Director

JOB DESCRIPTION: DIRECTOR – HERMANUS CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES (HCFS)

Location: Hermanus, Western Cape

Employment Type: Full-time

Reports To: HCFS Board of Directors

 

HERMANUS CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES

Hermanus Child and Family Services (HCFS) is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of children while strengthening families and communities to ensure a nurturing environment for every child.

Through our wide range of services—including early childhood development, abuse prevention work, early interventions, statutory child protection services, coordinating alternative care placements, developmental and therapeutic activities, behaviour modification programmes, and family reunification efforts—we work to build resilience in families and equip communities to care for and protect their children.

Looking ahead, we aspire to expand our facilities and services to enhance therapeutic interventions, including dedicated play therapy spaces and specialised programmes that strengthen bonding and attachment between parents and children. We also recognise the critical need for accessible mental health services and aim to collaborate with partners to provide high-level, multidisciplinary assessments and care for children facing complex emotional and psychological challenges. By creating a more integrated support system, we seek to ensure that every child receives the holistic care they need to heal, grow, and thrive.

 

JOB OVERVIEW

Hermanus Child and Family Services (HCFS) is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director to oversee the organisation’s strategic, financial, and operational management. This role includes leadership in human resources, fundraising, public relations, financial oversight, asset management, and health and safety to ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of HCFS.

The Director will work closely with the Management Committee (Board) , staff, volunteers, and external stakeholders to drive the organisation’s mission forward and ensure compliance with all legal, financial, and operational requirements.

 

Key Responsibilities

Organisational Leadership and Strategy

  • Develop and implement strategic plans to advance HCFS’s mission.
  • Ensure compliance with non-profit governance, financial, and legal requirements.
  • Provide strong leadership to staff, volunteers, and key stakeholders.

Service Delivery Oversight

  • Ensure the effective delivery of HCFS services, including but no limited to child protection, foster care support, therapeutic interventions, and community outreach and early childhood development.
  • Oversee the quality of services, ensuring they align with best practices, ethical standards, and legal requirements.
  • Work closely with social workers, play therapists, and programme coordinators to monitor case management and service outcomes.
  • Establish and maintain service delivery partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, and community organisations.
  • Regularly evaluate programme impact and efficiency, making necessary adjustments to improve effectiveness.
  • Ensure compliance with child protection laws, social work standards, and safeguarding policies.

Fundraising

  • Develop and implement fundraising strategies (grants, sponsorships, donor engagement).
  • Manage fundraising events, campaigns, and donor reporting.
  • Build and maintain relationships with corporate sponsors, funding agencies, and individual donors.

Financial Management and Reporting

  • Develop and oversee annual budgets and financial planning.
  • Ensure transparent financial reporting to the Board, donors, and auditors.
  • Maintain compliance with SARS NPO regulations, and donor requirements.
  • Monitor funding allocations, expenditure, and financial risks.

Liaison and Reporting to Government Departments

  • Serve as the primary liaison between HCFS and key government departments, including:
    • Department of Social Development (DSD) – compliance, funding, and programme collaboration.
    • Department of Education – compliance, funding, and programme collaboration.
    • NPO Directorate – ensure compliance with non-profit registration, governance, and reporting requirements.
    • Other relevant local and national government bodies.

Human Resources and Staff Management

  • Oversee recruitment, training, and performance management of staff.
  • Ensure compliance with South African labour laws and employment regulations.
  • Foster a positive and productive workplace culture.

Public Relations and Community Engagement

  • Represent HCFS in media, public forums, and with key stakeholders.
  • Develop and implement communication strategies, including social media and marketing.
  • Build partnerships with local businesses, government agencies, and community organisations.

Board Support and Governance Oversight

  • Governance Support: Ensure the Board is informed of key developments, challenges, and opportunities while assisting in governance responsibilities.
  • Meetings and Documentation: Prepare and distribute agendas, minutes, reports, and supporting documentation for Management Committee and Board meetings.
  • Strategic and Policy Alignment: Support policy development and implementation in line with Board directives and HCFS’s mission.
  • Decision-Making and Insights: Provide operational and financial data-driven recommendations to aid decision-making.
  • Communication and Coordination: Facilitate communication between staff, management, and the Board to ensure alignment and transparency.

Asset and Facilities Management

  • Maintain an up-to-date asset register for property, vehicles, and equipment.
  • Oversee procurement, maintenance, and security of all assets.
  • Ensure compliance with legal, health, and safety regulations.
  • Prepare asset reports for financial audits and board reviews.

Policy Development and Implementation

  • Develop and oversee implementation of financial, HR, operational, and risk management policies.
  • Ensure policies align with legal requirements and best practices.
  • Monitor compliance and update policies as needed.

Health and Safety Compliance

  • Implement the organisation’s Health and Safety Policy in line with Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).

Information Management and IT Services

  • Oversee website maintenance.
  • Oversee the management and maintenance of databases, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information related to service delivery, client information, beneficiaries, staff, donors, and assets.
  • Develop and implement policies and procedures for the secure storage, retrieval, and protection of sensitive data, in line with relevant data protection laws (e.g., POPIA).
  • Ensure that information systems are reliable, user-friendly, and support the needs of the organisation’s operations.
  • Work closely with external service providers to manage the organisation’s technology infrastructure, including hardware, software, and network.
  • Implement data analysis tools and processes to monitor and evaluate service delivery, identify trends, and inform decision-making.
  • Ensure all staff are properly trained in data management procedures and the use of relevant software tools.
  • Oversee the back-up and recovery systems to ensure continuity of operations in case of technical failure.

 

Key Requirements

Qualifications and Experience

  • Minimum 5 years of leadership experience, preferably in an NGO or non-profit environment.
  • Proven experience in fundraising, financial management, HR, operations and compliance.
  • Strong knowledge of South African non-profit regulations and labour laws is an advantage.

Essential Skills and Attributes

  • High integrity, accountability, and ethical leadership.
  • Passion for child well-being and community development.
  • Acumen for public relations, marketing, and media engagement.
  • Strong leadership and team management abilities.
  • Excellent communication and networking skills in English. Afrikaans and/or isiXhosa would be an advantage.
  • Financial acumen and budget management experience.
  • Strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities.
  • Advanced computer skills, especially spreadsheets and word-processing programmes, but also digital design tools. Knowledge of IT hardware and infrastructure would be an advantage.

Salary:

Remuneration will be determined based on experience and skills.

Applications:

To apply for this post, please download and complete the HCFS application form, available as an MSWord document or PDF document, and send it to info@hcfs.org.za

Only applications on the prescribed form will be considered.