• Location: Quaker House, Avenue du Mervelet 13, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland
• Reporting To: Quaker United Nations Committee, Geneva
• Responsible For: Geneva-based programmes, staff and resources.
• Resources: Quaker House; annual budget of approx. CHF 1.2 million.

The Director is the senior representative (together with the Director of QUNO New York) of Quakers at the UN. Their responsibilities include advancing the QUNO mission through effective programmatic and administrative leadership; playing a key role in securing and managing financial resources (including grant management); some programme work to support senior programme staff; and holding the vision for how Quakers can practically support peaceful international relations at this time.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic leadership

• Act as steward of the Quaker witness and the Quaker presence at the United Nations (UN), in close partnership with the Director of QUNO New York.
• In coordination with the QUNC, the Director of QUNO New York and staff, put in place a shared strategy and goals for Quaker engagement with the UN, aiming to jointly lead the shared Quaker priorities in an integrated way.
• With support from other staff, proactively review emerging strategic issues at the United Nations that relate to Quakers’ concerns and the QUNO mission, in particular threats to and opportunities for the system of peaceful multilateral engagement, and bring them to the attention of the QUNC and Quakers more broadly, as and when appropriate.
• With programme leads, encourage continuous improvement and innovation within existing programmes whilst exploring opportunities for growth and development.
• Guide and support opportunities for strategic synergy across QUNO programmes both in content and in QUNO’s methods including regular consultations with the Programme Representatives.
• Work as a strategic leader to all staff as well as offer and create a collaborative culture which promotes mutual support and strong sense of teamwork. Provide pastoral care to all staff in the challenging work; nurture the spiritual basis of the work.

Partnerships

• Take a joint lead with the Director of QUNO New York to build closer links and integrated operations across all QUNO work in order to achieve better outcomes.
• Serve as principal liaison to strengthen collaboration with other Quaker agencies including Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM), Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA), Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW), Canadian Friends Service Committee (CFSC), American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), aiming to maximise responses to concerns of Quakers worldwide at UN level.

Management of finance and organisation

• Ensure all regulations, compliances, control systems and processes are in place and adhered to as and when necessary.
• Provide sound financial management of QUNO Geneva’s resources, including appropriate use of restricted and unrestricted income, and maintenance of sufficient reserves for the maximum benefit to QUNO in line with QUNC policy; leadership of budgeting and financial reporting.
• Guide the implementation and development of the necessary policies and systems, related to human resources, information management, data security, and safeguarding.
• Ensure staff compliance with QUNO Geneva financial policies, procedures, and directives.
• Ensure good stewardship of Quaker House Geneva including its facilities, equipment and other QUNO Geneva assets.

Governance

• Serve as secretary to the Quaker United Nations Committee (Geneva).
• Work with the clerks of QUNC Geneva and its Executive Committee to enable effective decisions and implementations with respect to governance.
• Oversee logistic support for these bodies and ensure the successful design of online and in person meetings and related information for all QUNC members.
• Ensure sound institutional management in compliance with Swiss regulatory norms.

Fundraising and income generation

• Work with the Director of QUNO New York and relevant specialist staff to ensure that there is a fundraising strategy in place for QUNOs, and manage the implementation of Geneva-related fundraising.
• With others, manage the funding partnership and foster relationships with significant and core funders of QUNO’s programmes.
• With relevant specialist staff, coordinate fundraising initiatives by the Representatives for QUNO programmes, including advising on prospects, supporting the proposal and application processes, and quality assurance.

Networking and representation

• With other staff, represent QUNO at official functions and maintain a visible presence with senior stakeholders; oversee and support high-level representation of QUNO by Representatives for their own programmes, participating as and when necessary.
• With other staff, speak and act on behalf of QUNO Geneva on official UN occasions, according to the established procedures of such communications.
• With other staff, promote and communicate Quaker insights, perspectives and concerns within the UN community, and support others whose goals are in alignment with Quaker concerns where appropriate.
• Ensure that QUNO responds with agility and flexibility to the changing multilateral situation and Representatives’ professional contacts in diplomatic missions, the UN, WTO, and civil society.

