Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Specialist at Options Consultancy Services Limited

Options Consultancy Services Limited was established in 1992 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marie Stopes International. We are a consultancy organisation providing technical and management expertise in the health and social sectors to governments and international development partners to transform the health of women and children.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Specialist

Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Job type: Full-time
Type of contract: 1-year Fixed term
Liaison with: Options global staff
Reporting to: Senior member of Technical Department

Main Purpose of Job

• The purpose of the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Specialist is to provide thought leadership, technical expertise, and strategic direction to strengthen the quality of our programming, enhance our impact, win new business, and support Options to further GESI principles both internally and externally.

Key areas of focus for this role are:

• Technical assistance: Provide high-quality technical support on GESI to Options’ programme teams and direct technical assistance for government, civil society, and donor clients
• Business development: Grow Options’ business offer on GESI programming, identifying strategic opportunities for future business growth, leveraging networks, designing inclusive and transformative programmes, and working closely with Options’ GESI group.
• Share knowledge: Build the expertise of Options global staff and create opportunities for cross-programme learning for internal and external audiences. This will include supporting the Options’ Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) and GESI groups
• Through these dimensions the post holder will contribute actively to the growth and development of the organisation and to the impact of our work

Main Duties
Technical Assistance to Programmes and Clients:

• As part of the Technical Department, provide specific and strategic support on GESI across a selection of Options programmes through the provision of technical advice, research, analysis and quality assurance.
• Undertake technical assistance assignments in GESI. This will be through on-going inputs to long term programmes and short-term assignments.
• Liaise with donors and other external development partners to ensure programmes meet objectives and expectations
• Advise on areas of potential risk and support the development of mitigation strategies
• Contribute to the development of project results frameworks, theories of change, and monitoring and research methodologies, incorporating inclusive practices and intersectional analysis wherever possible. Support their use and adaptation for effective programme delivery.
• Provide technical support and skills development to country stakeholders including programme staff, government officials and civil society organisations, and directly to funders as required.

Prospecting for new business:

• Identify and develop new programme opportunities, building on technical and geographic knowledge
• Establish and nurture collaborative relationships with consultants, partners and international development organisations to build strong partnerships for collaboration on new business, including representation of Options at external meetings and forums
• Build and maintain networks of clients, partners and influencers and use these to promote Options’ work and to attract new business
• Cultivate opportunities to represent Options effectively and help position Options as a thought leader in GESI.

Proposal Development, communication and dissemination:

• Lead the technical design and development of concepts and proposals, identifying opportunities for gender transformative programming, and ensuring all prospective programmes have gender mainstreamed.
• Provide oversight and inputs into technical components of proposals being developed by other members of the Technical Department
• Ensure programme design is informed by the latest GESI-related global evidence and theory, and from an understanding of what works on the ground in different contexts
• Lead on GESI elements of co-creation for programme design

Organisational development and learning:

• Provide strategic and technical support to Options’ global teams and consultants as required in relation to GESI
• Enable technical exchange and learning between programme staff by convening virtual or in-person events and proactively sharing learning resources and tools and connecting individuals from across the organisation.
• Contribute to the documentation of results and the publication and dissemination of research and learning
• Lead on ensuring that Options’ core technical approaches and tools for GESI are up to date and fit for purpose
• Contribute to the leadership and delivery of the workplan of the GESI Working Group

Management:

• Manage project consultants, Technical Advisors, Technical Officers or interns as required

Training:

• Increase and maintain your own area of expertise through continuous self-development
• Participate in any relevant external training and capacity building undertaken by Options
• Share knowledge on GESI with colleagues

Person Specification
Qualification:

• An M.Sc or relevant qualification or related comparable experience in a relevant field of health and/or social sciences (Essential).

Experience:

• Experience of co-creation programme design with funders and other stakeholders (Essential).
• Experience of supporting technical bids (Essential).
• Established networks which will contribute to Options business development (Essential).
• Experience of working in Africa and/or Asia in a relevant capacity and with governments; international agencies and local NGOs (Essential).
• Experience providing support to individuals and teams in remote settings through in-person and virtual engagement (Essential).
• Experience of developing strong relationships with government and civil society organisations
• Portfolio of publications (Desirable).
• Experience delivering technical work on GESI in similar organisations (Essential).
• Experience in designing technical GESI related frameworks, applying tools and providing technical assistance (Essential).

Skills and attributes:

• Technical specialism in Gender equality and social inclusion (Essential).
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to technical delivery of programmes (Essential).
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills that enables effective team building and problem solving (Essential).
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to technical writing of bids (Essential).
• Fluency in spoken and written English (Essential).
• Excellent written and spoken French (Desirable).
• Eligible to live and work in UK, Kenya or Nigeria (Essential).
• Knowledge about Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), communicable diseases, and/or health system strengthening in developing countries (Desirable).
• Ability to analyse, interpret and present data so that it is easily understood by non-experts (Essential).
• Excellent skills in communication, written and verbal (Essential).
• Proven ability to network and manage relationships with clients, consultants and technical resource persons (Essential).
• Self-starter as well as good team-worker (Essential).
• Ability to actively contribute to strategy and business development in their area of expertise and beyond (Essential).

Other requirements:

• Pro-choice (Essential).
• Commitment to equal opportunities (Essential).
• A commitment to Options’ principles of Safeguarding, Do No Harm, and to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (Essential).
• Ability to travel internationally for up to 2 weeks at a time (Desirable).

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Click here for more information (PDF)

Important Information and Notice

• Please note that this role will be subject to full pre-employment background checks including criminal record check, identification check, employment references and right to work verification (where appropriate).
• Options is an equal opportunities employer
• Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment.
• We seek people who are pro-choice, energetic and enthusiastic about Options’ vision.
• Applicants must have the right to work in the UK, Nigeria or Kenya

Application Deadline  14th December, 2021.