ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS About us: Social Development Direct (SDDirect) is a leading provider of social development consultancy and research expertise in international development. We are a niche consultancy firm that was established in 1999 as a small network of independent social development consultants and researchers committed to working with international partners to improve the quality and impact of development assistance. We are committed to the eradication of poverty, global inequality and injustice and work with clients in the north and south to this end. Our clients include the UK Department for International Development, UN agencies, and leading NGOs. Current priority areas of work include gender, empowerment and accountability, conflict prevention and peace building and monitoring and evaluation in these areas. We have a strong in-house team based at offices in Central London and an international network of over 300 social development professionals. Research, monitoring and evaluation and a focus on measuring results focus is becoming an increasingly significant part of our work. We are therefore currently seeking a high calibre senior monitoring and evaluation consultant to join our London based technical team. About the senior consultant role: The senior M&E consultant is a new in-house position that has been created in response to increasing work in this field. You will lead on further developing M&E frameworks and approaches and play an important role in extending our M&E client and contract base working with our business development team and technical staff. You will also lead and manage major evaluation and monitoring contracts in international development, including the design and implementation of baseline/endline assessments. You will bring strong research skills and work with the Research and Evidence team at SDDirect to further develop the companies’ primary and secondary research capability. In addition, you will contribute to the efficient management of the company by contributing to senior management, networking with a range of external partners, managing and mentoring staff members and working closely with our network of consultants. Our current portfolio in the area of monitoring and evaluation is described below. Monitoring and evaluation: We are a market leader in the evaluation of social change and are regularly contracted to design and implement evaluations for DFID, the UN, the World Bank and other key development partners. We have particular expertise in social and gender analysis and measuring social transformational outcomes such as empowerment and accountability, institutional transformation, social capital and inclusion using a range of qualitative, quantitative and participatory measures. M&E in the field of violence against women and girls, gender and conflict are key parts of our portfolio. In addition to leading and managing large-scale evaluations and smaller annual reviews, we also provide key social and gender expertise in larger multi-disciplinary teams, taking the lead on social and gender impact analysis to ensure these impact areas are covered and fully understood. We have an in-house research and evidence function that provides high quality research support to consultancy work, manages surveys and undertakes analysis. This is an exciting time to join us. We are expanding our volume and range of work in priority technical areas, particularly in Africa and South Asia. The company is growing and team members have an opportunity to contribute to and benefit from evolving a leading development organisation.
SDDirect Senior Consultant October 2012
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Job Description – Senior Consultant on Monitoring and Evaluation Department:
Technical Team
Location:
Central London with international travel
Reports to:
Technical Director
Overall Purpose of job:
This is a senior-level role within a cutting-edge and growing social development organisation. As the Senior Consultant on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) you will provide technical leadership in the area of monitoring and evaluation and provide high-quality consultancy advice to a range of multinational, government and NGO clients working in international development. In doing so, you will demonstrate high levels of leadership and professionalism and strategic thinking and rigorous analytical skills. You will be a strong team player and have excellent client and partner relationship skills. You will be available and interested to travel extensively.
Main duties and responsibilities:
To provide intellectual leadership within SDDirect in results frameworks, theories of change, M&E including development of M&E instruments and methods;
To undertake senior-level consultancy contracts and provide technical support and advice on M&E to in-house staff and our network of consultants. You will work closely with our in-house research and evidence function to ensure SDDirect research, surveys and analysis are of high quality and help build our capacity further in this area;
To manage and supervise consultancies undertaken by SDDirect technical staff and network consultants. This will involve project management responsibilities, client liaison, and support to, and leadership of, consultancy teams;
To lead on identifying growth areas of business in M&E and to work with the business development team, wider technical team and other colleagues to secure new work which builds on the organisation’s expertise;
To represent the organisation to external partners at meetings and conferences and by publishing articles and reports based on work under your leadership;
To strengthen our network of consultants; identifying new candidates, interviewing and selecting high-calibre personnel;
To manage and mentor staff members and network consultants as necessary;
To network with a range of external partners and individuals, identifying relevant events for presenting our work, contributing to the marketing activities of the organisation and representing SDDirect as appropriate;
To contribute to senior management and strategic direction of the company through regular decision making meetings and strategic planning processes.
This is not an exhaustive list of the duties required of the role and they may be changed from time to time in consultation with the post holder.
SDDirect Senior Consultant October 2012
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Person Specification – Senior Consultant on Monitoring and Evaluation This is an exciting post in an organisation with an international reputation for excellence. In order to meet this challenge you will demonstrate the following skills and experience:
Essential:
At least 10 years experience of designing, managing and operationalising quantitative, qualitative and mixed method evaluations related to international development policies and programmes.
Previous experience of leading and managing M&E work for at least one of the following organisations and a detailed understanding of their M&E methodologies: DFID, the World Bank, the UN and NGOs.
Previous experience of baseline and endline assessment design and implementation including management of field research teams.
A post graduate university degree in a relevant subject (e.g. social research, statistics etc.)
