About the Organization

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) was founded in 2002 with the mission to protect civilians in violent conflicts through unarmed strategies, build peace side-by-side with local communities, and advocate for the wider adoption of these approaches to safeguard human lives and dignity. NP envisions a worldwide culture of peace in which conflicts within and between communities and countries are managed through nonviolent means. We are guided by principles of nonviolence, non-partisanship, primacy of local actors, and civilian-to-civilian action.

NP has teams on the ground supporting local communities in Indonesia, Iraq, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Philippines, Sudan, South Sudan, Thailand, Ukraine and the USA. The organization is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, but our Board is global and reflects the countries and regions in which we serve.

About the Board Member Role

NP’s board consists of passionate members from all over the world with expertise across a variety of organizations and experiences, from non-profits to public companies, and from on-the-ground humanitarian and peace workers and educators to CEOs. We all share one thing in common, a desire for a more peaceful world.

The full board meets four times per year online and once per year in person, generally at our headquarters in Geneva. Each board member serves on at least two committees, which also meet three to four times per year online.

We are an active board, which means we expect members to contribute where needed. Director terms are three years with the ability to serve up to three consecutive terms.

We are currently seeking a volunteer Board member who resides in Switzerland and is either a Swiss citizen or a C Permit holder. Board experience is preferred but not essential. The ideal candidate will also have most of the following additional qualifications and will be able to join the Board starting early 2026:

Qualifications:

• Resides in Switzerland and is either a Swiss citizen or a C Permit holder.
• Expertise in one of the following areas:
  • Finance and audit
  • Governance
  • Fundraising and Partnerships
  • Brand and Marketing
  • Programmatic Expertise: Civilian protection and peacebuilding
  • Policy and Advocacy
  • Human Resources, People & Culture
  • Technology and Innovation
  • Lived Experience (community leaders, people from conflict-afflicted countries, former NP staff members/partners, etc.)
• Demonstrated commitment and willingness to be an engaged and contributing Board member beyond required meeting attendance- including actively contributing to discussions, meaningful involvement in Board projects and committee work as needed (e.g. Board surveys, operating principles and policy reviews, organizational strategy support, etc.) and openness to serving in committee or board leadership roles
• Strategic thinker
• Active and diplomatic communicator
• Entrepreneurial spirit; willing to introduce and champion new ideas and think outside of the box to ensure NPs continued evolution
• Commitment to NP’s values of nonviolence, inclusion, and collaboration, and to ensuring diverse perspectives are represented in decision making
• Prior board experience a plus

Key Responsibilities

• Ensures NP is governed and led in accordance with its stated Vision, Mission, Values, statutes, internal policies and procedures, and legal obligations
• Recruits, supports, and evaluates the Executive Director
• Provides oversight of financial management, including annual audit and risk management
• Supports, approves and monitors creation of and progress towards the strategic plan
• Reviews and approves updates and changes to statutes, policies, and procedures
• Leverages personal expertise and network to strengthen NP’s visibility, partnerships and impact
• Supports fundraising and resource mobilization efforts (Note: NP requests that all board members make an annual financial contribution based on what they can afford.)

 Time commitment:

• Approximately 3 hours per month (average)
• One international trip per year (approximately 5 days) for the in-person board meeting (travel and accommodation expenses covered by NP)

Contact:

For more information or to express interest, please email recruit@nonviolentpeaceforce.org with “Swiss Board Member Inquiry” in the subject line.

Inquiries submitted through the email will be directed to the Board Chair and Executive Director.

Additional information about NP and our work can be found at  www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/careers

SPECIAL NOTICE

Reporting to: Board Chair

Remuneration: Voluntary position; expenses related to Board duties and travel are covered by NP.

Nonviolent Peaceforce is an equal opportunity organization. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for service on the Board without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status.

Nonviolent Peaceforce is committed to upholding the highest standards of safeguarding and ethical conduct. Board Members are expected to share and uphold NP’s values and to act in accordance with our Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Policy.

All appointments are subject to reference checks and alignment with NP’s values and safeguarding standards. NP also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and may request relevant information from prior employers or organisations where applicable.

NO FEE

Nonviolent Peaceforce never requests payment as part of its recruitment or nomination process. If you are approached for payment, please verify the legitimacy of the request via our official website.