Job ID: 93186
Job Title: Head of Policy, Impact & Strategy (HPQIS)
Company: Self Help Africa
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Contract type: Full Time, Permanent
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
Organisation Overview:
About Self Help Africa
Established in 1984, Self Help Africa is an international development organisation that works through agriculture and agri-enterprise development to address hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impacts of climate change. We believe that equitable economic development is key to lifting communities out of long-term poverty, empowering them to take control of their futures and improving their quality of life.
In early 2023 we launched a new five-year organisation strategy, which defines shared mission as the alleviation of hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impact of climate change through community-led, market-based and enterprise-focused approaches, so that people can have access to nutritious food, clean water, decent employment and incomes, while sustaining natural resources.
Our wider organisation also includes social enterprise subsidiaries Partner Africa, which provides ethical auditing and consultancy services, and CUMO, Malawi’s largest micro-finance provider.
Our three core values are:
▪ Impact: We are accountable, ambitious and committed to systemic change.
▪ Innovation: We are agile, creative and enterprising in an ever-changing World.
▪ Community: We are inclusive, honest and have integrity in our relationships.
Job Purpose:
Central to the role is ensuring overall impact through technical excellence, monitoring and learning, and evidence-based influencing. Your thought leadership will help shape programmatic policy, while strategic partnerships and alliances will expand the organization's reach and effectiveness.
In leading the department you will foster a culture of excellence, emphasizing shared vision and strategic objectives measured by KPIs.
The Head of Policy, Impact & Strategy will report directly to the COO. The post-holder will have line management responsibility for technical teams including the GTART and M&E teams, in addition to Irish programme areas WWGS and Dev Ed.
Key Responsibilities:
Act as a key focal point for strategy for the organisation including development and review of organisational strategic plans, supporting different parts of the organisation to develop coherent and aligned sub-strategies.
Lead on programme quality for the organisation, working closely with the GTART, M&E and Programmes teams.
Lead on horizon scanning to ensure the organisation is keeping abreast of key strategic and policy developments in the sector and remain future proof.
Ensure the organisation is effectively measuring and can demonstrate the impact of our work. This should be delivered through a comprehensive, cohesive, rigorous and reflective system of monitoring, evaluation and learning.
Build on the organisation’s thought leadership through effective evidence-based influencing of policy and research and fosterstrongrelationshipswithexternalstakeholders.
Oversee a system of technical support to programmes that delivers programme excellence and deepens our key areas of expertise.
Ensure the organisation is strategically positioned to avail of opportunities to increase impact through appropriate partnerships, alliances and networks.
Lead a whole of organisation approach to ensuring our structures, policies and approaches are as local as possible and as international as necessary.
Through effective leadership and line management, further develop a culture of
excellence whereby there is a shared vision of working towards strategic objectives measures by KPIs, reflective and adaptive practices.
Contribute to effective governance and statutory reporting. Report to the Programme Review Committee, alongside the Director of International Programmes, and attend board meetings as necessary, and participate in activities at board level as required.
Engage effectively in cross-organisational management to drive effective operations and contribute to strategic projects and carry out other tasks as identified by line management.
Key Relationships:
Internal:
- CEO
- COO
- Global Technical Advisory and Research Team
- M&E advisors
- Director of International Programmes
- Global Programmes Department staff
- Country Directors, Heads of Programmes and Project Managers
- Global and Country Office Finance & Admin staff
- Compliance, and HR
External: International networks, alliance and forums, other NGOs, academic and research institutions, relevant private sector actors.
Knowledge and Experience: Essential:
- Degree in a relevant discipline e.g. development, agriculture or a similar related social discipline or other degree combined with relevant experience
- At least five years’ experience of working in international development in a project/programme/policy or related role
- Experience of working in a developing country
- Ability to work as part of an international team across countries and cultures and can manage remotely
- Strategic thinker with experience in developing organisational strategy, KPIs and tracking the successful implementation.
- Excellent analytical skills, ideally with an in depth understanding of monitoring and evaluating of rural development programmes.
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, including experience in report writing and external speaking (fluent English)
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Strong planning and organisational skills, project management skills would be advantageous
- Strong IT skills including Word, Excel, Microsoft office and Salesforce
- Commitment to the vision, mission and values of Self Help Africa
Behaviours:
- Managing yourself – Holds an awareness of own abilities and areas fordevelopment; adapts and uses abilities to work well with others and to help achieve objectives.
- Leadership – Acts to inspire others by clearly articulating and demonstrating the values and principles that underpin work. Holds a sense of pride in Self Help Africa and loyalty to the organisation. Supports others to achieve excellent results.
- Communicating and working with others – Uses the most appropriate channel to share information with others both inside and outside Self Help Africa; adapts the message to meet the communication needs of the audience.
- Delivering results – Systematically develops plans towards achieving Self Help Africa’s objectives and delivers on commitments; uses appropriate techniques to help achieve agreed objectives.
- Planning and decision-making – Systematically develops plans towards achieving Self Help Africa’s objectives and delivers on commitments; makes clear, informed and timely decisions appropriate to role, in the interests of Self Help Africa and those we work with.
- Creativity and innovation – Seeks out, develops and successfully implements new ideas that further the needs of Self Help Africa and those we work with; builds on proven approaches and learns from ongoing work to improve it.
How to Apply
Please visit our Website : https://selfhelpafrica.org/ie/head-of-policy-impact-strategy-hpqis.
The closing date for applications is Friday 20th March 2026.
Self Help Africa is an Equal Opportunities Employer:
All candidates offered a job with Self Help Africa will be expected to sign Self Help Africa’s Safeguarding Policies and Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. Specific roles may require Police/DBS/ vetting.
Important information:
Self Help Africa is an international development charity and is committed to the safeguarding of all those who we come into contact with or through our work. We are committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour relating to our work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and we are committed to promoting the welfare of children and the people we aim to assist with whom Self Help Africa engages. Self Help Africa expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and uphold the values and behaviours outlined in the Code of Conduct and Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. Recruitment to all roles in Self Help Africa will include, and be subject to, a criminal records self-declaration, references, and other pre-employment checks, which may include police and qualifications checking. Self Help Africa is committed to the principles of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will request information from previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse or sexual harassment during employment. By submitting an application, the applicant confirms her/his understanding of these recruitment procedures. Subsequently, working or volunteering with Self Help Africa is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.
Research shows that women and those from marginalised ethnic groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single requirement. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align with every criteria described, we encourage you to apply anyway, you could be exactly what we need!
Self Help Africa is an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
