practical action director of influence and impact · define the impact the group will make (see...

Practical Action - Director of Influence and Impact 1

DIRECTOR OF INFLUENCE AND IMPACT

Practical Action

September 2019


Contents

About Practical Action

Overview

The Role

Practical Action’s Change Ambitions

Accountabilities

Person Profile

Organisation Charts

How to Apply

About Oxford HR

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We help people find solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems – made worse by catastrophic climate change and persistent gender inequality.

We work with communities to develop ingenious, lasting and locally owned solutions for agriculture, water and waste management, climate resilience and clean energy. We share what works with others, so many more people can change their worlds.

About Practical Action



This is an exciting opportunity to join an innovative and forward-thinking international development organisation that puts ingenious ideas to work so people in poverty can change their world.

Reporting to the Chief Executive, this highly influential director level role have their eyes on the big picture, and future trends, shaping Practical Action’s strategy and setting the Change Ambitions which define the impact the group will make (see page 6).

The Director of Influence and Impact will champion Practical Action’s Framework for Change; ensuring that we achieve the most positive impact on the lives of women and men and that we capture the learning and evidence.

The role leads and manages a group of sector specialists, and works with country offices to ensure plans are in line with group strategy.

The post-holder also represents the organisation internationally at a high level, building relationships and influencing others, to advance our ambitious change agenda.

Overview

Practical Action - Head of Finance and Systems 4


Title: Director of Influence and Impact

Reporting to: Chief Executive

Direct Reports: Four “Change Ambition Heads”; Head of Practical Action Publishing; Head of Impact; Team Coordinator

Relationships: Change Hubs, Gender Hub, Board of Trustees, country offices, strategic leadership team, plus significant external relations

Location: UK Office in Rugby, with options to be based in regional offices. Flexible working arrangements can be discussed

Nature of Contract: Permanent

Grade: Director level salary – competitive

Travel: Considerable travel to external events and country offices - up to 12 weeks per year. Annual Budget: Circa £1.5m p.a, as well as key influence on how the whole organisation invests/ spends circa £30m p.a. to achieve change

The Role



FARMING THAT WORKS

CITIES FIT FOR PEOPLE

ENERGY THAT TRANSFORMS

RESILIENCE THAT PROTECTS

• Our ambition: To make agriculture work better for smallholder farmers, many of whom are women, so they can adapt to climate change and achieve a good standard of living.

• Why it’s important: Three quarters of the world’s poorest people are farmers. In the face of a changing climate, their traditional approaches to agriculture are simply not working for them.

• Our approach: We promote the use of agroecology – an approach to farming and food production that values people and planet. It offers a sustainable alternative to intensive agriculture, with the potential to transform the lives of millions of struggling farming families.

• Our ambition: To make cities in poorer countries cleaner, healthier, fairer places for people to live and work, with safe water for drinking and washing and refuse and sewage safely contained, collected and processed.

• Why it’s important: The population of urban slums continues to grow, with the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable often overlooked. Lives are at risk from a lack of clean water services and inadequate and unsafe sewage and refuse management.

• Our approach: We’re working with communities, municipalities and utility companies to deliver sustainable sanitation, water and waste management services. Together we’re improving hygiene practices and protecting the health, safety and dignity of poorly paid waste workers.

• Our ambition: To help more people harness the transformational power of clean, affordable energy and to reduce avoidable deaths caused by smoke from indoor stoves and fires.

• Why it’s important: Almost three billion people can’t cook cleanly and one billion people don’t have access to the electricity that could power their progress, improve their health, education and opportunities to earn a better living.

• Our approach: We’re bringing rural communities, displaced people, energy providers and decision makers together to put sustainable, clean energy solutions to work for the people who need them most.

• Our ambition: To build resilience into the lives of people threatened by natural and climate related hazards, reducing vulnerability and minimising the impact on their lives and livelihoods.

• Why it’s important: Climate change is leading to increasingly frequent and more severe hazards and disasters. Poor people are the most vulnerable and hardest hit.

• Our approach: We’re helping communities adapt to the changing climate and become more resilient to hazards, with systems in place to predict disasters and minimise their impact. And we’re contributing to joint efforts to promote environmentally sound technologies for low carbon and climate resilient development.

Practical Action’s Change Ambitions


Achieving and Managing Impact:

• You will lead the continued development of a set of strategic, viable, and fundable Change Ambitions, which describe the impact we will make in the world.

• You will shape Practical Action’s Framework for Change, guiding the group’s approaches – innovative progammes on the ground; knowledge brokering; consulting and working in partnership with others – to ensure the maximum positive impact on the lives of women and men.

