No of Positions: 1

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Duration: Contract

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Director of Program Implementation is directly responsible for the management of the Area and Field Offices and the overall quality implementation of projects across the Country Office. S/he is responsible for the development and implementation of all area annual plans (i.e. programs and projects constituting the plans), and the implementation of Operational Core Business Processes at area level. The Director shall ensure that individual accountabilities for this at area level are clearly stated, understood and internalized.

The role supports the Deputy Country Director, Program Implementation in facilitating key relationships between the Program Implementation Team, particularly Area Representatives, and other CO units (PDQ, HR, Finance, and Safety & Security).

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.  Performs other related tasks as required and as assigned by his/her supervisor.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Budget Responsibilities: USD 80– 120 million

A.KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

Operations Team Leadership

·  Support the development of an organizational culture that reflects our dual mandate values; promotes accountability and high performance; encourages a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation; and frees up our people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our Members and donors

·   Help design and implement a coherent organizational structure that is consistent with agency practices and appropriate to program needs

·  Help establish, maintain, and improve active and regular working relationships with: host government authorities, donors, partner agencies including major institutional donors, and local and international NGOs

·  Ensure that the required support is provided promptly, at scale and in line with the rules and principles during emergencies, working closely with the Program Development and Quality Team

Oversight and Management of Program Implementation:

The primary responsibility of this position is to provide management support to the Area Managers in the management of the area offices, implementation of quality programs, as well as operations core business processes.

·  Ensure quality program implementation (humanitarian and development) and utilization of evidence based solutions applicable to varying contexts through the application/adaptation of SCI systems, guideline, Common Approaches, standards including humanitarian minimum standards and tools in consultation and support of Program Development, Quality and Impact

· Ensure coordination and integration across thematic and programs to ensure cost-effectiveness

·  Maintain oversight of multi-location/Area Office awards as applicable

·       Ensure that the progress and quality of program implementation are continually tracked and timely corrective measures are taken through maintenance and roll out of effective MEAL system

·  In close coordination with the Program Development and Quality Team to ensure that the Area Managers and their teams are fully involved in proposal development

·  Ensure that area teams undertake monthly Award Implementation Review (AIR) sessions to monitor expenditure against budget (Budget Variance Analysis – BVA) and that all programs progress in accordance with grant agreements and are completed on time, on budget, with compliance, and with an emphasis on cost effectiveness, innovation and high-quality programming to serve hard-to-reach children.

·   Ensure that area teams undertake monthly SMT meetings to update each area unit on its current key priorities and achievements, present any issues that would require attention and support from other area units and come up with solutions to address those.

·  Through monthly reports received from the area offices, to retain an oversight of the budget situation in each area office and ensure that area offices are efficient at covering all of their costs.

·   Have budget holding responsibilities for programs/projects implemented in each area, in line with the SOD threshold of the position.

·   Ensure programs are implemented in ways responsive to the communities and children in line with Save the Children principles, values and strategic plan, and following Save the Children’s compliance procedures. This includes working with government, local administrations and national NGO-partners to strengthen national capacity.

·   Working with colleagues in the PDQ department to ensure the preparation of timely and high-quality progress reports, program reports, and donor reports; quality benchmarks and regular monitoring; and accountability systems are in place.

·   Ensure the full adherence of core SCI’s policies and guidelines within the work of all Area Offices and programs. This include the maintenance of robust risk management and mitigation strategies and plans to ensure the safety of children, partners, staffs and programs.

·  Assist the DCD Program Implementation in implementing Program Best Practices.

·   Champion increased investment in, and development and improvement of, Child-Sensitive Social Protection (CSSP) and emergency CVA policy and practice; and champions preparedness for emergency CVA programming

Budget Management

·     Ensure appropriate action is taken for budget under/overutilization identified working closely with Award team.

·     Ensure expenditure is authorized in accordance with the budget authorization procedures within the scheme of delegation.

·     Monitor for significant variances between budget and actual expenditures.

·     Ensure that budget holders under direct report prepare reports on financial performance of their award as required either by donors or by other, internal demands.

Representation

·  Proactively seek and maintain, active and regular working relationships with government authorities, development, humanitarian and corporate donors and partner agencies.

· Interact regularly with relevant stakeholers to ensure awareness of SC programmes and to collect up to date information about the plans and programs of other actors.

Partnership Management

·  Through delegation to the Partnership Manager, be responsible for the development and implementation of the Country Office Partnership Strategy.

·  Support the Partnership Manager to ensure all our national and international partners are able to deliver the programs as per the SGAs and in compliance with the rules and regulations of SCI and the donors.

·  Through delegation to the Partnership Manager, hold the partners accountable for the contractual commitments between them and SCI.

·  Support the Partnership Manager to ensure the technical and operational capacity of our implementing partners are enhanced.

