JOB PURPOSE:

The Private Sector Engagement Advisor is a core member of the Development Programmes. The role is part of Oxfam Kenya Development Programmes that facilitates Private Sector Engagement across all programmes, projects and functions within the country programme and to advise on policies and practices relating to the role of private sector and enable private sector influencing.  The Private Sector Engagement Advisor will contribute significantly to Oxfam’s thought leadership on strategic direction towards engaging the Private Sector in different capacities for impactful and effective programmes.  H/She ensures an integrated approach and connectedness (synergy) of all our programmes including cross-campaigns. S/he will support in programme/project conceptualization, design, development and resource mobilization; and connects them with the wider confederation Global Strategic Framework and country programme’s strategy in such a way as to maximise resource acquisition efficiency and impactful delivery.

S/he oversees the strategic development of the Private Sector Engagement Strategy and support in the management of projects that have a Private Sector engagement component and the execution of both local and global campaigns and advocacy initiatives. S/he develops and pushes for joint influencing actions with Oxfam and partners in engaging the governments, corporates and regional bodies. The post holder ensures effective coordination, design and delivery of complex projects and initiatives. S/he strengthens strategic partnerships with the Private Sector to maximize the impact of Oxfam’s work in Kenya.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Programme Management, Implementation and Resourcing – 30%                                                                                                       

• Develop and support implementation of organisational and divisional objectives and strategies, which involve specialist knowledge of the interaction between business and poverty issues, and the wider political and economic context.
• Facilitate collaborations with community and grassroots groups in the region to connect communities with support to successfully defend their human rights in development contexts.
• Regular interaction with and relationship management of companies.
• Leads in the implementation and coordination of the Private Sector Engagement Initiatives.
• Ensures an integrated delivery of the programmes and Projects in line with Oxfam’s One Programme Approach.
• Engages with other country programmes, Oxfam in Africa, Oxfam International and affiliates to support effective implementation of influencing programs that involve the Private Sector.
• Closely monitors country level and regional trends on Private Sector and provide timely advise to the country team on ways to respond and maximise positive impact from the country’s interventions.
• Ensures synergised approaches to Oxfam in Kenya’s Influencing and Campaign work.
• Supports in the designs of fundable projects and mobilization of resources for the Country Programmes and Projects.
• Ensures donor compliance and leads in the delivery of donor reports that meet Oxfam program quality standards.

Partnership management, coalition building and support – 40%

• Conduct outreach to civil society organizations within the Kenya to build coalitions membership and advance campaigns and advocacy efforts.
• Building and maintaining relationships with industry, consortiums and engage with lobbyists.
• Provides technical guidance and support to the implementation of key projects by working in collaboration with countries as well as the private sector.
• Leads and or coordinates capacity building initiatives on relevant approaches and tools related to Private Sector Engagement related work.
• Ensures Oxfam Program Influencing Standards are well integrated and constantly referenced by staff and partners to guide Oxfam’s work.
• Shares relevant information and tools such as briefing papers, internal documents and reports with relevant teams, partners, and allies, as necessary.
• S/he also participates in relevant regional/continental/national/international events.

Research, knowledge generation, campaigns and policy influencing – 25%

• Conduct research and analysis on development finance and human rights, and produce advocacy and education materials such as letters, case studies, guides, or policy papers as required.
• Support global working groups and programmes teams campaigns in strategy and workplan development and execution.
• Capture and share relevant information and learning with colleagues.
• Supports the convening of key stakeholders to shape correct and impactful narratives which in turn achieve design influence on issues of related to the private sector.
• To support partners on their influencing and campaigning strategies and activities.
• To coordinate with the Communications and MEAL advisors on the documentation of the programme and partner information, learning and case stories for programme visibility and fundraising.

Human resource management – 5%

• Manage consultants and researchers as required, in accordance with Oxfam policy and procedures.

Person specification

Most importantly, every individual at Oxfam needs to be able to:

• Live our values of INCLUSION, ACCOUNTABILITY, EMPOWERMENT, COURAGE, SOLIDARITY and EQUALITY (read more about these here).
• Ensure you commit to our ORGANIZATIONAL ATTRIBUTES (including adhering to the Code of Conduct).
• Be committed to our feminist principles, and to applying them in your day-to-day behaviour and your work. Be ready to keep learning, with accountability to those who experience oppression as a result of their identities, such as their gender, race/ethnicity, disability, class, or LGBTQIA identity."
• Be committed to undertaking Oxfam’s safeguarding training and adhering to relevant policies, to ensure all people who come into Oxfam are as safe as possible.

Technical skills, experience and knowledge

Skills

• Professional/technical qualifications – a bachelor’s degree in Law, Economics, Development Studies, Social Sciences or governance related field.
• Proven ability to analyse complex contexts, monitor change and translate this analysis into problem solving strategies that can be communicated in developing appropriate plans which have impact.
• Proven analytical and conceptual thinking, high level research, project management knowledge and skills.
• Strong organizational and personal management skills, with ability to prioritize work issues to meet deadlines with minimal supervision and adjust to constantly changing situations while maintaining focus on delivery and follow-through.
• Fund raising, donor reporting and budget management skills.
• Ability to gather and apply lessons learnt and to communicate this learning effectively to influence others in action – both internal and external audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and sensitively with diverse teams with different value systems and cultures.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including strong negotiation skills with diverse teams.
• A high level of self-awareness, initiative, sound judgement, personal energy and flexibility.

Experience

• At least 5 years’ experience with human rights (preferably in the context of accountability of development finance or economic actors).
• Prior advocacy and campaigning experience, including in collaboration with grassroots groups.
• Commitment to human rights, and social and environmental justice
• Proven experience in working in complex organizations with evidence of facilitating and integrating a specific area of expertise across a wide network.
• Experience of working in and/or with the private sector, labour unions and or worker representation.
• Experience working across multiple projects and able to adapt to diverse needs.
• Working knowledge of the themes of Gender Justice and or Climate Justice and accountable governance.
• Demonstrated experience in managing partners including effective oversight and capacity building.

Essential

• Self-Awareness: Ability to develop a high degree of self-awareness around own strengths and weaknesses and impact on others.
• Agility, complexity and ambiguity: Ability to scan the environment, anticipate changes, are comfortable with lack of clarity and deal with a large number of elements interacting in diverse and unpredictable ways.
• Mutual accountability: Ability to explain our decisions and how we have taken them based on our organizational values.

How to apply:

As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV and Cover Letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.  

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

About us

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries. 

A thriving diverse Oxfam:

It’s people power that brings about change. To play our part as a global organisation working to overcome poverty and inequality, we need equality, diversity and inclusion across our community of staff, partners and volunteers. Together, we’re committed to becoming a more diverse workforce, better able to tackle the global challenges that face our world today.

To do that:

• We need to dismantle the unequal power structures that exist everywhere, this including Oxfam and the wider development and charity sectors.
• We need an inclusive Oxfam where everyone can bring who they are to our work and feels celebrated for the differences they bring.
• We want and need everyone, and that means we need you.