Head of Office, ARTICLE 19 Bangladesh & South Asia

Team: Bangladesh Office

Responsible to: Senior Director of Programmes

Responsible for: All staffs working for the Bangladesh Office

Key Relationship: Global Management Team, Senior Leadership Team,Bangladesh Coordination Group, Law and Policy Team,Finance Team, Business Development Team, People and Culture Team,    Communications and Campaigns team, Projects Team, and Thematic leads. 

Contract: Permanent

Working hours: Full time (37.5 hours per week)

Special conditions: Possible travel in the region and abroad required

Salary: 56,13,804 Taka per annum

Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh
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​About ARTICLE 19

Established in 1987, ARTICLE 19 works for a world where all people everywhere can freely express themselves and actively engage in public life without fear of discrimination. Our mission is to promote and defend the universal human rights of freedom of expression and information around the world, through international advocacy, legal analysis, and regional and national projects.

For over 35 years, ARTICLE 19 has worked for a world where all people everywhere can freely express themselves and actively engage in public life without fear of discrimination. We do this by combining research, campaigning, and cutting-edge legal analysis. Explore our impact since 1987

In the previous five years, one of our key achievements has been expanding and strengthening our international reach by consolidating our presence outside the UK, establishing strong and operationally autonomous national or regional offices. Being based in the countries and regions on which we work, we have a better understanding of regional and national realities and local needs and thus have greater impact on freedom of expression developments. We respond more swiftly to opportunities or crises. We are closer to our partners, and thus respond to their demands and strengthen interactions and capacities.
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Our Bangladesh Office, registered since 2012, thrives on ARTICLE 19’s international work, legal and policy expertise. Its reputation for delivery and impact brings all of these qualities and characteristics to national debates for stronger protection of the right to access to information and freedom of expression. Our impact on freedom of expression and right to information ranges from legal analysis, interventions and advocacy, to working with government institutions, and international community to a broad range of actors of the civil society, from media, journalists, human right defenders and activists, to community based organisations.

Your contribution to the team

As Head of Office, you will provide leadership to our team in Bangladesh, ensuring continuity and stability during this period. Your primary focus will be on maintaining operational efficiency and smooth delivery of existing projects and grants, managing key relationships with donors and stakeholders, and supporting the team in programmatic delivery. You will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, coordinating with the International Office and global teams. Your strong leadership skills, project management expertise, and excellent interpersonal skills will be essential in navigating this transitional period effectively.

You will lead a growing team of twenty ambitious staff and be a strong and effective senior manager with professional people management experience in Bangladesh. You will balance the needs of the role as well as strengthen development of your staff. You will be expected to engage in a change management process as we seek to drive excellence within the office, create a proper working environment, capacity build, collaborate with the international office and maintain key external relationships with donors.

You will lead the Bangladesh team in this capacity and grow ARTICLE 19’s office and presence in country. You will be an ambassador for ARTICLE 19 representing the organization in the media, with donors, governments, partners, opinion makers and leaders in general. The post holder will coordinate priorities and activities of the regional strategy in alignment with the global ones.

The post holder will also be accountable for the financial and operational probity of the office responsible for ensuring the financial stability of the office by identifying fundraising opportunity, developing, and maintaining good relationships with existing and potential foundations and funders. Hence, you will have a successful track record of identifying fundraising opportunities, as well as maintenance and development of solid and positive

relationships with existing and potential foundations and funders.  A key part of the role will also include providing leadership to, and oversight of staff and their wellbeing.

Our Values

Integrity

  • We hold ourselves to the high standard we set for others.
  • We are coherent on matters of law and policy wherever we work in the world.
  • We value visibility, objectivity and the accuracy of our work.

Transparency

  • We know good information can enable powerful action.
  • We are clear, open and honest in our dealings with each other and the outside world.

Collaboration

  • Our network of supporters and partners is the lifeblood of our organisation.
  • We seek to build productive and inspiring relationships based on the trust our partners,   supporters and donors place in us.

Diversity

  • We respect each other and we listen to each other.
  • We actively defend those whose voices are marginalised.

Accountability

  • We say what we mean and we do what we say, speaking with once voice wherever possible.
  • We work hard to make sure our learning and reporting is the best it can be.

​Tenacity

  • We never give up
  • We are tenacious and will find every possible avenue to seek changes in law and practice to secure the freedoms associated with our mission.

Innovation

  • We are proud of our expertise and are always ready to share what we know.
  • We seek to explore the boundaries of our field for benefits of the freedom we protect.

