Innovation Manager – Innovative and Inclusive Society (Strategies for Change) at DG Murray Trust

Role

• DGMT is a node of public innovation for South Africa driving towards a flourishing South African people, economy and society. Our approach focuses on identifying key opportunities to shift the trajectory of human development and tackling the underlying social and structural dynamics that shape the outcomes of our programmes.
• We operate by supporting and drawing on the grounded innovations of civil society; identifying and incubating breakthrough strategies; engaging in policy processes, and developing strategic coalitions and public advocacy.
• We are recruiting for an Innovation Manager to work in the Nurture an Innovative and Inclusive Society (IIS) portfolio. The Innovation Manager will focus on developing the strategy and related projects and civil society partnerships for our new strategic area focusing on building productive synergies between communities and the environment.

Minimum requirements

• A minimum honours degree (masters preferred) in environmental management, environmental geography, indigenous ecology, conservation ecology, urban planning, agriculture, agricultural economics and related subjects
• At least 4-6 years of full-time work experience in civil society, advocacy, public policy, research or programme design and management;
• Self-motivated, and can work independently;
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, as well as a team player;
• Ability to engage and manage a wide range of work
• Experience in managing complex projects
• Experience engaging and supporting senior officials, civil society organisations and communities
• Excellent communication skills.
• Good facilitation skills.
• Change management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Attention to detail and ability to work in a dynamic environment with competing priorities.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and other online communication and collaboration platforms.

Key Skills and Proficiencies:

• Research and Policy Analysis
• Project Management
• Planning and Coordination
• Grants Management
• Communication
• Research
• Writing
• Microsoft Office

Job Spec

Under the guidance and direction of Innovation Director – Innovative and Inclusive Society

Commission

• Support the Innovation Director in strategy development for DGMT’s approaches to key strategy areas
• Building and driving initiatives and identifying emerging opportunities and gaps relating to portfolio strategy
• Take a leading role in strategy processes and engagement in the development of identified strategies
• Supporting internal flagship projects and/or incubated projects/ initiatives.
• Work with potential grantees to conceptualise and/or refine proposals.
• Leads and/or supports grant-making for internal flagship projects and/or incubated projects/ initiatives that will fulfil the strategy
• Commission and lead key research projects and programme design

Connect

• Working with the DGMT team, support the success of the strategy by connecting key stakeholders, partners, and ideas towards our goals
• Engage and develop partnerships with key sector groups and communities of practice
• Manage stakeholder relationships in ways that support organisations to implement effectively, and learn from their implementation
• Proactively engage with the literature emerging from academia, government partners and civil society to strengthen growth and implementation strategy

Communication

• Draw on learnings emerging from key stakeholders, internal and incubated projects and initiatives, and where possible share learnings with DGMT and the sector.
• Develop key communications products that support the strategy (e.g. Op-Eds, blog posts, policy submissions, learning briefs, case studies)
• Produce high-quality reporting for internal monitoring and assessment of progress
• Provide input to reports for the Board Project Committee

Administration

• Support project and grants administration management
• Review grant reports and financial expenditure

Ad-hoc

• Support the Innovation Director and other members of the organisation as required