Job Opportunities at The Center For Reproductive Rights (The Center)

SCOPE: The job holder will support the Snr Regional Director in overseeing the Center’s engagement and programming in Africa and will engage with regional NGOs, donor representatives and relevant stakeholders, to position the Center on regional initiatives and to further the Center’s strategic goals.

The Associate Director will be an ambassador for organizational priorities and goals in the Africa program and support the program to implement the Center’s FY22-26 Strategic Plan. Exercising the delegated authority of the Snr Regional Director, the Associate Director will navigate the organization on behalf of the Africa program. A significant portion of the Associate Director’s time will be spent on business development activities, regional representational activities, Strategic Plan monitoring, and staff mentoring. The Associate Director will also be actively engaged in business development opportunities, especially around multi-year, high value projects.

The Associate Director will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Primary Responsibilities: 

Strategy:

• Work closely with the Snr Regional Director to ensure that the Center’s global strategy is understood and guides decision-making throughout the region.
• Work closely with the Snr Regional Director to capitalize on regional opportunities and experiences to further strengthen and develop the Center’s programming in the region.
• Integrate and link program management components with ongoing implementation, including strategy and planning, budgets, grants and contracts, and development.
• Coordinate Africa region contributions to strategic and planning processes and supporting Snr Regional Director to monitor the uptake and implementation of the strategic plan including workforce planning and strengthening Africa’s operating model.
• Oversee annual planning and periodic reporting and budget projections (internal and grants-based).
• Work with SEAL team to support development and implementation of new organizational systems for evaluation and learning with and for the Africa region.
• Contribute to increase the profile of the Center as a leading reproductive rights organization in the region.

Leadership & Coordination:

• Supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and leading documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Provide leadership to increase program coordination, collaboration, communication and harmonization of programming with the broader Global Legal Program.
•  Drive seamless coordination between programming and operations and outcomes, with the objective of improving the quality of Center’s programs and impact on the beneficiaries.
• Oversee tracking of program implementation and facilitate coordination within the program and across other regions and departments.
•  Facilitate close and efficient coordination of Africa program support to the partners in the focal countries and with headquarters’ departments on common programming, operational and funding issues.
• Participate in key cross-departmental and cross-functional teams as representative of the Africa region, as needed.
• In close collaboration with the Senior Regional Director and technical leads, maintain oversight of the Africa region’s portfolio, managing the administrative and operational budgets and working closely with key staff on their program budgets.
• Support development of increased and strengthened internal channels of communication from and through departments and regional offices.
• Role modelling and supporting the development of an organizational culture that reflects the Center’s values, dual mandate and promotes accountability and high performance.
• Oversee operations for Africa program, including all aspects of internal processes and systems and ensuring smooth operations for Center’s Nairobi office.

Portfolio Management & Program Quality:

• Work closely with the GLP Operations to strengthen program management across the unit, including building program and project management capacities in the Africa region and disseminating learning and best practices.
• Oversee the grant portfolio, ensuring all programs are delivered in line with donor standards and aligned to the Center’s principles, values and strategy.
• Manage the region’s relationships with the Technical Units and support collaboration to optimize impact on program quality within and across the Africa program.
• Facilitate sharing and learning across the program and support thematic leads to incorporate learning into project design and operations management.  
• Ensure that programs are designed and implemented in support of Center’s vision of cost-effective, outcomes-driven and evidence-based interventions that are responsive to the local context and the priorities of our beneficiaries.
• Ensure implementation of, and adherence to the Center’s and donor policies relevant to the Africa program in coordination with the Compliance Unit and Office of the General Counsel.
• Drive/Establish/strengthen processes, develop structures and provide technical guidance on project cycle / grant management for Africa including sub-grant management and partnership.

Business Development & Partnerships:

• Play key role in new efforts to secure especially government funding for the Africa program and to integrate related systems and processes into the region’s operations.
• Oversee and support proposal development and writing processes and ensure timely submission of competitive, responsive and high-quality proposals that align with Center priorities.
• With Snr Regional Director oversee a rolling program of process and systems changes as required to support the Center’s ability to secure, manage, and sustain funding (WOW1)

Any other relevant function related work that may be determined for own area from time to time.

