Over the past weeks, we’ve been accepting questions about the position. We’re compiling the frequently asked questions here so everyone can learn more and have the same information. We hope you find them helpful! If you still have questions please do feel free to email coleadershipsearch@youngfeministfund.org and we will do our best to answer them with Roseline Kamdem and our Leadership Transition Team as soon as possible. – xoxo Devi and Ruby
1. I currently live in the global south doing grassroots work but I am a citizen of a Global North country. Can I still apply?
2. Do you invite applications from global south diasporas who were born in the Global North?
3. I’m over 30, can I still apply?
4. What do you consider to be the biggest challenge that the Co- Executive Director will face?
5. How does working remotely affect your day to day to work? How do you work across time-zones? What are the working hours? How often do you meet face to face?
6. What would a day or week look like for someone in this role
7. How often would you say you’re traveling?
8. Can you say more about the transition period of Co-Executive Directors?
9. What is the approximate time requirement of the position? Is the contract for this position temporary, and if so, what is the specified period of time for it? Is it possible to have more than one job when you collaborate with FRIDA?
10. What is the salary and compensation?
11. Does the video that we need to send need to be in English or can it be in our native language?
12. Would you be able to let me know to whom my cover letter should be addressed?
13. Is it possible to be a FRIDA grantee partner and work for FRIDA at the same time?
1. I currently live in the global south doing grassroots work but I am a citizen of a Global North country. Can I still apply?
As part of our commitment to being a community-run organization that shifts power and privilege, FRIDA is prioritizing applications from young feminists in and from the Global South. However, we would have to consider every application on a case by case basis, as certain combinations of skills, identities, and locations can still be helpful in recruiting for 2 Co-Executive Directors and other positions. We really leave it up to applicants to decide what kind of leader they think FRIDA needs right now, and whether they represent that.
2. Do you invite applications from global south diasporas who were born in the Global North?
Sure
3. I’m over 30, can I still apply?
Our commitment is to make sure FRIDA is a youth-led fund and therefore we are prioritizing young women and trans*youth under the age of 30. The hope is that the new Co-EDs will hold the role for at least 5 years. We tend to think of 35 as ‘aging out’ as a young feminist. This is also the same principle we apply to our grantee partners (in our grants eligibility) and want to keep it consistent and fair. We leave it to you to decide whether you want to still apply.
4. What do you consider to be the biggest challenge that the Co-Executive Director will face?
This is a big question as it is dependent on each person’s personality, strengths, and weaknesses. Some of the challenges we face – and perhaps any leader faces – are:
- Building and maintaining a healthy virtual community with happy and engaged members (staff, Board, Advisors, grantee partners, donors, and more); and paying attention to feminist values, employment laws, and logistical realities;
- Keeping up with multiple interests and priorities – learning how to strategically say Yes AND NO! Especially when it comes to travel and invitations to different spaces. Sometimes there are no right or wrong answers, just difficult choices;
- Maintaining and dealing with the pressure of maintaining a sustainable budget;
- Leading by example to achieve work-life balance;
- Predicting and managing risks.
5. How does working remotely affect your day to day to work? How do you work across time-zones? What are the working hours? How often do you meet face to face?
Working remotely has its advantages and disadvantages. We currently allow FRIDA staff to live anywhere, though we are trying to encourage ‘hubs’ of staff living in the same place. We organize regular meetings that are at the most ideal time for everyone, but this requires some flexibility of staff to sometimes take calls outside of the normal 9-5 working hours. We do our best to rotate call schedules because of this, and we strictly try to monitor each other’s schedules so that no one is overworking. It’s challenging but entirely doable.
Staff are generally required to work 35 hours per week, with a regular weekly schedule but with flexibility as to what those hours are (for example some people like to work from 8am-4pm or 1pm -8pm, or they like to work 9 hours on one day, and only a half day the next day.
We try and have face to face meetings several times a year: at least 1-2 team meetings, 1 full staff meeting, and 1 full Board meeting. In addition, we usually have send people in pairs to conferences so there are chances to see and work together before, during, and after the conference.
6. What would a day or week look like for someone in this role?
It depends on how the Co-Executive Directors decide to split their role, but generally, a typical day or week involves phone calls with your team members, funders, external partners, advisors, grantee partners, and/or Board members. You will be on email, online file databases, and other communication platforms like Slack to do your work. You could be dealing with high-level decisions affecting the whole organization, managing relationships with external partners, ensuring accountability measures are followed, monitoring progress on projects, responding to media requests or writing/producing media, supporting team members with their own growth and work, promoting a fun and healthy work culture, and more 🙂
7. How often would you say you’re traveling?
Travel can be a demanding part of the work and since face to face meetings can never replace virtual meetings completely, you will need to travel fairly regularly to be able to meet with other staff, Board, advisors, grantee partners, funders, and other partners; you will also need to attend conferences. However we do want people to be healthy and respect their own bodies and personal responsibilities so it’s also up to the Co-Executive Directors to model healthy choices. We would say that you would travel approximately 6-8 weeks over the year.
8. Can you say more about the transition period of Co-Executive Directors?
We expect to provide considerable accompaniment to the new Co-EDs where they will have approximately three months of orientation and handover with the current Co-EDs so they can get comfortable and confident in their role, gradually taking on more and more responsibility while current Co-Eds let go and have less and less responsibility. Then there will official transfer of duties and approval, and current Co-Eds will step down, performing only assigned duties. This is the overall approach, to be discussed and defined once new Co-Eds are selected. During this period, we expect that we will have at least 3 face-to-face meetings: one with the current Co-Eds, one with Staff, and one with the Board. There will also be moments of traveling to key spaces together, as we transition relationships from current to the new Co-Eds (for example, our funders and partners).
9. What is the approximate time requirement of the position? Is the contract for this position temporary, and if so, what is the specified period of time for it? Is it possible to have more than one job when you collaborate with FRIDA?
Our work week is 35 hours per week. This is a full-time permanent position. We do not think it is feasible to have another job as there are still high demands and pressure. You need time to rest and play so you can be healthy while working at FRIDA. We hope this role will be occupied for 3 – 5 years.
10. What is the salary and compensation?
FRIDA underwent a salary review in 2017, reviewing the salaries of other comparable organizations (especially with similar budget sizes). Salaries are determined based on an employees experience, performance and position of responsibility. The Co-Executive Director salary range is between 60,000 – 80,000 USD plus the benefits which include but are not limited to paid vacation, sick and personal days, health insurance stipend, coaching, office rent and equipment budget.
11. Would you be able to let me know to whom my cover letter should be addressed?
Cover letters can be addressed to Roseline Kamdem and/or Leadership Transition Team.
12. Does the video that we need to send need to be in English or can it be in our native language?
The primary working language at FRIDA is English, so we need to have the video in English. However, we understand your native language can be a part of your own personality so feel free to weave it in parts if you like (so long as you give us some English translation).
13. Is it possible to be a FRIDA grantee partner and work for FRIDA at the same time?
Having the experience of being a young feminist activist that has received funds from FRIDA could be a great asset. However, due to conflict of interest, we would have to ask you to transition out of your collective as you move into the Co-Executive Director position at FRIDA and continue to declare conflict of interest when applicable. However, we encourage you to remain connected to local activist movements as this can keep you grounded and motivated in your work.
