POSITION DESCRIPTION
GENERAL SECRETARY, INTERNATIONAL NEEDS
- GENERAL MANDATE
The General Secretary (GS) is a mature follower of Jesus Christ who provides God-led, servant leadership to the global partnership known as International Needs. Leadership is provided through both personal example and wise counsel. S/he furthers the stated purposes of the INTERNATIONAL NEEDS (IN) by enthusiastically communicating the partnership’s mission, values and vision to audiences both inside and outside the partnership. S/he is to work with the leaders throughout IN in ways that will lead to the accomplishment of the mission, vision and goals of IN and assist IN to be a sustainable organization.
2. PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS
The GS is a culturally sensitive leader who, with a pastor’s heart, is generous and welcoming to all voices but will always encourage a search for Biblical direction and Godly wisdom. S/he has the following personal qualifications:
- Love of Jesus Christ shown as a mature Christian with a regular practice of prayer, Bible study and worship; a testimony among others of personal integrity
- Passion for the mission and vision of International Needs and an appreciation of its partnership strategy and structure
- Leadership and interpersonal skills to motivate others and build consensus toward deciding upon and accomplishing shared goals
- Ability to communicate well in both written and verbal forms to people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
- Knowledge of trends in global missions and involvement in cross-cultural mission activities
- Skills to handle conflict resolution with diplomacy and Bible knowledge
- Capacity to manage and balance time in order to respond to frequent demands of travel and cross-cultural ministry; willingness to work weekends and evenings
- Education and experience to indicate past competence in handling responsibilities similar to this position – it is expected that the individual will have a post-secondary degree (college, university, seminary)
3. RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership
- Assist the International Needs (IN) Executive Committee (EC) in developing a long-range strategic global plan for growth
- Develop an annual implementation plan and budget
- To broker relationships between partners to help develop the growth in partnership
- Maintain through the Chief Administration Officer all necessary reports, records and financial accounts to meet requirements of IN and applicable legal authorities; assist all IN ministries to do the same
- Engage in an IN Bible-based dispute resolution process; strive to have partners resolve disputes rapidly among themselves following agreed policy and practice; involve the General Secretary and/or the EC reluctantly and only if partners are unable to mutually resolve disputes
- Maintain IN agreements, policies, procedures, and programs throughout the partnership in an equitable manner for all partners and so as to encourage unity of purpose and overall ministry effectiveness; recommend to the EC changes as needed
Communication
- Serve as a primary public representative of IN; seek opportunities to widely communicate the IN story to raise awareness within the global Christian community
- Serve as a facilitator of communication with IN through regular conversations (both written and verbal) with Executive Directors and Board members
- Communicate with the IN EC, through its Chairperson, to ensure full awareness of the health and well-being of IN partners and the overall ministry; keep the EC informed of the success or failure of ministry plans and programs
Development
- Assist Executive Directors, as requested, to build and nurture relationships with current and potential donors
- Within IN strategy, be alert to ministry opportunities in new countries and bring to the IN EC for consideration
- Support Congress to recognise Associates and new Global Partners to properly enrolled within IN so as to be in compliance with all IN Constitutional, legal and regulatory requirements
- Encourage and assist with capacity building throughout the partnership
Other
- Fulfill all functions required of the General Secretary by the IN Constitution, the Constitution, policies, and practices of IN and as directed by the IN EC
4. ACCOUNTABILITY
As with all of Christ’s followers, the General Secretary is first accountable to Jesus Christ. Secondly, s/he is directly accountable to the EC through its Chairperson. Thirdly, as regards faithfulness in ministry, s/he is generally accountable to the Congress of Global Partners of IN.
5. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
The General Secretary will be appointed by the IN EC on terms agreed upon by both parties. A five year contract is envisaged, there will be an annual review carried out by the EC and it is anticipated that the GS present to the EC, within the first twelve months of taking office, a development plan for the IN partnership.
END
