About Sonke
Founded in 2006, Sonke is a womxn’s rights organisation that is committed to feminist principles, using a rights-based and gender transformative approach to achieve human rights and gender justice. Our vision is a poverty free world in which womxn, children, men and gender non-conforming individuals enjoy equitable, caring, healthy and happy relationships that contribute to the development of gender just and democratic societies. Sonke strengthens governments, civil society and citizen’s capacity to advance gender justice and womxn’s rights, prevent gender-based violence, and reduce the spread of HIV and the impact of AIDS, and in this way contributing to social justice and the elimination of poverty.
About the position
Sonke seeks to recruit two project managers, one based in Mpumalanga and the other in the Eastern Cape respectively. The Project Manager will be responsible for the project management and implementation of a project working on transformative feminist leadership in South Africa. The Project Managers will be responsible for tracking project activities against the budget and ensuring timely project deliverables. The Project Managers will also be responsible for managing stakeholder relations related to the project, developing content and supporting the overall success of the project at Sonke – including aligning the project to Sonke’s strategic priorities and support cross-unit collaboration of the project. We are seeking dynamic, feminist and goal-oriented professionals with project management, community mobilisation and leadership experience. The ideal candidates have extensive experience managing multi-year projects, working with partners at different levels, and with an intimate knowledge of the women’s rights landscape of South Africa. Specific experience with transformative feminist leadership and gender-responsive budgeting is advantageous.
Specific responsibilities include
- Oversee the implementation of a multi-year project focused on women’s leadership in the province, including the co-creation of the implementation plan for the project.
- Track project activities against the implementation plan, and trouble-shoot or problem-solve for delays or gaps.
- Manage Sonke’s stakeholder relations under the project at the local, provincial and national level, ensuring that stakeholder coordination contributes to the project goals and objectives.
- Develop content and support the development of content related to the project goals, including writing reports, editorials, policy briefs and other knowledge outputs to facilitate shared learning.
- Ensure that project development and implementation are responsive to communities and partners, and is consistent with the relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and overall programme and organizational strategic plan.
- Manage a team of Community Mobilisers and Community Action Team volunteers (CATs).
- Oversee the planning of events related to the project at a provincial and local level.
- Ensure the adequate and effective implementation of RMEL tools on the project, supporting the data collection process and the analysis of data to feed into the projects learning and impact agenda.
- Streamline the project into the broader organizational plan and effectively engage other teams/units on the project to foster cross-unit collaboration.
- Co-create advocacy plans and campaigns in partnership with the PDA and Communications Unit Managers and the Provincial Managers.
- Other responsibilities include budget management and oversight, as well as supporting resource mobilization as needed.
Qualifications and experience
- An advanced degree in a relevant field, including at least an Honours degree in social sciences or a law degree (LL.B. or foreign equivalent). Studies should have provided a strong grounding in gender, health, and human rights law.
- At least five years of proven experience in civil society, with a content focus on gender and human rights law and advocacy including experience in legal analysis and running advocacy campaigns.
- 5 years proven experience of efficiently managing bilateral-funded projects including multiple consortium partners across South Africa.
- Experience in feminist thought and praxis, with demonstrated commitment to principles of feminism and feminist leadership.
- Experience in implementing projects with a focus on gender-responsive budgeting, gender-sensitive policymaking and advocacy.
- Experience with managing multiple stakeholders, with knowledge of community mobilization and education – experience of working with community-based stakeholders an added advantage.
- Significant experience with at least two of the technical areas of the unit’s work, i.e. gender justice, health and human rights, penal and criminal justice reform. The candidate should have the ability to work collaboratively and provide credible strategic guidance to colleagues with and without a direct supervisory relationship.
- Willingness to travel 20 to 30% of the time
Application Process
- Interested applicants should submit their CV, a motivational letter that details your experience, the contact details of three referees, to Sonke’s Human Resource Unit at hiring@genderjustice.org.za. closing date 7 March 2022.
- For non-South Africans, it is the responsibility of the applicant to attain a work permit from the Department of Home Affairs, and employment will depend on a valid work permit being in place.
- Sonke is committed to racial and gender transformation and encourages previously disadvantaged individuals to apply.
- Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us by 30 April 2022, please consider your application unsuccessful.
- The organisation reserves the right not to make an appointment.
