Regional Gender Justice Coordinator
Application Deadline:
12 Sep 2008
Oxfam GB invites applicants for the position of Regional Gender Justice Coordinator.
Job Description:
Ref: INT2938
Region: Southern Africa
Location: Pretoria
Division: International
Department: Regional Programme & Operations
Dimensions:
* Produce, assimilate, analyse and use complex and diverse public policy issues and development information to provide in-depth analysis of the specific policy/programme area to support programme and advocacy and campaign development and implementation
* Provide specialist advice and skills within the organisation and develop external recognition of expertise
* Coordinate and facilitate the development and implementation of agreed plans or strategies that contribute to departmental/broader program strategy and can involve collaboration with other departments
* Strong information gathering, assessment and sharing role, supporting the implementation of latest thinking into programme and advocacy and campaign activities
* Participate in appropriate campaign and advocacy work, to further Oxfam's change goals; occasionally expected to represent Oxfam in the media within speciality area
* Influential and influencing role with considerable external representation and relationship management responsibilities, proactively engaging with a range of internal and external stakeholders and practitioners
* Role is independent and variable, with well-defined targets and/or minimum standards, requiring effective management of non-routine management tasks, but requiring a team approach to deliver holistically on Oxfam's vision and mission
* Decision making is both strategic and operational, requiring complex analysis and problem solving skill to develop solutions to specialist, diverse and/or complex problems where little or no precedent exists
The Southern African region has a significant number of critical countries and programmes and is of strategic importance to Oxfam GB and Oxfam International, characterised by an operating environment that is potentially politically and physically insecure, with a high risk of humanitarian crises
Key Responsibilities:
* Working within Oxfam's overall Strategic Change Objectives on Gender Justice, provide facilitative regional leadership in this area.
* All analysis, information and recommendations relating to policy and programmes are to be specifically informed by the critical consideration of Gender and the HIV and AIDS pandemic.
* Actively participate in the country, regional and global development environment.
* Work in an interactive and coordinated manner with the other Lead Coordinators and identify and encourage synergies within and across programmes to achieve an integrated approach that supports the overall regional agenda
* Assist countries to develop a comprehensive understanding of Oxfam's partnership approach and implement programmes that build viable, independent and self-sustaining partner organisations.
* Support identification, assessment and relationship-building with potential partners.
* Provide the interface between local and global activities, and country plans and head office initiatives, such that there is an effective flow of meaningful information and collaboration between the two groups
* Create a strong internal gender justice network that encourages a "joint accountability" approach for achieving objectives.
* Coordinate analysis relating to gender justice activities to identify underlying patterns and cycles that trigger crises situations, so that they can be effectively addressed
* Work with country staff, especially those in human resources, to effectively implement Oxfam's Workplace Policy on Gender.
* Support staff to develop their understanding and expertise on building gender justice considerations into their programme plans and activities.
* Support country teams to develop effective gender justice strategies based on clear analysis of the issues and opportunities that exist for change
* Develop and facilitate links with civil society, the private sector and governments, initiating contacts and building associations that can be used to develop gender justice initiatives that have a pro-poor focus
* Promote the establishment of and participation in inter-agency policy groups, particularly on women's economic participation, education for girls and social protection
* Support staff to engage with partners in developing and implementing a cohesive and strategic advocacy and campaigning policy that maximises the links with programming work in gender justice
* Assist in the planning, implementation and reporting of gender justice assessments, including the development of methodology and tools for assessment, implementation and impact measurement
* Undertake and support the regular monitoring and evaluation process to continually assess organisational performance and delivery against agreed results and recommend action to ensure delivery is achieved
* Participate in relevant fundraising activities.
