Regional Director Southern Africa

The Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF) is an NGO based in France, with a presence in Senegal and South Africa. Staffed by experienced lawyers and journalists, it offers legal services and advice to whistleblowers seeking to share information about issues in the public interest. PPLAAF seeks to defend whistleblowers and strategically litigate and advocate on their behalf where their disclosures speak to the public interest of African citizens.

Since its creation in 2017, PPLAAF has supported dozens of whistleblowers from CEOs to security personnel, bankers, and civil servants. PPLAAF has relocated families and provided asylum for them, conducted risk assessments, worked with governments and law enforcement officials, created international investigative collaborations, and constructed lawsuits for NGOs. PPLAAF’s work permitted the disclosure of large-scale economic crimes such as the Luanda Leaks, the Lumumba Papers, and the Congo Hold-Up investigations.

PPLAAF has been working in Southern Africa since 2017, protecting high-profile whistleblowers exposing state corruption, ensuring relevant disclosure of their findings, advocating for an adapted legal framework to protect whistleblowers, and organising outreach events in Southern Africa.

THE ROLE

PPLAAF, a rapidly growing organisation with ambitious objectives for the years to come, is seeking a Regional Director for Southern Africa to both implement PPLAAF’s vision and continuously adjust it to the Southern African context.

In close relationship with the Executive Director based in Paris, the Regional Director in South Africa will play a crucial role in designing PPLAAF’s strategy in the region, working with donors to raise funds, managing the team, and representing PPLAAF in front of partners, institutions or media.

The job is a Full-time position, based in South Africa with a preference for working from Johannesburg.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES :

Design and implement PPLAAF’s strategy and activities in Southern Africa Work alongside PPLAAF teams to achieve PPLAAF’s objectives

Manage PPLAAF teams in South Africa (1 Project Officer)

Oversee the protection of whistleblowers who receive PPLAAF support

Receive new whistleblowers and potential whistleblowers and design adequate support for them

Coordinate investigative consortiums based on whistleblowers’ disclosures

Lead advocacy efforts for whistleblower protection in Southern Africa Represent PPLAAF in media interviews

Represent PPLAAF in meetings with government officials, civil society organisations, and others

Manage relations with authorities, specifically regarding the local registration of the organisation

Set up an office dedicated to supporting whistleblowers in the region

Manage donor relationships for PPLAAF Southern Africa activities

Manage and monitor PPLAAF grants and funds for Southern Africa

Hire and manage potential other members of the team (new recruits or interns)

REQUIREMENTS

Minimum of 5 years experience in a Civil Society Organisation working on similar topics (anti-corruption, transparency, investigation, protection of civic space, etc.), at least 2 of which at a managementlevel

Experience as a Head of Programme or Director in a CSO, managing a team, or representing a structure.

Strong management and organisational skills to implement a long-term vision

Ability to define and achieve objectives independently and to work with limited supervision on a wide variety of priorities

A strong sense of initiative will be crucial to manage the organisation

Understanding and commitment to PPLAAF’s mission

Proven track record as an activist on these topics would be appreciated Knowledge of whistleblower protection law and landscape would be appreciated

Excellent communications skills, both oral and written (excellent report & proposal writing), including public speaking

Good personal skills

Willingness and ability to travel nationally and internationally. Ability to work in an international environment

Languages other than English a plus