Qualifications:

• 15+ years of professional experience with several of these being in an international NGO senior program management.
• Master’s degree in relevant field preferred. 
• Experience in managing staff required.
• Significant program and project management experience with ability to work proactively and independently while facilitating teams to develop collaborative processes.
• Experience in dealing with large, restricted grants required especially specialized budgeting and attendant office administrative requirements.
• Ability to draft and effectively copy edit written communication such as memos, talking points, presentations, and emails and have an ability to translate technical information for lay audiences.
• Excellent computer skills and comfort working with database programs, CRMs, using Microsoft packages.
• A diverse background in programs, with strong understanding of Design, Monitoring & Evaluation, strong analytical skills, and experience leading strategic planning processes.
• Demonstrated expertise in representation and negotiations, resulting in securing significant new opportunities for the organization.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation, and coaching. Must be able to give direction from a variety of management styles and roles.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with limited supervision.
• Strong commitment to the Center’s mission, purpose, and values.
• Individual and team leadership with demonstrable dependability and diplomacy skills.
• Strategic global perspective with ability to see and understand the big picture and translate it into strategic processes.
• Demonstrated excellent writing and verbal communications skills.
• Planning, organizing and work management skills.
• Creativity and innovation to meet learning outcome in project.
• Work structuring skills with ability to manage multifaceted programs.
• Analytical/reasoning skills with solutions-oriented approach to work.
• Time perspective and ability to work under tight deadlines

Critical Competencies:

• Strategic thinking: Applies big-picture thinking while also focusing on the details of implementation.
• Decisiveness: Consistently makes sound decisions in a timely manner supportive of the Center’s mission, core values, and strategic objectives. Blends vision and judgment.
• Collaboration: Brings a track record of working effectively with various and diverse individuals and groups, and a willingness to actively listen and invite different views and opinions across all levels of the institution to build alignment in support of a common goal.
• Receives and Provides Direct Feedback: Actively gives and requests feedback to and from peers, supervisors and direct reports (if applicable) about work products, behaviors, values, style and approaches with a view on how this impacts self, other individuals and teams.
• Transparency: Consistently applies openness and honesty in communicating decisions and plans to team members.
• Commitment to learn: Applies a growth mentality to their own and their team’s (if applicable) development. Promotes a culture of learning by modeling inquisitiveness and an openness to viewing mistakes as an opportunity to learn and improve.
• Passion for Coaching, and Mentoring Staff: Empowers and motivates employees and creates opportunities for learning, development, and leadership, with a focus on harnessing skills for the future development of team members. (if applicable)
• Accountability: Follows through on each commitment made to individual contributors, teams and partners and proactively informs others of any delays that occur along the way. Holds team members accountable.
• Integrity: Possesses impeccable integrity and personal and professional values that are consistent with the Center’s high standards and mission.
• Empathy: Serves as an empathetic, approachable leader who engenders trust and confidence. (if applicable)
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Demonstrates comfort with ambiguity and calculated risk.

go to method of application »

The Role: The Advocacy Adviser (Kenya) will support the start-up and implementation of a new multi-country (Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya) Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRHR) project (The project).  S/he will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the implementation of all aspects of the project in Kenya under the guidance and support of the Senior Technical Adviser in the Africa Program.  This position requires a person with a deep desire to support and nurture youth-led programming.

The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya and will be for an initial term of 2 years with likely extension of up to 7 years.

Primary Responsibilities: 

Program Management

• With the support of the Senior Technical Advisor, s/he will be responsible for the country specific planning, implementation, and reporting of the project.
• Ensure project learning is generated and documented and shared within the project in line with Centers’ reporting systems and guidelines.
• Liaise with partners and program staff to ensure relevance and quality of activities.
• Ensure timely production and submission of project reports and other knowledge products in accordance with donor requirements.

Advocacy Support

• Support research initiatives that provide evidence for the delivery of project priorities.
• Conduct analysis on trends / issues related to ASRHR in the project areas, with a view to informing advocacy strategies and partner support.
• Develop and ensure effective messages and clear positions are crafted and delivered to different audiences in line with the project and the Centre’s thematic focus.
• Develop and maintain an excellent working knowledge of current and emerging legal and policy trends relevant to the country and partner strategies.
• Support the design, implementation, and evaluation of partner advocacy strategies.
• Provide ongoing support/accompaniment to partners under the project as they roll out and implement project outcomes.
• Develop and facilitate the process of identifying program and advocacy priorities in collaboration with the Center program teams and partners.
• Develop and roll out a capacity support plan for partners to translate advocacy priorities into concrete actions with key deliverables.
• Represent the project at any relevant meetings within delegated authority.