Skills and Competence:
* Proven management experience at a strategic level in a complex, dispersed organisation with evidence of leading, facilitating and integrating a specific area of expertise across a wide network, providing clarity and focus of vision and impact, strategic planning and decision making and the delivery of agreed results
* Comprehensive knowledge and experience of implementing gender justice programmes and initiatives, in both development and humanitarian programme operations, ideally built on mature understanding of relevant issues derived from field experience. A particular understanding of HIV and AIDS and its intersection with poverty and suffering
* Experience of and thorough understanding of a "Rights Based Approach", including conceptual clarity of power analysis
* Demonstrable understanding of 360 degree accountability
* Strong programme management and quality knowledge, with ability to ensure consistent quality against standards and to implement effective monitoring and evaluation systems to assess and adjust performance
* Ability to engage and influence both corporate direction, contributing to and following it as appropriate and the ongoing development of programme policy and quality to enhance the impact of Oxfam's work
* Commitment to and good knowledge of working with a partnership approach across the spectrum of Oxfam's work, including innovative approaches to capacity strengthening
* Good knowledge of and experience in developing advocacy and campaign strategies and plans and successfully achieving external impact and change. Some experience in undertaking media presentations
* Good knowledge of and experience with donor funding environment and good financial management skills, with experience of project budgeting and controlling financial risks
* Proven analytical and conceptual thinking, high level research, project management knowledge and skills and experience using participatory tools and methodologies for assessment, programme identification, implementation, monitoring and evaluation
* Excellent knowledge of the Southern African environment and issues, desirably supported by personal exposure through having worked and lived there
* Politically astute, with high impact influencing and persuasive skills and personal gravitas to gain respect and build and maintain strong, credible relationships, with internal and external stakeholders at all levels
* Strong organisational and personal management skills, with ability to prioritise work issues to meet deadlines with minimal supervision and adjust to constantly changing situations while maintaining focus on delivery and follow-through
* Excellent personal communication skills, in written and verbal English
* A high level of self-awareness, initiative, sound judgement, personal energy and flexibility
* Ability and willingness to travel for up to 70 days per year, and to work extra hours as necessary
* Relevant academic qualifications, preferably in international development, economics, politics, sociology or humanities, especially at post-graduate level is desirable.
Please apply online at: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/work_with_us
Region: Southern Africa
Location: Pretoria
Division: International
Department: Regional Programme & Operations
Dimensions:
* Produce, assimilate, analyse and use complex and diverse public policy issues and development information to provide in-depth analysis of the specific policy/programme area to support programme and advocacy and campaign development and implementation
* Provide specialist advice and skills within the organisation and develop external recognition of expertise
* Coordinate and facilitate the development and implementation of agreed plans or strategies that contribute to departmental/broader program strategy and can involve collaboration with other departments
* Strong information gathering, assessment and sharing role, supporting the implementation of latest thinking into programme and advocacy and campaign activities
* Participate in appropriate campaign and advocacy work, to further Oxfam's change goals; occasionally expected to represent Oxfam in the media within speciality area
* Influential and influencing role with considerable external representation and relationship management responsibilities, proactively engaging with a range of internal and external stakeholders and practitioners
* Role is independent and variable, with well-defined targets and/or minimum standards, requiring effective management of non-routine management tasks, but requiring a team approach to deliver holistically on Oxfam's vision and mission
* Decision making is both strategic and operational, requiring complex analysis and problem solving skill to develop solutions to specialist, diverse and/or complex problems where little or no precedent exists
The Southern African region has a significant number of critical countries and programmes and is of strategic importance to Oxfam GB and Oxfam International, characterised by an operating environment that is potentially politically and physically insecure, with a high risk of humanitarian crises
Key Responsibilities:
* Working within Oxfam's overall Strategic Change Objectives on Gender Justice, provide facilitative regional leadership in this area.
* All analysis, information and recommendations relating to policy and programmes are to be specifically informed by the critical consideration of Gender and the HIV and AIDS pandemic.
* Actively participate in the country, regional and global development environment.
