Director of International

Career Stream: Executive

Career Level: Executive Level 1

Department: Programmes/Executive

Job Family: Program Oversight and Support/Strategy & Planning

Job Sub-Family: Multi-Discipline

Location: France

Workplace Designation: Hybrid - Remote

Duration: Permanent

Funding: 100% Direct

Reporting to: Président d'Internews International (II) Bureau

Salary: €95,000 – €115,000 p.a. (depending on experience and qualifications)

Functional Management: Internews International Bureau (Board of Directors) CEO of Internews Europe

Supervisory Responsibilities: Regional Programme Managers, Global Project Directors, Internews International Operations Manager

GENERAL FUNCTION

This Executive position combines strategic leadership of Internews International with global programme oversight. The role ensures Internews International is governed and managed effectively while driving coherence, quality, and impact across a diverse global programme portfolio.

About Internews

For over forty years, Internews has been helping communities and institutions navigate the world's most complex information challenges. We work on some of the toughest briefs: defending freedom of expression, strengthening independent media and information ecosystems, and ensuring access to trusted information in times of crisis. Working with a global network of media partners, civil society, and technology innovators, we design and deliver impactful interventions and measure real-world impact. We're looking for leaders who want to operate at the intersection of media, technology, and democracy — and who are committed to building a more informed, resilient world.

Internews operates internationally, with a global alliance across Internews Network (US), Internews Europe (London, UK) and Internews International (Paris, France). Internews International is an independent legal entity, with Internews Europe and Internews Network as its core founding members. II acts as a key vehicle for Internews in accessing European Commission funding.

About the Role

Reporting to the Président d'Internews International, this role also combines high-level organisational leadership with technical oversight of programme design and delivery. You will lead regional programme managers and global project directors, driving innovation, coherence, and measurable impact across 40+ projects in 30 countries. You'll champion data-driven approaches, embed global standards, and ensure Internews remains at the forefront of media development and information integrity worldwide.

The Director of Internews International & Senior Director of Programmes is a key Executive role within Internews' European Alliance, combining two distinct but complementary functions.

As Director of Internews International (II), you will provide strategic leadership and global oversight of II, ensuring the organisation is governed effectively, managed efficiently, and positioned for impact. In addition, you will ensure that II is in full compliance with French non-profit laws and standards. You will act as the strategic and operational leader, ensuring the effective implementation of II's mission and projects. This role requires balancing strategic management with proximity leadership, serving as the link between governance and operational teams.

The Senior Director of Programmes component will occupy the majority of your time. You will be responsible and accountable for the delivery of a wide portfolio of approximately 40 projects across 30 countries globally. This includes direct oversight and line management of Internews' regional programme managers and key global programme leads. A central focus of the role is to drive greater coherence across programmes that have historically operated in relative isolation. This includes embedding a more standardised, global approach to programme design, delivery and impact measurement, leveraging audience insights and data to better support media and information partners, and to articulate Internews' global impact to donors and stakeholders.

The role also carries significant external representation responsibilities. You will act as a senior ambassador for Internews at European institutions in Brussels, UNESCO in Paris, and other global media and information forums, reinforcing Internews' position as a trusted leader in strengthening independent information ecosystems worldwide.

The successful candidate will be accustomed to managing complex global programmes, working with European and private donors, and operating within an international organisation.

Programme Oversight

• Lead and deliver Internews' global programme portfolio, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest technical standards.
• Provide direct oversight and line management of regional programme managers and key global programme leads, setting culture and driving excellent performance.
• Co-develop the design of innovative and effective programming in line with Internews' mission and strategic direction, based on local context and need.
• Drive programme coherence and cohesion across regions, embedding standardised approaches and global impact measurement.
• Champion the use of audience insights and data to strengthen partner support and demonstrate impact to donors.

Governance and Strategic Leadership of Internews International

• Implement strategies decisions of behalf of the II Bureau and Internews Europe board (acts under delegations of authority and signature granted by the Bureau and/or the Président);
• Report to the Président d'Internews International on II's performance and compliance;
• Maintain transparency and accountability in all operations and ensure effective management and compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks, including line management of the Internews International Operations Manager
• Support Internews International's operational resilience and alignment with Alliance-wide strategy.
• Support the development of a fit-for-purpose system of programme support services provided from France/Internews International to various regional and global programme delivery teams.

