Social Development Direct
About the Role
The Senior Technical Specialist and Senior Technical Expert (Principal Consultant) roles sit within the technical team at SDDirect, a cutting edge and growing international social development organisation. These are senior-level technical leadership roles in a leading international consultancy and research organisation in the field of social development. The roles will be a permanent position.
These positions will play a key role in a senior staff consultant position with the SDDirect Technical Team delivering technical work across our safeguarding portfolio and beyond. This will include desk-based and in-country work, such as supporting programme design and providing technical assistance.
ROLE OVERVIEW
Reports to: Ann Kangas
Location: Our London Head Office works on a hybrid basis – we are open to flexible working. Non-UK based candidates are welcome to apply.
Appointment term: Permanent
Type of role Full-time/part time
Remuneration Package: Senior Technical Specialist: £47,000 – £55,000
Senior Technical Expert: £55,000 – 85,000 (depending on the experience)
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Technical delivery, quality assurance and accountability
- Provide high quality safeguarding services to a range of clients including international financial institutions (IFIs), government departments, international agencies, non-governmental organisations, foundations, and consultancy partners.
- Contribute to positive relationships and collaboration with clients and partners.
- Support in the delivery of other SDDirect projects across other portfolios (e.g. Gender-Based Violence, Inclusive Economic Development, etc.) as needed and depending on availability
- Manage and supervise service contracts and consultancies undertaken by SDDirect technical staff and network consultants (including relevant project management responsibilities, client and relationship management, technical leadership and support of consultancy teams)
- Ensure high quality delivery of programmes, analysis and deliverables to clients, partners and affected communities
- Provide quality assurance support across programmes and ensure that quality assurance systems and resources are in place to deliver contractual services to a high standard
- Assure compliance with SDDirect project management requirements, client specifications and contractual obligations (including timely reporting, recording of consultant inputs, contract budget monitoring, and use of the SDDirect online project management system)
- Represent SDDirect and its work as needed at meetings and events.
Technical leadership and professional excellence
- Support the development of SDDirect’s safeguarding body of knowledge and practice, strategic thinking, intellectual leadership and planning, staying abreast of current thinking methodologies and good practice in the field.
- Provide intellectual and methodological leadership in this technical area as well as up-to-date technical advice across the organisation
- Support portfolio strategy development and delivery and achievement of SDDirect’s mission and strategic goals and role model SDDirect’s values
- Develop and grow SDDirect’s tools, resources, capacity and knowledge base in this technical area, fostering a culture of learning and innovation within and beyond the organisation
Team leadership and resourcing
- Provide effective line management fostering a collaborative and inclusive team culture.
- Support internal resourcing strategy and recruitment, including learning and development of in-house staff with expertise in this thematic area
- Support external partnership and resourcing strategy – including identifying strategic partnerships and SDDirect’s network of consultants, Senior Associates and Associates
Business planning and growth
- Support the growth of SDDirect’s safeguarding portfolio of work through providing technical input and content for relevant expressions of interest, bids and research proposals to prospective clients.
- Support the growth of emerging areas of work for SDDirect such as, case handling and investigations, working with IFIs and safeguarding in the private sector.
- Identify areas of growth and new business opportunities through close and direct contact with clients, potential clients, partners, potential partners, in-house staff and external consultants
- Work closely with the Business Development Team to secure new business, providing high quality design and technical content for relevant bids and proposals to clients.
- Provide technical leadership and quality assurance on bids and build respectful partnerships and alliances into bids that deliver quality.
- Proactively seek out and create relationships with relevant stakeholders, funders and partners within the safeguarding area.
How to apply
If you are interested in joining our dynamic team, please email your tailored CV with a cover letter by email to [email protected]. We will be reviewing these on a rolling basis. Please use this email subject line: ‘Safeguarding Role – Your Name’. SDDirect welcomes applicants from overseas or the UK for these roles.
Social Development Direct’s organisational vision is a just and equal world founded on gender equality and social inclusion. Our mission is to provide excellence in social development to support policies, laws, social norms and institutions that advance social, economic and political justice for all. We are committed to creating a safe, diverse, and inclusive workplace and welcome people from minority backgrounds to apply.
We are also open to applications from candidates looking to work part-time.
Interviews will be held on an ongoing basis. Please let us know if you would require any assistance to attend the interview or complete an assessment.
Due to the high volume of applications, we are only able to respond to shortlisted candidates.