Deputy Managing Director & SIRI Lead

Position: Deputy MD and SIRI Lead, Women in News (WIN), WAN-IFRA

Engagement length: 12 months

Engagement type: Milestone-based contract

Start Date: June 2026

Location: Global (Flexible)

Application Deadline: 05/06/2026

About the Role

The Deputy Managing Director (DMD) and Lead, Social Impact Reporting Initiative (SIRI) provides strategic, operational and programmatic leadership across WAN-IFRA WIN’s advocacy, communications, community engagement and SIRI portfolio. Working closely with the Managing Director (MD), the DMD supports organisational leadership, programme oversight, strategic implementation and reporting, while ensuring strong delivery of advocacy initiatives, engagement strategies and high-quality programme implementation.

The role has primary responsibility for leading the Social Impact Reporting Initiative (SIRI) (subject to continued funding), including programme oversight, partner and grantee management, quality assurance, monitoring and reporting. The DMD also oversees WIN advocacy campaigns, digital communications and community engagement initiatives

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Deputy Managing Director Role

• Support the Managing Director (MD) in providing strategic, operational and programmatic leadership for WAN-IFRA WIN.
• Serve as a key member of the Leadership Team, contributing to:
• Organizational strategy and direction;
• Programmatic, regional and country priorities;
• Semi-annual strategic and operational planning;
• Programme performance monitoring and organisational growth.
• Provide leadership support across programmes, partnerships and institutional priorities, particularly during peak implementation and reporting periods.

Lead – Social Impact Reporting Initiative (SIRI) Grants

• Lead the strategic and operational oversight of the WIN Social Impact Reporting Initiative (SIRI) as a flagship engagement, advocacy and grant-making programme (subject to funding).
• Manage all aspects of SIRI grants administration and programme delivery, including:
• Programme design and setup;
• Grant calls and outreach;
• Selection and due diligence processes;
• Grantee onboarding, contracting and relationship management;
• Budget and implementation oversight;
• Monitoring, quality assurance and impact tracking;
• Compliance, reporting and close-out processes.
• Oversee all SIRI Accelerator programme components and special initiatives, including thematic and regional programming and other priority interventions.
• Ensure robust quality control mechanisms and continuous learning through internal feedback loops and programme evaluation.
• Lead programme reporting, ensuring timely and high-quality donor and internal reports.
• Support the MD with oversight of SIRI programme implementation, particularly during reporting periods, ensuring strong coordination, compliance and timely submissions.

Advocacy, Campaigns and Community Engagement

• Provide oversight of WIN advocacy campaigns, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and global gender equality objectives.
• Lead the planning, execution and follow-up of key initiatives,
• Build and grow the WIN community globally and locally through targeted engagement initiatives as identified.
• Support the development and dissemination of major research initiatives related to gender balance, newsroom leadership, and sexual harassment in media workplaces.

Communications and Digital Platforms Oversight

• Provide strategic oversight of WIN communications and digital platforms, including:
• Website functionality and content;
• Microsites and programme pages;
• Gender balance tracking and training communications;
• Programme announcements and community communications.
• Work collaboratively with programme leads to ensure effective communication of programmes and engagement with target audiences.
• Ensure communications consistently reinforce WIN’s mission, values and advocacy priorities.
• Lead the development of communications strategies, messaging, campaign framing, media outreach, and stakeholder engagement.
• Support the production of reports, editorials, impact stories, donor materials, public-facing resources, and multimedia content.
• Coordinate cross-platform communications across websites, newsletters, social media, and partner channels.

Additional Duties

• Undertake other duties as assigned by the Managing Director, in line with the scope and seniority of this role.

Key Performance Indicators

• Actively contributes to strategic decision-making, operational planning, programme performance reviews, and organisational priorities
• Successfully leads the design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and close-out of SIRI grants and related initiatives
• Ensures SIRI grant calls, selection, due diligence, contracting, grantee management, compliance, and reporting processes are delivered on time and to standard.
• Leads effective advocacy campaigns and engagement initiatives aligned with WIN’s gender equality inclusion, safety and leadership programme priorities
• Strengthens WIN’s global and regional community engagement through targeted initiatives, increased participation, and sustained stakeholder relationships.
• Lead on the effective launch, dissemination, and uptake of WIN programmes and research initiatives
• Produce high-quality, accurate, and timely donor, programme, and internal reports, with clear evidence of progress, impact, and learning.
• Ensures WIN websites, microsites, newsletters, social media, and programme pages are regularly updated, strategic, accurate, and audience-focused.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Significant experience in a senior programmatic, advocacy or organisational leadership role, within an international NGO, media development or gender equality context.
• Demonstrated experience leading grants management programmes end-to-end, including design, selection, grantee management, compliance, monitoring and reporting.
• Proven track record in advocacy campaign management, communications strategy and community or stakeholder engagement.
• Strong experience supporting or deputising for senior leadership, with the ability to provide organisational oversight and cross-programme coordination.
• Experience with digital communications platforms, content management systems (CMS) and/or website management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, French and Arabic; ability to produce high-quality reports, donor submissions and strategic communications.
• Experience in running gender equality and inclusion programmes and campaigns, especially structured gender balance tracking experience
• Experience working in or within Africa, South East Asia, Arab regions, is highly desirable.
• Contributes constructively to the Leadership Team, able to both lead independently and support the MD across functions.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit their applications via our online application form by 5 June 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

About WAN-IFRA Women in News

Women in News (WIN) is a global programme of WAN-IFRA (World Association of News Publishers) dedicated to strengthening gender equality in media. Through leadership development, research, and advocacy, WIN works with media organisations and journalists across Africa, the Arab Region, Southeast Asia, Europe, and beyond to strengthen women’s leadership, improve newsroom cultures, and support more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable media ecosystems.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, French and Arabic