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 this position
The RPN Co-Unit Manager is responsible for ensuring effective implementation of the MenCare programmes in South Africa, the Region and globally. The RPN Co-Unit Manager will play a key role in the strategic development of the global and Africa region MenCare campaigns.
The RPN Co-Unit Manager will
- Play a key role in the strategic development of the global and Africa region MenCare campaigns;
- Supervise the establishment and implementation of the MenCare South Africa programme; and
- The management of the provision of technical support to the Children’s Rights related areas of work in Sonke. These include:
- Research and publication of results in terms of Sonke’s work on children’s rights,
- The positive discipline campaign in South Africa,
- Strategic collaboration with other child rights organisations in South Africa and the region,
- Programmes, media and advocacy strategies that lie at the intersection of Sonke’s work and the wider field of children’s rights work.
Key Performance Areas
MenCare portfolio management and administration
- Strategic management support to the strategic development and growth of Sonke’s MenCare work in South Africa and the MenEngage Africa region, in collaboration with colleagues working on relevant projects in other units.
- Co-coordinate the MenCare Global Fatherhood campaign with the co-coordinator from Promundo.
- Oversee and support partner organisations’ implementation of MenCare activities.
- Support budget management of Mencare projects in collaboration with relevant project managers, and work closely with Sonke’s finance team to track budgets.
- Support relevant internal audit processes, in conjunction with existing staff and the Programmes Director.
- Manage the development of related M&E tools and processes, the RPN Operational Plan, working closely with the organisation’s M&E staff.
Work planning and staff management
- Monitor and support the implementation of Mencare projects, including the positive discipline campaign, ensuring appropriate interconnections between activities and internal organisational collaboration;
- Convene team meetings, project planning and review meetings
- Manage staff development plans and other human resource matters and play a key role in building the financial and budget management skills of the team;
- Facilitate team building, team identity and strengthen working relations between individuals.
Project Coordination
- Oversee, in collaboration with others, all MenCare projects and implement certain agreed deliverables, ensuring adherence to timelines.
- Ensure timely development, processing and authorisation of payments, contracts and agreements and ensure project costs remain within budget.
- Attend staff meetings, staff retreats, staff trainings and international meetings as required
- Contract with consultants to assist with the strengthening of MenCare projects as required
- Attend stakeholder meetings, donor meetings and conferences where necessary and when required to do so
- Ensure the continued development of relationships with stakeholders and potential and existing partners in order to further the work of the CRPP portfolio
- Network strategically with existing community networks, educational institutions, NPO’s and government
- Serve as a member of Sonke’s management team
Strategic partnerships and networking
- Support the development and maintenance of new and existing strategic global, regional and national alliances with relevant individuals and organisations to advance Sonke’s work;
- Represent Sonke in a professional manner among different strategic audiences.
Campaign and advocacy strategies
- Develop, test and rollout national campaigns in SA towards the following four advocacy goals:
- To promote positive discipline and ensure the prohibition of corporal punishment in all settings; and
- To improve policy guidelines related to men’s involvement in maternal and child health
- Support the development of advocacy briefs, campaign materials, training manuals and other CRPP resources focussed on the four policy advocacy goals.
- Supervise and support the development and adaptation of CRPP campaigns in the Africa region.
- Oversee international and regional CRPP advocacy processes such as producing country monitoring reports to relevant international statutory institutions such as the UN or the Africa Union (more specifically Unicef, UNFPA, UNWomen and the African Committee for the Rights and Welfare of the Child).
Media and communications strategy
- Working with Sonke’s communications manager, build and strengthen relationships with national and regional media to ensure wide coverage and public awareness of MenCare issues.
- Support work with a wide range of media to promote rights literacy and advance MenCare Advocacy.
Donor reporting and resource mobilisation
- The RPN Co-Unit Manager is responsible for fundraising for the unit and is required to identify funding opportunities, develop proposals and budgets.
- Manage the delivery of high quality CRPP reports and documents, particularly those intended for external audiences and donors.
- Support resource mobilisation for the CRPP work of the organization.
- Ensure grants held within the unit are implemented in line with funding agreements.
- Maintain a strong relationship with funders.
Internal collaboration and supporting broader MenCare activities
- Draw on the expertise and resources of other staff within Sonke to ensure the whole organisation benefits from the organisation’s broader MenCare work; and
- Attend Sonke and related project meetings and other activities when appropriate.
Applied Research
- Assist, where necessary, in the development of research carried out in relation to the project.
- Write articles and/or contribute to recognised academic publications that build the evidence base for CRPP work that intersects with Sonke’s work, ideally drawing on results and findings from Sonke’s programmes.
- Present findings of applied research at Sonke at appropriate academic or programme-based conferences.
Educational requirements
- Recognised university degree in relevant subject area; post graduate qualification an advantage
Experience required
- 8 to 10 years’ experience in a relevant field; experience in South Africa or in the African region preferred.
- 5 years of people management experience.
- Experience working on issues related to men and the care sector.
- Project management experience, including administrative, budget management, work planning, monitoring and in programme management.
- Prior experience working on children’s rights, including developing child protection policies and procedures.
- Experience designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation.
- Strong writing and analytical skills, including publication of articles.
- Prior experience engaging with the media, especially community radio and print media.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite applications; i.e. Access, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and custom on-line applications.
- Possess a valid passport and willing to travel as required 20 – 30% of the time.
- Experience networking with partners and colleagues across multiple countries and time-zones.
- Proven skills in fundraising a benefit.
Competencies required
- Recognised commitment to promoting gender equality, human rights and social justice.
- Demonstrating consistency in upholding and promoting the principles of Sonke.
- Ability to work effectively with a diverse team and in varied environments.
- Familiarity with gender transformative work with men and boys, including primary social change strategies, key organisations and networks in South Africa and beyond.
- Familiarity with MenCare issues, particularly as they relate to men and masculinities.
- Familiarity with existing policies and programmes in South Africa and beyond relating to the promotion of gender equality and children’s rights.
- Knowledge of campaign and advocacy techniques, strategies and practices.
- Knowledge of media, communication and public relation strategies.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively, ability to multi task and take initiative;
- Strong strategic and analytical abilities.
- Demonstrated technical expertise in areas such as: project management, budget and resource management; monitoring and evaluation; donor reporting.
- Excellent communication skills both oral and written in English is a must; additional African languages an advantage.
- Strong leadership skills in fostering teamwork, developing and motivating staff.
- Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity;
- Good presentation and facilitation skills.
- Ability to network and develop and maintain partnerships (internal and external);
- Excellent communication skills both oral and written in English is a must; additional African languages an advantage.
- Pays attention to detail, works under pressure and has excellent planning skills
- Able to prioritise work and meet deadlines
- Innovative and creative, able to see new opportunities
- Reflective and open to learning
To Apply
- 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 31 May 2021.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
- The position will be based in either Johannesburg or Cape Town. Non-South African nationals have the responsibility to obtain 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.
- If you do not hear from us by 30 June 2021, please consider your application unsuccessful.
- The organisation reserves the right not to make an appointment.
