Role Purpose

Plan International is a rights-based development and humanitarian organization working for better life for all children. We are independent of government and have no political or religious affiliation. Our purpose is to strive for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Our global strategy has a specific focus on girls, as they are often the most marginalized and most often left behind. We have committed ourselves to the ambitious target of reaching 100 million girls over 5 years, to ensure they can learn, lead, decide and thrive. This is our contribution to reaching the sustainable development goals, and in particular the goals on gender equality. Our organization is transforming itself to meet this enormous challenge everywhere we work. We need bold, forward-thinking and innovative individuals to lead our country operations, driving change and delivering results that will allow us to reach our target of 100 million girls. 

In Ethiopia, Plan has more than 25 years of experience in implementing its programme. Currently PIE mainly operates in seven geographical areas; Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR, Gambella, Benshangule Gumuz, Afar, and Addis Ababa City Administration on different projects funded by different donors including sponsorship.

Plan International Ethiopia's main purpose is to seek Gender Justice for Girls, Adolescent Girls, and Young Women. We aim to help create an enabling environment where girls, adolescent girls, and young women are safe, valued, equally cared for, and have equal opportunities. PIE will contribute to the global strategy by aiming to reach directly 2.1 million Girls, Adolescent Girls and Young Women over the period of the strategy 2020-2024 and to reach an additional 6.3 million beneficiaries through its interventions.

The Head of Business Development (HoBD) enables the achievement of ambitious growth and income targets through long term, high value, grant acquisition, management and reporting that focuses on Gender Transformation. The incumbent will support the leadership in transitioning into a new and ambitious strategic cycle, considerably expand the funding portfolio, develop Plan’s professional image as a partner of choice in Gender Justice for Girls and in emergency response, improve systems to support growth and grants management.

In line with the five-year Country Strategy, the Annual Plan, the income targets for the financial year, the annual Business Development Plan and current Emergency Response Plans, the incumbent will be accountable for expansion and diversification of the grants portfolio in all sectors, to develop Plan’s positioning as a partner of choice in our key impact areas, build winning consortiums, and ensure management and reporting of grants in line with donor contracts. S/he will work proactively with National Organization (NOs) in the Plan family to identify and win appropriate grant opportunities by ensuring the timely and quality delivery of successful grant proposals as well as by ensuring timely and quality reporting of ongoing grants.

management scope, reporting lines, key relationships

The post holder will report to the Country Director of Plan International Ethiopia (Plan) and is a member of the Country Leadership Team (CLT).

Direct reports – the position holder will manage Grant Budget Coordinator, Business Development Manager and Grants Compliance Manager.

Key relationships

Internal

• Country Leadership/Management Team members
• Internal technical networks as relevant
• Global and Regional functional and thematic leads
• Functional departments Heads at PIE
• Plan Inc. National Organizations
• Plan Inc. Liaison Offices

External

• Major donors
• Corporates both Global and Ethiopian
• Foundations in Ethiopia and Globally
• National and Local authorities
• Other INGOs

Level of contact with children

Low level: No interaction with children 

Physical Environment

• Typical Office environment with 10% travel in PIE’s programming areas and limited international travels

Accountabilities and MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

Strategic Leadership (%)

• Design & implement a sound resource mobilization strategy that focuses upon diversified sources of funding plus a move towards higher value, longer term grants.
• Influence new donors towards our purpose and ambition and finding common ground between the ambition of PIE and potential donors.
• Target new growth areas for Plan in Ethiopia, including prime positions on consortium bids, non-traditional donors and corporate partnerships.
• Ensure integration of key cross-cutting issues such as advocacy and influencing, child protection, and gender, in the design of Expressions of Interests, Concept Notes and/or Proposals as well as embedding Plan International’s commitment to gender transformative programming.
• Ensure a team and stakeholder-based approach to developing all proposals, engaging Programme Areas and Communities alike.
• Coordinate the Grant Acquisition team in the development of quality proposals in line with agreed organizational procedures and in close coordination with Programme Director, Humanitarian Director, Project Managers, Programme Area Managers, ERMs and other relevant departments and units within Plan National Offices.
• Coordinate grants compliance team in the reporting and post-acquisition management of donor relationship in line with contractual obligations and organisational needs and in close coordination of programme and humanitarian departments.
• Produce and regularly update a comprehensive mapping of all donor opportunities (by sector and geography), researching where potential opportunities for grants funding can be found and packaging grant proposals to suit the requirements of different donors,
• Ensure relevant policies in particular gender equality, child & youth safeguarding are embedded in the programme design.
• Model our value-based leadership framework underpinned by our feminist leadership principles.
• Ensure that ALL programme proposals are truly Gender Transformative

Partnerships (%)

• Develop partnerships with Ethiopian organisations, including NGOs, Philanthropic organisations or commercial entities to enable the improved delivery of programming
• Work closely with other Directors, particularly the CD, Programmes and Humanitarian to proactively develop partnerships in Ethiopia and beyond, especially with non-traditional donors such as corporations and foundations.
• Ensure that the requirements and ambitions of partners can be met across PIE and fall within our ethical and strategic goals

National Office and Donor Engagement (%)

• Lead on profiling and relationship management for the organization, in coordination with the Country Director, Programme and Humanitarian Directors.
• Build successful, proactive relationships which align donor’s priorities with program needs
• Work with appropriate corporates to align their sustainable strategies with Plan International Ethiopia to identify win-win positions.
• Act as Plan International Ethiopia’s representative on grant matters, representing the interests of Plan Ethiopia to National Organisations, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Develop, manage, and maintain strategic donor partnerships with bilateral, multilateral, corporate donors, and external networks in relation to funding.
• Liaise with and communicate with government bodies, donors, other Plan offices and local and international agencies stakeholders – as required and directed by the Country Director.

Grants Management

• Ensure that grants are correctly and fully budgeted, reducing the dependency of grants on sponsorship funding.
• Ensure that grant management processes comply with global best practise
• Ensures the preparation of FADs and SPADs as per the Plan Grant and Fund Management procedures and grants documentation (Agreements, proposals, work plans, MoU, approved budget templates among others)
• Ensure all approved grants have a strong inception in line with organisational and business requirements.
• Ensure the signed FADs/SPADs along with grant document are handed over to the Programme and Humanitarian team for implementation. 
• Manage grant modules in Plan corporate system to achieve required standards in SAP, ERP, YODA and other systems.
• Manage communication with National offices and donors for all compliance and contractual matters.

Compliance & Cost Recovery

• Work closely with Operation Director and Head of Finance to implement policies and processes that ensure appropriate cost recovery, in line with global and national policy. 
• Ensure that all categories of costs are considered at the conceptualization and submission stage of grant preparation.
• Ensure that grants are fully funded and spent in line with contractual obligations.
• Implement costs-drivers procedures and ensure consistency in project costing;
• Ensure projects are fully costed, and successful negotiation is done with donors.
• Ensure that PIE is able to prove Value for Money and continually improves its cost effectiveness and efficiency.
• Ensure timely and quality financial and narrative reporting of all grants to donors.
• Ensure that all major institutional donor compliance requirements from a programme perspective are fully adhered to.

Financial Responsibility

• Oversees the coordination in the departmental budget, preparation, consolidation, analysis and timely submission.

Capacity building and People Management (%)

• Provide overall vision and direction to the team through effective coordination, planning, prioritization, coaching and supervision.
• Support staff to understand and comply with the organizational vision, mission, strategic direction and organization policies.
• Socialize and nurture Plan Values and Behaviours.
• Create an enabling working environment to foster excellent teamwork and high performing staff.
• Establish, communicate and monitor standards of performance and behaviours of the team through development of Individual Accountability Plans (IAP), and key performance indicators (KPI’s) that are agreed annually, and monitored and updated regularly.
• Support team members to gain the necessary skills through learning and development.

Other responsibilities (%)

Any other responsibility that may be assigned from time to time

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI)

• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Ensures that department staff are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day-to-day work.
• Ensures that Plan Ethiopia contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.

Leadership Competencies - (Leading LEADERS)

• Maximize our progress by aligning work priorities and resource deployment internally and with Plan International's wider goals and longer term direction.
• Leads through influence rather than position, and role models our values, accelerating gender equality inside and outside Plan International and addressing resistance. Self-aware and keen to learn and seeks feedback and creates a safe environment for others to challenge self or raise concerns.
• Achieves desired outcomes and finds innovative solutions by using the expertise and creativity of others and adopting a coaching approach with the people.
• Willing and able to take complex decisions, weighing up the available information and assessing opportunities and risks.
• Delegating tasks and decisions, trusting and stretching others but ensuring they have the resources and support they need.
• Creating space for reflection and using external evidence and internal evaluation to identify what and how we need to improve and then to support others through change.
• Building positive relationships outside own work area, being willing to compromise own preferences to achieve our broader purpose and longer-term impact.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES

• Articulates and drives the purpose, values, and global strategy to a range of audiences. Can explain how Plan International Ethiopia will deliver on its objectives through the theory of change and communicates the implications for their team.                      
• Leads on the purpose, lines of accountability and decision-making capacity for each structural element of the department. Help her/his team to understand where they sit within the organisational structure.                       
• Identifies risks and recommends mitigation measures after analysing the political, economic, social and cultural climate of the local operating environment and the implications for our work and are aware of the local business environment, including financial, employment, and business laws. 
• Advanced knowledge of programmes according to Plan International’s financial management procedures, including: the grant agreement process, the cost recovery process, forecasting, cost allocation principles and apportioned costs.
• Oversees digital enablers to improve team performance and working practices. Encourages digital behaviours through role modelling, the personal development processes and capability building. Uses digital and technological tools to support the management of risk, activities and resources, and people and information.  

Job Requirements

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Qualifications/ experience essential:

• A Master’s Degree in, International Relations, Development, similar or relevant to the position.
• Ten- years of relevant experience from the INGO or commercial sectors or demonstrated equivalent combination.
• At least 6 years’ experience in managing grants/resource mobilization
• Proven experiences and ability to coordinate and collaborate with different donors.
• Proven experience of developing partnerships with other organizations especially the commercial sector
• Proven knowledge and understanding of the approaches and requirements of new potential PIE stakeholders, especially those from the commercial sector
• Demonstrated experience bidding for, and winning, contracts with several of the following: the various branches of the EU, USAID, GAC, the UN, the World Bank, other major bilateral and multilateral donors
• Knowledge of developmental agendas in complex and protracted development and humanitarian landscape.
• Knowledge of Ethiopian geopolitical, countries laws, political, social and economic factors affecting development and humanitarian sectors
• Experience in context, funding and market analysis.

Skills:

• Exceptional conceptual, strong negotiation, influencing and problem solving skills with ability to analyze information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically
• Proven partnership development skills
• Comfortable with taking timely decisions in situations where information may be incomplete, based on consultation and the ability to convey sound judgement and assurance to team members and other key internal stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with colleagues through remote means and in a multi-cultural environment.
• 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 authoritatively on area of expertise, and influence others to reach common goals. 
• Demonstrated track record of proposal writing and budget management
• Experience in leading team, coaching and mentoring. Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Strong knowledge of the requirements of donors’ compliance and grants management;

Languages required

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. including exceptional presentation and communication skills

Qualifications/ experience desirable:

• Ability to influence without power.
• Knowledge of accounting/Financial Management and/or having financial background

Technical Competence

• Understanding, or the willingness to rapidly develop it, of issues, principles and strategies and their root causes and working with Plan’s principles and a range of strategies and approaches to improve outcomes.
• Ability to identify, analyze and monitor diverse, relevant external actors to work with and understand the purpose and implications of working with them.
• A strong understanding or the ability to develop it rapidly, of key institutional donor compliance rules and principles.
• Ability to provide leadership, communicate effectively and build high performing teams that work together to achieve goals.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

We create a climate of trust inside and outside the organization by being open, honest and transparent. We hold ourselves and others to account for the decisions we make and for our impact on others, while doing what we say we will do.

We strive for lasting impact

We strive to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls. We challenge ourselves to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative.

We work well together

We succeed by working effectively with others, inside and outside the organization, including our sponsors and donors. We actively support our colleagues, helping them to achieve their goals. We come together to create and implement solutions in our teams, across Plan International, with children, girls, young people, communities and our partners.

We are inclusive and empowering

We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge inequality in our programs and our workplace. We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential.

How to Apply

The closing date for the application is March 5, 2021. Qualified candidates should submit their application with the below link.

click here

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
• Female candidates are encouraged to apply
• 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.