BACKGROUND:
Right To Play is a global organization that uses
the transformative power of play to educate and empower children facing
adversity. Through playing sports and games, Right To Play helps children in
more than 20 countries to build essential life skills and better futures, while
driving lasting social change. Founded in 2000 by four-time Olympic gold
medalist and social entrepreneur Johann Olav Koss, Right To Play is
headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has national offices in Canada, the
Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and
regional offices in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America. Our
programs are facilitated by 590 international staff and nearly 12,000 volunteer
Coaches.
the transformative power of play to educate and empower children facing
adversity. Through playing sports and games, Right To Play helps children in
more than 20 countries to build essential life skills and better futures, while
driving lasting social change. Founded in 2000 by four-time Olympic gold
medalist and social entrepreneur Johann Olav Koss, Right To Play is
headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has national offices in Canada, the
Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and
regional offices in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America. Our
programs are facilitated by 590 international staff and nearly 12,000 volunteer
Coaches.
Visit us at www.righttoplay.com
JOB SUMMARY:
Right To Play is committed to monitoring and
evaluating its program for impact and effectiveness and assuring strong
internal systems and processes. Results from our programs can also contribute
to the growing body of research on the impact of Sports For Development. Right
To Play is committed to learning from sectoral best practices and research and
we aim to constantly refine and improve our programs accordingly. Furthermore
the promotion of evidence based policy positions is critical to assuring the
supportive conditions for the provision of effective Sport For Development
programming. Our policy and advocacy agenda is intended to not only create
conducive government legislative and funding change, but also to build a
vibrant civil society effort and a broad social movement. The Director,
Evaluation, Research and Policy will advance this three-fold agenda during a
period of organizational growth at the start of a new five-year strategic plan.
The Director will deepen our existing capabilities, systems and knowledge base
in monitoring and evaluation across the whole organization in multiple sites.
The Director will also strive to fill current gaps in Sport For Development
research by collaborating with with relevant insitutions and actively engaging
in the sectoral dialogue at meetings, events and coalitions. The Director will
also seek to deepen and grow Right To Play’s role and profile in advocating for
policy change and in raising awareness on a selected range of areas in which
sport and play can provide a positive impact, including health, education, and
gender equality.
evaluating its program for impact and effectiveness and assuring strong
internal systems and processes. Results from our programs can also contribute
to the growing body of research on the impact of Sports For Development. Right
To Play is committed to learning from sectoral best practices and research and
we aim to constantly refine and improve our programs accordingly. Furthermore
the promotion of evidence based policy positions is critical to assuring the
supportive conditions for the provision of effective Sport For Development
programming. Our policy and advocacy agenda is intended to not only create
conducive government legislative and funding change, but also to build a
vibrant civil society effort and a broad social movement. The Director,
Evaluation, Research and Policy will advance this three-fold agenda during a
period of organizational growth at the start of a new five-year strategic plan.
The Director will deepen our existing capabilities, systems and knowledge base
in monitoring and evaluation across the whole organization in multiple sites.
The Director will also strive to fill current gaps in Sport For Development
research by collaborating with with relevant insitutions and actively engaging
in the sectoral dialogue at meetings, events and coalitions. The Director will
also seek to deepen and grow Right To Play’s role and profile in advocating for
policy change and in raising awareness on a selected range of areas in which
sport and play can provide a positive impact, including health, education, and
gender equality.
The ideal candidate will be a natural leader and
mission driven self starter who brings a balanced perspective between the
rigors of research and policy with the practicalities and challenges of
building systems and processes that will be effective within Right To Play’s
operating context. The candidate will promote the evidence for Sport For
Development within Right To Play’s leadership team, partners in the field,
funders/ stakeholders, and policy makers, while making recommendations that
will allow Right To Play to improve design and influence policy change.
Reporting to the Vice President of International Programs, the Director of
Evaluation, Research, and Policy will manage an experienced team of 4
headquarters staff and work in close collaboration with members from the global
leadership team, field staff, and sector partners.
mission driven self starter who brings a balanced perspective between the
rigors of research and policy with the practicalities and challenges of
building systems and processes that will be effective within Right To Play’s
operating context. The candidate will promote the evidence for Sport For
Development within Right To Play’s leadership team, partners in the field,
funders/ stakeholders, and policy makers, while making recommendations that
will allow Right To Play to improve design and influence policy change.
Reporting to the Vice President of International Programs, the Director of
Evaluation, Research, and Policy will manage an experienced team of 4
headquarters staff and work in close collaboration with members from the global
leadership team, field staff, and sector partners.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Job Responsibility #1: Monitoring and Evaluation (%
of Time: 50%):
of Time: 50%):
ï§Develop and promote a learning agenda that allows
Right To Play to influence program planning, funding decisions, and strategic
directions for the organization
Right To Play to influence program planning, funding decisions, and strategic
directions for the organization
ï§Oversee all evaluations, ensuring evaluations
strike a balance across core evaluation principles, including accuracy,
propriety, feasibility, and utility
strike a balance across core evaluation principles, including accuracy,
propriety, feasibility, and utility
ï§Ensure ongoing relevance of key measurements,
standards, tools, and M&E processes by guiding the periodic review of Right
To Play’s global M&E framework and implementation
standards, tools, and M&E processes by guiding the periodic review of Right
To Play’s global M&E framework and implementation
ï§Provide technical oversight to the global M&E
and program teams to ensure effective implementation of internal monitoring and
evaluation practices.
and program teams to ensure effective implementation of internal monitoring and
evaluation practices.
ï§Ensure M&E findings are continually
communicated in a timely and relevant way, influencing key programmatic,
strategic, fundraising, and communication initiatives.
communicated in a timely and relevant way, influencing key programmatic,
strategic, fundraising, and communication initiatives.
ï§Continually assesses and contribute to
industry-wide evaluation trends, by incorporating and sharing the most
innovative, effective and relevant standards of M&E practice.
industry-wide evaluation trends, by incorporating and sharing the most
innovative, effective and relevant standards of M&E practice.
Job Responsibility #2: Advocacy and Policy (% of
Time: 25%)
Time: 25%)
ï§Develop and strengthen core partnerships and
networks with key stakeholders in the sport for development arena, including
governments, global/regional networks, and multi-lateral institutions to
contribute to the sport for development policy dialogue.
networks with key stakeholders in the sport for development arena, including
governments, global/regional networks, and multi-lateral institutions to
contribute to the sport for development policy dialogue.
ï§Guide the assessment and development of policy
positions to inform the sport for development policy dialogue
positions to inform the sport for development policy dialogue
ï§Drive collective advocacy initiatives, at the
global level, to advance key sport for development policy positions
global level, to advance key sport for development policy positions
ï§Provide subject-matter expertise to RTP on all
aspects of government and UN relations and to governments and multilateral
organizations on the development of international or inter-governmental
frameworks.
aspects of government and UN relations and to governments and multilateral
organizations on the development of international or inter-governmental
frameworks.
ï§Work to advance UN and multi-lateral resolutions,
frameworks, and policies relevant to sport for development and/or Right to
Play’s work.
frameworks, and policies relevant to sport for development and/or Right to
Play’s work.
Job Responsibility #3: Research (% of Time: 15%):
ï§Develop and strengthen core partnerships and
networks with key universities, research institutions, international NGOS,
and/or multi-lateral institutions to contribute to the broader sport for
development research base.
networks with key universities, research institutions, international NGOS,
and/or multi-lateral institutions to contribute to the broader sport for
development research base.
ï§Lead a collaborative, cross organizational process
to inform a comprehensive program of research to advance the evidence base for
the sport for development movement
to inform a comprehensive program of research to advance the evidence base for
the sport for development movement
ï§Provide oversight on selected research initiatives
that will be identified to test essential hypotheses as they relates to sport
for development and peace
that will be identified to test essential hypotheses as they relates to sport
for development and peace
ï§Contribute to core publications, articles, books
and panels to share research results and practice
and panels to share research results and practice
Job Responsibility #4: Team Leadership (% of Time:
10%)
10%)
ï§Develop and manage strategic and operational plans
for the global Evaluation, Research, and Policy team
for the global Evaluation, Research, and Policy team
ï§Create and sustain a continuous improvement
culture of innovation, achievement, support and learning within the Evaluation,
Research, and Policy team.
culture of innovation, achievement, support and learning within the Evaluation,
Research, and Policy team.
ï§Provide ongoing mentorship and leadership for a
growing team of Direct Reports (currently 3), including core management duties
(performance planning, monitoring, and performance appraisals).
growing team of Direct Reports (currently 3), including core management duties
(performance planning, monitoring, and performance appraisals).
ï§Lead ongoing efforts to assess and address the organization’s
capacity needs in M&E and advocacy
capacity needs in M&E and advocacy
ï§Continually stay abreast of external trends and
coordinate with program teams to ensure best practices in monitoring,
evaluation, research, and advocacy are integrated in RTP’s work.
coordinate with program teams to ensure best practices in monitoring,
evaluation, research, and advocacy are integrated in RTP’s work.
EDUCATION/TRAINING/CERTIFICATION:
Required (must have):
ï§Masters degree in social sciences, public policy,
international development/affairs, business administration or other relevant
areas
international development/affairs, business administration or other relevant
areas
ï§Training/Professional expertise in evaluation and
research methods
research methods
ï§Professional expertise in policy development and
government relations
government relations
Desired (asset):
ï§PhD in evaluation, social sciences, public policy,
or international development/affairs
or international development/affairs
ï§Fluency in French, Arabic, and/or Spanish
EXPERIENCE
Required (must have):
ï§15+ years of professional experience in role(s)
with comparable levels of international complexity and technical relevance in
monitoring, evaluation, research and policy development.
with comparable levels of international complexity and technical relevance in
monitoring, evaluation, research and policy development.
ï§Solid knowledge of issues related to development
and humanitarian programs, as well as international bodies and policy.
and humanitarian programs, as well as international bodies and policy.
ï§Experience in managing staff and initiatives
within complex, cross-functional organizations/projects.
within complex, cross-functional organizations/projects.
