Oxfam America

Markets and Programs Manager -- Private Sector Department

Department: Private Sector Team

REPORTS TO:

Director – Private Sector Team

MANAGES: 

Program Advisor

COORDINATES WITH:

managers and staff of Private Sector Department, managers and staff of Programs Division, directors and staff of Regional Offices, regional partner organizations, Oxfam affiliates for regional programs and private sector and outside private sector partners, management consultant and law firms.

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

To support Oxfam regional livelihoods work through provision of analysis and technical guidance on private sector actors and markets; to facilitate collaboration between partners and private sector buyers, as well as researchers, and service providers, including alternative lenders; to develop and continually improve agency best practices for livelihoods worked focused on accessing local, regional and international markets.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Build strategic networks and alliances to support producers’ efforts to secure greater value and market access for their products

  1. Develop and implement strategies for engaging with supply-chain actors relevant to Oxfam regional livelihoods programs, with particular focus on the coffee and cotton industries
  2. Provide strategic advice and support to Oxfam partners, particularly coffee and cotton cooperatives, around market access and value chain issues (including procurement practices and labor rights).
  3. Work with retailer and agri-business leaders to measure the impact of procurement practices along supply chains in developing countries, especially through collaborations on “footprint” studies
  4. Work with existing and new initiatives to develop industry standards and supplier codes of conduct relating to procurement practices
  5. Strengthen and expand relationships with technically-oriented NGOs, particularly alternative finance providers, for collaborative work with Oxfam partners.
  6. Help develop and represent Oxfam positions on supply chain initiatives and fair trade/ethical consumerism aimed at increasing producer incomes and market access.
  7. Oversee the Private Sector Department’s emerging support to regional program officers and partner organizations relating to private sector engagement

Manage and support at least one staff member assigned to regional program private sector engagement, including:

  1. Track and evaluate relevant market trends and key industry actors, facilitate market and supply-chain analyses and, in collaboration with program officers, ensure that private sector analysis is reflected in regional programs strategies
  2. Advising regional program officers and partners about opportunities to engage with private sector in national and international contexts
  3. Facilitating the engagement and participation of regional partners with relevant international organizations and trade associations
  4. Facilitating pro-bono support for producer organizations and regional livelihoods programs and projects

Institutional and Knowledge Base Support

  1. Provide leadership on internal capacity building relating to the private sector’s relevance to livelihoods work.
  2. Facilitate cross-regional information sharing on market access work and ongoing development of agency best practices.
  3. Help strengthen ties to Oxfam affiliate regional programs with livelihoods and market access components.

EXPECTATIONS FOR THE POSITION:

  • The incumbent will stay abreast of professional standards, trends, and issues affecting this set of responsibilities and demonstrate continuous learning in the field.
  • S/he will work effectively and collaboratively in support of building a department-based culture of work, will perform all duties appropriately for a multi-cultural environment, treating all persons with dignity and respect, and will be familiar with and committed to Oxfam America mission and goals.
  • Periodic travel will be required up to a maximum of ten weeks per year.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

Graduate degree in business administration or comparable field.

Experience and Core Competencies:

  • Strong experience working with and in the private sector
  • Strong understanding of and ability to analyze supply chains and value-added markets
  • Experience working with NGO communities and networks of development practitioners
  • Experience communicating with senior executives in the private sector
  • Experience working with trade associations and private sector networks
  • Knowledge of the field of international development and human rights

Preferred: 

  • Experience working in fair trade networks
  • Experience working abroad
  • Experience in alliance building and multi-party negotiations
  • Experience in leading departments and managing projects across departmental lines
  • Experience conducting and commissioning research aimed at analyzing and influencing supply chains
  • Spanish language fluency

    

Please see our How to Apply page for application information. Oxfam America is an Equal Opportunity Employer.