Principal Consultant – Feminist Evaluation (MEL Portfolio)

About the Role

As Principal Consultant in the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) portfolio, you will be critical in expanding and enhancing the portfolio’s work. This will include developing bids for evaluations and other contracts, leading the delivery of evaluation contracts and growing the network and reputation of SDDirect. The Principal Consultant will be expected to apply feminist values and gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) technical expertise to the design and delivery of complex and multi-country evaluations.  Please read on to learn more about the company, team and role, and the kind of applicants we are looking for.

Summary of role

Reports to: Head of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Portfolio

Direct reports: Up to 3 reportees.

Location: UK-based candidates must be eligible to work in the UK upon appointment. SDDirect’s Head Office is located in Old Street, London. We operate a hybrid working model with flexibility on the frequency of office visits, which can be discussed further during the recruitment process.

Candidates based outside the UK may also be considered for this role and are encouraged to contact our HR team to discuss their circumstances. Email address can be found in the Job description attached below.

Appointment term: Full-time and Part-time hours will be considered. A minimum of 4 days is required. This is a permanent contract.

Remuneration Package: This role is Band E, with a salary range of £55,000 – £85,000. Salary upon appointment will be commensurate with experience and in line with team members in equivalent roles.  

You can find further information about our benefits on our website. Please note: For candidates based outside of the UK, the total remuneration package will need to be adjusted according to the benefits and tax regulations of their country of residence.

SDDirect does not provide a relocation package.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As a Principal Consultant in the MEL Portfolio, you will focus on providing technical and thought leadership in feminist evaluation. You will lead complex, multi-country and mixed-methods evaluations, which will focus on GEDSI as it relates to one of our SDDirect portfolios. You may also be involved in designing and delivering research across our other portfolios. In addition to delivery, you will also be involved in winning new work, leading evaluation, research or MEL bid development and raising SDDirect’s external profile and reputation.

Technical Design, Delivery & Leadership

·       Design and deliver a range of mixed-methods evaluations, often in shifting and unpredictable contexts, including impact, formative, summative or process evaluations with a GEDSI focus. This will include the design of the approach, data collection tools and methodologies (surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, workshops, etc.) and analysis of the data collected.

·       Support the development of SDDirect’s body of knowledge and practice on feminist evaluation, staying up to date with current thinking on models, methods, good practice and relevant debates.

·       Provide leadership to SDDirect contracts as relevant, including project management responsibilities, client liaison, and support to and technical leadership of consultancy teams.

·       To use negotiation and diplomacy skills and to confidently manage challenging conversations.

·       To ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, to high-quality standards, and in keeping with SDDirect’s ethics and ethos.

·       To provide support to SDDirect’s other portfolios (Equal Education, Safeguarding, Green Economies and Infrastructure, Governance and Inclusive Societies, Gender-Based Violence), as appropriate on MEL or in research design and delivery.

·       To provide technical support to other members of the MEL portfolio to support their growth and development. This would include providing actionable and constructive quality assurance and feedback to other team members.   

Raising SDDirect’s Profile

·       To establish and maintain close relationships and effective networks with our clients, partners and consultants, drawing on their own professional networks. 

·       To represent SDDirect at meetings, conferences and on social media and ensure that SDDirect’s work on GEDSI and evaluation is disseminated and profiled externally in a clear and accessible way, especially with key fora in the MEL sector.

·       To provide internal thought leadership and professional development activities on MEL, raising the capacity of other staff on MEL.

Business Development

To contribute to the growth of SDDirect’s portfolio of work in this technical area, through:

·       Identifying 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.

·       Supporting the Business Development Team in identifying relevant opportunities to expand the portfolio and pipeline.

·       Act as technical lead on MEL bids, bringing a rigorous understanding of evaluation design and GEDSI relevant analytical frameworks for relevant bids and proposals to clients.

·       Engaging with and influencing emerging opportunities and delivery concepts and ensuring SDDirect’s MEL offering is responsive to market requirements and aligns with SDDirect’s equitable partnership principles. 

If you are interested in joining our dynamic team, please refer to the Person Specification and submit your tailored CV and 1-page cover letter here. The deadline for applying is 15th September 2024. Due to the high volume of applications, we are only able to respond to shortlisted candidates.

Our Selection Process

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 under-represented groups to apply.

The selection process for this recruitment will include a pre-screening call with a member of our HR team, a 1 hour written assessment and two competency-based interviews. The first interview will be with Alix Clark (Head of MEL) and Chris Hearle (Principal Consultant in Green Economics and Infrastructure). The second interview will be with a member of our Senior Leadership Team. Assessments are scheduled for w/c30th September 2024. Interviews are scheduled for w/c 7th October 2024 and will be conducted remotely through Microsoft Teams.

For those who are invited to interview, we may process information about whether or not applicants have a disability or impairment so we can make adjustments during the recruitment process and implement the Disability Confident scheme. Our HR team will ask you to confirm that you have read our privacy notice and consent to providing this information before doing so. Our full privacy notice can be read on our careers page here:Privacy Notice for applicants Social Development Direct (sddirect.org.uk).

Should you have any enquiries or need assistance or accommodations to ensure accessibility throughout the application process, please contact the HR team at careers@sddirect.org.uk.