The Lead Coach position is a senior-level consultancy focused on designing and managing coaching systems that support women media professionals. The role sits within WAN-IFRA’s Women in News initiative, which works across Africa, the Arab Region, Southeast Asia, and Europe to improve gender equality in newsrooms.
The selected candidate will oversee coaching strategy, quality assurance, and leadership development systems for participants in the Global Leadership Accelerator programme.
Key expectations of the role include:
- Managing global coaching delivery systems
- Supporting leadership development for women journalists
- Ensuring quality and consistency in coaching programmes
- Designing structured learning and reflection tools
- Supervising and mentoring a network of professional coaches
This role blends executive coaching, programme management, and global media development expertise.
About WAN-IFRA Women in News (WIN)
Women in News (WIN) is a programme under WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News Publishers, dedicated to improving gender equality in media leadership.
The initiative focuses on strengthening newsroom diversity and supporting women journalists through structured leadership programmes, training, and mentorship.
Core mission areas include:
- Advancing women into senior media leadership roles
- Improving newsroom inclusivity and culture
- Supporting journalists in fragile and conflict-affected regions
- Building sustainable leadership pipelines in media organisations
The Lead Coach will directly contribute to these goals by ensuring participants receive high-quality, consistent coaching experiences across multiple countries.
Core Responsibilities of the Lead Coach
The Lead Coach role is structured around programme leadership, coaching oversight, and curriculum development.
Coaching Programme Management
The Lead Coach will oversee the full lifecycle of coaching delivery within the Global Leadership Accelerator programme.
Responsibilities include:
- Managing coach-participant matching processes
- Coordinating coaching schedules and workflows
- Ensuring smooth participant experience across regions
- Aligning coaching delivery with programme objectives
Curriculum and Tool Development
A major responsibility involves designing and maintaining coaching frameworks that can be applied globally.
This includes:
- Developing leadership coaching curricula
- Creating reflective practice tools and exercises
- Designing adaptable coaching frameworks
- Updating learning materials for diverse cultural contexts
Coach Recruitment and Supervision
The Lead Coach will build and manage a global pool of professional coaches.
Key tasks include:
- Recruiting and onboarding certified coaches
- Ensuring alignment with WIN values and safeguarding standards
- Providing ongoing supervision and mentorship
- Facilitating peer learning and case discussions
Quality Assurance and Reporting
Ensuring consistency and impact across coaching delivery is a core function of the role.
The Lead Coach will:
- Monitor coaching quality and effectiveness
- Collect and analyse feedback from participants
- Maintain reporting systems for leadership review
- Identify risks and improvement opportunities
Required Skills and Professional Experience
The role is highly specialised and requires significant experience in coaching and leadership development.
Ideal candidates typically have:
- Certification as a professional or executive coach
- Experience in leadership or career coaching
- Background in organisational development
- Experience managing coaching teams or networks
- Strong facilitation and mentoring skills
- Ability to work across multicultural and global environments
Additional advantages include:
- Experience in media or journalism sectors
- Familiarity with gender equality programmes
- Background in international development initiatives
- Experience working with displaced or vulnerable professionals
Why Coaching Leadership Roles Are Growing in Global Development
Leadership coaching roles in international development and media sectors are expanding rapidly as organisations invest in human capital and leadership pipelines.
Key trends driving demand include:
- Increased focus on gender equality in leadership
- Growth of global leadership development programmes
- Expansion of remote coaching and training systems
- Need for culturally adaptive learning frameworks
- Rising demand for reflective leadership models
The Lead Coach role reflects a broader shift toward structured, scalable leadership development in global organisations.
The Importance of Leadership Development in Media
Media organisations worldwide are undergoing rapid transformation due to digital disruption, political pressure, and changing audience behaviours. In this environment, leadership development is seen as essential for resilience and sustainability.
Programmes like WIN’s Leadership Accelerator help address:
- Underrepresentation of women in senior media roles
- Leadership gaps in news organisations
- Need for stronger ethical and inclusive newsroom cultures
- Challenges faced by journalists in conflict zones
The Lead Coach plays a central role in ensuring that participants are equipped with the skills and confidence to lead effectively in these environments.
Application Process and Requirements
Applicants interested in the Lead Coach position must submit:
- A detailed CV
- A cover letter
- Coaching credentials and relevant experience
Applications are submitted via info@womeninnews.org, with “Lead Coach” included in the subject line. The deadline for applications is 28 May 2026.
Conclusion: A High-Impact Role in Global Leadership Coaching
The Lead Coach position at WAN-IFRA Women in News represents a high-level opportunity for experienced coaching professionals to contribute to global gender equality and media development efforts.
By designing coaching systems, mentoring professional coaches, and supporting women leaders in journalism, the role directly contributes to strengthening inclusive leadership across international media ecosystems.
For experienced executive coaches seeking a global, mission-driven consultancy, this position offers a chance to shape leadership development at scale while supporting meaningful social impact.
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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