​What you will be doing day-to-day

​Strategic Leadership and Management [15%]

  • Manage good compliance with national legislation and institutions.
  • Lead implementation of policies and procedures in collaboration with the People and Culture Team.
  • ​Manage office budget and finances, overseeing financial management of project and core budgets, ensuring timelyreporting schedules to ARTICLE19 international office and donors Identify, mitigate and manage physical, digital and reputational risks and threats to ARTICLE 19, its staff and the office
  • Provide leadership and oversight to the operational support functions

Programme & Financial Management [30%]

  • Ensure quality, cohesive and coordinated implementation of priorities and projects
  • Maintain collaboration and regular contact with ARTICLE 19 partners, including national civil society organisations, media, activists, and government officials
  • Lead in maintaining operational budgets, overseeing the proper spending of the budget in line of ARTICLE 19's grants' and other requirements
  • Ensure timely and qualitative compliance with internal narrative and financial reporting as per the annual and quarterly reports and donors’ reports, as well as monitoring and evaluation of ARTICLE 19’s work

Staff Management [20%]

  • Line manage team members through review of work plans and objectives, assessment of work through regular appraisal, provide guidance and support as necessary, including professional development
  • Support a culture of collaborative working in order to ensure a thriving working environment
  • Lead and support as appropriate the recruitment of staff and consultants
  • Ensure human resource policies and procedures are effectively implemented and in compliance with national legislation
  • Promote and support a good workplace culture built around the ARTICLE 19 values

Fundraising [20%]

  • Maintain contacts with donors, particularly those located in the sub-region
  • Lead in the development of fundraising proposals for the regional office’s projects in line with ARTICLE 19’s regional strategy and the organisational strategy

Communication [10%]

  • Collaborate with the International Communications lead for Bangladesh Office on the identification and delivery of ARTICLE 19’s local communication strategy
  • Oversee the development of and production of reports, articles and other pieces covering the office for ARTICLE19 publications and website, and maintain good quality of output
  • Ensure a prompt and effective response to media inquiries as required

Other [5%]

  • Undertake other duties commensurate with the role as may reasonably be assigned by the Senior Director of Programmes and/or the Executive Director 
  • Maintain and develop A19 Bangladesh office files, and contribute to the development of relevant information systems to improve institutional memory and learning

What you will bring to the role

Experience

  • Significant demonstrable experience in managing organizations or large teams.
  • Experience of living and working in the region and/or similar environment
  • Successful management of senior teams, including the delivery of key goals, with demonstrated emotional and social intelligence in decision-making.
  • Substantial demonstrable, successful experience of project management, including coordination of varied activities and budget management
  • Proven, successful experience in fundraising from institutional donors such as governments and large trusts, as well as establishing and maintaining relations with donors.
  • Strong understanding of good governance, reporting and accountability
  • Team building and line management of staff

Skills and abilities

  • Ability to lead a senior management role within the organisation
  • Ability to manage staff, fostering a strong sense of team amongst them, establishing a positive office environment, and appraising and motivating them to higher performance
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work effectively, often under pressure, to tight and demanding deadlines
  • Confident and assertive with well-developed analytical capabilities, financial and risk management knowledge and experience.

Education and Knowledge

  • Educated to degree standard or relevant experience
  • Knowledge of the charity regulatory system in Bangladesh
  • Knowledge of human rights trends, particularly on freedom of expression and information, in Bangladesh

Other

  • Must already have the right to work in Bangladesh. [Please note that ARTICLE 19 is not able to sponsor work visas or provide support in obtaining required work permits]
  • Firm commitment to work within and promote ARTICLE 19's values and objectives
  • A passionate and vigilant promoter of ARTICLE 19 values and principles and champion of equal opportunities and non-discrimination, respect and justice both inside and outside the organisation, and an enabler of work in a multi-cultural work environment.
  • Integrity, professionalism, and instinctive reliance on the highest moral and liability standards are indispensable.
  • Willingness and availability for overseas travel

Our Culture

We are a people centred and flexible employer, friendly and a passionate global organisation who live and breathe the same mission and values. We strive to be agile and work collaboratively and are committed to DEI and staff wellbeing.

Our commitment as an equal opportunities employer

Our mission is to welcome everyone and create inclusive teams. We celebrate individuality and encourage you to join us and be your authentic self at work with the freedom to have responsibility, autonomy, and creativity within your role.

We operate a zero tolerance in response to any sort of discrimination, harassment, bullying or abuse regarding a person's characteristics. We are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and supportive work environment where all employees feel valued and protected with a culture of respect, inclusion and professionalism.

Application Deadline:  18th January 2025

Apply here