The Organisation
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 realise 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 workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.
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.
Save the Children International seeks to always be a child-safe organization by fulfilling its obligations to the community and through programme implementation carried out by the organization for safeguarding children and improve their living standards of the child.
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Position: BHA Project Director
Location: Head Office
Contract Length: 12 months
The Opportunity:
Save the Children International (SCI), one of the largest NGOs in Yemen, has been running emergency programs funded by OFDA and USAID’s Food for Peace (FFP) Program in Yemen for several years. In 2020 OFDA and FFP combined to form the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). Save the Children is now combining its legacy OFDA and FFP awards in a new phase of funding under BHA which will see a $23m Prioritized lifesaving integrated multisectoral response project delivered over 12 months in 2021-22. The program is designed to contribute to the reduction of hunger, morbidity and mortality and protect wellbeing of children and their families through increasing coverage and quality of integrated health, nutrition, WASH, FSL and Child Protection services for conflict affected communities in areas of highest need in Hodeida, Sa’ada and Taiz governorates of Yemen. The program is delivered with oversight of Save the Children US who contract with BHA on behalf of Save the Children International.
The Project Director (PD) will provide overall leadership for this critical program. The PD will be based in Sana’a with significant travel to the governorates of implementation. The PD will manage a Deputy Project Director and core team of roving technical managers to provide management oversight and operational guidance, support monitoring and evaluation, and ensure the quality and timely delivery of the project. The PD will lead the team to work with a strong and committed team of Field Managers and Health, Nutrition, WASH and CP program teams through a matrix management model. S/he will also ensure effective financial and operational management of the project, and will represent the project to BHA and other key stakeholders in Yemen and the region.
In the current humanitarian emergency context, the role holder may be expected to work outside the normal profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Program Planning and Implementation
Working closely with the Field Managers and Health, Nutrition, WASH and CP program managers:
- Esnure robust planning and project management processes are in place, following Save the Children’s Program Management Methodology (PMM) and good practices.
- Ensure that efficient systems are in place to support all aspects of project activity, including financial and grant management, procurement planning, project monitoring, and evaluation, and that they support the effective use of project resources in compliance with BHA requirements.
- Oversee and support implementation, including the supervision of proper targeting, identification, registration, and monitoring of beneficiary lists to prevent overlap with other humanitarian programs in the intervention areas and ensure maximum integration with Save the Children’s other programs.
- Working with the Program Development and Quality (PDQ) team ensure close coordination through clusters with other humanitarian actors and UN agencies carrying out program activities for geographic mapping and to ensure program activities are in line with national and humanitarian technical priorities.
- Esnure close colleabortation with PDQ Techincal Advisers and Specialists to deliver programming according to Save the Children’s quality standards and sector wide good practice standards, including safe programming and conflict sensitivity guidelines
- Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) team (MEAL Advisor, MEAL Coordinators, and MEAL Officers) to develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation plans and to capture learning opportunities (see additional information in the Monitoring and Evaluation section below). Build adaptive management into routine program activities to leverage this learning.
- Ensure the development and successful implementation of work plans, and oversee the creation of reports and other deliverables for submission to Save the Children US and BHA in a timely and accurate manner.
- Oversee timely expenditure of approved budgets, avoiding both underspending and overspending.
- Continually monitor for developments in the operating context that might require a change to the program implementation plan (e.g. revision to the budget, or inclusion of a geographical area due to increased need) and discuss with relevant stakeholders to proactively propose solutions
- Ensure compliance with all BHA grant requirements.
People Management and Administration
- Supervise program staff reporting directly to the role: conduct performance evaluations, identify staff development needs and opportunities for professional development, provide management support to staff as needed, and maintain office policy of respect and communication between supervisors and subordinates.
- See that all project staff are aware of and understand SCI policies and procedures; take appropriate disciplinary measures as needed.
- Promote accountability, communicating expectations and providing constructive feedback through regular performance reviews.
- Responsible for the timely recruitment, orientation, and training of new staff as needed.
- Work closely with Field Managers in a ‘matrix management’ approach to ensure BHA roving technical managers provide high quality technical support and supervision to field technical teams.
- Ensure all administrative procedures are followed, such as those regarding vehicle use and procurement; ensure logistics/administrative staff provide sufficient and timely support to programs and programmatic staff, and that data collection processes are standardized and applied by all field staff.
Representation and Leadership
- The Project Director will represent Save the Children in relevant coordination fora within the country and internationally as and when required.
Maintain good working relationships with officials and other humanitarian actors, particularly those within the relevant government agencies (local and national authorities including technical line ministries), INGOs, NGOs, UN agencies and with visiting donor and third-party monitoring
- teams, and other key contacts. Keep abreast of NGO, government, and donor initiatives relevant to SC’s work.
- Represent SC and maintain good working relationships among community leadership structures and community-based organizations.
- Maintain focus on SC program principles.
- Represent SC and the multi-sector program in BHA donor meetings and with representatives from BHA.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Where security permits, the Project Director will make regular visits to field sites, to monitor and oversee project implementation and offer advice.
- Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning unit to develop tools and ideas to ensure that the program is monitored against measurable and appropriate indicators.
- Drive program assessments, evaluations and other reviews required in the program.
- Cooperate with Third Party Monitors assigned by BHA and closely follow up on findings to improve program quality
- Contribute to situation/response analysis and any corresponding revision of program strategy documents and sector response plans ensuring integration with other sectors.
Business Development and New Initiative
- Contribute to the identification of new initiatives and opportunities that respond to country strategy.
- Play a leadership role in the development of follow-on proposals; coordinate input from Field Offices and relevant stakeholders in country, and define programme strategy
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
Master’s degree or equivalent experience in development, humanitarian response, technical sector (health, nutrition, WASH or protection), or related field is required.
- Minimum 10 years of demonstrable professional experience in implementing multi-sector programs, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a leadership role overseeing the implementation of projects relevant to the focus sectors: health, nutrition, FSL, WASH or child protection
- Experience in complex emergency responses and fragile states; prior experience working in conflict settings
- Demonstrates exceptional managerial and operational leadership skills; experience managing through influence in a matrix organisation
- In-depth knowledge and experience of logistics systems and requirements in a multi-field office, multi program setting
- Experience in managing US Government funding and familiarity with federal regulations is critical
- Flexibility and the ability to effectively adjust expectations to on-the ground realities, while adhering to humanitarian principles and standards.
- Strength in inspiring and enabling others through teamwork, training, and capacity building to realize organizational objectives.
- Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.
- Significant experience of NGO emergency program cycle management, including field-level project implementation and working against log frames
- Demonstrable financial and budget management experience; experience as a budget holder
Desirable
- Previous Project Director experience
- Technical expertise in at least one of the project sectors
- Experience in cash and/or food assistance programs
- Prior experience in Yemen
- Oral and written communication skills in Arabic
- Familiarity with the political, social, and cultural context of Yemen
- Experience in designing and managing USAID-funded programs
- Previously completed Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT)
Application Information:
Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/careers/apply
“Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer. Women are strongly encouraged to apply”