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS REQUIRED:
Knowledge
and understanding of International Development Sector including key players,
key stakeholders, the legislative environment, the research environment, role
of United nations.
and understanding of International Development Sector including key players,
key stakeholders, the legislative environment, the research environment, role
of United nations.
Knowledge
of policy and advocacy discipline, able to set a policy agenda, articulate
policy positions, working within policy spheres both with INGOs, funders,
governments, etc.
of policy and advocacy discipline, able to set a policy agenda, articulate
policy positions, working within policy spheres both with INGOs, funders,
governments, etc.
Deep
knowledge of standards of practice in research and evaluation in RTP’s core
thematic areas: child/youth development, health, education.
knowledge of standards of practice in research and evaluation in RTP’s core
thematic areas: child/youth development, health, education.
Deep
knowledge of evaluation design and data collection methodologies particularly
when working with children in developing countries.
knowledge of evaluation design and data collection methodologies particularly
when working with children in developing countries.
Expertise
in quantitative and qualitative methodologies and analysis
in quantitative and qualitative methodologies and analysis
Substantive understanding of the development of policy agendas and
positions and the tools and means to effect policy change.
Substantive understanding of the development of policy agendas and
positions and the tools and means to effect policy change.
Familiar
with government decision-making as well as intra/inter-governmental policy
development processes
with government decision-making as well as intra/inter-governmental policy
development processes
Able to
transform and communicate technical findings to a variety of stakeholders,
including donors, management & board, program staff, fundraisers,
governments, and technical peers
transform and communicate technical findings to a variety of stakeholders,
including donors, management & board, program staff, fundraisers,
governments, and technical peers
Knowledge
and skill in managing and mentoring staff, and providing technical support and
oversight to those who are not direct reports.
and skill in managing and mentoring staff, and providing technical support and
oversight to those who are not direct reports.
COMPETENCIES / PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:
Consistently
communicates a compelling vision that generates excitement, enthusiasm and
commitment to the group’s mission, purpose and goals
communicates a compelling vision that generates excitement, enthusiasm and
commitment to the group’s mission, purpose and goals
Uses
developed persuasive skills to convince others to accept recommendations that
will involve their considerable support or commitment. Is able to provide
strong arguments that will change firmly held opinions or positions to ones
that will better advance the organization’s interests. Anticipates and manages
related conflicts.
developed persuasive skills to convince others to accept recommendations that
will involve their considerable support or commitment. Is able to provide
strong arguments that will change firmly held opinions or positions to ones
that will better advance the organization’s interests. Anticipates and manages
related conflicts.
Sets
priorities and takes calculated risks in order to optimize resources and
improve operational effectiveness and program/service delivery. Reviews and
modifies contingency strategies to address potential issues.
priorities and takes calculated risks in order to optimize resources and
improve operational effectiveness and program/service delivery. Reviews and
modifies contingency strategies to address potential issues.
Assesses
impact (cost, risks etc) associated with changes to current processes, systems,
services or operations. Considers the wider implications to the organization,
partners, donors, governments etc.
impact (cost, risks etc) associated with changes to current processes, systems,
services or operations. Considers the wider implications to the organization,
partners, donors, governments etc.
Ensures
approved change initiatives are implemented and sustained. Manages key
user/client expectations.
approved change initiatives are implemented and sustained. Manages key
user/client expectations.
Champions
the culture of continuous improvement that institutionalizes learning,
innovation, achievement and support. Ensures these attributes are given
priority attention while conducting the business of the organization.
the culture of continuous improvement that institutionalizes learning,
innovation, achievement and support. Ensures these attributes are given
priority attention while conducting the business of the organization.
Identifies
and pursues opportunities to build and strengthen partnerships and alliances
that are mutually advantageous and support strategic interests of Right To
Play.
and pursues opportunities to build and strengthen partnerships and alliances
that are mutually advantageous and support strategic interests of Right To
Play.
Values and
recognizes individual and team contributions. Expresses positive expectations
of staff and provides specific coaching and feedback.
recognizes individual and team contributions. Expresses positive expectations
of staff and provides specific coaching and feedback.
Compensation: We offer a competitive salary and
benefits package
benefits package
Employment Start Date: Immediately
Contract Duration: Full time, Indefinite
How to apply:
If you are interested in applying for this
position, please send your resume and cover letter to: hr@righttoplay.com
and kindly include “Director Evaluation, Research, Policy-reliefweb”
and your name in the subject line. Please indicate your salary expectations in
the cover letter.
position, please send your resume and cover letter to: hr@righttoplay.com
and kindly include “Director Evaluation, Research, Policy-reliefweb”
and your name in the subject line. Please indicate your salary expectations in
the cover letter.
While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected for
interviews will be contacted. Right To Play is a child-centered organization.
Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to the safety
and protection of children in our programs.
interviews will be contacted. Right To Play is a child-centered organization.
Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to the safety
and protection of children in our programs.
To learn more about who we are and what we do,
please visit our website at www.righttoplay.com .
please visit our website at www.righttoplay.com .
Closing Date: Wednesday, 19 December 2012
