| Director of Policy & Strategy |
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Location: Ireland
Salary: Salary will reflect the seniority of the position and the level of experience required.
Information on applying for this position: Please send a covering letter and up to date CV to: wendy.hayden@selfhelpafrica.org
Applications should be submitted by e-mail as a Word document or in Rich Text Format (.rtf), and make it clear that you are applying for this position.
Closing Date: Tuesday 3rd August, 2010
Job Details
Self Help Africa is inviting applications for the post of Director of Policy and Strategy.
The successful candidate will be responsible for driving the strategic direction of the organisation, and achieving a significant scaling up of our work. The Director of Policy and Strategy will also be responsible for ensuring that programme development and implementation is of the highest quality, and have responsibility for major donor liaison and the development of strategic funding alliances.
The Director of Policy and Strategy will sit on the executive team, and report to the CEO. This is a new position within the organisation.
Type of Contract: This is a permanent position.
Accountabilities & Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will be responsible for: |
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 | Directing Policy and Strategy Department |
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| Driving the strategic direction of SHA, based on a sound understanding of current development policy and a clear vision on innovative approaches to empower rural Africans to become economically independent. |
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| Ensuring that Self Help Africa's policies and programme approaches are supported by coherent analytical framework.
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| Overseeing country strategic planning processes, and ensuring that programme development is compliant with overall strategy and policies, and builds on internal experience as well as good practice in the sector. |
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| Reviewing new programme proposals and work with Programme Development Advisor to provide guidance and build capacity of PSCs, technical team and country staff in programme design. |
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| Providing oversight of programme quality, and work with the Programme Policy and Research Advisor to ensure that SHA’s work on innovation, learning, research and monitoring and evaluation is to the highest standard. |
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| Ensuring that participatory processes and sound partnership approaches are embedded across the country programmes, and ensuring technical excellence across the organisation and supporting development of the new technical team. |
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| Promoting innovative thinking on scale-able solutions, especially targeting agricultural enterprises, climate change adaptation, micro finance and co-operatives. |
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| Ensuring that the Programme Policy and Research Department works effectively with the Programme Implementation Department to improve Self Help Africa’s programmes. |
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 | Donor Relations |
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| The candidate will be responsible for managing external donor relations with governments and multi-lateral agencies in particular managing strategic relationships with key donors such as Irish Aid, DFID, EC and USAID, as well as with major trusts and foundations. |
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| Should have a clear understanding of donor policies and engage in influencing donor thinking. |
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| Should build capacity across country offices in donor liaison are representation of Self Help Africa to donors. |
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| Effectively represent SHA at the highest level and clearly articulate programme policy and strategy to both a professional and public audiences. |
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Key relationships:
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| Finance and Personnel
The successful candidate will be the budget holder for programme policy and strategy department, will lead, motivate, manage and appraise the Programme Policy and Research Advisor, Programme Development Advisor and the Technical team. |
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Pre-requisites:
The successful candidate is expected to have:
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| High level of drive, initiative, motivation, commitment and professionalism |
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| A minimum of 8 years experience in a senior management role. |
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| Educated to postgraduate level in a relevant discipline. |
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| Up-to-date with current debates in development policy and practice. |
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| Track record of successful relationships developed/maintained with major donors; clear understanding of the key donor policies. |
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| Proven track record of leadership in strategic development of programmes. |
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| Strong communication skills; ability to communicate convincingly at the highest level. Track record engaging in influencing debates – either through public speaking or publications. |
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| Experience working on an executive (senior management) team with wider knowledge of financial, legal and organisational issues pertinent to international development NGOs. |
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Key relationships:
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| Board of Trustees |
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| CEO & Executive Team Self Help Africa |
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| Programmes Department |
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| Country Directors |
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| Finance Teams |
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| Fundraising Departments |
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| Administration
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Obligations:
It is expected that the successful candidate will:
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Carry out these accountabilities within the operating and process frameworks that apply to the whole Self Help Africa organisation. |
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| Work together with all your key stakeholders: line and functional to ensure organisational objectives, mission and vision are met. |
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| Exemplify the Self Help Africa standards of integrity, purpose & values.
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