Qualifications:

• A first degree in relevant disciplines in social science or Degree in law from a recognized University with 3+years’ related professional experience.
• Knowledge of international human rights, women’s rights and Africa regional human rights mechanism.
• Advocacy experience at the national or regional levels, including as part of NGO coalitions.
• Excellent writing, editing, research and oral advocacy skills.
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, presentation, and written and verbal communications skills.
• Ability to work and adopt to a fast-paced dynamic work environment.
• Orientation to continuous Learning.
• Orientation to detail in work requiring effective and accurate data analysis.
• Strong commitment to the Center’s mission, purpose, and values.
• Very detail-oriented, with strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively with colleagues
• Excellent social and networking skills, ability to engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook.
• Willingness to travel to all project locations and other locations as necessary
• Fluency in English required.

Critical Competencies:

• Strategic thinking: Applies big-picture thinking while also focusing on the details of implementation.
• Decisiveness: Consistently makes sound decisions in a timely manner supportive of the Center’s mission, core values, and strategic objectives. Blends vision and judgment.
• Collaboration: Brings a track record of working effectively with various and diverse individuals and groups, and a willingness to actively listen and invite different views and opinions across all levels of the institution to build alignment in support of a common goal.
• Receives and Provides Direct Feedback: Actively gives and requests feedback to and from peers, supervisors and direct reports (if applicable) about work products, behaviors, values, style and approaches with a view on how this impacts self, other individuals and teams.
• Transparency: Consistently applies openness and honesty in communicating decisions and plans to team members.
• Commitment to learn: Applies a growth mentality to their own and their team’s (if applicable) development. Promotes a culture of learning by modeling inquisitiveness and an openness to viewing mistakes as an opportunity to learn and improve.
• Passion for Coaching, and Mentoring Staff: Empowers and motivates employees and creates opportunities for learning, development, and leadership, with a focus on harnessing skills for the future development of team members. (if applicable)
• Accountability: Follows through on each commitment made to individual contributors, teams and partners and proactively informs others of any delays that occur along the way. Holds team members accountable.
• Integrity: Possesses impeccable integrity and personal and professional values that are consistent with the Center’s high standards and mission.
• Empathy: Serves as an empathetic, approachable leader who engenders trust and confidence. (if applicable)
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Demonstrates comfort with ambiguity and calculated risk.

go to method of application »

The Role: Reporting to the Head of Advocacy and Communications, the Senior Advocacy Adviser works as part of the Advocacy and Communications unit in the development, dissemination, and implementation of SRHR policies, positions and projects that reflect the priorities of the Center. In consultation with the Head of Advocacy and Communications and the Africa team, s/he crafts relevant strategies and provides strategic and contextual advice and counsel regarding advocacy and policy issues related to SRHR in Africa.  S/he will support Advocacy Advisers, Fellows and interns to harness their expertise and experience to develop compelling, relevant and timely interventions and contribute to the Center’s advocacy work.

This position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya

Primary Responsibilities: 

Organizing and Movement Building

• Identify opportunities, develop and implement innovative strategies and tactics including through building cross-constituency partnerships.
• Develop strong relationships and participate in meetings and events with partners and networks across SRHR and other human rights movements.
• Oversee the planning, launching, managing and sunsetting of the full life cycle of a diverse set of multiple and simultaneous issue-based campaigns.
• Strengthen the capacity of Africa Reproductive Rights Initiative (ARRI) network as the go-to expert and thought leader in SRHR and the law in Africa.

 Technical Oversight:

• In consultation with the Head of Advocacy and Communications, develop policies, position statements and advocacy strategies as required, based on input and advice from partners and the Africa team.
• Support the Africa program’s analysis and assessment of capacity building needs, development of capacity-building measurement tools and strategies, and creation of advocacy plans for specific partners.
• Monitor and review the impact of capacity-building support and recommend improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of capacity-building initiatives.
• Participate in the provision of rapid response to SRHR policy issues as they arise.
• Support the Head of Advocacy and Communications in the efforts towards Safeguarding the SRHR space in Africa.
• Activate national, regional and UN mechanisms to oppose and protect against SRHR retrogression.
• Contribute to SRHR thought leadership in the Africa region.

Judicial engagement:

• Design and advance strategies for the program’s work to build SRHR jurisprudence in Africa and lead the effective implementation of those strategies.
• Develop content for thought pieces supporting the Center’s desired changes in legal doctrine.
• Oversee factual research and studies to support shifts in the jurisprudence.
• Create the plan for identifying and engaging key influencers and oversee its implementation.

