Description

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability. FUNCTION: Heifer International is seeking a Social and Behavior Change Lead (SBCL) for a USAID-funded food aid and market systems-oriented livestock project in Zimbabwe. The SBCL will oversee the design, planning, and implementation of SBC activities. The incumbent will be responsible for supporting SBC interventions across the activity by playing a lead role in guiding formative research; developing an SBC strategy and implementation plan; supporting the development of tools; and monitoring the progress of activities to ensure consistent and coherent execution of interventions. Engaging communities is an important part of social and behavioral change, as it ensures local knowledge and context is combined with key “outside” information for lasting solutions. ESSENTIAL CHARACTER TRAITS: Excellent management and leadership skills, Energetic, Positive, Collaborative, Values-Oriented Local applicants strongly encouraged to apply. RESPONSIBILITIES & DELIVERABLES Contribute to overall technical leadership and oversight in the domains of food security to achieve the results of the project and responsible for establishing and managing systems to ensure cohesion across all technical sectors in the activity

• Quality of services is maintained at the highest standard
• Ensure technical interventions are integrated, layered and sequenced appropriately at all levels of implementation within the FFP activity
• Representation in technical meetings.

Contribute towards the timely delivery of all project results and delivery of reports as well as strong compliance with USG funding regulations;

• Appropriate, compliant and timely documentation and dissemination of key results and deliverables for maximum project impact and business development internally and with donor

Contribute towards a body of knowledge and community of practice in SBC.

• Development of tools to foster high adoption, uptake and overall SBC
• Documented strategies for SBC for results attainment

Lead the design and implementation of culturally relevant SBC campaigns and programming

• Develop and implement SBC communication campaigns using a variety of context-specific channels
• Identify barriers and possible barriers to SBC and uptake of improved or innovative approaches and identify strategies to overcome these barriers in partnership with Project Staff
• Develop and implement SBC training to project staff and beneficiaries

Minimum Requirements:

• An advanced degree (PhD or Master’s) in a social science discipline with a minimum of six years of progressively increasing technical responsibility leading to a senior level of expertise in SBC is required.
• The SBCL will have a demonstrated understanding of a range of SBC approaches that address change in social norms and structures as well as individual behaviors, and that go beyond messaging to catalyze community action
• The ability to foster commitment and build capacity among activity staff and in-country actors to ensure gender and youth integration and empowerment;
• In-depth understanding of food security programming.
• In depth knowledge of the local operating environment in Zimbabwe.
• Ability to speak Shona or Ndebele highly desireable.

Most Critical Proficiencies:

• Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills;
• Understanding of the local context in Zimbabwe and/or the region
• High level of maturity, good judgment, flexibility and integrity of character;
• Demonstrated ability to implement systems and procedures and the ability to effectively communicate these to program/technical staff in order to ensure their compliance;

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands:

• Excellent interpersonal relationship skills, including demonstrated leadership and team-building with staff and partners at all levels;
• Develop an understanding of and become a strong proponent of Heifer’s s Values-Based Holistic Community Development (VBHCD) throughout her/his tenure as SBCL.
• Proven teamwork and cooperatively with a diverse staff.
• Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues and the general public.
• May require constant sitting; working at a computer and focusing for extended periods of time and performing office environment activities while on the road and/or in remote conditions.
• Working with sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality.
• Ability to manage and execute multiple tasks with little supervision while meeting sometimes inflexible deadlines