Country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Closing date: 15 Dec 2015
Social Development Direct (SDDirect) is currently seeking candidates for a mid-level / senior consultant post to join our small but expanding Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) team. The post reports to SDDirect’s Technical Lead for women’s economic empowerment and is based in our central London offices, with some international travel.
Department: Technical Team Location: Central London, with international travel Reports to: Technical lead (women’s economic empowerment) / Senior Consultant Appointment term: Full time permanent (part time / flexible working upon negotiation) Closing Date: applications considered on rolling basis until filled, up to 15 December 2015.
SDDirect is a leading provider of international social development consultancy and research expertise. Established in 1999, we are focussed on the eradication of poverty, global inequality and injustice and work with clients in the north and south to this end. Our clients include the UK Department for International Development (DFID), UN agencies, and leading NGOs. We have a strong in-house team based at offices in central London and a large international network of social development professionals.
At SDDirect we understand that women’s choices to engage in economic activity and the benefits they derive from this are constrained by gender unequal power relations and pervasive and discriminatory laws, rules and social norms, which limit the options available to women and the value given to the work they do. Overwhelmingly, social norms perpetuate women’s unequal role in unpaid household and caring work; while persistent occupational segregation and discrimination in laws as well as markets result in a persistent gender pay gaps and limit women’s access to and control of financial and other assets. Economic empowerment thus involves not only supporting individual women but also enabling them to act jointly to influence wider structures and institutions in order to defend their economic rights and expand their opportunities.
SDDirect are now looking to expand our women’s economic empowerment (WEE) team, and have an exciting opportunity to recruit a mid-level / senior consultant (dependant on experience) to support this growing thematic area of our work.
Please visit www.sddirect.org.uk for more information on who we are and what we do.
Overall purpose of job This is a mid-level to senior role (dependent on experience fulfilled in the person specifications below) within a cutting edge and growing social development organisation. It provides expertise and technical capacity in the field of women’s economic empowerment (WEE) as well as support to the Lead Consultant (WEE) in the delivery of high quality, evidence-based services to clients and the continued growth of SDDirect in this technical area.
Main duties and responsibilities
Technical support: • Provide strong technical support, skills, capacity (and leadership, if assuming a senior post) to the SDDirect women’s economic empowerment team and ensure implementation and delivery of WEE programmes to a high standard. • Under the supervision of the Lead Consultant (WEE), participate actively and take leadership as required in consultancy work, research and evaluation contracts relating to WEE. • Undertake international and national travel on consultancy and research assignments as may be needed. • Support to the Lead Consultant (WEE) in portfolio and project management (including direct project management responsibilities as may be assigned). • Ensure compliance with SDDirect and client project management and contractual requirements, including timely reporting, recording of consultant inputs, contract budget monitoring, and use of the SDDirect online project management system. • Support quality assurance processes to ensure the delivery of products and deliverables to clients to a high standard of professionalism. • Provide support to relationship management with a variety of clients including government departments (e.g. DFID, FCO and other UK Departments), international agencies, non-governmental organisations and consultancy partners. • Contribute to SDDirect’s strategic thinking, intellectual leadership and planning in relation to women’s economic empowerment. • Assist in relationship management and collaboration with Senior Associates and consultants as well as the growth of SDDirect’s network capacity in the field of WEE.
Business growth: • Support the growth of SDDirect’s portfolio of work in WEE through: Active assistance in identifying and scoping out new clients and business opportunities. Participation in the review and assessment of potential business development and bidding prospects. Providing the Business Development Team with technical input and content for relevant expressions of interest, bids and research proposals to prospective clients.
Raising SDDirect’s profile: • Contribute to company marketing and promotional activities, including: Networking with a range of external partners and individuals Identifying and organising relevant opportunities and events to present our work Representing SDDirect and its work as may be needed at meetings and events.
Person Specification: Mid-Level Consultant (note additional requirements for senior role below) Essential: • Substantial experience (at least 7 years) to a mid-level of responsibility related to women’s economic empowerment and social development in developing countries, working with multilateral, bilateral or non-governmental development organisations. • Strong experience in the implementation of significant international development contracts on behalf of a multilateral, bilateral, foundation or NGO, preferably with significant field experience in developing countries. • A post graduate university social science degree in a relevant discipline related to international development (with a preference for candidates with some background in economics, business studies, and quantitative analysis) • Excellent written, verbal and presentational skills to communicate complex ideas to a range of audiences • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills • Strong organisational skills and ability to meet deadlines • Demonstrated strategic thinking and rigorous analytical skills • A demonstrable commitment to human rights, gender equality and social justice • A strong team player • Fluency in written and spoken English • Ability to travel internationally and to work legally in the UK Desirable: • Experience of preparing bids for consultancy and research projects for donor agency clients • Experience in planning, managing, monitoring and evaluation, and quality assurance • Proven networking skills • Fluency in other languages (French highly desirable) • Familiarity with statistical analysis software (e.g. SPSS, STATA etc) • Line management / people management skills
Person Specification: Senior Consultant Essential: In addition to the above requirements, the senior post also requires: • Substantial experience (at least 10 years) to a senior level of responsibility related to WEE and social development in developing countries, working with multilateral, bilateral or non-governmental development organisations. • Strong network of clients, potential partner organisations and professional individuals • Experience of preparing bids for consultancy and research projects for donor agency clients • Experience in planning, managing, monitoring and evaluation, and quality assurance • Committed to mentoring more junior staff and network consultants and previous experience and interest in managing people Desirable: • Previous experience of managing sizeable contracts and interest in being involved in project management • Fluency in other languages (French highly desirable)
How to apply:
If you wish to be considered for this post, please email your CV with a cover letter, outlining which level post you are applying for, why you are interested in the post, and how you meet the requirements of the person specifications. Applications should be sent to jobs@sddirect.org.uk by the closing date. Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until filled (up to 15 December)