Communications

• Lead and oversee the communications strategy for a range of audiences; coordinate presentations to governance bodies, funders, Quakers and other audiences.
• With relevant senior and specialist staff at QUNO Geneva and New York, ensure quality control and consistency of messaging, including signing-off publications; ensure that the website, social media channels and digital communication opportunities are operating effectively and efficiently.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Within the person specification we have listed criteria which demonstrate the breadth of this role. We do not necessarily anticipate the successful candidate needing to meet all of them. We will be assessing the application as a whole and looking for evidence of transferable skills which meet those requirements, even where you may not have direct experience of a particular one. We ask that you use the covering letter to illustrate how your capabilities match the specification and how/where you have already been successful.

Quaker approach

• The Director is required to be a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
• Demonstrate a profound understanding of the Quaker approach to be able to act as steward of the Quaker witness and the Quaker presence at the United Nations in Geneva.
• Have a leadership style that enables spiritual as well as practical and emotional support for the QUNO team.

Qualifications and/or specialist knowledge

• Advanced degree, or relevant life experience, and practical experience in international studies, international development, non-profit management, peace studies, human rights, environment or a related field.
• In-depth knowledge of the United Nations eco-system, its working methods, and its principles.

Experience

• Depth of experience in international development, diplomacy, multilateral institutions, and/or policy and advocacy work.
• Experience in programme planning, implementation and grant-proposal writing.
• Senior management experience with responsibility to lead on strategy, line managing and supervising staff members including use of coaching and mentoring techniques, developing and monitoring budgets, and raising funds.
• Experience of managing change in organisations. Experience in dealing successfully with adversely changing external circumstances is an advantage.
• Experience engaging with Quaker institutions and working within a complex organisational structure, with committee decision-making and consultative processes.

Skills, knowledge and abilities

• Ability to manage organisation finance and ensure all appropriate controls are in place.
• Ability to put abstract and complex ideas into workable strategies. Ability to communicate, connect and influence people from diverse backgrounds. Knowledge and understanding of the consultative decision-making process and having the appropriate interpersonal skills to implement this.
• Fluent communication skills in English, both orally and in writing; ability to work in at least one other UN language is an advantage.
• Commitment to nonviolence, equality and social justice and the belief in the intrinsic worth of every individual.
• Ability to travel, and to work at irregular hours and some weekends when required.
• Ability to manage time effectively and have self-servicing skills.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion in the delivery of services and employment.

Candidates who wish to apply for this role should email their application to: qunojob3@quno.ch. The closing time and date for applications is 09:00 hours UTC (equivalent to 11am Central European Summer Time) on Friday 18 July 2025.

You should attach a letter explaining your motivation for applying, describing how you meet the requirements of the role, together with a comprehensive curriculum vitae (CV) and the name, position and contact details of three referees of whom one if possible, should be a Quaker and one should be your present employer. Please also indicate the nationality of your passport(s) and details of any work permit status for Switzerland or the European Union. Please do not submit additional documents because they will not be forwarded to the selection committee.

First interviews, taking place online, will be held on Friday 25 July 2025. It may be possible in exceptional circumstances to hold these interviews on another, later, date, but if we interview sufficient suitable candidates then we may close the interview window before late interviews take place.
If required, second interviews, in-person in Geneva, will be held on 28-29 August 2025 (2-day process). It will not be possible to hold these interviews on any other dates. The gap between first and second interviews will help facilitate getting a short-term Swiss visa, if required.

Target start date: 1 October 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

If you have any queries about the application process or for an informal discussion about the role, please contact Oliver Robertson, line manager to the Director, on oliverr@quaker.org.uk.

Selection Process

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in an interview process. As part of this you will be asked to make a presentation on a topic to be notified in advance and complete other exercises. There will be an opportunity to interact with other team members as well as a panel interview.