Staff Leadership:

• Ensure direct reports have performance agreements that are aligned to the Center’s strategy and which provides clarity in effort and contribution.
• Coach, mentor and motivate staff to maximize individual and Team performance.
• Role model Centre’s values by embedding Team management practices that show case commitment to the DEI in all work spheres,

General

• Any other relevant duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Qualifications:

• A first degree in social science in a relevant field or a degree in Law. Relevant post graduate degree or other relevant professional qualification is a plus.
• Minimum of 7 years progressive experience in managing and implementing multi-faceted donor funded development projects.
• Knowledge of international human rights, women’s rights, and Africa regional human rights mechanism.
• Advocacy experience at the regional and international levels, including as part of NGO coalitions.
• Solid experience in project management.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and executing persuasive strategies for change.
• Experience in the development of policies, position statements and briefing papers.
• Demonstrated experience in managing diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively with colleagues in the Africa team and from other regions and units.
• Strategic thinking in managing stakeholder engagement, relationship management and influencing.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills especially the ability to adapt writing style and oral message to specific audience and purpose.
• Tenacity and drive with ability to work and adopt to a fast-paced dynamic work environment.
• Strong conceptual skills coupled with an orientation to continuous Learning.
• Able to inspire and energize project teams; to work independently and interdependently in cross functional work areas.
• Excellent social and networking skills, ability to engage with the private sector, civil society and governments.
• Highly developed analytical skills in political judgement required for effective and accurate data analysis.
• Proficiency in use of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook) and other e-based communication channels and tools.
• Willingness to travel to all project locations and other locations, as necessary.

Critical Competencies:

• Strategic thinking: Applies big-picture thinking while also focusing on the details of implementation.
• Decisiveness: Consistently makes sound decisions in a timely manner supportive of the Center’s mission, core values, and strategic objectives. Blends vision and judgment.
• Collaboration: Brings a track record of working effectively with various and diverse individuals and groups, and a willingness to actively listen and invite different views and opinions across all levels of the institution to build alignment in support of a common goal.
• Receives and Provides Direct Feedback: Actively gives and requests feedback to and from peers, supervisors and direct reports (if applicable) about work products, behaviors, values, style and approaches with a view on how this impacts self, other individuals and teams.
• Transparency: Consistently applies openness and honesty in communicating decisions and plans to team members.
• Commitment to learn: Applies a growth mentality to their own and their team’s (if applicable) development. Promotes a culture of learning by modeling inquisitiveness and an openness to viewing mistakes as an opportunity to learn and improve.
• Passion for Coaching, and Mentoring Staff: Empowers and motivates employees and creates opportunities for learning, development, and leadership, with a focus on harnessing skills for the future development of team members. (if applicable)
• Accountability: Follows through on each commitment made to individual contributors, teams and partners and proactively informs others of any delays that occur along the way. Holds team members accountable.
• Integrity: Possesses impeccable integrity and personal and professional values that are consistent with the Center’s high standards and mission.
• Empathy: Serves as an empathetic, approachable leader who engenders trust and confidence. (if applicable)
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Demonstrates comfort with ambiguity and calculated risk.

go to method of application »

The Role: Reporting to the Head of Program Operations, the Program Manager will support the programmatic and operational functions for Africa program’s evolving portfolio. This role will manage the full range of processes related to program and grant management including project cycle management, annual planning and budgeting, sub grant management and donor compliance, evaluations, and knowledge management. The role will work closely with other members of the Africa team and GLP and will be based in Nairobi.

Primary Responsibilities:

Planning, Evaluation and Learning

Support the Head of Programs Operations (HPO) with annual planning and evaluation processes: Specifically,

• Preparation and review of project plans and budgets
• Supporting Head of Program Operations, Finance Manager, and project teams with quarterly GLP Africa financial reprojection exercise.
• Assist project leads in tracking partner workplans
• Support the Head of Program Operations in monitoring and evaluation processes including institutional monitoring and evaluation initiatives and information management.

Grant Management

• Preparation of partnership agreements, sub grants and consultancy agreements
• Processing invoices and payments to partners and consultants
• Preparation and / or review of quarterly sub-grant reports
• Support the development of high-quality reports through planning and coordination with project leads, finance, development, and other relevant teams.
• Liaise with regional partners to facilitate consultancies, partnership agreements and sub-grants; monitoring and tracking payments; and ensuring timely reporting and contract compliance.
• Support the Head of Program Operations in monitoring program budgets and spending and tracking grant-specific spending, reporting and compliance
• Coordinate project close out process and work with other stakeholders and members to ensure awards are closed out on time.

Coordination and Communication

• Support the coordination and facilitation of award inception meetings with project teams and partners at the start of each award.
• Support regular project and award review processes.
• Support internal communication including through designing and maintaining Africa SharePoint site/page and maintaining and updating team’s databases and mailing lists.
• Ensure proper maintenance of all project related documentation including proposals, budgets, contracts, and reports.
• Work closely with the Senior Operations and Office Manager and Finance team to ensure that project documentation related to procurement and payments are compiled.
• Collaborate with Head of Program Operations and GLP operations team on building new and/or maintaining existing templates, tools and tracking systems for ensuring smooth operations between program, operations and finance teams.
• Support and contribute to the implementation of activities geared towards improvement of operation management in Africa.
• Participate in key cross-departmental and cross-functional teams as representative of the Africa region, as needed.

