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in South Africa.

Responsibilities:

• Strategy Develop and execute the strategic plan in collaboration with the CEO and the board, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s global mission and goals, incl. identifying and pursuing growth opportunities for new partnerships, funding streams, and programme expansion

• Operations Oversee and work closely with the Programme Manager to ensure the effective delivery of programmes, incl. monitoring and evaluation, content etc. 

• People & Culture Ensure effective communication and collaboration within the team. Provide empathetic leadership and mentoring and foster a culture of innovation and accountability. 

• Finance & Risk Work closely with the Finance Manager and programmes team on annual budget development for the South African operations. Ensure financial sustainability, transparency and best practices in financial stewardship.

• Fundraising & Donor Management Lead fundraising efforts in collaboration with the CEO, board, and different agencies. Ensure that fundraising events are running according to agreed timelines and that we deliver the best possible outcomes.

• Stakeholder Management Build and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, incl. local communities, government agencies, corporate partners, and the international music industry.

• Governance & Compliance Ensure that the organisation complies with relevant policies and legislation.

Requirements:

Qualifications & Experience

• Relevant post-graduate qualification (NQF level 8) e.g., Education, Arts or Development Studies

• Minimum of 5 years management experience within education, youth development or the arts, ideally in the non-profit sector. 

• Successful track record of contributing to or leading successful fundraising efforts 

• Proven track record of building successful stakeholder relations

Skills & Attributes

• High-level strategic thinking and planning combined with strong operational skills.

• Excellent communication, writing and presentation skills 

• Financial management, incl. budget development, analysis and decision making 

• Culturally sensitive and adaptable.

• Strong leadership and decision-making skills.

• Data-driven 

• Self-motivated and able to work independently.

• Computer literate in Google Workplace, Salesforce and ClickUp or similar CRM software and project tools

Closing date: 13 October 2024 

Bridges for Music is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Please send your CV and a 1-page motivation letter to jobs@bridgesformusic.org.  For more information, go to https://bridgesformusic.org/  or contact Este Buchholz on the above e-mail address.

Please accept your application as unsuccessful if you have not heard from us by 13 November 2024.