Overview
Senior Leadership — Deputy Executive Director, South Africa + 1 more
Organization
Frontline AIDS
Posted 5 May 2026 | Closing date 24 May 2026
About Frontline AIDS
Together with their partners, Frontline AIDS has been on the frontline of the world’s response to AIDS for 30 years. Frontline AIDS was founded in 1993 as the International HIV/AIDS Alliance to support the work of existing community-led organisations responding to HIV and AIDS. They work with partners to reach marginalised communities. Today, their global partnership works in more than 100 countries to support local, national, and global community action on HIV, health, and human rights. Frontline AIDS’ mission is to support community-led organisations to break down social, political, and legal barriers to create a future free from AIDS. They partner to innovate and work across six action areas to achieve this. The AIDS response began in communities, both at country and global levels; local knowledge and leadership are critical to finding effective and sustainable solutions to end pandemics. They commit to becoming an anti-racist organisation and strive to ensure that power and leadership sit locally and nationally with the communities that are at the heart of partnerships.
Job Purpose
The Deputy Executive Director, working closely with the Executive Director and as part of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), is responsible for stewardship of internal affairs in Frontline AIDS and will deputise for the Executive Director as required. They lead on advancing the organisation’s Power in Partnership strategic plan for 2026-2030, coordinating operational planning and ensuring operations are fit for purpose for an evolving organisation rooted in anti-racist, feminist and decolonial values. The post-holder cultivates an Operations team (People, Finance, IT, Safeguarding and Risk) that is values-driven, cohesive and high performing. The DED also leads key transformation initiatives including culture, diversified leadership and the shift to become co-located between the UK and South Africa.
Key Responsibilities
* Senior Leadership
* Coordination of internal affairs, including the business planning of the Senior Leadership Team
* Oversee the development of a holistic and coordinated annual planning and budgeting process and the systematic measurement of KPI and performance objectives in service of organisational strategy
* Shaping an organisational culture to model anti-racist, feminist and decolonised values
* Oversee the development of SLT as an accountable, high-performing, value-based leadership team
* Develop and maintain good working relationships with the Board and its Committees to support governance responsibilities
* Deputising in other areas of Frontline AIDS, including external representation as required by the Executive Director
* Organisational Transformation
* Lead on systems, practices and behaviours that enable a cohesive globally co-located organisation
* Develop a Leadership Forum bringing SLT and wider organisational leadership together on strategic issues
* Transform the organisation towards being highly digitally proficient and virtually connected
* Foster an organisational culture rooted in feminism and anti-racism
* Create a workplace that fosters high performance while supporting well-being and work-life balance
* Operations Leadership
* Cultivate a values-driven, globally cohesive, high-performing Operations team
* Provide supportive line management to Heads of Finance, People Lead, Safeguarding Lead, ARFD Lead and Risk & Performance Lead
* Ensure Operations plans align with Power in Partnership strategy (2026-2030)
* Ensure divisional plans and SOPs are up-to-date and grounded in anti-racist, feminist and decolonial principles
* Oversee development of finance and people systems; improve policies and processes to drive efficiencies
* Maintain an effective control environment to meet legal requirements
* Collaborate with Head of Internal Audit and Governance to manage risk across corporate, financial, people, safety and IT/cyber security
* Ensure staff at all locations have appropriate infrastructure, policies and engagement
* Provide regular management reporting for leadership, Board and donors
* Support Frontline AIDS partners with operational facilitation and technical assistance
* Collaborate with IT to roadmap digital infrastructure improvements
* Establish confidential channels for reporting grievances, whistleblowing and safeguarding concerns
* Risk & Safeguarding: Strategic risk management, safeguarding policy implementation, incident response and business continuity
* Develop Frontline AIDS culture committed to anti-racism, feminism and decolonisation
* Ensure workforce reflects global diversity and equality
Person Specification
Essential
* A relevant degree or professional qualification
* Experience of working for an international organisation
* Experience of working in Southern Africa
* Experience of working in Europe
* Strong strategic leadership with a track record of directing and motivating multifunctional teams in a complex international organisation
* Experience in senior leadership collaboration with Boards and committees
* Strategic thinking, planning and analysis skills
* Experience in setting and tracking KPIs
* Exceptional people leadership and HR practices in an international, diverse environment
* Extensive experience in organisational change and general management
* Experience in budget management, reporting, forecasting and analysis
* Understanding of modern financial systems and IT structures, use and risk
* Understanding of programme operating environments, requirements and risks
* Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills
* Fluency in English with excellent written, oral and presentation skills
Desirable
* Knowledge of HIV prevention and treatment issues
* Working knowledge of French or Spanish
* Experience within an international NGO
* Experience of working in South Africa
* Experience of working in the UK
Key Attributes, Values & Personal Qualities
* Commitment to Frontline AIDS mission and values and the partnership model
* Commitment to equality of opportunity, anti-racist practice, safeguarding, and diversity
* Inclusive leadership that inspires and fosters collaborative teams
* Delivery in contexts of organisational change
* Engagement with marginalised communities and partners
* Ability to adapt to changing global development challenges
* Strategic yet detail-oriented thinking
* Exemplary integrity and respect in leadership
Appointment Terms
Location: South Africa / United Kingdom
Salary and Benefits: South Africa: R 2,050,000 | United Kingdom: GBP 100,000
Contract length: Permanent
Travel: Occasional
Reports to: Executive Director
Direct reports: Head of Finance; People Lead; ARFD Lead; Safeguarding Lead; Risk & Performance Lead
How to apply
Closing date: 24 May. Please click on the link to be redirected to the Red Sea site. Candidates are asked to submit a CV of no more than four pages and a cover letter, preferably in MS Word. All documents should be submitted in English. If you require information in a different format, please contact applications@redseasearch.com.
File naming: FirstName_Surname_FLA_DED
Red Sea processes personal data in line with GDPR. Red Sea is compliant with equality and diversity standards.
Job details
Countries: South Africa; United Kingdom
Source: Frontline AIDS
Type: Job
Career category: Program/Project Management
Years of experience: 10+ years
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