Qualifications:

• First degree in social sciences or any other relevant degree in relevant field preferred. 
• At least 8+ years of relevant professional experience
• Proven experience in program management specifically; design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience working with a diverse range of donors including government funders and foundations.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to manage project budgets and deadlines.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• Ability to work well independently and within a multi-disciplinary team environment, manage multiple projects and priorities, and working cooperatively to meet internal and external requests.
• Familiar with budgeting and financial planning protocols required in program managements.
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, presentation, and written and verbal communications skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly and simply, coupled with a strong creative sensibility and ability to think strategically.
• Proficiency in use of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook) and other e-based communication channels and tools.
• Live the values of The Centre for Reproductive Rights.
• Good written and verbal communication skills: interpersonal, especially the ability to articulate project guidelines to technical staff and specific audiences and purpose.
• Tenacity and Drive with ability to work with deadlines and adopt to a fast-paced dynamic work environment.
• Individual leadership skills: Able to provide guidance to Technical Managers and project teams; to work independently and interdependently in cross functional work areas.
• Is proactive and has great analytical skills.

Critical Competencies:

• Strategic thinking: Applies big-picture thinking while also focusing on the details of implementation.
• Decisiveness: Consistently makes sound decisions in a timely manner supportive of the Center’s mission, core values, and strategic objectives. Blends vision and judgment.
• Collaboration: Brings a track record of working effectively with various and diverse individuals and groups, and a willingness to actively listen and invite different views and opinions across all levels of the institution to build alignment in support of a common goal.
• Receives and Provides Direct Feedback: Actively gives and requests feedback to and from peers, supervisors and direct reports (if applicable) about work products, behaviors, values, style and approaches with a view on how this impacts self, other individuals and teams.
• Transparency: Consistently applies openness and honesty in communicating decisions and plans to team members.
• Commitment to learn: Applies a growth mentality to their own and their team’s (if applicable) development. Promotes a culture of learning by modeling inquisitiveness and an openness to viewing mistakes as an opportunity to learn and improve.
• Passion for Coaching, and Mentoring Staff: Empowers and motivates employees and creates opportunities for learning, development, and leadership, with a focus on harnessing skills for the future development of team members. (if applicable)
• Accountability: Follows through on each commitment made to individual contributors, teams and partners and proactively informs others of any delays that occur along the way. Holds team members accountable.
• Integrity: Possesses impeccable integrity and personal and professional values that are consistent with the Center’s high standards and mission.
• Empathy: Serves as an empathetic, approachable leader who engenders trust and confidence. (if applicable)
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Demonstrates comfort with ambiguity and calculated risk.

go to method of application »

The Role: The Center’s Africa Program seeks to hire a highly qualified, motivated, and competent Head of Advocacy and Communications to lead the integration of advocacy and communication efforts throughout the program in accordance with the Centre’s strategic plan. Reporting to the Senior Regional Director for Africa, the Head of Advocacy and Communications will lead the Africa program’s efforts to expand its advocacy, partnerships, and communication reach across Africa and position the organization as a leading voice on Sexual Reproduction Health Rights (SRHR). She/he will lead the development of evidence-based policy positions in close coordination with technical experts, conceptualize and coordinate the implementation of policy, advocacy, and communications strategies, and represent the Center at global, regional, and national forums. The job holder will also work closely with partners and strategic networks to collectively influence SRHR policies and practices, track organizational engagement efforts and advise the team on opportunities to engage stakeholders and promote research and learning to influence policies. She/he will support the Advocacy Advisers, Fellows, and interns to harness their expertise and experience to develop compelling, relevant, and timely interventions and contribute to the Center’s advocacy work.

The position shall be based in Nairobi.

Primary Responsibilities: 

Advocacy and Campaigns:

• Develop and lead a comprehensive policy advocacy and communications strategy for the Africa program providing strategic direction, oversight, coordination, and priority setting.
• Oversee strategic planning of advocacy efforts around key themes and key moments.
• Provide leadership to ensure alignment of Africa Program with organizational strategies.
• Support the Program to ensure a feminist, human rights and broader SRHR movement intersectional approach across internal and external communications;
• Ensure quality of program on influencing agenda across focal countries and with human rights mechanisms and political bodies;
• Plan and manage an advocacy calendar with key moments and events;
• Lead and oversee a data-driven and inspiring communications content and an external engagement strategy; and
• Manage strategic pieces of work in partnership with global leads which will help leverage the Centre’s value add as a global Organisation in country and in the region.