·  Support the Partnership Manager to ensure strong and vibrant local Civil Society Organisations are developed through our support in the areas we are implementing programs.

Emergency Response Management

·  Support the Humanitarian team to strengthen the organizational readiness to respond to emergencies in line with global SCI humanitarian benchmarks.

·   Support Area and Field Managers to ensure that each area has an up-to-date, context-based and achievable Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP).

·   With support from the Humanitarian Director and under the leadership of the DCD Program Implementation, mount appropriate and timely responses at scale to all emergencies consistent with established benchmarks, plans and organizational policies, and in close cooperation with incoming surge teams.

·       Working with Area and Field Managers and the Humanitarian Director, ensure that all area staff across all work sectors are familiar with, adhere to and implement the procedures and processes detailed in the Rules and Principles for emergency response.

Safety and Security

·     Support the DCD Program Implementation and the Head of Safety and Security to ensure that each operational area (i.e. all area offices and sub offices) holds a clear, updated and understood contingency plan to respond to various foreseen and potential scenarios.

·     Emphasize and support Area Managers in ensuring that national security guidelines, and in particular those on travel and incident reporting, are adhered to.

·     Support the DCD Program Implementation and the Head of Safety and Security to ensure that all safety and security minimum operating standards and in country guidelines and procedures are met by all area offices.

·     Support the DCD Program Implementation and the Head of Safety and Security in promoting a culture of security awareness and a shared duty of care amongst staff in area teams.

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development

·       Responsible for ensuring that strong performance monitoring culture is promoted at Area level.

·       Develop high performing team through identification and management of talents and put succession plan in place for all the senior roles in the Program Implementation

·       As the head program implementation ensure that all staff understand and are able to perform their role in an emergency.

·       Promote a culture of inclusive and consultative management, of building high performance teams that work together efficiently and in harmony.

·       Incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process.

·       Participate in the recruitment of all Area Managers and of other senior positions within the area teams as possible.

·       Establish result based system and follow up.

§  To act for the DCD Program Implementation in his/her absence.                        SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

§  Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values

§  Holds suppliers accountable to deliver on their responsibilities

Ambition:

§  Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and takes responsibility for their own personal development

§  Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others

§  Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale

Collaboration:

§  Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to; builds and maintains effective relationships with colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters

§  Values diversity and different people’s perspectives, able to work cross-culturally.

Creativity:

§  Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions

§  Cuts away bureaucracy and encourages an entrepreneurial approach

Integrity:

§  Honest, encourages openness and transparency, builds trust and confidence

§  Displays consistent excellent judgement

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

Experience and Skills: 

Minimum of 12 years’ management experience in a corporate or an NGO environment, in a range of cultures including significant field operations experience, running both emergency and development programs.

§  Robust experience of NGO emergency program cycle management, and with experience of working within a complex and matrix organisation structure.

§  In depth understanding of at least two of the sectoral programs and a working knowledge of the program priorities of the Country Office.

§  Good understanding of international humanitarian systems, institutions and donors, and of procedures, accountability frameworks and best practices in emergency management.

§  Substantial and proven experience and knowledge of effective financial and budgetary control and securing and managing grants from major institutional donors.

§  Solid project management skills related to organisational development projects and international, cross- functional teams with a proven history of delivering results.

§  Ability to analyse information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically.

§  An in-depth understanding of national and international development issues particularly in relation to children.

§  Previous experience of managing and developing a team and the ability to lead, motivate and develop others.

§  Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.

§  Fluency in written and spoken English.

§  Ability and willingness to change work practices and hours, and work with incoming teams in the event of major emergencies.

§  Willingness to spend significant time in visiting field offices.

• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights- based approaches.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Technical competencies:

·      Ensures linkages across portfolio ensuring quality and coherence of MEAL systems and evidence gathering

·      Manages resources and capacities to develop and maintain quality MEAL systems

·      Facilitates strategic alignment of data to global priorities

Generic Competencies

·      Child Rights: Promotes an enabling environment for participation, and accountability to children

·      Be the Innovator: Promotes innovation to find new and better approaches to driving progress for children

Deliver Results at Scale: Promotes a clear focus on impact in a project and programme design, management, and oversight

Generic Competencies

• Being the Voice of Children: Promotes evidence-based policy and public engagement that includes the voices of children and their communities

• Advancing Equality & Inclusion: Displays a commitment to ensuring everything we do considers the most deprived and marginalised children and adolescent
• Building & Strengthening Partnerships: Promotes working with diverse partners as critical to delivery

Child Rights: Promotes the rights of children in own work and in work with colleagues and peers

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 SCI’s global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Gender Equality Policies, supported by relevant 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 abuse.

Safeguarding our Staff:

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy.

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SC Health and Safety policies and procedures.

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. The duty station of the position holder will be in Addis Ababa This role is offered on the basis of national terms and conditions only.

The Organization
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realize the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:
• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.