Program Director, Gender

JOB DESCRIPTION

Main responsibilities:                                                     

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and implement the Global Gender and DEI Strategy integrated in IDH’s impact areas Better Income, Better Jobs and Better Environment, as part of the new Multi-Year Plan 2026-2030, new program clusters and outcome strategies.
• Closely work together with the Global Management Team Directors and Program Directors on integrating and mainstreaming gender transformation strategies, business models etc., at all levels of the organization.
• Develop and lead thought leadership of IDH on gender and DEI in sustainable market transformation of agri-food sectors.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Convene and facilitate multi-stakeholder discussions and collaborations to drive thought leadership of IDH on gender in sustainable market transformation of agri-food sectors, building and pitching the business case for gender transformative business models in the private sector and engaging in high-level corporate convening, both globally and in the countries of origin, to influence systemic inclusive change.
• Develop and implement Global Gender and DEI roadmaps for and with external business partners, industry associations etc.
• Represent the organization in relevant forums and global networks, positioning it as a leader in the sector.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders such as CGAP/ABERA, the World business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Global Compact etc

Program Support: 

• Lead other gender experts and gender representatives in programs in providing technical and strategic support to program teams to enhance program impact on gender equality, diversity, and inclusion and to initiate, develop and role out capacity building opportunities in IDH on gender and DEI.  
• Oversee the integration of gender and DEI in the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and learning frameworks for projects and programs.
• High level coordination and alignment of key gender concepts and tools in IDH in line with the global gender strategy to ensure uniformity and aligned Gender goals implementation
• Monitor budgets, ensuring financial accountability and efficient use of resources and contribute reporting on gender impact in project, and quarterly and annual reporting.
• Support the integration of gender and DEI in IDH’s fundraising work. 

Team Leadership and Development:

• Lead, manage, develop and mentor team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performance team environment.
• Provide opportunities for professional development and capacity building.
• Ensure effective coordination, communication and collaboration among team members, with Strategy and Insights, and with other departments.

Who you are.

• You have proven experience in convening and facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues across diverse cultural and geographical contexts, engaging business leaders, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to drive gender transformative business models in sustainable market transformation.
• Persuasive Convener: You are skilled at engaging stakeholders, even when companies deprioritize DEI in their sustainability commitments. With resilience and strong convening power, you excel at demonstrating the business case for gender and DEI, driving buy-in for impactful initiatives.
• You manage multiple priorities seamlessly, from collaborating internally to convening external partners. Your exceptional project management and team leadership skills help you maintain an overview of activities, set priorities effectively, and ensure steady progress on diverse goals.
• Your adaptive communication, stakeholder management, and people skills make you a connector who thrives in fostering inclusive environments.

What you bring.

• Master’s degree or equivalent in sustainable (and inclusive) business, gender studies, international development, or other development-related fields 
• 10+ years of relevant working experience in (strategic) program management, preferably in the sustainable (agri) business sector (bringing a wide level of understanding of sustainable business/trade with her/him). People with experience in working on sustainability and inclusive business models for agri-food companies are especially welcome to apply.
• Experience in multi-stakeholder management
• Analytical mindset and capabilities, to steer the team on making use of the gender data we have available - but also is in touch with latest research and evidence on the topic.
• Team leadership experience.
• Proficiency in project management tools and MS Office applications.
• Proven track record and excellent communication, facilitation, negotiation, analytical, writing and leadership skills.