Representation:

• Lead external representation for the Centre’s advocacy and policy goals; and
• Play a leading role in raising Centre’s profile in country and at the region through developing significant relationships with partners, allies, Government development partners, INGOs, UN and the media.

Partnerships:

• Development of media relationships on behalf of the Centre;
• Bringing, maintaining networks, and working relationships with partners and stakeholders in sexual reproductive human rights;
• Work closely with the Center’s strategic partners across all focal countries to determine their advocacy and campaigning needs, ensuring that the Centre’s advocacy support is aligned to their needs and adds value; and
• Ensure close collaboration with partners and high strategic relevance of Center’s common advocacy positions.

Technical leadership, Capacity Building and Learning:

• Provide thought leadership on program development and influencing the agenda on policy/research and campaigning initiatives;
• Provide specific technical expertise on the broad range of reproductive rights;
• Lead capacity development initiatives to deepen the influencing approaches across the regional programs; and
• Support and share key learning through different methods and help tocreate an environment for innovation.

Political Mobilization:

• Oversight of political mobilization
• Gather and share strategic intelligence relevant for the program;
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with relevant bodies; and
• Oversight in development and implementation of media strategies andcomponents.

People leadership and Management:

• Promote an organizational culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and commitment to quality;
• Provide strategic direction, oversight, coordination, and priority setting for the advocacy function in collaboration with stakeholders within the Global Legal Program;
• Maximize staff performance through performance management, ensuring that each direct report has a performance agreement and development plan;
• Recruit, train/mentor, supervise and evaluate staff on own area and participate in institutional recruiting processes as needed;
• Manage the performance of Advocacy and Communications advisors in line with the Center’s Human Resources policy and organizational values;
• Engage and manage external consultants as needed;
• Ensure proper reporting and accountability to internal and external audience such as multilateral and bilateral donors;
• Draw up budgets for advocacy projects and activities, manage spending within budgets, and provide justifications for variances in coordination with the Head of Program Operations and Head of Legal Strategies; and
• Support new fundraising efforts in collaboration with the Africa team and the development team to develop advocacy related capacity statements and proposals.

Qualifications:

• A Masters’ degree in law, development studies, international relations, social sciences, politics, or any other relevant field;
• 15 years’ experience in a role that involves advocacy for an NGO with excellent knowledge of advocacy cycle and application of advocacy tools;
• Experience in developing strategic and tactical communication interventions;
• Experience working on human/women’s rights, reproductive rights and/or in the social justice sector with demonstrable expertise in advocacy and/or representation and influence at high policy levels;
• Experience in research and policy analysis, data collection, analysis, and interpretation, writing and production of reports, policy briefs and publications;
• Experience adapting context specific analysis, strategy, policies, and procedures to suit different audiences;
• Proven ability to manage projects workflow, including facilitating project scope, identifying goals and deliverables, planning and scheduling project timelines, and monitoring project progress;and
• Experience in providing non-profits technical assistance and in expanding and strengthening the communications knowledge, capabilities, and resources of non-profit organizations to enhance work and improve effectiveness.

Behavioral Skill Sets:

Demonstrable skill sets in Strategic Advocacy and communication management practices in the following core competencies skill areas: –

• Commitment to the Center’s mission, purpose, and values.
• Diplomatic and tenacious: Possess strong relationships building skills with resolve. Must possess a “can-do” and “will-do” attitude and build effective relationships while sustaining focus and drive in the Sexual Reproductive Rights protection agenda.
• Time perspective, planning organizing and work Impact: Must possess and exhibit a level of confidence in themselves and own work but must be able to take direction and criticism professionally.  
• Management Skills: Strong organizational skills with proven ability to concurrently manage a large number and wide variety of projects with strict deadlines while working within a team setting across varied time zones;
• Teamworking and Flexibility/adaptability: Ability to work in a team and able to adapt to and work effectively within a variety of situations and with various individuals and groups.  Understanding and appreciating different and opposing perspectives, adapting one’s approach as the requirements of a situation change. willingness to travel within Kenya, Africa Region and abroad, as needed;
• Creativity Innovativeness: “Out of the box” thinking perspective.
• Communication and Proven interpersonal Skills: Possess Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Information Monitoring, Strong networking and negotiation skills: Be astute at information gathering monitoring and networking;
• Initiative, energy, drive and follow up skills: Effectively respond to pressure or crisis situations and acts proactively and follow through on ideas, assignments, and open issues;