External Representation

• Represent Internews at high-level forums, including European institutions (Brussels), UNESCO (Paris), and global media and information conferences.
• Act as a senior ambassador to donors, partners, and stakeholders, reinforcing Internews' leadership in independent media and information ecosystems.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships to advance the organisation's mission and secure funding opportunities.

Executive Leadership

• Serve as a key member of the Executive Management Team, contributing to organisational strategy, planning, and governance.
• Ensure effective communication and coordination across regions and departments.
• Support fundraising strategy development and donor engagement, particularly with European and private donors.
• Foster a culture of quality assurance, operational excellence, and innovation across programmes
• Inspire and lead a diverse, global team, fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and high performance.
• In all duties, uphold Internews' Core Values and demonstrate commitment to fostering a culture of Belonging, Dignity, and Justice.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 10+ years' senior leadership experience in complex, international organisational settings, ideally within non-profit, association, or mission-driven environments.
• Proven track record of leading and delivering large, multi-country programme portfolios, including direct line management of senior programme leaders and geographically dispersed teams.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, organisational leadership, and executive decision-making, with the ability to translate strategy into coherent global programmes and operational priorities.
• Strong governance, financial oversight and management experience, including budgeting, compliance, risk management, and working effectively with boards and formal governance structures.
• Substantial experience working with European institutional donors and private philanthropic funders, with a strong understanding of public donor rules, regulations, compliance, and monitoring requirements.
• Successful programme fundraising experience, including donor representation, relationship management, and contribution to proposal development.
• Solid understanding of French non-profit governance frameworks, legal requirements, compliance obligations, and HR regulations.
• Deep understanding of media development, freedom of expression, information integrity, and/or closely related fields, with the ability to apply this expertise across diverse global contexts.
• Strong understanding of global geopolitical dynamics, with the capacity to interpret regional and global trends and apply these insights to strategic planning, programme oversight, and external engagement.
• Excellent communication and representational skills, including the ability to engage effectively with governance bodies, donors, institutional partners, and external stakeholders.
• Fluency in French and English, with exceptional written, verbal, and representational communication skills in both languages.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including the ability to motivate and inspire diverse, multicultural teams across time zones; diplomatically manage complex relationships; and negotiate effectively.
• Results-oriented and highly organised, with the ability to set priorities, manage competing demands, work under pressure, and deliver against strategic and operational objectives.
• Commitment to Internews' mission and values, including editorial independence, partner-first approaches, collaboration, inclusion, and integrity.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use evidence, data, and insight to inform decision-making.
• Proficiency in relevant technology tools and processes, including the MS Office suite.
• Legal right to live and work in France, with the ability and willingness to travel frequently.

• Direct experience managing development assistance projects at regional or country level.
• Technical expertise in journalism, media, freedom of expression, civic technology, digital rights, and/or human rights programming.
• Experience embedding data-informed programme design and impact measurement, including the use of audience insights, analytics, or learning frameworks.
• Advanced expertise in data management, analytics, media technologies, and/or digital ecosystems as they relate to programme effectiveness and impact.
• Experience working in or closely with international alliances or federated organisational models.
• Proficiency in additional languages beyond French and English.

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Vacancy Timeline:

Deadline for applications: 12 / February / 2026

MISCELLANEOUS:

Candidates must submit a succinct cover letter of no more than 2 pages explaining how they satisfy the requirements of the role, and a CV (no more than 2 pages) highlighting relevant experience. Successful candidate will also be asked to provide three professional referees, one of whom must be from their most recent employer.

The above noted job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that may be assigned but rather to give the associate a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of their position. As the nature of business demands change so, too, may the essential functions of this position.

This position will be located in the France and therefore a successful applicant must both be present in the France for the duration of the assignment and be able to demonstrate their Right to Work in France in order to commence employment.