Demonstrated experience of monitoring and evaluation in at least one of the following social development and governance areas: gender equality, prevention/reduction in violence against women and girls, citizen and civil society empowerment, accountability of duty bearers, conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
A sound understanding of how to promote value for money in interventions and how monitoring and evaluation systems can contribute to this.
Excellent presentational and written skills to communicate complex ideas to a range of audiences;
Demonstrated knowledge of international evaluation standards and emerging best practice in monitoring and evaluation, including impact evaluation.
Consultancy experience or experience of commissioning consultants within a multi-lateral or bilateral organisation or an NGO;
Strong organisational skills and ability to meet deadlines;
A demonstrable commitment to human rights and social justice;
Fluency in written and spoken English;
You must be able to travel internationally. You must be able to work legally in the UK.
Desirable:
Experience of preparing bids for M&E projects from donor agency clients.
Proven ability to conduct rigorous monitoring and evaluation in challenging environments, including fragile and conflict affected states;
Experience of using innovative and user-friendly formats to disseminate M&E findings to specialist and generalist audiences;
SDDirect Senior Consultant October 2012
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Competent user of SPSS and other statistical software
Experience of database design and operation;
Excellent, proven networking skills;
Experience of managing and developing a small team;
Fluency in other languages;
SDDirect Senior Consultant October 2012
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SDDirect Senior Consultant October 2012
Page | 1
Job Description – Senior Consultant on Monitoring and Evaluation Department:
Technical Team
Location:
Central London with international travel
Reports to:
Technical Director
Overall Purpose of job:
This is a senior-level role within a cutting-edge and growing social development organisation. As the Senior Consultant on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) you will provide technical leadership in the area of monitoring and evaluation and provide high-quality consultancy advice to a range of multinational, government and NGO clients working in international development. In doing so, you will demonstrate high levels of leadership and professionalism and strategic thinking and rigorous analytical skills. You will be a strong team player and have excellent client and partner relationship skills. You will be available and interested to travel extensively.
Main duties and responsibilities:
To provide intellectual leadership within SDDirect in results frameworks, theories of change, M&E including development of M&E instruments and methods;
To undertake senior-level consultancy contracts and provide technical support and advice on M&E to in-house staff and our network of consultants. You will work closely with our in-house research and evidence function to ensure SDDirect research, surveys and analysis are of high quality and help build our capacity further in this area;
To manage and supervise consultancies undertaken by SDDirect technical staff and network consultants. This will involve project management responsibilities, client liaison, and support to, and leadership of, consultancy teams;
To lead on identifying growth areas of business in M&E and to work with the business development team, wider technical team and other colleagues to secure new work which builds on the organisation’s expertise;
To represent the organisation to external partners at meetings and conferences and by publishing articles and reports based on work under your leadership;
To strengthen our network of consultants; identifying new candidates, interviewing and selecting high-calibre personnel;
To manage and mentor staff members and network consultants as necessary;
To network with a range of external partners and individuals, identifying relevant events for presenting our work, contributing to the marketing activities of the organisation and representing SDDirect as appropriate;
To contribute to senior management and strategic direction of the company through regular decision making meetings and strategic planning processes.
This is not an exhaustive list of the duties required of the role and they may be changed from time to time in consultation with the post holder.
SDDirect Senior Consultant October 2012
Page | 2
Person Specification – Senior Consultant on Monitoring and Evaluation This is an exciting post in an organisation with an international reputation for excellence. In order to meet this challenge you will demonstrate the following skills and experience:
Essential:
At least 10 years experience of designing, managing and operationalising quantitative, qualitative and mixed method evaluations related to international development policies and programmes.
Previous experience of leading and managing M&E work for at least one of the following organisations and a detailed understanding of their M&E methodologies: DFID, the World Bank, the UN and NGOs.
Previous experience of baseline and endline assessment design and implementation including management of field research teams.
A post graduate university degree in a relevant subject (e.g. social research, statistics etc.)
Demonstrated experience of monitoring and evaluation in at least one of the following social development and governance areas: gender equality, prevention/reduction in violence against women and girls, citizen and civil society empowerment, accountability of duty bearers, conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
A sound understanding of how to promote value for money in interventions and how monitoring and evaluation systems can contribute to this.
Excellent presentational and written skills to communicate complex ideas to a range of audiences;
Demonstrated knowledge of international evaluation standards and emerging best practice in monitoring and evaluation, including impact evaluation.
Consultancy experience or experience of commissioning consultants within a multi-lateral or bilateral organisation or an NGO;
Strong organisational skills and ability to meet deadlines;
A demonstrable commitment to human rights and social justice;
Fluency in written and spoken English;
You must be able to travel internationally. You must be able to work legally in the UK.
Desirable:
Experience of preparing bids for M&E projects from donor agency clients.
Proven ability to conduct rigorous monitoring and evaluation in challenging environments, including fragile and conflict affected states;
Experience of using innovative and user-friendly formats to disseminate M&E findings to specialist and generalist audiences;
SDDirect Senior Consultant October 2012
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Competent user of SPSS and other statistical software
Experience of database design and operation;
Excellent, proven networking skills;
Experience of managing and developing a small team;
Fluency in other languages;
SDDirect Senior Consultant October 2012
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