Chairman of the Board of Directors

The African Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychologists and the mental health industry in every African country. The APA seeks to educate Africans and the diaspora about psychology, behavioral health and mental wellness. We seek to promote psychology as a science and support appropriate practice. We hope to foster the education and training of future psychological researchers, practitioners and educators. We act as advocates for the use psychological knowledge and practice to inform public policy and champion the application of psychology to promote human rights, overall health, wellness, dignity and esteem.

For more information, please African Psychological Association’s website at www.theapa.org. 

This is an elected position that is only open to CURRENT members of the African Psychological Association Board of the Directors. The purpose of this job listing is for members to review what is expected from the individual who holds this position and for them to nominate themselves for consideration

As a partner to the Managing Director (MD) and other board members, the Board Chair will provide leadership to the African Psychological Association Nonprofit as it transitions from a newly formed 501(c)(3) organization into a sustainable international entity. The Board Chair will support and sustain the work of the African Psychological Association, and provide governance leadership and strategic fundraising support. Specific responsibilities include:

1) Leadership, governance, and oversight

• Being a trusted advisor to the MD as s/he develops and implements the African Psychological Association’s strategic plan
• Developing and managing relationships and communicating with: funders, partners, and other stakeholders
• As a board member, approving the African Psychological Association’s annual budget, audit reports, and material business decisions; being informed of, and meeting all, legal and fiduciary responsibilities
• Reviewing outcomes and metrics created by the African Psychological Association for evaluating its impact, and regularly measuring its performance and effectiveness using those metrics
• Coordinating an annual performance evaluation of the MD
• Assisting the MD and Nominating Committee in recruiting board members
• Periodically consulting with board members on their roles and helping them assess their performance
• Planning, presiding over, and facilitating board and committee meetings; partnering with the MD to ensure that board resolutions are carried out
• Acting as an ambassador for the organization
• Ensuring the African Psychological Association’s commitment to a diverse board and staff that reflects the communities the African Psychological Association serves

2) Fundraising

• In collaboration with the MD, generating substantial annual revenue and fostering the African Psychological Association’s overall financial health
• Personally treating the African Psychological Association as a top philanthropic priority reflected in an annual financial gift
• Ensuring that 100 percent of the African Psychological Association’s board members make an annual contribution that is commensurate with their capacity
• Identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major individual donors, corporate, and/or foundation gifts

Board Terms

The African Psychological Association’s Board Chair (and board members) will serve a three-year term to be eligible for re-appointment for one additional term. Board meetings will be held quarterly and committee meetings will be held in coordination with full board meetings.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about the success of the African Psychological Association’s beneficiaries and who has a track record of board leadership. The selected Board Chair will have achieved leadership stature in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector. His/her accomplishments will allow him/her to attract other well-qualified, high-performing board members.

Ideal candidates will have the following qualifications:

• Extensive professional experience with significant executive leadership accomplishments in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector
• Demonstrated success as a nonprofit board member or board chair
• Track record of building credibility in the funding community that has resulted in major gifts to a nonprofit
• A commitment to and understanding of the African Psychological Association’s beneficiaries and mission preferably based on experience
• Savvy diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals
• Excellent written and oral communication skills coupled with natural affinity for public speaking
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of the African Psychological Association’s beneficiaries
• Service on the African Psychological Association’s board of directors is without remuneration, except for administrative support, travel, and accommodation costs in relation to board members’ duties.

BENEFITS

• Opportunity to make a difference in an emerging market and focus on the African Region
• Work with a dynamic team of motivated young people
• Meet and work with like-minded people
• This is an unpaid position with flexible hours that will boost your portfolio of work experience