TEAM/PROGRAM: Operations
LOCATION: Semera
GRADE: 2B
POST TYPE: National
CHILD SAFEGUARDING:
Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Fraud, Bribery, and Corruption policy and code of conduct. The key responsibilities include understanding and complying with the SCI policies and procedures, not committing any act of fraud, bribery, or corruption, understanding risks in their area/role, and implementing mitigation measures, report any suspected fraud, bribery, or corruption immediately, declare conflicts of interest in accordance with internal procedures and complete mandatory training related to ethics and anti-fraud measures.
The Program Manager will ensure the effective management and coordination of a multi- year EU funded project in post conflict setting, which is an integrated multi-sector project including protection/ GBV prevention and response, mental health and psychosocial social support (MHPSS), health and livelihood reintegration interventions. The Manager will lead the operational implementation of these projects while overseeing technical deliverables in close coordination with thematic advisors and overseeing related advocacy activities. The Program Manager will ensure effective management of the overall grant with particular attention to contractual compliance of the donor and the provision of proactive support to the project team and implementing partners at the field level. The role will maintain a coherent overview of implementation and performance against KPIs (1 &2) for the project under his/her management, and also performance for key CP, MHPSS, FSL indicators, monitor budgets and have forecasting oversight of overall grants and ensure appropriate, timely and accurate sharing of information with main office, members, and donors. The role is also responsible to actively engage in MHPSS and GBV working groups/ coordination platforms at federal level, ensuring visibility of the project as well as streamlining standard working procedures in project implementation at regional and local level.
Reports to: Field Office Manager. The position will also have a dotted/ technical reporting line with the thematic leads in Programme Development, Quality and Impact unit
Staff directly reporting to this post: Project officers
Budget Responsibilities: 3 million euros
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Duties and Responsibilities:
Oversight and Management of Program Operations
Manage and lead Programme-related strategic liaison with donor, area offices, Program Development and Quality, member TAs
Donor and member regular calls, monthly, quarterly and as needs arise
Ensure timely signing of project agreements
Hold monthly calls with each component’s operations/implementation team to discuss financial performance and review BvA, including implementing partners
Support field Offices to meet agreed targets. Regularly review cross-programme performance and programme management arrangements on a monthly basis, identifying and agreeing residual actions and mitigation activities with key project stakeholders and Save the Children members to ensure performance is maintained
Ensure timely development and application of common standards, tools and practices for programme planning, implementation, monitoring, learning and reporting across the projects
o Ensure preparation of quality standard reports and documentation to meet requirements by key stakeholders, Senior leadership, members, donors and gov’t
Provide review of identified key risks, triggers and contingency plans related to the programme, and verify and support Area Offices to ensure risks are being effectively managed
Ensure the effective planning and implementation of activities that cut across the programme, including assessments, studies, capacity building initiatives, setting up and running of centralized data management, evidence and knowledge management, and dissemination activities
Work with the member TAs, MEAL Technical Advisor, and MEAL Managers and thematic technical advisors, to establish effective monitoring systems are in relation to programme activities, budget allocations and financial expenditure.
Review work plans, procurement approaches and key Programme elements, including through a Value for money lens, contributing to effective programming and accountability to the donor
Work closely with colleagues at the Area Office and partners to maintain an accurate and timely budget analysis of the awards detailed oversight of forecasting and financial performance, to support and ensure grant components forecast effectively
Maintain detailed understanding of budget flows, and the impact of this on budget forecasting
Lead discussions on necessary and timely budget realignments, and provide oversight of budget revisions with Area Offices, and Members across the entire grant
Provide overall supervision and leadership on the MEAL functions and strategy delivery at Project level
Ensure MEAL evidences of the project (IPTT, project performance/action trackers, etc) are used for management decision making and continuous performance improvement and be part of the Project level management team members/
Undertake responsibilities for the roll-out of the MEAL system in specified project implementation areas in close collaboration with the MEAL focal persons at country and Area office level
Leads the design and development of harmonized monitoring tools and aligned indicator definitions for the project in close collaboration with the project staff.
