Team Leader/Project Director

Job Title: Team Leader/Project Director

Anticipated Start date: July 2026

Contract type: Full-time, fixed-term contract until June 2030

Location: Chisinau, Moldova

Application deadline: Mon 23rd February 2026

ABOUT IWPR

Founded in 1991, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) is a non-profit organisation that works with independent media and civil society to promote positive change in areas of crisis and conflict. From Ukraine to the Philippines – via the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Central Asia – we have trained tens of thousands of journalists and civil society activists and built many lasting organisations that remain independent to this day in Afghanistan, the Balkans, Africa and Asia. For more information on working with IWPR, please see IWPR Recruitment Pack.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

We are seeking a results-orientated Team Leader/Project Director to lead the upcoming COSMA project (Strengthening Social Cohesion through Civil Society and Mass Media in Moldova), funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).   The project works to:

• Strengthen civil society and mass media as accountable and cohesive actors.
• Use citizens’ priorities as entry points to build broad societal support for inclusive, democratic nation-building.
• Address immediate governance challenges and longer-term stability and resilience in Moldova and the region.

The first phase will run for four years (July 2026 – June 2030). This position is contingent on IWPR being awarded the contract.

ROLE OVERVIEW

As Team Leader/Project Director, you will provide overall strategic and operational leadership for COSMA, ensuring high-quality delivery and strong partnerships with stakeholders.

You will:

• Lead the project, ensuring effective planning, supervision, and financial and administrative management.
• Develop and implement a human resources development plan that embeds robust PSEAH mechanisms, ensuring protection for staff, partners, and beneficiaries and compliance with organisational and donor standards.
• Guide and coach the team in applying systemic and facilitative approaches, strengthening partnerships and engagement with key stakeholders.
• Oversee
  MEL systems for evidence-based learning, reporting, and adaptive management.
• Support the Strategic Steering Committee and technical coordination forums, including preparation of agendas and papers, secretariat support, follow-up on decisions, and facilitation of coordination across COSMA partners and complementary donor-funded programmes.
• Support governance and coordination forums, including the Strategic Steering Committee, with secretariat, agenda, and follow-up support.
• Lead regular mini political economy analysis (mini-PEA) cycles to inform adaptive planning, prioritisation of interventions, and ongoing assessment of reform feasibility, risks, and opportunities in a dynamic political and social context.
• Manage service providers, including ToRs, selection, contracts, and quality assurance of technical outputs.
• Ensure timely, high-quality narrative and financial reporting to SDC, including review and validation of partner reports, synthesis of learning and results, and compliance with donor reporting requirements and timelines.
• Represent the project externally and build strategic partnerships with civil society, media, government, and private sector actors.
• Ensure all interventions embed inclusion, sustainability, and social cohesion as cross-cutting principles.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. governance, civil society, media, social cohesion/peacebuilding, public administration, management), or equivalent relevant experience; project management certification is an asset.
• At least 10 years of international experience in governance-related areas, ideally with a focus on media and/or civil society; proven integration of gender equality, social inclusion, LNOB, good governance, and conflict sensitivity.
• At least 10 years’ experience in development cooperation or humanitarian contexts, including 5+ years in senior programme management and team leadership on complex, multi-partner programmes (budget CHF 3m+).
• At least 5 years’ professional experience in Eastern Europe, with strong knowledge of Moldova’s civil society and media landscapes.
• Good understanding of Moldova’s EU accession process and implications for governance, civil society, and media reform.
• Demonstrated expertise in adaptive management, facilitation, mediation, and coordination of complex, multi-actor interventions.
• Strong leadership, people management, project cycle management and results-based management skills; familiarity with SDC procedures would be beneficial.
• Fluent English and working knowledge of Romanian and/or Russian is required.

WHY JOIN IWPR?

• Work in a dynamic international NGO with a track record of impact in fragile contexts.
• Lead a strategically important, multi-partner programme in Moldova.
• Collaborate with civil society, media, government, and donor networks across the region.
• Opportunity to shape interventions for social cohesion, inclusion, and democratic development.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and IWPR reserves the right to fill the position before the closing date; early applications are therefore strongly encouraged, and interviews may be conducted prior to the deadline. IWPR will offer a competitive salary to the successful applicant.

Principals only. No calls please. Only those who have been considered for an interview will be contacted.

IWPR is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, veteran status or pregnancy and maternity. IWPR will never ask for payment for recruitment.