Oxfam seeking talent for
top overseas jobs

June 12 2004 - Oxfam's International Division has launched a specialist international recruitment campaign to attract management high-fliers from both corporate and public sectors. The Division employs 2,500 staff outside the UK and aims to fill a number of key country programme manager positions over the next four months.

The campaign is intended to attract applicants worldwide from different backgrounds. But Oxfam will also continue to target experienced NGO (non-governmental organisation) workers. According to Oxfam, "the campaign is seeking general managers and project managers willing to become Oxfam’s most senior representatives in various countries where international development, advocacy and humanitarian projects are under way."

Recruitment ads are running in the international editions of the Financial Times and Daily Telegraph, and regional media in various countries.Vacancies currently exist in Bangladesh, North Sudan, and Zimbabwe with potential for other positions around the globe.

The Oxfam press release staes that country programme manager posts are "geographically dispersed and often located in difficult environments, suit candidates with strong leadership skills. Good people and project management abilities and communication skills are essential, as are language skills, clear analytical and strategic thinking, problem solving ability and team-building know-how."

Several people have already been successfull in transfering from the corporate sector to key overseas positions within Oxfam. Its policy and advocacy coordinator in Amman was formerly a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. The regional director for West Africa used to work for Nike, Disney and Salomon Brothers. And Oxfam’s International Division director has a background in IT with US-based Thomson Financial.

"We have an exceptionally strong team of more than 60 country programme managers but more are needed," said Andrew Thompson, Oxfam’s International HR director. "We are continuing to recruit from the NGO and development sectors but now we are openly inviting applicants from the business world and the public sector because their skills are transferable. Half of Oxfam’s country programme managers are female - we have no glass ceiling and have true equality in the workplace.

"We have several senior employees who have successfully switched from corporate jobs and we want more candidates like them. Oxfam is looking for high calibre managers, who have the ability to pull together diverse people and build successful organizations programmes in tough situations. However, country programme manager is an extremely demanding role. No one should apply without doing their homework, understanding what Oxfam does and researching the country they wish to work in.

"Working for Oxfam is more rewarding than most people can imagine. We are committed to training, investment in career development and providing in-depth support systems to help country programme managers work successfully around the world."

Anyone interested can email a CV through Oxfam’s website - www.oxfam.org.uk/jobs.

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