Civitas Maxima coordinates a network of national and international lawyers and investigators who work for the interest of victims of international crimes. It operates in situations where no legal action to bring the perpetrators to justice has been successful and works in close partnership with the Global Justice and Research Project (GJRP), based in Monrovia. Civitas Maxima represents victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire.

Civitas Maxima was registered in September 2012 as an association in Geneva, Switzerland, and is recognized by the Swiss authorities as a not-for-profit organization. It is an equal opportunity employer.

Civitas Maxima is a very small-scale structure, much orientated towards horizontal and mutual collaboration, allowing for a self-starter spirit and hands-on operations.

For more information: www.civitas-maxima.org

Civitas Maxima hereby advertises a position of Head of Operations.

The salary will depend on level of experience.

Position:  Head of Operations

Reports to: Director

Contract: Fixed-term contract (1 year) with a possibility to extend to an indeterminate contract under Swiss law, 60%, 24h per week

Location: Geneva (Switzerland)

Deadline for application: 8 January 2023

Envisioned starting date: 6 February 2023

Personal attributes:

• Respect for other cultures and value systems, flexibility, ability to work independently and take initiative;
• Comfort working with a wide range of personalities, and to interact with tact, diplomacy, and cultural sensitivity;
• Ability to work efficiently under time pressure and respond to a dynamic and changing environment, skill at prioritizing and completing multiple tasks with autonomy, whilst working as part of a team;
• Energy, resourcefulness, innovative thinking, and willingness and readiness to take on a hands-on approach;
• A genuine interest in victims’ rights and comfort working with victims of human rights abuses;

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the direct responsibility of CM Director, based in Geneva, this role is responsible for the following tasks:

• CM Head of Operations will be responsible for improving CM’s ongoing processes and organizing procedures to ensure optimal efficiency towards its mission.
• Will oversee all departments of the organization to ensure they function effectively, and implement policies and procedures.
• Will ensure that each member of each department has clear a role, responsibility and line of reporting.
• Will be responsible in ensuring that each department plans effectively its operations, according to clearly defined strategies and objectives.
• Will ensure the quality of communication between departments and within the organization.
• Will act as a liaison between the staff and Director regarding the organization’s climate, staff member’s well-being and project updates;
• Will design, if necessary, new processes to improve quality of work and efficiency of each department and thus help address ongoing problems as they may happen.
• Will oversee the process of CM’s strategic planning for the years ahead.
• Will oversee the budgetary planning and long-term sustainability of CM’s operations.
• Will coordinate with CM’s external HR and CM’s Person of Trust to ensure each staff member receives the necessary support and has visibility on their long-term future in the organization.
• Conduct any other tasks as required.

Qualifications:

• Education
• University Degree with Honours
• Work Experience
• Minimum of 10 years senior management experience - within a legal a/o international environment would be a plus
• Evidence of ongoing professional development
• Awareness of operational management within a very small company
• Experience in cross-country management and audit
• Experience in budget analysis and management
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to manage own workload
• Ability to effectively lead and manage a multi-skilled team
• Ability to build professional relationships with staff, consultants, and colleagues
• Ability to work and communicate accurate financial information effectively at both operational and managerial levels
• Strong IT skills i.e. good working knowledge of Microsoft Office including: Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Evidence of involvement in strategic development

• Languages: Native English and French (or equivalent)

Skills and Abilities:

• Problem-solving and analytical skills
• Excellent IT skills and knowledge of any industry-specific software or programmes
• Auditing and monitoring outputs and data analysis
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Leadership and management skills and the ability to motivate and retain staff
• Commercial awareness and a thorough understanding of the competitive environment
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• Project management skills and knowledge of methodologies such as Agile, Lean, and Six Sigma
• Time management skills and the ability to prioritise effectively and delegate when appropriate
• Authorization to work in Switzerland (EU national, Schengen Visa or Swiss Permit).

How to apply:

To apply, send an email by 6 January 2023 to jobs@civitas-maxima.org with:

• The specific position (portfolio) for which you are applying in the title of the email;
• CV and Cover Letter;
• The names and contact details of three (3) references (these will only be contacted after shortlisting); including two (2) supervisors and one (1) colleague;
• Please, no phone enquiries. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.