Kenya: Strategic Lead and Alliance Convenor – Inequality

ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL

DIRECTORATE: POLICY AND CAMPAIGNS

Position: Strategic Lead and Alliance Convenor – Inequality

Location: Johannesburg, Nairobi or London.

Contract type: Fixed Term (initially 6 months, extendable if funding secured)

Salary: Grade F – £54,372 per annum

Local Terms and Conditions of the base location will apply

ActionAid International Secretariat is urgently looking for a Strategic Lead and Alliance Convenor – Inequality.

Purpose of the Role:

Takes overall leadership on achieving our global strategic ambition to convene and strengthen an international progressive alliance to fight inequality, with quality international and national coalition work as well to address structural causes of inequality. Promotes an integrated and strategic approach to campaigning, making full and effective use of research, policy analysis, lobbying, communications, and mobilising capacities. Ensures that the coalition builds creative tools to link, organise and energise allies and influence decision-makers.

Key responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Lead the convening of an international progressive coalition to fight inequality that inspires allies and the public and delivers real change in the lives of people;


• Advance strategic and creative integration of coalition campaigning with other types of programmes and with fundraising and communications;


• Overseeing project teams composed of networks of people across geography, theme and functions;


• Act as a key change agent, responsible for translating a strategic change agenda into plans and operational delivery;


• Ensure strategic scanning of the environment to inform choices and decisions on priorities;


• Conduct timely strategy reviews to ensure necessary adjustments to campaign directions are made ;


• Mobilise adequate resource and capacity in support of the alliance and make best possible use of member expertise and potential;


• Oversee coalition work plan implementation internationally that will inspire and mobilise all stakeholders;


• In collaboration with M&E colleagues, ensure alliance implements baselines and indicators to assess performance and capture lessons/ best practices for wider sharing and to inform planning;


• Act as a key external spokesperson for the alliance and a high-level lobbyist with senior external figures.

Desired Skills & Experience

The successful candidate will have:

• Relevant degree / Masters or equivalent experience;


• Substantive experience of designing, leading and winning policy change campaigns, on an international basis, including in implementation and strategic roles;


• Staff management experience in a large, decentralised organisation and in a complex, uncertain international environment


• Extensive experience of developing and leading complex multi-country advocacy strategies and an understanding of how to influence political structures and decision makers;


• Excellent organisational and analytical skills and in particular the ability to think and operate strategically in a fast changing campaigning environment, underpinned by a good understanding of international institutions and processes, development issues and debates;


• Excellent communicator and skilled spokesperson, with ability to represent advocacy messages with authority and credibility to the outside world;


• Experience of working in coalitions and skills in alliance building and networking;


• Exceptional women’s rights understanding, analysis and commitment;


• Exceptional negotiation and influencing skills, with the credibility and management experience to broker agreement with senior managers within the organisation;


• Strong commitment to develop, promote and practice AAI’s vision mission, values & strategy on human rights and socio-economic justice.

All interested applicants must be able to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK, South Africa and Nairobi

How to apply:

Application Procedures

Applications should be sent with your CV, motivation cover letter by no later than 18^th May 2016. You are requested to highlight in the motivation letter how specifically you meet the criteria for this role. Please clearly indicate which position you are applying for with the REF No: V040

External Applications send to: financeandit.jhb@actionaid.org

Due to high volumes of applications received, we can only correspond with short listed applicants. Should you not have received feedback on your application within two weeks of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful. ActionAid International will not consider candidates from recruitment agencies. We reserve the right to withdraw any of our vacancies at any time.

ActionAid International promotes diversity and welcomes applications from all section of the community.