Tax Justice Programme Strategist at Oxfam

Job Purpose

Leads in the implementation of the Mobilising Progressive Domestic Resources for Quality Public Services (Tax Justice Programme) - piloting innovative programme approaches, building partnerships, coalitions and networks and supporting partners to develop organisational capacity building to deliver high quality women’s rights programmes. The Tax Justice Programme Strategist will establish and maintain linkages with other thematic areas and link with Oxfam campaigns, policy influencing and advocacy teams. Occasionally, as required by the programme design, the post holder will manage contracted programme staff. A key area of work will be to fundraise for the programme and to generate and manage knowledge resources through linkages with knowledge hubs and other institutions.

Key Responsibilities

Programme design, implementation and resourcing 40%

· Provides thought leadership on the programme focus and contributing to the thematic area, staying up to date with the latest thinking, undertaking and commissioning research and analysis and spending time to develop a comprehensive understanding of the theme how it contributes to poverty and Inequality in the country and across multiple locations.

· Leads on Tax Justice programme budget process by designing and effectively managing spend on a monthly basis including variance reporting and ensures corrective actions are taken on deviation.

• Plays a leadership role in ensuring that gender is applied to all programming, developing understanding of potential impacts (positive and negative) on gender and ensuring that programme interventions have been designed with gendered lens.
• Working closely with the Director – Programmes and the MEAL Advisor ensures that through a gender lens, an effective, transparent and robust monitoring, evaluation, learning and accountability system and processes are in place to ensure that the program delivers on the OCS.
• Working closely with the Program Funding Relationship Manager, participates in relevant fundraising activities, through the development of fundable concepts (at all levels including programme development with partners) and by taking lead in the development of donor proposals, budget submissions and other necessary activities to secure funding for programme objectives
• Assesses and advises the Country Director and Director – Programmes on risk emerging from the programme.

Partnership and coalition building, networking and support 30%

· Provides technical support to staff and partners working on the programs with a specific focus on domestic resource mobilisation/tax justice and influencing.

• Develops a comprehensive understanding of Oxfam’s partnership approach, including work with coalitions and networks, adopting a strategic, proactive perspective on how to achieve partner led approaches to achieve sustainable change.

· Ensures compliance with donor requirements, managing internal and external relationships to minimise disallowances and deviations from plan.

• Develops and facilitates links with civil society, the private sector and governments, initiating contacts and building associations that can be used to enhance Oxfam’s work, and identifying key partners to collaborate with on the delivery of the program.
• Coordinates and mobilises technical support for the program partners, accompanying them and ensuring high quality of programming.
• Identifies and channels appropriate technical and material resources to the partners.
• Assesses and advises the Country Director and Director – Programmes on risk emerging from the programme.

Research, knowledge generation, campaigns and policy influencing 20%

· Collects and analyses programme information to produce timely, accurate progress reports for multiple audiences – partners, internal teams, donors and other external sudiences.

· Ensures that adequate monitoring and evaluation sytems, processes and tools are in place to manage programmes and to achieve the intended programme objectives.

• Support the development of a joint advocacy strategy and plan with allies and implement Oxfam’s role in the plan.
• Providing technical contribution, with campaigns and colleagues and through innovative approaches develop appropriate influencing materials for consumption by targeted groups.
• Source and analyse essential publications for relevant content, summary and distribution for internal, external audiences and donors.
• Provide regular information, briefings and publicity on the Tax Justice programm activities that also support relevant policy formulation.
• Develop written analysis and learning material for publication for the purpose of the platform, Oxfam and wider civil society analysis and learn.
• Ensures research, learning and advice is disseminated for maximum impact.

Human resource management 10%

· Manage staff, consultants and researchers as required, in accordance with Oxfam policy and procedures

Technical Skills, and Knowledge

Skills

· Professional/Technical qualifications – Undergraduate/Post Graduate in Development Studies, Law, Economics and related field.

• Ability to engage and influence both corporate direction, contributing to and following it as appropriate and the ongoing development of program policy and quality to enhance the impact of Oxfam’s work
• 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.
• Proven ability to analyse complex contexts, monitor change and translate into appropriate planning, while maximising impact.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with good report writing skills. Proven ability to analyse complex contexts, monitor change and translate this analysis into appropriate plans which have impact.

· Ability to gather and apply lessons learned and to communicate this learning effectively to influence others for action – both internal and external audiences.

· Demonstatred ability to work effectively and sensitively with different values systems and cultures.

Knowledge

· Comprehensive knowledge and experience of implementing Domestic Resource mobilisation/Tax Justice programs and initiatives, ideally built on mature understanding of relevant issues derived from field experience

· Good knowledge of and experience in developing advocacy and campaign strategies and plans and successfully achieving external impact and change.

· 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.

· A strong understanding of gender, women’s rights, development issues and the political and economic context in Kenya

· Commitment to and good knowledge of working with networks, coalitions and a partnership approach across the spectrum of Oxfam’s work, including innovative approaches to capacity strengthening.

· Fluency in English with knowledge of Swahili being an added advantage.

Experience

· At least five years experience on project management in a non-governmental (national or international) or similar institutional setting.

· 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.

· 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

· Demonstrated experience of designing and implementing advocacy and campaigns programmes.

· Excellent personal communication skills.

· A high level of self-awareness, initiative, sound judgement, personal energy and flexibility.