Director of Internews International & Senior Director of Programmes

Internews is looking for a director to strategically lead Internews International and effectively manage a diverse global programme portfolio of approximately 40 projects across 30 countries globally. The executive-level position reports to the President of the Internews International Bureau.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Oversight

• Lead and deliver Internews’ global programme portfolio, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest technical standards.
• Provide direct oversight and line management of regional programme managers and key global programme leads, setting culture and driving excellent performance.
• Co-develop the design of innovative and effective programming in line with Internews’ mission and strategic direction, based on local context and need.
• Drive programme coherence and cohesion across regions, embedding standardised approaches and global impact measurement.
• Champion the use of audience insights and data to strengthen partner support and demonstrate impact to donors.

Governance and Strategic Leadership of Internews International

• Implement strategies and decisions on behalf of the II Bureau and Internews Europe board (acts under delegations of authority and signature granted by the Bureau and/or the Président).
• Maintain transparency and accountability in all operations and ensure effective management and compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks, including line management of the Internews International Operations Manager
• Support Internews International’s operational resilience and alignment with Alliance-wide strategy.
• Support the development of a fit-for-purpose system of programme support services provided from France/Internews International to various regional and global programme delivery teams.

External Representation

• Represent Internews at high-level forums, including European institutions (Brussels), UNESCO (Paris), and global media and information conferences.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships to advance the organisation’s mission and secure funding opportunities.

Executive Leadership

• Serve as a key member of the Executive Management Team, contributing to organisational strategy, planning, and governance.
• Ensure effective communication and coordination across regions and departments.
• Support fundraising strategy development and donor engagement, particularly with European and private donors.

Requirements

• 10+ years’ senior leadership experience in complex, international organisational settings, ideally within non-profit, association, or mission-driven environments.
• Proven track record of leading and delivering large, multi-country programme portfolios, including direct line management of senior programme leaders and geographically dispersed teams.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, organisational leadership, and executive decision-making, with the ability to translate strategy into coherent global programmes and operational priorities.
• Strong governance, financial oversight and management experience.
• Have substantial experience working with European institutional donors and private philanthropic funders.
• Have successful programme fundraising experience, including donor representation, relationship management, and contribution to proposal development.
• Have a solid understanding of French non-profit governance frameworks, legal requirements, compliance obligations, and HR regulations.
• Have a deep understanding of media development, freedom of expression, information integrity, and/or closely related fields in the global context.
• Have a strong understanding of global geopolitical dynamics, with the capacity to interpret regional and global trends and apply these insights to strategic planning.
• Have excellent communication and representational skills, including the ability to engage effectively with governance bodies, donors, institutional partners, and external stakeholders.
• Fluency in French and English, with exceptional written, verbal, and representational communication skills in both languages.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills.
• Result-oriented and highly organised.
• Show commitment to Internews’ mission and values, including editorial independence, partner-first approaches, collaboration, inclusion, and integrity.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use evidence, data, and insight to inform decision-making.
• Proficiency in relevant technology tools and processes, including the MS Office suite.
• Legal right to live and work in France, with the ability and willingness to travel frequently.

Additional information

• Duration: Permanent
• Salary: €95,000 – €115,000 p.a. (depending on experience and qualifications)

How to apply

Candidates must submit a succinct cover letter of no more than 2 pages explaining how they satisfy the requirements of the role, and a CV (no more than 2 pages) highlighting relevant experience by 12 February 2026. A successful candidate will also be asked to provide three professional referees, one of whom must be from their most recent employer.

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