Economic Justice And Financing For Women’s Rights Manager

Managing the Economic Justice and Financing for Women’s Rights thematic area at AWID including the implementation of the strategic priorities of the team, of related advocacy and influence, knowledge production and communication, and capacity building work with key international actors, women’s rights organizations, networks and other social movements.

Deadline:      January 15, 2014
Location:       Flexible

Overview of the Program

This program builds on a long trajectory of work linked to the aid and development effectiveness agenda and process, the UN financing for development agenda, feminist perspectives on development alternatives and many of the debates sparked at AWID’s 2012 Forum on Transforming Economic Power to Advance Women’s Rights and Justice. We believe that women’s organizations must have a stronger knowledge of and voice in development policy-making and economic justice agendas to ensure these are responsive to their needs, rights and realities. AWID is committed to continuing to facilitate and strengthen engagement of diverse women’s movements and organizations to build alternatives and proposals and influence major development and economic justice processes on the road ahead.

Overview of Position:

Managing the Economic Justice and Financing for Women’s Rights thematic area at AWID including the implementation of the strategic priorities of the team, of related advocacy and influence, knowledge production and communication, and capacity building work with key international actors, women’s rights organizations, networks and other social movements.

This is a full-time position, reporting to the Director of Programs, responsible for:

• Providing strategic leadership and management of strategies and work plans linked to AWID’s work on economic justice and financing for women’s rights;

• Managing relevant staff and contractors, providing strategic leadership, direction, oversight, coaching, managing performance and overseeing work planning to ensure appropriate alignment with AWID’s strategic goals and priorities;
• Supporting the development of quality work processes, and work products as aligned with AWID’s principles and vision
• Motivating, enabling and supporting strong team cohesion, team work and team building processes within the Economic Justice and Financing for Women’s Rights team as well as with other teams at AWID.
• Developing, managing, monitoring and adhering to the thematic area budget and other resources, ensuring compliance with internal controls (e.g. financial and audit) controls, and organizational policies, procedures and practices.

Work Location of the Position:

• Work location is open.
• AWID offices are located in Cape Town, Mexico City and Toronto but applicants may apply to work from home in other locations.
• Applicants from the Global South are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities:

Advocacy

• Define and implement advocacy objectives and strategies with multiple stakeholders (both governmental and nongovernmental), in partnership with the Director of Program and other Managers where appropriate
• Work with relevant AWID allies to influence select international spaces, including relating to UN processes around the post-2015 development agenda and financing for development
• Represent AWID in key international venues at the UN, OECD and others
• Provide strategic input and analysis in reacting to policy documents and producing advocacy documents (both those produced by AWID as well as by our allies)
• Maintain relationships and communication with allies and other actors relevant to AWID’s advocacy objectives

Knowledge Building and Capacity Building

• Contribute to identification of research priorities in support of AWID’s advocacy agenda and coordinate with other Managers as appropriate
• Oversee production of policy analysis for use in advocacy efforts
• Oversee, provide input to drafting of position papers and articles related to advocacy objectives
• Supervise/Manage the production of key knowledge production pieces related to AWID’s objectives
• Contribute to identification of capacity building and membership engagement opportunities in support of movement knowledge building

Outreach and Alliance-building

• Expand and deepen AWID’s engagement and collaboration with selected actors from women’s and other social movements working on development issues by conducting outreach, holding meetings, and articulating the links between their agendas and women’s rights agendas
• Partner with other Managers to ensure completion of key objectives across thematic, organizational and cross program work 

Financial and Human Resource Management

• Manage staff (approximately 4 direct reports) and team budget
• Implement thematic area three year strategy and related work planning
• Manage delegation of responsibilities and duties to staff for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the program activities
• Ensure the effective implementation and evaluation of all project and individual workplans of direct reports
• Provide guidance and coaching to team members on the creation and implementation of their individual work plans
• Support and mentor staff, provide regular feedback on performance, conduct annual reviews, assist with career pathing/development.
• Ensure the timely and effective implementation of Financial, HR and M&E deliverables, including all activities, reports and evaluations
• Develop, manage and adhere to the area budget, including regular monitoring of expenditures, adherence to its internal controls; produce progress reports providing details/explanations regarding any budget variances

Organizational Processes

• Work with Directors and other Managers to address programmatic, human resource, financial, legislative issues as they arise to ensure that AWID is effective in achieving its outcomes and as well as aligned with its core identity as a feminist organization
• Participate in meetings of the Manager’s groups; sharing updates and advances as appropriate and contribute to ensure strategic alignment, information sharing and maximum synergy with AWID’s core and thematic programs
• Maintain collaborative relationships with staff across AWID to facilitate contact and communication
• Participate in organizational meetings  (office and staff meetings)

Qualifications

Experience:

At least 7 years experience in:

• A Non-Profit organization, preferably based in the Global South and/or CEE/CIS
• Participation in advocacy initiatives or influence strategies
• Participating in knowledge production, communication and the use of diverse tools and tactics for capacity building
• Participating in civil society global platforms or campaigns
• Working in a multi-cultural and diverse team

Academic Qualifications:

• University degree in Social Sciences
• Courses or certificates in Women's/Feminist studies, Political Economy or Human Rights considered an asset

Expertise & Skills:

• Knowledge of aid effectiveness, financing for development, and economic justice frameworks and processes.
• Familiarity with UN institutions and OECD bodies related to economic justice and financing for development
• Familiarity with key international and regional civil society organizations and women’s rights networks
• Demonstrated advocacy skills (developing, implementing & evaluating strategies aiming to influence the policy and/or practice of select actors), external relations and negotiations
• Experience in leading and developing others; ability to work with a diverse, multi-country team, manage conflict, engage team members and build consensus
• Excellent interpersonal understanding, relationship building and interpersonal skills 
• Strong written communication skills in English
• Strong verbal communication and public speaking abilities in English; able to convey information clearly, concisely and in a compelling way
• Innovative and flexible; fosters and manages change
• Results oriented and takes initiative
• Demonstrated capacity to manage projects and establish focus (develop, communicate, monitor & evaluate) workplans, operational plan with multiple projects, deliverables and deadlines and ability to plan, organize and lead the implementation of plans and processes
• Demonstrated capacity to think strategically & analytically; expertise in complex problem solving, decision making and critical thinking skills
• Excellent analytical and diagnostic information gathering abilities (regarding analysis of information across a range of disciplines and ability to extract relevant information/themes and solve problems)
• Displays good judgment, personal credibility, sensitivity and attention to communication
• Strong time management, detail orientation and thoroughness of work
• Flexibility; strong time and self-management abilities
• Stress Management; ability to manage role demands
• Highly computer literate, including MS Office Suite, presentation packages, Internet, and email
• Strong budget and financial management

Other Requirements:

• Able to travel extensively internationally
• Committed to the principles and values of feminism, anti-discrimination and anti-racism
• Specialization and experience in gender or women’s rights

Assets:

• Fluency in another language

How to apply?

• Send your Cover Letter and Resume to: jobs@awid.org by January 15, 2014. Please include “Economic Justice and Financing for Women’s Rights Manager” as the subject line.