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Consultant, Communications

Consultant, Communications

Summary

The primary role of the Consultant, Communications is to support the collaborative development and promotion of knowledge development tools related to supervision of the social service workforce.  The consultant will bring technical expertise and experience in social service workforce strengthening, communications, group facilitation and literature review.  This is a short-term consultancy, 10 days per month, with location to be determined with consultant.   

Organizational Overview

The Global Social Service Workforce Alliance is a non-profit network that works toward a world where a well-planned, well-trained and well-supported social service workforce effectively delivers promising practices that improve the lives of vulnerable populations. The mission of the Alliance is to promote the knowledge and evidence, resources and tools and political will and action needed to address key social service workforce challenges, especially within low to middle income countries. The Alliance pursues this by:

  • Serving as a convener for an inclusive, representative network of stakeholders including government organizations, nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions, donor groups, professional associations and community practitioners to create a forum for discourse and collective learning

  • Generating knowledge and building the evidence base for effective SSWS by deriving, organizing and disseminating critical evidence-based research, resources, tools, models and best practices

  • Building capacity of humanitarian and development actors to implement strategies to strengthen the social service workforce

  • Promoting effective advocacy and stimulating an active network of workforce strengthening advocates through information sharing, collaboration, and networking

Tides Center acts as the fiscal sponsor of the Alliance and therefore oversees staff contracts or secondments of staff to the Alliance.  A 13-member Steering Committee oversees and guides the direction and development of the Alliance and provides support to the Alliance Secretariat, currently comprised of three staff.  For more information, please visit:  www.socialserviceworkforce.org

 Responsibilities and Tasks

  • Using a shared ownership approach typical to a network, support the Director in organizing meetings for a new supervision interest group

  • Promote the interest group and invite members to join and contribute to the work of the Alliance

  • Facilitate participatory communication with supervision interest group members to support them in the development of program approaches and a workplan with timeline

  • Facilitate exchange and knowledge sharing between and among Alliance members and partners working on supervision

  • Support the interest group in preparing a scoping of supervision related materials, tools and resources

  • Utilize Alliance social media (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, website updates) to keep members informed and engaged 

 Deliverables

  • New participatory supervision interest group established by March 1 with three meetings held by April 15

  • 4 or 5 social media posts per week (Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn combined)

  • Development of a list of relevant supervision resources

  • Addition of new supervision resources to Alliance resource library

Location

This consultancy may take place in any location, providing there is reliable communication to conduct Skype or telephone interviews and communicate with Alliance staff.

Travel

This consultancy does not require travel.

Period of Performance - Compensation

The consultancy is estimated to be completed through 10 days of work per month during the period of mid February 2020 through mid April 2020.  Payment will be monthly per the number of days of work and based on reports toward the completion of each deliverable.

Consultant Qualifications

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

Education and Experience

  • Knowledge of social service workforce strengthening, child protection programming, including an understanding of the issues facing separated children and families in vulnerable contexts

  • Minimum three years of experience consulting and working with international agencies or institutions implementing programs for vulnerable children and families based on core child protection and human rights principles, guidelines and standards

  • Minimum of four years of related experience in the communications field, planning, writing, editing and producing social media communications

  • Experience engaging effectively with USAID, PEPFAR and other bilateral agencies; the United Nations and other international agencies; host-county governments and counterparts; non-profit organizations; professional associations and other key stakeholders. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Strong understanding of the collaborative approach of networks; ability to facilitate partnerships and collective learning across organizational boundaries

  • Demonstrated high degree of cultural competency

  • Strong critical thinking, creative problem-solving and organizational skills in diverse environments and under pressure

  • Excellent time management and personal organization with the demonstrated ability to successfully manage and coordinate projects to meet project objectives in a timely manner

  • Excellent administrative and planning skills, including the ability to prepare and analyze work plans

  • A high degree of diplomatic skills: personable, flexible, sense of humor and good at persuasion and community mobilization

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills in English required; knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage

  • Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

Application Submission

Please send the following to contact @ socialserviceworkforce. org:

  • Cover letter including consultancy rate

  • Curriculum vitae or resumé

 Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  Only finalists will be notified.