• You will oversee the development and delivery of a clear process to capture impact, ensuring learning is incorporated into future plans.

External Influencing and Representation:

• You will network actively with governments, UN, donors, private sector, academics and civil society, ensuring that Practical Action remains aware and ahead of relevant debates and future trends in international development and climate resilience.

• You will represent the organisation internationally at a high level, working with allies to advocate for changes to policies and practices to achieve our change agenda.

Accountabilities

https://practicalaction.org/our-work/


Leadership and Strategy Delivery:

• You will lead and manage a high performing senior team in the Influence and Impact Area, which collaborates effectively across the group, and externally.

• You will support country offices and UK departments,• ensuring their plans and ideas are aligned to group strategy.• You will oversee the performance of relevant cross-organisational

working groups, such as the Change Hubs and Global Gender Group, to develop and deliver learning and influencing efforts, which contribute to our work.

• As part this role you will also Chair the Board of Directors of Practical Action Publishing, overseeing its performance and its effective contribution to the group strategy.

Organisational Development:

• You will support the development and implementation of specific group campaigns, and strategic fundraising efforts.

• You will contribute to group-wide capacity building efforts in• association with the People and Culture Team.• You will support the creation of compelling internal and external

communications allowing our stories and learnings to be effectively shared.

• As a member of the Group Management Team and Senior Leadership Team you will contribute to shaping overall group strategy, and delivery of key organisational projects.

Accountabilities


Person Profile

To be successful in the role, the ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate:

Experience & Knowledge Essential

• High level analytical skills with the ability to interpret global trends and identify potential implications for organisational strategy.

• A deep understanding of international development, with expertise in a relevant sector – with strong interest in climate and resilience.

• Excellent networking and representational skills, working comfortably with government, donors, private sector and civil society at all levels.

• Proven experience of design and delivery of influencing strategies for achieving widespread systemic change in an international development setting.

• Proven ability to strategic leadership at a senior level, and lead and manage a team of specialists to work to a group agenda.

• Excellent facilitation skills with the ability to listen, and to lead.• Understanding of theories of change. • Firsthand experience of working in different countries.• A sound understanding of and commitment to gender equality.• Excellent written and oral communications skills in English• Empathy with Practical Action’s vision, mission and values.• Ability to travel up to 12 weeks per year.

Desirable

• Knowledge of monitoring, evaluation and learning strategies.• Post-graduate degree in relevant subject• A second language (French, Spanish, Arabic)



Influence and Impact Directorate

Director of Influence and

Impact

Managing Director Publishing

Sales & Marketing Executive

Energy Access and Innovation

ManagerClimate & Resilience

Technology Officer

Regional Climate Technology &

Resilience OfficerProduction and

Editorial ExecutiveAdvocacy Officer

Content Development

Manager

Publishing Assistant

Marketing and Comms Assistant

Head of Agriculture Head of Resilience Head of Urban

Services Unit Coordinator

Organisation Charts

Head of Energy Head of Impact & Learning

Gender Adviser M&E Adviser DDR Knowledge Manager

Knowledge Project Officer

Knowledge and Learning Officer

Systems Adviser


All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR.

To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button in the job advert page and complete our online application form. Please provide a CV and Cover Letter – in ONE single document - which should be prepared before applying as they will be requested in the application process.

The statement should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. For advice on how to write a successful statement, please see here.

The document should be saved in MS Word in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (yymm) e.g: Pat-Jones- CVandStatement-1908

TimelineClosing date: Preliminary interviews:Final panel interviews:

If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion about the role and the organisation, please email [email protected] in the first instance.

We strongly encourage interested people to browse the Practical Action website before applying. Applicants from all sectors are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

20th October 2019Week of 4th November 2019

End of November/Early December 2019

https://oxfordhr.co.uk/2017/07/20/how-to-craft-a-winning-statement-by-karen-twining/


Oxford HR operates globally - mainly within the international development and charity sectors. We carry out retained executive search mandates at board and senior management levels. We also offer human resource and organisational development consultancy.

Oxford HR has many years of experience in search as well as an extensive network of international development, social sector, corporate, public sector, and academic contacts from across the world. We carry out comprehensive and often international searches designed to meet the specific needs of our clients. Oxford HR’s team members have significant personal experience of working in international development and the social sector as well as the corporate and governmental sectors. We are in a unique position to find and assess talented individuals from a variety of backgrounds.

About Oxford HR



www.oxfordhr.co.uk | Company No. 6456325

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