Critical Competencies:

• Strategic thinking: Applies big-picture thinking while also focusing on the details of implementation.
• Decisiveness: Consistently makes sound decisions in a timely manner supportive of the Center’s mission, core values, and strategic objectives. Blends vision and judgment.
• Collaboration: Brings a track record of working effectively with various and diverse individuals and groups, and a willingness to actively listen and invite different views and opinions across all levels of the institution to build alignment in support of a common goal.
• Receives and Provides Direct Feedback: Actively gives and requests feedback to and from peers, supervisors and direct reports (if applicable) about work products, behaviors, values, style and approaches with a view on how this impacts self, other individuals and teams.
• Transparency: Consistently applies openness and honesty in communicating decisions and plans to team members.
• Commitment to learn: Applies a growth mentality to their own and their team’s (if applicable) development. Promotes a culture of learning by modeling inquisitiveness and an openness to viewing mistakes as an opportunity to learn and improve.
• Passion for Coaching, and Mentoring Staff: Empowers and motivates employees and creates opportunities for learning, development, and leadership, with a focus on harnessing skills for the future development of team members. (if applicable) Accountability: Follows through on each commitment made to individual contributors, teams and partners and proactively informs others of any delays that occur along the way. Holds team members accountable.
• Integrity: Possesses impeccable integrity and personal and professional values that are consistent with the Center’s high standards and mission.
• Empathy: Serves as an empathetic, approachable leader who engenders trust and confidence. (if applicable)
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Demonstrates comfort with ambiguity and calculated risk.

Compensation: The Center offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits program.

go to method of application »

The Role:  Reporting to the Associate Director, New Initiatives and Business Development, the Senior Manager, Monitoring, Evaluation, & Learning is an experienced professional whose principal responsibility is to manage the day-to-day implementation and technical development of ME&L across the Center’s Global Legal Program (GLP).  The postholder contributes technical expertise to the ongoing development and strengthening of the organization’s ME&L Plan, system and related tools and processes, with responsibility for coordinating and integrating these across GLP to track progress and performance against the Strategic Plan.  This includes taking the lead and supporting GLP regions and units to develop, implement and integrate ME&L in line with institutional donor award requirements.  Working in close collaboration with GLP units and regions and the Center’s Strategy, Evaluation and Learning (SEAL) Unit, the postholder also contributes to the design and roll out of ongoing strategy, evaluation and learning initiatives at organization, department and regional level as part of broader efforts to develop an ‘impact culture’ at the Center (effectively using results and learning to inform actions and guide decision-making for continuous improvement, innovation and refinement of the Strategic Plan across programs, external relations and operations within GLP and across the Center).

The postholder’s role will be split between developing, implementing and maintaining ME&L requirements related to a 7-year grant award with the Government of Canada (40% job time allocation), and supporting GLP regions and units to implement and integrate ME&L processes and mechanisms into their day-to-day operations in alignment with the Center’s Strategic Plan (60% time allocation).

Primary Responsibilities: 

Systems, Evidence & Data

• Builds and manages the technical design and development of the ME&L system across GLP regions and units by working collaboratively with the SEAL Unit to identify and adapt appropriate tools and processes that align with the organization’s ME&L Plan and systems to track progress and performance against the Center’s Strategic Plan.
• Integrates the Center’s evaluation and learning processes into GLP initiatives and and structures.
• Leads the GLP’s ongoing implementation and review of the ME&L Plan including feedback processes to make recommendations and participation in cross-organization-level work to develop new or modified ME&L tools and approaches.
• Coordinates the GLP recommendations and contributions to annual evaluation planning and working in collaboration with GLS colleagues, ensure high quality of evaluation (and research) reports for analysis and/or internal dissemination.
• Keeps up to date and shares latest ME&L theory, best practice, trends and issues in areas of interest and relevance to the work of the Center.

Implementing ME&L to deliver strategy across GLP

• Working closely with the Associate Director, Programs Operations (Africa Region), leads the ME&L requirements to track progress and performance against a 7-year restricted funding grant in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia.
• In close collaboration with SEAL, manages GLP initiatives which integrate ME&L systems and outputs with other strategy and impact-oriented outputs related to global legal strategies, communications and institutional giving.
• Provides technical support and inputs to GLP teams preparing and implementing M&E frameworks and plans for donors (proposal development & project implementation), ensuring alignment with the Center’s results framework and compliance with donor requirements, including increased focus on integrating value for money considerations.
• Collaborates with SEAL to identify and conduct cross-GLP case studies and other evaluation and learning material as part of the Center’s strategy to strengthen cross-organizational learning and ongoing program strategy development.
• Analyzes and extracts data from evaluation processes including best practices, lessons learned and recommendations for use with GLP regions and units, and across the Center.
• Participates in and manages dissemination of knowledge and evidence emerging from ME&L processes to ensure its use in ongoing and/or new program development and decision-making.

