Options Consultancy Services Limited is a leading global health consultancy established in 1992 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Marie Stopes International. We manage health programmes that ensure vulnerable women and children can access the high-quality health services they need. We work with partners to co-create and implement locally informed solutions to complex health problems. This includes governments, development partners, NGOs, civil society and health workers. Our programming is flexible, evidence-based and politically informed. This means we adapt to changing contexts, use data to inform our decisions and ensure our approach is appropriate. Our focus is always on building local skills and systems that last.

Options Consultancy Services seeks a Helpdesk Manager to manage and oversee the VAWG helpdesk facility as part of the What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls: Impact at Scale (What Works II) programme.

Options is preparing to bid for the What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls: Impact at Scale (What Works II) programme. The first phase was a flagship initiative for the Department for International Development (DFID), with a major investment in research & impact evaluation to establish ‘what works’ to prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG), bringing together world-leading researchers. Phase I included 15 prevention interventions and impact evaluations in 12 countries. What Works II is a 7-year programme that will systematically design, implement and rigorously evaluate the scale-up of violence prevention efforts.

The VAWG Helpdesk Manager will manage and oversee the helpdesk facility. The purpose of the helpdesk is to provide bespoke expert advice and build capacity on VAWG and violence against children (VAC) of DFID and wider Her Majesty’s Government partners (Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence, and Home Office) through a short-term query service alongside longer-term in-country assignments, strategic engagement and support to central policy teams. The Helpdesk Manager will be responsible for finalising the standard operating procedures for the VAWG Helpdesk, establishing a roster of experts, and responding to reactive requests whilst populating a longer-term workplan for prioritisation of more proactive work.

To succeed in this role, you will have:

• Postgraduate degree in relevant subject area, such as international development, gender studies or social anthropology
• Experience in the management of teams, including managing inputs from independent international consultants
• Experience in developing and maintaining successful relationships with a diverse range of organisations to facilitate wider inputs
• Demonstrated programme management experience, or experience of coordinating the provision of high-quality outputs in short turnaround times
• Technical understanding of VAWG prevention
• Understanding of the social norms, attitudes and power dynamics that underpin VAWG
• Technical writing and research skills, ideally on VAWG and gender related issues

• Options is an equal opportunities employer.
• Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment
• We seek people who are pro-choice, energetic and enthusiastic about Options’ vision.
• Overseas candidates require a valid UK work permit