Global Gender Advisor

REPORTS TO:                      Deputy Director, Regional Program Department

DEPARTMENT:                  Regional Programs

LOCATION:                         Boston, Massachusetts, USA     

COORDINATES WITH: 

Staff of other Departments and Divisions, Regional Management Teams, Regional staff

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:  Advise multiple agency stakeholders and decision-makers on the strategic development and expansion of agency's gender programming.  Work closely with all stakeholders to strengthen and promote regional gender programs and provide thematic expertise on gender to the program division, the wider organization and represent Oxfam America in Oxfam International forums related to Gender.  Support the implementation of Oxfam America's gender equity policy. The Global Gender Advisor is responsible for defining and ensuring compliance of agency standards in Gender programming within grant management, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) and reporting on impact of Gender programming. The Global Gender Advisor will supervise the gender thematic support to the regions by Program Associates.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Gender Thematic Support

• Manage operational planning of Gender Mainstreaming, Learning and Accountability Initiative (GMLAI) activities.
• Manage department contributions of technical and thematic inputs for strategic planning, program design and grant making for gender programming.
• Co-design, coordinate and lead project and/or program assessments and evaluations with Regional Directors, LEAD and other department staff members on gender programming.
• Assist regional office staff in partner selection for gender-based programming.
• To visit and assess programs and to provide concrete support in improving gender-related elements
• Co-design, coordinate and supervise all department / agency level gender research.
• Co-design, co-develop and co-lead with Deputy Director, Regional Directors and LEAD workshops and conferences regarding gender programming or planning
• Supervise gender consultants and interns supporting department / agency gender work.
• Work closely with Regional Directors to organize regional office strategic planning, program development, and APPLE ongoing learning and impact initiatives for gender programming.
• Facilitate and coordinate Gender Resource Group.
• Take a proactive role in feeding the experiences and insights of the regional offices into the implementation of Oxfam America's gender equity policy, with a view to enhancing organizational knowledge on gender mainstreaming.
• Develop Gender Program Impact reports in conjunction with the Regional Management Team.
• Identify and pursue strategic program growth funding opportunities with Regional Directors for gender programming.
• Actively seek to develop and coordinate appropriate inter-regional program linkages with gender programming to promote best practices and learning.

Management

• Supervise Program Associates, co-develop (with the Deputy Director) their annual work plans and schedules to meet agency gender support needs, agency program quality priorities and fulfill the department's responsibilities and the ongoing individual development of staff members.
• Negotiate with Regional Directors and Deputy Director on Program Assistant's participation in specific and time sensitive regional office work initiatives and contribute to advancing gender thematic work in the region.
• Identify opportunities for staff development for Program Associates and Regional Office Staff.
• Provide input to quality headquarters-based orientation, training and development for regional office staff.
• Within the agency framework and business plans, identify opportunities for inter-regional or global collaboration such as secondments, cross-regional visits and other staff development initiatives.
• Through coaching, information sharing and identification of relevant training, build the capacity of staff and partners to understand and analyze gender issues, and to incorporate them  into program design and implementation

Liaison

• Identify and develop cross-departmental/division relationships to further advance regional strategic plans and gender-related work.
• Ensure strategic planning and programming have solicited and incorporated inputs and shared inter-departmental goals regarding gender.
• Develop both internal and external programs for internal and external audiences to share knowledge and experiences from the from gender programming.
• To act as liaison person with Oxfam America head office, regional offices, other departments, Oxfam International and external agencies on all matters related to the OA gender programming.
• Represent Oxfam America in OI Gender Justice meetings, forums and communications.
• In working with other staff, ensure the provision of quality information and advance agency-wide learning about agency gender programming to stakeholders, such as Operations, Communication & Education and Resource Development Divisions.  This could include data for funding proposals, financial and human resource information, donor reports, stories for communication, media responses, external changes within the regions and learning from others.

EXPECTATIONS FOR THE POSITION:

• Stay current of professional standards, trends and issues affecting gender thematic programming and demonstrate continuous learning from the field.
• Impact and influence gender thinking and programming within Oxfam America, among Oxfam affiliates and to the international development world.
• Have strong demonstrable representational skills.
• Work effectively and collaboratively in support of building a team-based culture of work
• Perform all duties appropriately for a multi-cultural environment, demonstrating a commitment to diversity, and will be familiar with and committed to Oxfam America mission and goals.
• Be available to travel to regional offices and relevant professional meetings as needed
• Demonstrate strategic programmatic and business planning skills including budget preparation and ongoing budget monitoring.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

Education: 

• Bachelor's degree in related field.

Experience and Core Competencies:

• Seven years of experience in international development.
• Work experience in two or more of agency regions.
• Program management and development experience
• Sound working knowledge of international development programs,
• Excellent gender analytical skills at both programme and policy levels. Specific expertise on gender issues in relation to either humanitarian work or education highly desirable. Knowledge and understanding of gender issues in relation to organizational development is also an advantage
• Experience in multi-location based working environment,
• Ability to multi-task in a complex and virtual organizational structure,
• Strong interpersonal skills,
• Demonstrated ability to assume leadership within a virtual team context.
• Prior experience in a internationally operating organization
• Ability to work well and influence others within many levels of an organization,
• Ability both to liaise effectively with individual members of regional staff
• Capacity to advise in the development of strategic long-range gender programmatic vision together with regional teams,
• Management experience and leadership skills in mentoring staff in a team environment,
• Skills and experience in supporting others in mainstreaming gender equality goals in program design, implementation, monitoring and evaluating in development and/or humanitarian contexts.
• Ability to work with people from regional programs to ensure strategic program alignment of partner profile and grants with agency plans and direction
• Ability to provide mentoring, guidance and direction to team members.

Preferred: 

• Knowledge of the key organizational development issues including learning organizations, gender equity and right based approach.
• Understanding of complexities and constraints of working in an international context