Overview
Provides senior strategic leadership, systems integration, and direct people management for Oxfam’s Programme and Influencing architecture across the Southern Africa (SAF) Cluster. The role translates Oxfam’s strategy into a coherent, regionally integrated programme and influencing ecosystem.
Key Responsibilities
- Provides leadership of programme and influencing work across the SAF Cluster.
- Translates the SAF Strategy (2026–2030) into a coherent regional programme and influencing architecture.
- Ensures all thematic portfolios are aligned to systems change and regional priorities.
- Guides strategic prioritisation of programme investments across the Cluster.
- Supports the SADC CSO Liaison Office Oversight Group and Cluster Director in positioning Oxfam as a regional leader in influencing and systems change within the region.
- Leads the integration of programme delivery, PQK systems, advocacy, and regional policy engagement into a single system.
- Establishes and oversees structured feedback loops between Programme Managers (delivery), PQK (evidence & learning), Advocacy & Communications (narratives & campaigns), and SADC Civil Society Liaison Lead (regional policy interface).
- Ensures alignment and integration across thematic areas, with full ownership of nexus programming.
- Leads coordination across Gender Justice Manager, Climate & Economic Justice Manager, and Humanitarian Action Manager.
- Ensures programmes are mutually reinforcing and not siloed.
- Operationalises humanitarian–development–peace (HDP) nexus approaches.
- Supports the Cluster Director and the SADC Oversight Group in providing strategic oversight of Oxfam’s regional influencing ecosystem, working in close partnership with the SADC Civil Society Liaison Lead.
- Supports defining of regional influencing priorities and strategies.
- Ensures alignment between programme evidence, advocacy strategies, and SADC-level policy engagement and civil society processes.
- Works closely with the SADC Civil Society Liaison Lead to translate programme evidence into policy positions and advocacy asks, and strengthen engagement with SADC Parliamentary Forum, Regional civil society platforms, and Policy and governance structures.
- Drives the transition to transformative, partner-led programme delivery.
- Ensures programmes are delivered through strong and equitable partnerships.
- Aligns Programme Managers and Coordinators around partner accompaniment approaches.
- Strengthens integration between partner delivery, evidence generation, and influencing engagement (including regional platforms).
- In close collaboration with the PQK Lead ensures programme systems support adaptive programming and influencing impact.
- Supports the operationalisation and functionality of Programme Quality & Knowledge (PQK) systems and PEEP platform.
- Harmonisation of standards across programme design, MEAL, and knowledge management.
- Leads a multi-disciplinary, multi-country team across programme and influencing functions.
- Line manages Programme Managers, and the Advocacy & Communications Manager.
- Provides strategic alignment (not line management) to the SADC Civil Society Liaison Lead.
- Ensures programme priorities are aligned with funding strategy and pipeline development.
- Works closely with the Business Development Lead to align programme priorities with funding opportunities, and strengthen the fundability of programme designs.
- Supports development of multi-country and cross-thematic funding proposals.
- Ensures programme delivery meets required risk, safeguarding, and compliance standards.
- Oversees identification and mitigation of programme and partner risks.
- Ensures safeguarding and safe programming standards are embedded.
- Acts as a core member of the Cluster Leadership Team (CLT).
- Contributes to overall Cluster strategy and decision-making.
Required Experience
- Minimum of 8 years of progressive senior leadership experience in Programme leadership, Policy, Influencing, Multi-country systems, and Strategic transformation.
- Proven track record of leading and motivating multi-disciplinary, geographically remote teams and operations across a number of locations and Partnership-led programming within a regional context.
- Experience of managing complex change processes and relationships involving a wide range of both internal and external multi-cultural stakeholders across a variety of geographical areas.
- Demonstrated feminist and gender justice leadership.
- Experience in Southern Africa region (Desirable).
- Knowledge of SADC and regional policy processes (Desirable).
- Experience in feminist and decolonial approaches (Desirable).
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in international relations, Development Studies, Human Rights and Governance, or equivalent qualification.
- A Bachelor’s degree combined with relevant post graduate or professional qualifications may also be considered.