Enabling Culture & Transformation

• In collaboration with SEAL, contributes to building a culture of strategic thinking and learning across GLP units through adopting evidence-based, impact-oriented approaches to how we design, implement, share & adapt our work.
• In collaboration with SEAL and GLS, supports implementation of processes which identify and recommend strategic options to innovate and strengthen the Center’s program portfolio, increase efficiencies/effectiveness, and maximize CRR impact.
• Integrates a human-rights based approach into building and framing cross-organizational approaches to strategy, implementation, evaluation, and learning.
• Collaborates with SEAL to identify ongoing capacity building needs around evaluation & learning across GLP regions and units.
• Collaborates with SEAL to identify and conduct relevant training/capacity building activities on technical aspects of ME&L to build ME&L understanding and ensure effective and aligned monitoring is systematically built into projects and programs.

Qualifications:

• A first degree relevant to this position and/or the organization’s work (e.g. social science, public health, social justice, human rights, sexual and reproductive health, international development). A postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline would be an added advantage and/or professional certification in ME&L or project management.
• Minimum 10 years’ cumulative work experience in a relevant field, which has included project management and developing/implementing ME&L systems and activities (incl. data analysis and synthesis as well as a working knowledge of quantitative and qualitative M&E e.g. outcome harvesting).
• Demonstrated M&E experience working on institutional funding (bilateral, multilateral, foundation) grants in advocacy and legal organizations and/or government funding agencies.
• Demonstrated experience working in and with dispersed cross-regional teams, and flexibility working with virtual teams and management.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluating human right and related policy mechanisms and/or policy & advocacy highly desirable. Experience in monitoring and evaluating LGBTQ rights/racial justice/economic justice or social justice programs with an ability to connect and apply this experience to reproductive rights would be an advantage (but not essential).
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively about ME&L practices and lessons learned in a clear, non-technical, creative and compelling way.
• Facilitation and capacity building/training skills would be a distinct advantage.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint as well as SharePoint essential; familiarity with qualitative and/or quantitative data analysis software (e.g. Nvivo) would be an advantage.
• Strong commitment to the Center’s mission, purpose, and values.
• Astute at individual leadership and team leadership.
• Excellent interpersonal and intrapersonal skills.
• Strategic Global perspective yet versatile in tactical process execution.
• Demonstrated excellent writing and verbal communications skills.
• Excellent Planning, organizing and work management/structuring skills necessary to handling a multiskilled driven and multifaceted program’s structure.
• Creativity and innovation to meet learning outcome in project.
• Analytical/reasoning skills: Solutions-oriented approach with strong analytical skills.
• Time perspective: Ability to work under tight deadlines and with teams across different time zones.

Critical Competencies:

• Strategic thinking: Applies big-picture thinking while also focusing on the details of implementation.
• Decisiveness: Consistently makes sound decisions in a timely manner supportive of the Center’s mission, core values, and strategic objectives. Blends vision and judgment.
• Collaboration: Brings a track record of working effectively with various and diverse individuals and groups, and a willingness to actively listen and invite different views and opinions across all levels of the institution to build alignment in support of a common goal.
• Receives and Provides Direct Feedback: Actively gives and requests feedback to and from peers, supervisors and direct reports (if applicable) about work products, behaviors, values, style and approaches with a view on how this impacts self, other individuals and teams.
• Transparency: Consistently applies openness and honesty in communicating decisions and plans to team members.
• Commitment to learn: Applies a growth mentality to their own and their team’s (if applicable) development. Promotes a culture of learning by modeling inquisitiveness and an openness to viewing mistakes as an opportunity to learn and improve.
• Passion for Coaching, and Mentoring Staff: Empowers and motivates employees and creates opportunities for learning, development, and leadership, with a focus on harnessing skills for the future development of team members. (if applicable)
• Accountability: Follows through on each commitment made to individual contributors, teams and partners and proactively informs others of any delays that occur along the way. Holds team members accountable.
• Integrity: Possesses impeccable integrity and personal and professional values that are consistent with the Center’s high standards and mission.
• Empathy: Serves as an empathetic, approachable leader who engenders trust and confidence. (if applicable)
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Demonstrates comfort with ambiguity and calculated risk.