OXFAM IN THE PACIFIC VACANCY

  • Role: DIRECTOR STRATEGY OPERATIONS & CULTURE
  • Applications for this role will close on: Friday 2nd of December 2022
  • See full Job Description here: Director Strategy Operations and Culture
  • Location of role: Pacific Region
  • Salary Grade: B2 (based on country location)
  • Term: 2 years

Context
Following a journey of self-reflection, Oxfam in the Pacific has developed a Regional Strategy that is founded on Oxfam and the Pacific’s values (openness, flexibility, respect, equity, justice, solidarity, collaboration, sharing and humility), and a commitment to feminist principles and safeguarding which guide our ways of work and behaviour.

The Pacific Regional Strategy speaks to the programmatic and operational direction for the new Pacific Region, aiming to deliver local ownership and leadership of change processes. The total portfolio for the region is approximately AUD$15 million per annum. The Pacific regional platform works to support the following countries: Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji and the Polynesia Micronesia country cluster comprising of Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, Niue, Kiribati, Palau, Nauru, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) (Micronesia).

Country teams operate with a mix of direct implementation and via partners, the goal being to increase strategic partnerships where appropriate. Oxfam in the Pacific will strengthen evidence-based programming, learning and innovation across the region through the establishment of a Partnership, Evidence, Learning and Innovation Hub (PELIH). The Hub will be responsible for establishing systems and processes for cross-regional learning, innovation and impact measurement.

Job Responsibilities
Accountability
• This position is accountable to the Executive Director for the effective management (which includes budgets and planning), monitoring financial performances and best practice service delivery of the Operations teams.
• The role directly manages the Associate Director SOC who oversees (Finance, GMRQ, Safeguarding, ICT and Fiji Operations and Logistics), People & Culture, Country  Coordinators and has oversight of all operational work including P&C, Finance, IT, Administration, Security, Legal and Logistics for the region.
• Ensure that compliant and good-practice financial and contractual management systems are developed across the regional network which are equally supported by client focused operational support functions.
• The Director Strategy, Operations and Culture will support program teams to deliver against donor expectations effectively and responsively by ensuring quality and timely reporting for partner and donor activities.

Strategy
• The role is responsible for building a high performing Operations team, mobilised to drive transformational change within Oxfam in the Pacific, in collaboration with the wider confederation.
• Engage in Oxfam in the Pacific’s strategic planning processes, ensuring timely engagement of thematic and technical staff in global, regional and local strategy discussions.
• This role is a member of the Executive Leadership Team which develops and has oversight of the implementation of Oxfam in the Pacific’s strategic and operational plans. Leadership.
• Provide leadership of the Operations team to deliver agile and responsive services that make a meaningful contribution to Oxfam in the Pacific and its stakeholders.
• Embed behaviours and develop a culture of value addition, efficiency, collaboration, empowerment and resourcefulness within the Operations team and Oxfam in the Pacific.
• Engage in departmental and team planning processes, ensuring increased alignment between organisational strategic priorities, the activities of the Operational team, and across the region.
• Ensure that the Operations team is organised efficiently to deliver compliance services in alignment with organisational standards of accountability, and leading improvements in program support functions where necessary.
• Ensure that Oxfam in the Pacific’s capacity and systems remain agile, responsive, and able to meet changing contextual and organisational demands.
• Provide strategic oversight and management of the Operations team to ensure the effective coordination and implementation of programs and management systems in line with Oxfam’s policy and program requirements. Foster links between Programs and Operational teams to ensure seamless coordination and support to program management.
• Support the development of strategic evidence and learning agendas that are responsive to portfolio performance analysis, strategic inquiry, and knowledge translation to inform the creation of policy and standards.
• Engage with Oxfam International and its systems to forecast future thematic and technical needs, ensuring effective planning and skill maintenance.
• Monitor the national, local and labour context and provide advice to the Executive Director and management strategies to bolster relevance, compliance and competitiveness.
• Exploit opportunities presented by external regulatory provisions that will ensure cost effective programs and provide relevant information needed to facilitate processes.

Public Engagement
• Accountable for ensuring that appropriate capabilities and resources are in place to enable the regular flow of program content required to influence and communicate with internal audiences and external stakeholders including but not limited to government, media, donors, non-governmental sector and supporters.