Ensure that project staff understand the various steps and tools for the MEAL system, and that this is used consistently across projects / areas
Participate/coordinate the design of quantitative and qualitative participatory Programme evaluations (baseline, annual and final evaluations), assessments, reviews and other special studies.
Ensure use of Quality Benchmarks identified for the project as part of their day to day implementation and quality monitoring practices
Ensure functional accountability mechanisms are in place as the four pillar of accountability (Information sharing, participation, establishing and implementing Compliant and Feedback Mechanisms (CFM), and staff capacity building.
Budget Management
Serve as overall budget holder for the programmes or awards under custody and expand portfolio as needed .
Prepare and compile annual plans, budgets, quarterly and annual reports for the programme based on donors, government other stakeholder’s requirements.
Make periodic programme and budget revisions with the involvement of relevant personnel and ensure proper utilization as required.
Ensure effective and efficient utilization of programme budget and other resources for the intended purpose.
Ensure that partner finance planning and reports are in line with the project agreement and requirements from donors and governments.
Facilitate communication and interaction between implementing partners and SC finance team
Ensure that plans are implemented as per agreed and approved budgets
Representation and coordination
Actively represent Save the Children in the National MHPSS and GBV platforms, ensuring visibility of the project and streamlining of project tools and approaches with national standards
Lead and ensure development/adoption of reginal level MHPSS operational guides and GBV standard operating procedures in close collaboration with thematic advisors, ensuring relevance and appropriateness to the regional/ project context, and ensuring close collaboration with the national MHPSS and GBV technical working groups/ platforms
Maintain regular communication and interaction with partners to facilitate and promote learning and information sharing.
Closely coordinate with thematic advisors in planning technical support areas relevant to the project and ensure timely technical support to the field-based project team and partners in the course of project implementation.
Represents the SCI at National and Regional events in relation to the programmes.
Coordinate with the GBV and MHPSS clusters and coordination platforms at national and regional level, and share relevant information with Save the Children team members and also cascade to field team
Provide routine periodic project monitoring (including partners) and regular guidance and support to ensure effective implementation of project activities in line of agreed thematic minimum quality benchmarks relevant to the project and donor requirements.
Coordinate with technical specialists and project team for appropriate planning and utilization of budget, including timely and quality delivery of technical trainings and mentoring activities to the project team, partners and stakeholders.
Partnership Management
Work closely with awards team and ensure timely finalization and signing of project agreement with partners.
Coordinate with finance team and ensure timely disbursement of funds to partners as per project agreement
Work closely with implementing partners in the course of programme planning, implementation and preparation of periodic completion reports, annual and quarterly programme budgets and expenditures.
Ensure regular monitoring and supportive visits to partner implemented project activities, and ensure timely technical support to partners per identified support needs
·Ensure that partnerships are maintained and functioning properly as per signed contract agreement.
Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development
Provide operational oversight to field level budget holders
Delegate, coach and/or mentor field office sub-budget holders
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
Ambition:
Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
Collaboration:
Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
Creativity:
Integrity:
Job Requirements
EDUCATION
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
MSc in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work or Social Sciences related fields with 5 years of experience / BA in Social Sciences related fields with 8+ years of experience.
At least 5 years of management experience in emergency, fragile state or development programmes
Experience in managing integrated multi-sector gender-based violence (GBV) and mental health and psychosocial support programmes is mandatory
Management experience implementing capacity building programmes in complex settings, particularly on GBV, MHPSS, and life skills
Management experience in one or more of the following programmes: child protection, partnerships, institutional capacity building or organizational development
Experience of remote managing programmes in complex settings
Proven capacity to supervise, and coach staff and partners on both technical and programme management skills
Experience of, and commitment to, working through partners and contributing to partnership strategies at large
Ability to analyze information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically
Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports
Proven ability to represent the organization to donors and other stakeholders
A team player who is able to work collaboratively and with people of diverse backgrounds
Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
A high level of written and spoken English
Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. In particular, a good understanding of the SC mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from any form of abuse.
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.
How To Apply
Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.
Use the below link to apply: THIS LINK
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.
Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply
