Private Sector Lead

Do you want to fight for equality? Tackling inequality at its roots, together with colleagues, our partner organizations and activists in more than 90 countries? To change the systems behind it, once and for all!

Oxfam Novib stands behind the people who stand up for equality. Together, we fight for a world where everyone has equal opportunities, regardless of gender, ethnicity or skin color. A world where everyone feels safe; where income gaps are shrinking instead of growing, where climate change is tackled in a firmer and more honest way. 

Equality is the common thread throughout our activities and projects, but also internally. We are aware that our team of colleagues can be even more diverse and that having a diverse team is the only way to see the world from a broad perspective. To obtain a multi-voiced team, we are therefore calling in particular on women, members of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, or people with disabilities to apply for this job.

Apply and become part of Oxfam Novib!

Job description
The Private Sector Lead coordinates Oxfam Novib’s private sector engagement and risk management. The role leads the execution of highly impactful and coherent interventions across the spectrum of private sector engagement. This spectrum spans a broad range of approaches including collaborative interventions such as fundraising and corporate partnerships, dialogue and insider advocacy with and towards business or confrontational tactics such as public campaigns and regulation.

The Private Sector Lead formulates and implements an overall coherent private sector approach for Oxfam Novib, in line with the ambitions of the Programmes and Engagement departments. The role is responsible for the delivery of high-quality account management towards businesses. The function is also responsible for the functional management, training, coaching and motivation of a group of staff of about 25 colleagues who work with or towards the private sector.

The Private Sector Lead also delivers the management of risks and opportunities related to private sector engagement. In this capacity the Private Sector lead chairs the Oxfam Novib Ethical Screening Committee and ensures the ethical checks are of high quality and completed on time. The Private Sector lead contributes to the development and implementation of innovative and impactful programmes and projects in cooperation with other country offices and Oxfam affiliates.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and contribute to the implementation of Oxfam strategies and approaches towards the private sector, on themes such as human rights, climate, due diligence, regulation, sectoral collaboration, taxation. Keep abreast of national and international developments and trends relevant to private sector work.
• Provide high quality and coherent advice on private sector approaches and strategies to Oxfam Novib units who are in charge of implementing private sector interventions. Provide strategic advice to private sector colleagues, unit managers and directors on specific private sector interventions, trends and opportunities.
• Manage impactful and innovative projects and programmes aimed at enhancing Oxfam Novib’s impact with and towards the Private Sector. Proactively pursue opportunities for programme development, fundraising and partnerships with business.
• Lead and support colleagues in the engagement with relevant external stakeholders such as companies, government representatives, NGOs, coalitions, trade unions, multi-stakeholder initiatives and academics.
• Represent Oxfam Novib in the steering committee of MVO Platform, the network of Dutch organizations who promote corporate sustainability and accountability.
• Functionally coach, motivate and inspire the private sector core team at Oxfam Novib composed of approximately 25 colleagues spread across the various units in charge with implementing private sector interventions. Promote collaboration among private sector colleagues and stimulate innovation and impact on matters relevant to private sector work.
• Ensure the timely and high-quality delivery of Oxfam Novib private sector ethical risk management tasks. Coordinate the activity of the Oxfam Novib Ethical Screening Committee.
• Support Oxfam colleagues in successfully complying with internal private sector policies, rules and procedures. Deliver trainings and refresh courses on private sector engagement skills such as risk management, partnerships, campaigning or negotiation.
• Ensure the delivery of account management of company contacts, either directly or delegated to other relevant private sector colleagues.
• Represent Oxfam Novib at external conferences, seminars, events or media opportunities with the aim to enhance the organisation’s profile as an authority on private sector in the Netherlands and abroad.
• Liaise with the OI Private Sector Lead, and other Private Sector Leads across the confederation to develop and maintain Oxfam policies on private sector engagement. Represent Oxfam Novib within the Oxfam Confederation Private Sector group and uphold Oxfam Novib’s interests and standpoints in internal negotiations.

Who are we looking for?

You have knowledge of and at least 5 years of experience in the field of private sector development and positioning this topic at high level international fora and Dutch national level. You have strong organization and problem-solving skills, you are able to maintain and keep track of tasks, and you know how to prioritize. You are confident in your tasks and are able to carry it forward to the team, you're not afraid to address and motivate others for the purpose of improvements.

Additionally, you recognize yourself in the following description:

• You have a WO master or HBO bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• You have the ability to link global to regional and national influencing goals and strategies. 
• You have demonstrated capacity for critical thinking and reflection, particularly in challenging traditional power structures and systems of oppression.
• You have a commitment to learning and developing feminist and decolonial approaches to work.
• You have good interpersonal skills and enjoy working with others.
• You are fluent in Dutch and English, both verbally and in writing.
• You have a valid permit to reside and work in the Netherlands.  

Working at Oxfam Novib

• All our work is guided by our core values: Empowerment, Accountability, Inclusiveness, Courage, Solidarity and Equality.
• At Oxfam Novib, we work according to the Feminist Principles - Oxfam Policy & Practice.
• Oxfam Novib is committed to offer you a motivating work environment at our offices in The Hague. We offer a one-year contract from start (including a 1-month trial period), with the possibility to extend.
• Oxfam Novib offers an attractive and honest benefits package, including a year-end allowance and yearly pay increase from the Collective Labor Agreement. Moreover, we offer complementary options to choose from. The salary range for this position is set in scale 10 with a salary range between €3625 and €5579 gross based on 36 hours a week. The position is for 32 hours per week.
• Oxfam Novib is based on the power of difference. That is why we aim to attract a diverse mix of talented people who share our standards, values and principles, and who are committed to prevent and eliminate any type of misconduct.
• We have an active policy against sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, any form of abuse of power or lack of integrity and financial misconduct. This subject will be covered in our application and selection process.

Additional information

• Do you believe that this is the job you are looking for? Then we would love to meet you! Please send your resume and cover letter via our application portal.
• If you have questions regarding the position, please contact Anouk Franck, anouk.franck@oxfamnovib.nl;
• Only applications received before the closing date 8 November 2024 and submitted via our application portal will be considered.
• This job opening is posted internally and externally, simultaneously. Internal candidates are given preference if they are sufficiently qualified or can be obtained in short term. We believe it’s important in our organization that our employees are offered maximum opportunities for growth in new themes and competencies. Priority for internal candidates supports this.
• At the time of a contract offer, it is necessary for Oxfam Novib to request valid references. Our candidates will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including criminal records and terrorism, financial checks or integrity screenings/references.
• Oxfam Novib reserves the right, to its sole discretion, not to make agreements regarding this job opening, make an agreement in a lower level, or make an agreement with an amended job description.
• We are currently working hybrid (50% in the office in The Hague and 50% at home).
• Qualified candidates residing in the Netherlands, or other EU/EEA countries and who are willing to relocate to the Netherlands at their own expense and responsibility, are encouraged to apply.
• Oxfam Novib is unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time.