* Work in an interactive and coordinated manner with the other Lead Coordinators and identify and encourage synergies within and across programmes to achieve an integrated approach that supports the overall regional agenda
* Assist countries to develop a comprehensive understanding of Oxfam's partnership approach and implement programmes that build viable, independent and self-sustaining partner organisations.
* Support identification, assessment and relationship-building with potential partners.
* Provide the interface between local and global activities, and country plans and head office initiatives, such that there is an effective flow of meaningful information and collaboration between the two groups
* Create a strong internal gender justice network that encourages a "joint accountability" approach for achieving objectives.
* Coordinate analysis relating to gender justice activities to identify underlying patterns and cycles that trigger crises situations, so that they can be effectively addressed
* Work with country staff, especially those in human resources, to effectively implement Oxfam's Workplace Policy on Gender.
* Support staff to develop their understanding and expertise on building gender justice considerations into their programme plans and activities.
* Support country teams to develop effective gender justice strategies based on clear analysis of the issues and opportunities that exist for change
* Develop and facilitate links with civil society, the private sector and governments, initiating contacts and building associations that can be used to develop gender justice initiatives that have a pro-poor focus
* Promote the establishment of and participation in inter-agency policy groups, particularly on women's economic participation, education for girls and social protection
* Support staff to engage with partners in developing and implementing a cohesive and strategic advocacy and campaigning policy that maximises the links with programming work in gender justice
* Assist in the planning, implementation and reporting of gender justice assessments, including the development of methodology and tools for assessment, implementation and impact measurement
* Undertake and support the regular monitoring and evaluation process to continually assess organisational performance and delivery against agreed results and recommend action to ensure delivery is achieved
* Participate in relevant fundraising activities.
Skills and Competence:
* Proven management experience at a strategic level in a complex, dispersed organisation with evidence of leading, facilitating and integrating a specific area of expertise across a wide network, providing clarity and focus of vision and impact, strategic planning and decision making and the delivery of agreed results
* Comprehensive knowledge and experience of implementing gender justice programmes and initiatives, in both development and humanitarian programme operations, ideally built on mature understanding of relevant issues derived from field experience. A particular understanding of HIV and AIDS and its intersection with poverty and suffering
* Experience of and thorough understanding of a "Rights Based Approach", including conceptual clarity of power analysis
* Demonstrable understanding of 360 degree accountability
* Strong programme management and quality knowledge, with ability to ensure consistent quality against standards and to implement effective monitoring and evaluation systems to assess and adjust performance
* Ability to engage and influence both corporate direction, contributing to and following it as appropriate and the ongoing development of programme policy and quality to enhance the impact of Oxfam's work
* Commitment to and good knowledge of working with a partnership approach across the spectrum of Oxfam's work, including innovative approaches to capacity strengthening
* Good knowledge of and experience in developing advocacy and campaign strategies and plans and successfully achieving external impact and change. Some experience in undertaking media presentations
* Good knowledge of and experience with donor funding environment and good financial management skills, with experience of project budgeting and controlling financial risks
* Proven analytical and conceptual thinking, high level research, project management knowledge and skills and experience using participatory tools and methodologies for assessment, programme identification, implementation, monitoring and evaluation
* Excellent knowledge of the Southern African environment and issues, desirably supported by personal exposure through having worked and lived there
* Politically astute, with high impact influencing and persuasive skills and personal gravitas to gain respect and build and maintain strong, credible relationships, with internal and external stakeholders at all levels
* Strong organisational and personal management skills, with ability to prioritise work issues to meet deadlines with minimal supervision and adjust to constantly changing situations while maintaining focus on delivery and follow-through
* Excellent personal communication skills, in written and verbal English
* A high level of self-awareness, initiative, sound judgement, personal energy and flexibility
* Ability and willingness to travel for up to 70 days per year, and to work extra hours as necessary
* Relevant academic qualifications, preferably in international development, economics, politics, sociology or humanities, especially at post-graduate level is desirable.
Please apply online at: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/work_with_us