Program and Delivery
• Contribute to and maximise use of the Oxfam local and global knowledge networks to share strategic thinking and learning that enhances programming to be increasingly evidence-based, innovative and agile.
• Support the Programs Unit to effectively deliver on objectives via coordination of services pertaining to cash flow projections, requisitions for funds and channelling grants to partners that adhere to compliance mechanisms and OI standards and policies.
• Oversee the development of appropriate strategies to seek out and maintain funding sources.
• Ensure that compliant and good practice financial and fraud management systems are developed and embedded across the program portfolio, Logistics, Security, Administration and IT Support.
• Provides strategic overview and management of Logistics, Security, Administration and IT teams to ensure the effective coordination and implementation of programs and management systems in line with Oxfam policy and program requirements.
• Motivate the Operations team to work interactively with Program Leads to develop innovative solutions and systems to efficiently achieve program goals.
• Responsible for system support management and supervision of IT support provision. Advises and models behaviours that reinforce a cost-effective, anti-fraud culture by staff, partners and through management of the supply chain.
• Support the Executive Director to achieve the objectives of the Regional Strategy and mitigate and address legal and compliance risks associated with the program delivery.
• Act as the central point of contact for information requests from donors, affiliates and the Executing Affiliate on all matters relating to support functions.

Job Requirements
Essential
• Management and Leadership skills: Proven track record of leading and motivating multidisciplinary, geographically remote teams and operations across a number of locations with a commitment to promoting leadership amongst local staff.

•  A high degree of self-awareness and an understanding of how to drive and support excellent team performance and individual development in line with Oxfam’s values and policies.
• Representation and Communication: Proven track record of success in representing an organisation with partners, government agencies, private sector organisations, media and donors at senior levels nationally and globally.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to motivate, influence and negotiate.
• High level financial and asset management skills to steer and efficiently manage the organisation’s budget of approximately AUD$15m.
• Risk Management: Able to anticipate and manage risks that could threaten the organisations reputation, operational viability and security.
• Crisis Management: Able to lead and manage crisis, including disaster preparedness, mitigation, and management for humanitarian response activities for Category 2 emergencies.
• Strategic Analytics: Ability to manage the development of, and contribute to, the high-level analysis of factors driving poverty, marginalisation, and vulnerability in developing country contexts. The ability to ‘think politically’; understanding motivations, pressures, power dynamics and challenges faced by colleagues, partners, decision makers and other actors, and the ability to generate effective strategies to influence them.
• Proven analytical skills, with the ability to:

  • Take and manage calculated risks based on evidence-based assumptions
  • Think strategically, to maximise adaptability and agility; and
  • Encourage forward thinking, new ideas and learning from experience beyond the country program context while acting within a global framework.
  • Good level of IT literacy and an understanding of how new developments in technology can positively contribute to the aims of an INGO.

Desirable
• Preferably experience working within an INGO sector and within the pacific regional context.
• Preferably an Advanced Degree in Management, Business Administration, Finance or related field.

Education:
• Essential: Degree in Management, Business Administration, Finance or related field

Experience:
• Significant senior leadership and management experience in the development and delivery of high-quality programming, influencing and humanitarian strategy, working through or directly with partners, in challenging locations.
• Experience of managing complex change processes and relationships involving a wide range of both internal and external multicultural stakeholders across a variety of disciplines and geographical areas.
• Demonstrable experience of working with the media and an ability to represent the organisation in the media if required.
• Proven track record of success in advocacy and influencing.
• Demonstrable ability to convey complex messages in an appropriate manner to broad and diverse audiences.
• Experience managing security, risk and legal compliance within an INGO context.
• Proven track record of making sound judgements in uncertain and pressurised situations.

•Experience of crisis management and security management.

Key Attributes:
• Leadership skills and the ability to inspire and motivate others.
• Capacity to work under pressure – resilient and optimistic.
• Ability to work as a member of a team and without supervision.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and capacity to balance work demands with other life needs and to model appropriate work style to colleagues.
• A problem solver and solution focused approach to work.
• Discretion and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Patience, tolerance for other perspectives and good inter-personal skills.
• Understanding of and commitment to Oxfam’s development philosophy, principles and objectives.
• High levels of computer literacy, preferably with familiarity with enterprise software such as Wrike, Box, and MYOB.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities.
• Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work.
• Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.

Organisational Values:
• Committed to a rights-based approach including an active commitment to putting women’s rights and the rights of other marginalised people at the heart of the organisation’s work.

Candidates will be appraised against tis overall Job description but in particular, the following key selection criteria:
• Proven track record of leading, motivating, supporting and empowering multi-disciplinary teams, with a commitment to promoting leadership amongst local staff.
• Significant senior leadership and management experience in the development and delivery of high-quality programming, influencing and humanitarian strategy, working through or directly with partners, in challenging locations.
• Evidence of the ability to lead staff and programs in a cross-cultural context, preferably having worked in a developing country for more than 5 years.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to think strategically, including to think beyond the country program context and act within a regional and global framework.
• High-level interpersonal, influencing and communication skills with a proven track record of success in representing an organisation with partners, government agencies, private sector organisations, media and donors at senior levels nationally and globally.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in leading budget planning and monitoring, including the development of funding frameworks