Role Purpose

Plan International is an independent child rights and humanitarian organization committed to children living a life free of poverty, violence and injustice.

We actively unite children, communities and other people who share our mission to make positive lasting changes in children’s and young people’s lives. We support children to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. We place a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

The role of the Head of Programme Operations (HoPO) is to lead, manage and support Program Areas Managers in quality programme delivery (planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation); and to provide support and technical guidance in the management of their respective teams to ensure high level performance and the achievement of organisational goals. Responsible for Country Strategic Plan design and roll out. He will also be a focal person to high level government negotiations such as with the CHSA (The Charities and Societies Agency), the Federal Government Ministries and Regional high level authorities. He will also deputize the Country Director as deemed necessary. He/she will aattend high level federal and regional meetings, INGO cluster meetings and GO/NGO.The incumbent will be a member of the Country Management Team, and will provide high-level, strategic contribution to the leadership of the organisation as a whole, in close cooperation with other senior staff.

Dimensions of the Role

• Responsible for rolling out the Country Strategic Plan (CSP)
• Will closely work with the Head of Program Quality and the Country Program Leads (CP Leads) at the CO.
• He/ she will have a financial delegation of 100,000 USD
• Reports to the Country Director and is a member of Country Leadership Team (CLT) and extended Country Leadership Team
• Supervises all the Programme Area Managers, the Sponsorship Manager and some high level Chief of Parties.
• Ensures right staff capacity, competencies and skills are in place; involved in recruitment and staffing of the programme field teams.
• Ensures smooth teamwork in PAs and enhancement the integration among other departments;
• Attend high level federal and regional meetings.
• Creates high performing teams and an effective working relationships between programme staff at the Country Office and in the Program Units
• Provide oversight role in budget management in the PAs
• Reviews and authorises POs within financial limits for all PAs
• Reviews Annual plans and Project Completion Reports for CD approval in the system\
• Ensures PAs comply with corporate governance systems, policies and procedures.

Accountabilities

Key Roles and Responsibilities of the Position:

Provide Programme Leadership to the programme areas

• Ensure that Plan Ethiopia’s Country Strategic Plan is understood and followed by all PAMs and local partners,
• Create and maintain work environment that promotes vision, growth and delivery of quality programmes.
• Build and oversee managerial accountability with particular attention to overall project design, planning, delivery, monitoring, and Evaluations.
• Support systematic programme growth in the PAs in line with the entry – exit strategy
• Ensure annual project interventions are carefully and consistently planned and implemented in line with the strategic technical areas (STAs) across the programme areas.
• Periodically review project goals, strategies and priorities with local partners and programme staff to ensure proper alignment with the STAs.
• Provide leadership in supporting Quarterly and annual project reflection in line with CCCD standards and sponsorship commitment
• Work closely with the Sponsorship Manager to ensure timely and quality production of sponsorship communications and implementation of sponsorship commitments
• Actively support effective grant management at the PA levels through the PAMs and ensure project budgets and delivery targets are well managed.
• Actively support partnership management (identification, profiling, assessment and review of partnership agreement plus monitoring partner’s activities.
• Provide leadership and support to PA programme teams in ensuring timely management of staff performance systems
• Participate actively in all CMT meetings and ensure presentation of critical programme management issues.
• Promote corporate image of Plan and maintain appropriate relationship with Federal and regional government officials.

Proper coordination of programme planning and implementation in line with Child centred community development standards, programme quality framework and the CSP’s strategic technical areas:

• Coordinate and support the HOPQ on annual project planning and budgeting in line with the strategic technical areas;
• Coordinate and guide the integration of CCCD standard in all projects and conduct regular review of programme implementation against the CCCD standards;
• Coordinate the production of quality field work progress reports for timely submission to the Region.
• Build and oversee managerial accountability at the PA level, with particular attention timely utilization of budgets in line with annual plans and donor conditions.
• Work closely with PAMs to maintain good relations, planning and coordination between Plan and other development partners in the regions and federal levels.
• Represent Plan in meetings with partners      

Build strong networks of partners and maintain good relations, and coordination with other development partners in the district, regional and federal. Take leadership in:

• Identifying, profiling and maintain an updated list of key strategic partners in all districts, regions and federal levels
• Collaborating with the CP leads and Business Development Manager to ensure that partner capacity gaps are identified, partners’ capacity building plan developed and fully implemented;
• Where applicable actively participate in the regional budget conference meetings
• Proactively participate in the review and planning meeting with all implementing partners
• Ensuring partner project monitoring reports are properly managed.
• Engaging with and supporting implementing CSO partners to influence key policy issues affecting the communities, and ensuring that they inform national level policy engagements.
• Contributing to the appraisal and approval process of project proposals/plans of partners and ensure that funds for the approved plans are secured and disbursed on a timely basis.

