Plan International is an independent non-profit organization that advances children’s well-being and equality for girls. Working in building powerful partnerships for children for over 75 years and present in 70 countries, Plan International strives for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children while working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners. Plan International Ethiopia is looking for Head of Program Quality for Country Office who will be reporting to the Program Director.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

Strategic Leadership

• Provide overall strategic oversight in the delivery of the Country Strategy through contribution to development, monitoring and management of programs that are gender transformative.
• Lead the overall program quality within the overarching Country Strategy and support its subsequent operationalization.
• Model our value-based leadership framework underpinned by our feminist leadership principles
• Ensure embedding of gender transformative and innovative approaches in all phases of the project cycle and ensure design and implementation of relevant strategies to ensure evidence-based planning and programming.
• Ensure that monitoring, evaluation, research and learning plan supports the CS delivery
• Oversee development, review and submission of annual plans and quarterly reporting
• Coordinate institutional learning mechanisms ensuring that knowledge management is in place and used by program teams in a standardized and optimal way.
• Ensure evidence-based learning mechanisms are in place to foster best practices to increase program delivery

Working in Partnerships:

• Ensure the program quality approach is adhered to and prioritized while design and implementing PIE programs.
• Establish networks and partnerships with likeminded organizations for overall enhancement of the programs and profiling of the organization
• Working closely with the Head of Influencing, ensure that Plan International is engaging proactively with various line ministries at Policy level.

Quality Program Design & Management

• Ensure the program quality approach is adhered to and prioritized while design and implementing PIE programs.
• Ensure programs are gender transformative and innovatively crafted to attract funding and enable Plan to realize its purpose.
• Ensure regular monitoring and periodic evaluations of major program interventions to promote learning and improvement in all major areas of Plan’s strategic programming approach.
• Work closely with various units in Program and Humanitarian department to increase inter departmental coordination for an improved country wide cohesive program quality and delivery mechanism.
• To conduct regular monitoring visits to program locations to ensure that program are being implemented on time, to budget and to the expected quality standards.
• Ensure the development and implementation of Project, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) framework at all level.
• Oversee the delivery of effective capacity building support in key areas of program management and MERL management,
• Ensure that all new project designs are based on the results framework that operationalizes the Country strategy.
• Ensure that all new projects have sufficient budget to support quality delivery of program, including staff time.

Team Development and People Management:

• Provide overall vision and direction to the program quality team in coordination, planning, prioritization, coaching and mentorship.
• Ensure program quality team are operating as high-performance teams and have clear accountability lines.
• Socialize and nurture our Values and Behaviors in the program quality team culture
• Establish, agree, communicate and monitor standards of performance and behaviors 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 to effectively deliver on their roles and to provide the needed coaching and mentoring for career growth.
• Lead the program quality team in line with the Country HR Manual

Financial Responsibility

• Ensure that all project expenditures are on time and according to the budget (within permissible variance limits) and to oversee and guide any budget reforecasting and reallocation exercises that are required
• Financial delegation as per the authorization level
• 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 Program quality 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 Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work of Programme team;
• 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

Job Requirements

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in Social work, International Relations, Development or similar field 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.
• At least 5 years in managing quality of development and humanitarian programs in the INGO sector in areas relevant for the position
• Experience of development and humanitarian issues affecting girls, adolescent girls and women is preferred.
• Proven experience in managing complex teams, including staff management and development.
• Ability to communicate effectively and authoritatively on area of expertise, and influence others to reach common goals.
• Proven experiences and ability to coordinate and collaborate with different organizations including the government and demonstrable working experience in development program.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES - (LEADING OTHERS)

Setting and communicating ambitious but realistic work goals and priorities, explaining how these contribute to Plan International's purpose.

Setting high standards for self and others' behavior, inside and outside work. Championing our values and commitment to rights, gender equality and safeguarding. Supporting the health, well-being and both physical and psychological safety of our staff, including their safety to speak out.

Holding self and others to account for what we have agreed, dealing with poor performance quickly, firmly and constructively.

Creating a positive team spirit, helping people work well together, to reflect and continuously improve the efficiency and quality of what we do.

Collaborating with team members, colleagues and partners in finding creative solutions to problems by sharing information, experience and ideas and actively seeking their input.

Motivating and developing others by taking an interest, giving constructive feedback and praise, ensuring they are properly trained and helping them develop their potential.

Positive about change and supporting others in adjusting to it, helping them understand.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES

Articulates the purpose, values, and global strategy to a range of audiences. Can explain how Plan International will deliver on its objectives through the theory of change and communicates the implications for their team.

Understands the purpose, lines of accountability and decision-making capacity for each structural element of the organization. Helps their team to understand where they sit within the organizational structure.

Considerate of 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.

How to Apply

The closing date for the application is April 30, 2021. Qualified candidates should submit their application with the link.

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 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.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

More information about Plan International can be found here

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.