Application Closing Date

03-07-2026

Context of Role

Works as part of the Regional Senior Leadership Team to promote, position, develop and amplify the work of the Federation across all Pillars.
Positions IPPF as a proactive sector leader, responsive to the most critical and urgent issues impacting SRHRJ. Works as part of the Global Secretariat External Relations team to deliver Strategy 2028, ensuring IPPF stands up and speaks out on issues impacting the most marginalised and vulnerable.
Leads on nurturing and maintaining strategic partnerships in the region that will ensure IPPF is well connected and resonant Connects all the External facing work within a Region and builds optimal engagement of Member Associations/Partners in regional level activities.
Supports MAs to develop and cultivate strategic partnership at the country level, enabling meaningful engagement and strategic partnerships.
Pushes on advocacy at all levels, supporting global, regional and country level efforts to influence policy change, legislation, as well as influencing decisions in multi-governmental spaces, together with and in support of efforts made by MAs.
Ensures adequate resourcing. Leads on research mobilization/business development at the regional level, including the search for opportunities, cultivating relationships with regional donors, overseeing proposal development and supporting MAs in the process.
Is an active part of the change that IPPF is shepherding through, actively challenging IPPF to be more courageous and relevant. Ensures IPPF works to an intersectional and feminist agenda; with youth voices better represented in its external positioning.
With the Regional Director, represents IPPF on political advocacy and external forums.
Adhere to the safeguarding reporting and monitoring requirements of this role.

Management reporting or areas of responsibility:

Communications, Voice & Media.
Winning Narratives & Campaigns.
Opposition.
Political advocacy.
Strategic Partnerships and Community Networks.

Role Purpose

To Move the Sexuality Agenda and build Solidarity for Change by shifting norms, ground advocacy, building strategic partnerships and supporting social movements, in support and together with IPPF Member Associations (MAs) which fall under Pillar 2 and 3 of the Strategic Framework 2023-2028 (Strategy 2028). To amplify the work of IPPF and the MAs, and lead on IPPFs commitment to be bold and courageous in speaking up as defined in Strategy 2028.

Deliverables

Develops and implements a progressive regional plan to deliver on Straategy2028, ensuring it complements global and regional plans, with a clear understanding of the support to be provided to MAs.
Leads the necessary change, ensuring IPPF visibly transforms and evolves as part of its commitments defined within Strategy 2028.
Ensures a strategic eye across business development/resource mobilisation and strategic engagements along with other regional colleagues to support regional and country level fundraising.
Builds an evolving network of stakeholders, influencers, trends and opposition to inform, strengthen, and prioritise action.
Measures and tracks key result areas, impacts and change to adapt/respond with agility. Distils IPPF's identity and voice to speak to key stakeholders; develops positions and key messages on strategic and emerging themes.
Gathers intelligence and commissions research, leveraged through the global External Relations team, to deepen understanding and strengthen positioning/influencing/delivery.
Prioritise and focus on engagement of key strategic bodies to maintain presence and influence and carefully selects roles to take in Regional forums/networks that will deliver tangible benefits.
Creates an environment that nurtures and leverages disruptive partnerships and strategic community networks
Prioritise, connect and amplify campaigns placing MA's voices at the forefront to advocate for the Federation
Oversee the framing, activation and mobilisation of high impact media and social media activity that builds on the work of MAs and acts with youth. Ensuring stories/impacts are captured and narrated in engaging/impactful ways.
Crisis management for the Region, connecting and escalating with Global Comms, Voice and Media as required
Creates an environment where people perform at their best, leading and developing a team with the skills, drive, diversity and expertise to deliver. Acting as a role model for safeguarding, anti-racism and IPPF's Code of Conduct

Essential Skills

Has led policy/legislative change, campaigns and communication strategies at a regional level across multiple stakeholders and coalitions, including marginalised groups.
Evidence of the ability to flex style in a diverse and multi-cultural environment to build positive relationships, combining drive with diplomacy.
Exceptional communication and presentation skills – Excellent English (written/verbal) and at least one other language (French, Spanish, Arabic).
Evidence of being open to and enabling new and leading-edge ideas to build engagement and impact.
Excellent team manager, leader and developer with strong planning, organizing and knowledge sharing skills.
Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to safeguarding in a local and international context.
Demonstrate a willingness to sign and adhere to IPPF's Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Policy.
Demonstrates ability and willingness to work in a diverse, multicultural, multilingual and intergenerational environment that is anti-racist and respectful of others.
An intersectional (pro) feminist passionate about sexual reproductive health care rights + justice, including safe abortion.
Supportive of people's rights regardless of sexuality or gender identity/expression and supportive of worker's rights and access to health care in sex work.

Desirable Skills

Track record in political influencing, inter-governmental negotiations and measurable change in SRHR related work internationally, with an emphasis on regional engagement.
Track record on speaking out on sensitive issues, ensuring voice and agency. Evidence of inspiring and delivering on cultural change; setting the tone of voice, ensuing values and integrity on SRHRJ inform decision making and setting the pace for a high performing team that can meaningfully connect with national and global partners.
Strong understanding of and experience in gender equality, sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice.

About Us

IPPF is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees, volunteers, contractors and partners to share this commitment. Anyone employed with IPPF agrees to sign and adhere to IPPF's Code of Conduct and Safeguarding (Children and Vulnerable Adults) Policy.

IPPF is a global movement delivering sexual and reproductive health services and rights. We are a diverse, feminist, and values-driven workplace - multi-national, multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-lingual, and intergenerational.

We are an equal opportunities employer and appoint on merit through open competition. We actively encourage applications from people with lived experience and from the communities we serve, especially those from marginalised groups.

WHY JOIN IPPF

IPPF offers meaningful work, an inspiring environment, professional growth, and the chance to make a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and communities around the world. Working for IPPF offers a compelling value proposition:
Mission-Driven Organization: IPPF is a globally recognized leader. By joining IPPF, you become part of a mission-driven organization dedicated to empowering individuals and communities, advancing gender equality, and improving access to comprehensive healthcare services.
Bringing Positive Change: IPPF brings positive change to the lives of millions of people worldwide. Reducing maternal mortality, preventing unintended pregnancies, combating gender-based violence, promoting comprehensive sexuality education, and advocating for the realization of sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice for all, and especially marginalized people.
Global Reach and Influence: IPPF works across all continents, providing a unique opportunity to work on a global scale to shape change and implement innovative approaches to combat racism.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: IPPF is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of its work. You will play a crucial role in building an inclusive and equitable organization that respects and values individuals backgrounds, experiences, and identities.

At IPPF, ourvalues guide how we work, how we lead and how we partner. We:

Uphold dignity by championing bodily autonomy and the full realisation of sexual and reproductive rights for all. 
Champion equality through feminist, anti-racist, anti-ableist and intersectional practice. 
Demand justice for all by challenging structural inequalities and standing alongside social movements for change. 
Celebrate pleasure, recognising sexual and reproductive health as a positive state of wellbeing, joy and fulfilment. 
Build global and local community, led by those most affected and powered by youth, volunteers and partners. 
Act with integrity, holding ourselves accountable to people, partners, donors and each other. 
Foster resilience by learning, adapting and persevering in complex and changing contexts.

YOUR ETHOS

Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to safeguarding in a local and international context.
Demonstrates ability and willingness to work in a diverse, multicultural, multilingual and intergenerational environment that is anti-racist and respectful of others.
An intersectional (pro) feminist passionate about sexual reproductive health care rights + justice, including safe abortion.
Supportive of people's rights regardless of sexuality or gender identity/expression and supportive of workers rights and access to health care in sex work.

Regional External Relations Director