Consultant (Public Sector Governance) At Oxford Policy Management · Eastern Africa
Consultant (Public Sector Governance)
About the job
Location: Any one of OPM’s permanent offices in Australia, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa, Tanzania; (pre-existing right to work/residence essential)
Job Purpose
The Consultant (PSG) is responsible for technical delivery of projects which support governments in Low-and Middle-Income Countries to build the capabilities, systems and practices required for policy development, implementation, evaluation, and reform. The Consultant will be a key part of our global team and will contribute to the growth of technical areas such as systems strengthening and capacity development; decentralised governance and service delivery; nutrition governance; democracy, conflict, and peacebuilding; accountability and inclusion; and digital governance. The role requires a deep interest in engaging with complex problems, an agile and multi-disciplinary perspective, and the ability to work with multicultural teams in inclusive ways.
Job Description Summary
The Consultant role requires experience (around 5 years) of working with governments. This could include (for example) the design and delivery of technical assistance, advisory support to multilateral and bilateral development partners or prior work with civil society. It requires demonstrated ability to support the conditions for reform across the policy cycle.
The Consultant will be a core member of the Governance Practice and of the Public Sector Governance hub within it. Our established and experienced Public Sector Governance team supports governments in Low- and Middle-Income Countries to build the capabilities, systems and practices required for policy development, implementation, evaluation, and reform. We work to strengthen systems of i) public management and civil society, ii) accountability and inclusion, iii) service delivery, and iv) digital governance, at all levels of government and across sectors.
Our team currently works in the following areas:
Systems strengthening and capacity development
Decentralised governance and service delivery
Nutrition governance
Democracy, conflict, and peacebuilding
Political Economy Analysis and Thinking and Working Politically
Accountability and inclusion
Digital governance
The Consultant will have exciting opportunities to contribute to impactful policy reform, build relationships with governments and partners, and the freedom to contribute to strategic thinking and growth in key governance areas. The role offers the opportunity to work with OPM’s multi-disciplinary global teams, and develop OPM’s strategic positioning for the future delivery of governance opportunities.
Key Primary Responsibilities
Technical delivery
Support the acquisition, and technical delivery of Governance projects by supporting appropriate approaches. For example: governance needs mapping, institutional reviews, capacity assessments, process reforms, political economy analysis, technical assistance, sectoral governance interventions, among others
Review evidence and offer strategic insights on the drivers of change, from design through to implementation and evaluation. This could involve research, secondment to governments, facilitating workshops, providing capacity strengthening support, managing relationships with government partners, analysing data, evaluation and learning, report writing and presentations
Ensure project inputs and deliverables are delivered on time and to quality standards, in close consultation with other team members.
Contribute to OPM’s wider programming in governance contexts.
Manage small to medium projects independently; provide timely regular reports and updates on project performance and progress towards agreed milestones to the appropriate Team Leader(s)
Develop and implement appropriate strategies and approaches – including adaptations to existing strategies – to achieve the Practice vision.
Client and partner management
As a core member of the Governance Practice, pro-actively build, support, and maintain client and partner relationships.
Identify new market opportunities and lead the pre-positioning, bid preparation and partner management for new governance opportunities.
Promote and champion governance reforms externally through thought leadership and knowledge management to deepen OPM’s external reach and impact.
Team contribution
Develop strong and effective working relationships with other members of the Practice and other OPM colleagues.
In close consultation with the Practice Lead, support technical and peer-learning on Governance-related issues
Contribute to technical development activities by writing articles and participating in research and publication activities.
Participate, through practice meetings and by other means, in the general development of the work of the Practice and OPM in general.
Person Specification
Professional knowledge
At least 5+ years of professional experience working with governments. For example: prior experience in design and delivery of technical assistance, advisory support to multilateral and bilateral development partners or prior work with civil society.
Degree/post-graduate qualification in relevant discipline (for example, public policy, public administration, international development, economics, politics, conflict studies or related disciplines)
Proven experience or active interest in at least 1-2 of the following technical areas: Systems Strengthening and Capacity Development, Decentralised Governance and Service Delivery, Nutrition governance, Democracy, conflict and peacebuilding, Political Economy Analysis and Thinking and Working Politically, Accountability and Inclusion, Digital Governance
Experience contributing to and/or delivering complex and adaptive technical assistance projects in any context.
Ability to influence governance-related policy, strategy, and interventions.
Deep understanding of the drivers and challenges associated with government reform, particularly, the inadequate resources, incomplete information for decision-making, political incentives for change.
Previous experience in delivering small to medium projects to client satisfaction, including project and budget management, setting up workplans and timelines, and risk management.
Good working knowledge of and ability to communicate findings to governments in simple and meaningful ways
Experience of working in multi-cultural teams in politically sensitive and complex environments, and a willingness to continue to do so
Personal qualities
Analytical rigour and excellent attention to detail.
Ability to learn and apply new approaches, policies, and tools in difficult and complex environments.
Ability to switch between detailed and big picture thinking in developing approaches and solutions.
Able to prioritise changing and competing demands and tasks, while consistently delivering quality work.
Ability and willingness to travel internationally as the need arises (travel restrictions permitting)
Excellent problem solving, organising and management skills
Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and clients, both verbally and in writing, including experience of negotiation with government officials, civil society, and staff of international aid agencies.
Behavioural capabilities
Problem solver: curious about and energised by solving problems, with a focus on continuous improvement and learning.
Impact and delivery oriented: proactive approach and able to prioritise across competing demands, while retaining accountability to deliver to deadlines and quality.
Inspiring: demonstrates belief, energy and passion for achieving goals. Resilient and positive when faced with challenges and setbacks. Cares about those they work with.
Judgement: comfortable to make decisions and able to source information to assess options before choosing the best approach.
Communication: an active listener, clear in expressing ideas and requirements. Responsive to the input of others and encourages inclusive dialogue.
Collaborative: works collaboratively and effectively with others to achieve common goals.
Developing others: recognises strengths and provides support and opportunities for others to develop. Adopts “coaching” rather than “telling” approaches.
Terms and benefits
Applicable terms and benefits will be shared with shortlisted candidates. If you are interested in being considered for the position, and would like further information about the terms in your own country, please contact the recruitment team on recruitment@opml.co.uk.
How to apply
Please submit an application to Careers | Oxford Policy Management (opml.co.uk) by 5 January 2024
OPM is committed to encouraging job applications from as diverse a range of people as possible, If there is anything you would like to discuss, please don’t hesitate to be in touch with us.
Posted on Nov 13, 2023.
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