Director - Strategy, Advocacy & Learning

at  Concern Worldwide

C3 2021
Job Title: Director – Strategy, Advocacy and Learning
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Terms: Full-time, permanent contract at executive level (GBF10); Dublin 2, Ireland.
Salary: €101,635 - €109,792
Location: Concern Worldwide Head Office, Camden Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Requirements: Willingness and ability to travel to any of Concern existing or potential country programmes as deemed necessary.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The SAL Director will lead and manage the SAL Directorate to ensure that the team is equipped to deliver the ambition and priorities outlined in the organisational strategic plan. The director will contribute to developing and delivering on the strategic direction of the organisation, and the achievement of the highest standard of programme quality. The director will provide leadership, coordination and direction for organisational advocacy work, global citizenship education and campaigns, and to the promotion of a culture and programme of organisational learning.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Technical Assistance
Take a lead role in the formulation and finalisation of organisational Policy Statements and strategic plans.
Support Board committees as required and ensure Board briefings and reports are prepared and presented to a high standard.
Support the Head of Technical Assistance to ensure that the Technical Assistance team is adequately resourced and supported to deliver high quality technical support, guidance and capacity development to enhance programme impact.
Support the Head of Technical Assistance to revise, develop and roll out a set of programme policies and strategies which support the design and implementation of effective programmes in line with the organisational strategic plan.
Work with the Head of Technical Assistance to ensure that technical advisers develop and maintain strategic engagement with relevant global networks such as the global clusters that seek to ensure clear and effective leadership, predictability, and accountability.
Collaborate with and support the senior managers of both the International Programmes and the Emergency Directorate to ensure cont and practical support to country teams to deliver high quality programmes in a manner consistent with the organisational strategic plan.
Support the Head of Technical Assistance to promote a culture and programme of innovation and develop appropriate mechanisms to capture and communicate learning across Concern.
Strengthen Concern’s engagement in relevant policy debates, contributing organisational research and evidence to informing good policy and practice.
Advocacy
Direct and coordinate the strategic advocacy work of the organisation.
Support the Head of International Advocacy to ensure the team is adequately resourced and supported to deliver impactful and high-quality advocacy initiatives.
Promote effective collaboration across key directorates to strengthen Concern’s influencing impact in policy and communications.
Provide direction and guidance to the CEO and other senior managers on external advocacy engagement and representation.
Oversee the development and strategic utilisation of high-quality reports and policy positions drawn from Concern’s research and programme implementation.
Represent the organisation as required in external meetings and policy events.
Global Citizenship and Campaigns
Direct and support Concern’s work in Global Citizenship Education and campaigns.
Support the Head of Global Citizenship and Campaigns to ensure the team is adequately resourced to deliver the Global Citizenship programme and engage in external representation and campaigning in Ireland.
Provide strategic guidance to the programme managers to deliver the current strategy, influence policy and contribute to sectoral learning.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Establish and lead processes for evaluating the impact of the activities of the SAL team, using data-driven approaches to improve effectiveness and achieve organisational goals.
Senior Management Team (SMT)
Engage effectively as a member of the SMT by contributing to the development of the organisation’s overall strategic direction and decision-making processes.
Uphold and promote Concern’s values of equality, diversity, inclusion, accountability, and safeguarding in all communications, branding and digital marketing activities, and role model a positive safeguarding ethos.
Act as a global representative of Concern at international fora, conferences, and with high-profile stakeholders, showcasing the organisation’s work and strengthening its influence.
Work closely with the CEO and other senior managers to develop and manage key strategic relationships and external representation to strengthen Concern’s brand and influence projects.
Promote staff well-being through supportive leadership and work to promote a positive and inclusive culture in the organisation.
All managers are responsible for upholding and promoting Concern’s values, demonstrating leadership on workplace equality, diversity and inclusion, and role modelling a positive safeguarding ethos.

ROLE HOLDER REQUIREMENTS:

Significant proven and demonstrable experience of working in an overseas context, preferably with experience of both development and humanitarian contexts, or in contexts of protracted or complex crises.
At least five years’ experience at a senior management level in an overseas humanitarian context.
Significant proven and demonstrable experience in delivering technical assistance and a strong understanding of key issues related to the role of technical assistance, especially in fragile and conflict affected contexts.
Demonstrated ability to build consensus and work across teams to deliver shared goals and objectives.
Demonstrated ability to lead a diverse multi-disciplinary team and make sound management decisions and work in a participatory manner with colleagues.
Demonstrated ability to lead and direct high-quality research to underpin organisational advocacy positions.
Ability to identify and build relationships with key political, policy, and civil society actors nationally and internationally.
Excellent organisational and planning skills, ability to prioritise a diverse and heavy workload, and meet strict deadlines.
Empathy with Concern’s ethos, values, strategy, and longer-term objectives.
To apply: CVs should be submitted through our website at https://jobs.concern.net by the closing date.
Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be shortlisted on a regular basis and we may offer posts before the closing date.
If you have any concerns about our recruitment process and need particular assistance - for example if you have a visual impairment or are neurodivergent - please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy accessible. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work or volunteer with vulnerable adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Subsequently, working or volunteering with Concern is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.
Your Personal Data
During this job application, you will provide Concern with your personal data. Concern takes its responsibilities towards this personal data very seriously and is committed to complying with all relevant data protection legislation.
Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year. Increasingly donors are introducing requirements wby future funding is conditional on ensuring that the name of any employee or volunteer (existing or new), does not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List).
Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will only be made following a successful clearance check being conducted on the applicant and such checks may be updated periodically during the course of the period of employment.
By submitting a formal application for paid or voluntary employment to Concern, you agree to Concern carrying out a clearance check as outlined above and that Concern will not proceed to recruit you should your name appear on any of the aforementioned lists
In certain circumstances, donors may request that personal data relating to employees to work on the activities that they fund be provided directly to them - so that they can perform their own counter terrorism checks. This may involve transferring some basic personal data outside the EEA. It will be a condition of your employment contract that Concern be allowed to share this information with institutional donors for these purposes.
For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office.
You have certain rights under data protection legislation. For more information on how to exercise those rights please visit www.concern.net/about/privacy
Please only apply for this position if you are satisfied with the proposed processing of your personal data as outlined above.
Salary: €101,635 - €109,792
Based in Country: Ireland
Contract Type: Permanent Full time
Benefits: Please see T&C’s attached
Closing Date: 31 January 2025
Location: Dubli