Supervise Human Resource management at the PA levels

• Effectively supervise all Programme Area Managers
• Develop effective field teams and work collaboratively with others, especially as part of the CO programme leadership team
• Ensure timely PMS and submission of staff appraisal reports
• Take an active responsibility for HR recruitment for PA programme staff
• Work hand – in - hand with Human Resources to ensure new programme staff in the field get adequate orientation
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Dealing with Problems:

·        The HoPO will demonstrate the ability to problem solving, strategic thinking while introducing innovations as needed to meet the demands of a dynamic and sometimes unpredictable operating environment.

·        The post holder will coordinate the PA program portfolio to ensure the highest level of programme quality and overall impact. This will encompass strengthening accountability, planning, management, adherence to policies and procedures, and promoting a culture for delivery of results, both short and long term.

·        In addition, the post holder will when called upon often act for the Country Director.

Key relationships

To maximize overall program impact and learning through the optimized contributions of others, the post holder will be required to initiate, develop and maintain a range of working relationships, including with district, regional and federal government counterparts, implementing partners and other development organizations.

Effective working relationships within Plan are also essential, including with National Offices, Regional Offices, other Country Offices, HoPQ and with Program Area Managers, CMT members, CLT members and other staff in Ethiopia. 

Job Requirements

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

Skills Specific to the Post

• Thorough knowledge of programming processes, systems and principles, and the ability to provide leadership and support to staff working at field level.
• Comfortable with taking timely decisions in situations where information may be incomplete, based on consultation and sound judgement.
• Numeracy and the ability to interpret financial data, in order to provide management support to budgetary processes including planning, monitoring and reporting.
• Ability to communicate effectively and build high performance teams in support of achievement of organizational objectives.
• Ability to interact and work effectively with others at all levels.
• Good analytical and administrative skills.
• Strong skills in facilitation and negotiation.
• Strategic thinker
• Team player
• Excellent writing skills

Competencies and values

Respect to the four values of Plan, integrity, diversity, commitment to excellence, adaptability, able to perform under stress, innovation, building relationships, communicating effectively, coaching and mentoring, facilitating change, developing teams, initiating action, strategic decision making, planning and organizing, leading through vision and mission and a personal commitment to children’s development and protection.

Qualification and Experience

• Master’s degree and at least 10 years’ experience (not necessarily gained in an NGO or INGO), or demonstrated equivalent combination of education and experience. Ability to communicate effectively and authoritatively on area of expertise, and influence others to reach common goals. 
• Ability to develop effective working relationships across a network”
• Demonstrated track record of proposal writing
• Experience in leading team, coaching and mentoring
• Experience working with partners mainly with government

Salary and Benefits

 Plan International Ethiopia has made an attractive salary adjustment recently 

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organization for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximize long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and

Physical Environment

The position demands for extensive field visits with over 50% of the time spent with field teams coaching, mentoring, providing guidance in planning, implementation and monitoring of projects, visiting and attending partner meetings and supporting programme reviews.

Level of contact with children

Low contact: No contact or very low frequency of interaction 

How to Apply

The closing date for the application is January 23, 2021. Qualified candidates should submit their application with the below link.

https://career5.successfactors.eu/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=39493&company=PlanInt

This position is only open to Ethiopian Nationals, who must be eligible to live and work in Ethiopia.

Please note that: 

• Applications and CVs written in English will be accepted and
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Please note that we are not accepting CVs that are not sent through the indicated link.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

More information about Plan International can be found on http:// plan-international.org

References will be taken and background and anti-terrorism checks will be carried out in conformity with Plans Child Protection Policy. Plan operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all persons meeting the skills and experience required.

As an international child centered community development organization, Plan International is fully committed to promoting the realization of children's rights including their right to protection from violence and abuse. That means we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organization, do everything we can to keep children safe. We must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk. Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply.