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: Deputy BHA Director
Location: Head Office
Contract Length:
The Opportunity:
ROLE PURPOSE:
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). From April 2024, Save the Children in Yemen, will be embarking on a cost modification for a BHA funded project entitled Prioritized lifesaving integrated multisectoral response project delivered over 12 months ending on 31 March 2026 to the tune of $11M (amount received in Yemen). 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 Deputy Project Director (DPD) will act as the operational lead of the project on behalf of the BHA Project Director (PD). S/He will be responsible for providing operational leadership and management of WASH Senior Manager, CP Manager and Pharmacist Co-ordinator, working closely with other BHA PMU members to provide operational guidance in providing overall leadership for this critical program. S/He will play a critical role in overseeing project deliverables. The DPD will work closely with a core team of roving technical managers to provide technical leadership and overall management of the program, working with field and technical teams to provide operational guidance, perform and support MEAL deliverables, drive programme quality, ensure sectoral integration and ensure strict compliance with donor requirements. He/she should be a dynamic professional with comprehensive knowledge, experience, and skills to drive multisector integrated program implementation. The DPD will lead the Health and Nutrition component of the project providing guidance on all technical and operational aspects of the program. S/He is responsible to build the capacity of health and nutrition teams based in each location and ensuring that technical capacity strengthening support to MoPHP effectively addresses their priority needs and should be able to support and work closely with other sectors and stakeholders like WASH, CP and FSL. S/he will also be expected to perform some MEAL deliverables and line manage the Child Protection, WASH and Pharmacy leads for the program. S/he will support the PD in ensuring effective financial and operational management of the project working closely with the wider Operations Team and the Field Managers in Hodeida, Taiz and Sa’ada. The DPD will have regular interaction with both donor and funding member (Save the Children US) and other key stakeholders in Yemen and will deputize and stand in for the PD on a frequent basis. The DPD should have excellent negotiation skills, be a team player and have the ability to lead and motivate multisector teams towards accomplishment of desired project deliverables and achieve targets. Moreover, the DPD should work with the PMU and field office teams to identify success stories. 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, Implementation and Management
Working closely with the Field Managers and relevant technical teams:
- Lead the development of detailed implementation plans, ensuring a link with phased budgets, MEAL and indicator tracking and procurement plans for the BHA project, updating these as required.
- Ensure robust planning and project management processes are in place, following Save the Children’s Program Management Methodology (PMM) and good practices and ensure sector integration.
- Design and lead required assessments in coordination with the FSL, CP, WASH, Health and Nutrition and MEAL teams.
- Lead the implementation of high quality multisectoral programme activities in line with grant agreement and according to Save the Children’s quality standards and sector wide good practice standards, including safe programming and conflict sensitivity guidelines.
- Oversee/line manage the FSL, Child Protection, Health and Nutrition and WASH components of the program ensuring integration across thematic areas and alignment with relevant quality standards.
- Create detailed implementation plans, including phased budgets, M&E and indicator tracking plans, updating these as required and ensuring that delays and constraints are documented, and solutions identified.
- Conduct planning and review meetings with key program staff including Project Management Unit (PMU) and Field Office teams, while ensuring adequate planning documents are established and maintained.
- Prepare timely programming and donor reports on project activities in compliance with internal requirements and any relevant external donor requirements.
- Ensure that activities are appropriately planned, delays and constraints are documented and solutions identified.
- Monitor progress of activities against the detailed implementation plan and agreed frameworks while evaluating the relevance and appropriateness of the intervention.
- Identify technical and operational programmes supply needs and coordinate with Supply Chain teams to put in place a sensible phased procurement plan.
- 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.
- Contribute to the preparation of timely programme and donor reports on project activities in compliance with internal requirements and any relevant external donor requirements.
- Ensure the FSL, CP, WASH, Health and Nutrition and MEAL components are adequately resourced and oversee timely expenditure of approved budgets, ensuring appropriate spend, proper and effective use of programme resources.
- Support the PD in planning and implementing the wider BHA Program, supporting team activities, and deputising for the PD and taking over team leadership as assigned.
Health and Nutrition Technical Quality
- Provide strategic direction, leadership and overall technical and management support to health and nutrition programs for the field offices covered by the project in Yemen.
- Oversee the health and nutrition program activities, including technical support, supervision and guidance to health & nutrition teams.
- Provide guidance and support to the Health and Nutrition Project managers to effectively manage competing priorities and implementation in line with the SCI country strategy and project proposal.
- Actively support the health and nutrition management team in the development, implementation and monitoring of health and nutrition interventions in their area of operation, including support to ministry of health.
- Coordinate direct reports toward ensuring all targets are met on time, scope, according to budgets and in line with donor commitments.
- Support the development of M&E systems and lead analysis of health and nutrition data trends to course correct and adapt programming, with a focus on quality interventions.
- Lead and participate in the development of budgets for program proposals in collaboration with the grants and finance team.
- Work with the health and nutrition technical advisors to strengthen the health system, defining the strategic direction of the community health and nutrition programming.
- Liaise with partners, sector working groups and other stakeholders to ensure that SCI programmatic goals and strategies are in line with humanitarian need priorities.
- Lead on the design of the health and nutrition sectors contingency plan as part of the country emergency response preparedness plan and strategy.
- Ensure effective and high-quality reporting, monitoring and evaluation systems for both internal and external use, capturing best practice.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
- Conduct frequent visit to project sites to monitor and oversee project implementation and provide technical and managerial guidance/support identifying issues that need timely action and support at different levels (access & security dependant).
- Support the MEAL team to develop MEAL plans, tools and ideas to ensure that the program is monitored against measurable and appropriate indicators.
- Line manages the Roving Senior WASH Manager, CP Manager and Roving Pharmacist Co-ordinator and works with the MEAL team to develop MEAL plans and tools to ensure that the programme is monitored against measurable and appropriate indicators.
- Contribute towards MEAL deliverables such as PDMs, evaluation ToR, satisfaction surveys, etc.
- Ensure regular MEAL activities are carried out appropriately, and contribute to situation/response analysis, and any corresponding revision of programme plans.
- Ensure regular price monitoring and post distribution monitoring is carried out appropriately, and contributes to situation/response analysis, and any corresponding revision of program plans.
- Ensure that adequate accountability standards and activities are in place as per SCI and donors’ policies.
- Support program assessments, evaluations and other reviews required in the program.
- Ensure that operational learning and good practice is gathered, documented and shared with the wider programme and PMU.
People Management and Development
- 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.
- programme implementation, supporting the timely recruitment, orientation, and training of new staff as required.
- Technically manage and supervise health and nutrition programme staff, working closely with the field office teams to ensure that they have clear objectives and receive meaningful feedback on their performance.
- Identify development needs, prepare, and deliver appropriate training plans, and support program staff to access other relevant training and development opportunities.
- Support and work closely with other sectors and stakeholders such as CP, WASH and FSL.
Coordination and Representation
- Support internal coordination with other SC program teams to ensure effective program integration and alignment of the BHA program in the areas of intervention and within the wider country portfolio.
- Join the PD to represent Save the Children and the BHA project in relevant coordination fora amongst implementing partners as and when required, ensure robust coordination with the relevant clusters at national and sub-cluster levels in coordination with the PDQ teams. Ensure adequate follow up on agreed upon action points and stand in during PD’s absence.
- Lead necessary communication and negotiation process with government line agencies necessary for the timely implementation of the project.
- Maintain good working relationships with officials and other humanitarian actors, principally those within the relevant government agencies (local and national authorities including technical departments, INGOs, NGOs, UN agencies)
- Represent SC and maintain good working relationships among the international and local NGO community, among community leadership structures and community-based organizations, 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.
- Maintain regular coordination and communication with SCUS as funding member, and with the donor as required.
- Encourage teamwork, openness, and honesty among staff and between SC and its partners.
Safeguarding and risk management
- Ensure that project risks mitigations are in place and regularly monitored to prevent fraud, corruption, diversion, or other harm in line with SCI policies and standards.
- Ensure SCI safeguarding and PSEA policies are implemented in the project and are subject to continuous monitoring/review.
- Coordinate with security teams to maintain situational awareness in the programme locations and ensure safety and security measures are followed as per SCI safety and security protocols
Other
- 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.
- Delegate for the PD as and when required covering absences from the country and undertaking any other tasks as assigned by the relevant line manager.
- Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
Education
- Master’s degree or equivalent experience in humanitarian response and related field experience is required.
- Knowledge of other BHA programming areas is a distinct advantage.
- Technical background in health and nutrition programming as well as coordination with UN, INGOs and other stakeholders.
- Health and Nutrition related technical qualification (Medical Doctor/MPH community medicine) is a must.
- Competent in Windows, Ms office Programs, emails and relevant health/nutrition database (HMIS/DHIS, etc)
Experience
- At least 7 years demonstrated technical and integrated programming experience at senior level in humanitarian programming, with at least five years’ experience in a leadership role with delivery of cash transfer programs and food security, nutrition, health, WASH interventions.
- At least 5 years of demonstrated excellence in senior level program management, including direct supervision of professional and support staff, evaluation of staff performance, and contract/grant management is preferred.
- Proven experience managing multi-million-dollar complex multisectoral projects across multiple locations in a fragile context.
- Proven experience in project design and development, project cycle management and large-scale budget management
- In-depth knowledge and experience of logistics systems and requirements in a multi-field office, multi programme setting.
- Expertise in donor compliance, reporting and representation.
- Demonstrated experience in capacity building, project design and budget management
- Strength in inspiring and enabling others through teamwork, training and capacity building to realise organisational objectives.
- Demonstrates exceptional managerial, operational and team leadership skills.
- Demonstrated problem solving skills, a collaborative and flexible manner, creativity, and willingness to innovate.
- Strong writing and analytical skills, including the ability to communicate technical matters to a range of audiences.
- Ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with Yemen host government partners at the national and governorate levels.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations, and within a matrix management structure.
- Ability to identify, address and resolve communication issues within the activity and with external stakeholders is required.
- Fluent oral and strong analytical, written English communications skills is required.
- Flexibility and the ability to effectively adjust expectations to on-the ground realities, while adhering to humanitarian principles and
