Vacancy Announcement: Director General of Persons with Disability Advisory Council
Employer: Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development for Persons with Disability Advisory
Duty Station: Maseru
Job Type: Contractual
Duration: 5 years
Closing Date: 30th September 2024
Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development (MGYS) invites applications for Suitably qualified local candidate for the vacant position of Director General of Persons with Disability Advisory Council.
According to the situational analysis study on persons with disabilities (Ministry of social development 2019), persons with disabilities face discrimination and barriers every day that restrict them from participating in society on an equal basis with others. For example, they are commonly denied their rights to be included in school and the workplace, to live independently in the community, to vote, to participate in sport and cultural activities, to enjoy social protection, to access justice, to consent or refuse medical treatment or to enter freely into legal communities such as opening a bank account and inheriting or buying property.
The Persons with Disability Equity Act, which was enacted by Parliament in 2021, signaled a ‘paradigm shift’ from traditional charity-oriented, medical-based approaches to disability to one based on human rights. In terms of section 4)1) of the Persons with Disability Equity Act NO. 24 of 2021, the Persons with Disability Advisory Council is established to provide oversight, monitoring of the effective implementation and compliance of the Act. Section 14(1) of this Act establishes the office of the Director General to provide general management of the affairs of the Council.
Under the direct supervision of the persons with Disability Advisory Council, Director General will be responsible for coordinating the provision of services to disabled people without any form of discrimination across the country, supervising and monitoring secretariat staff and perform all duties in terms of the Persons with Disability Equity Act.
a) Director general shall be under the control and supervision of the council in the course of his employment.
b) Implement and maintain high stands in documentation and reporting, complying with all relevant regulations and standards.
MAIN DUTIES
• Oversee and manage the day-today operations of the Council, ensuring efficient and effective delivery of services.
• Develop and implement strategies to enhance the Council Statutory mandate including mission and goals.
• Provide leadership and guidance to a diverse team of employees, fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment.
• Foster strong partnerships and collaborate with external stakeholders, such as government agencies, community organizations, and other disability-related services
• Represent the Council in all private and public platforms with the intention to maximize strategic relationships with partners.
• Promote the values of the Council and its mission internally and externally.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with key stakeholders, fostering collaboration and networking opportunities.
• Provide leadership in public relations efforts to raise awareness about the organization’s work through media relations, events, and social media platforms.
The director general shall overtake the following specific duties and responsibilities:
3.1 Human resources functions:
• Recruit and supervise the staff of the council
• Provide general policy direction of the control and management of the affairs of the council.
3.2 Resource mobilization functions:
• Develop and implement resource mobilization strategy, work plan and strategies for effective mobilisation of the council funds.
• Mobilise funds of the national and international partners/donors interested in promoting the protection and promotion of disability rights.
3.3 Advisory and enforcement role:
• Advise public and private entities providing public services on appropriate measurers for effective inclusion of persons with disabilities.
• Advise and recommend to the government ministers on national, regional and international instruments to rectify for the promotion and protection of disability rights.
3.3 Financial planning and reporting:
• Prepares annual financial plan for the council outlining costed annual activities of the council.
• Provide quarterly and annual financial reports to the council.
• Develop and manage budgets ensuring financial sustainability and accountability.
• Ensure proper financial management and annual accounts of the council.
3.4 Governance and secretary functions
• Act as the secretary of the council and keep the minutes and record of the decisions of the council.
• Implement the decisions of the council
• Record all reported cases and how they have been resolved.
Core competencies:
• Achieve Results LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
• Think Innovatively LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
• Learn Continuously LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
• Adapt with Agility LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
• Act with Determination LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/ barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.
4.1 Disability mainstreaming external relations & advocacy
• Communication: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.
• Partnership Management: Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms.
• Strategic Engagement: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision
makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objective.
5.1 Education and Training
• University Degree in Disability studies or Law or Social Work
5.2. Experience
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience at managerial level plus three years on matters relating to Disability, Human Rights or Social Development.
• Demonstrated experience and skills in coordinating with difference stakeholders and facilitating discussions
• Fluency in English and Sesotho
• Proven to be a person in high integrity and good leadership
Applications letter, duly accompanied by certified copies of educational certificates, transcripts, I.D, C.V’s should be hand delivered to HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE AT THE MINISTRY OF GENDER, YOUTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT NOT LATER THAN 30 SEPTEMBER 2024.
