The Save the Children Fund, commonly known as Save the Children, was established in the United Kingdom in 1919 to improve the lives of children through better education, health care, and economic opportunities, as well as providing emergency aid in natural disasters, war, and other conflicts. After passing a century, which it celebrated in 2019,[3] it is now a global movement made up of 29 national member organizations which work in 120 countries.

Job Summary: 

The Lead of ECSC-SUN will be responsible for the overall leadership and management of the ECSC-SUN’s work. Together with the ECSC-SUN Chair, Co-Chair and steering committee, s/he will provide strategic and technical leadership to ensure a holistic technical approach, guidance and coordination with other coalition member agencies to ensure nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive programs are cohesive and well managed. The Lead will manage the ECSC-SUN Secretariat Advisors and program staff based at Save the Children including sub-awards.

S/he will engage with the Global and regional SUN networks, ECSC-SUN member agencies, GoE Ministries, other SUN networks in the country and Donors to ensure smooth coordination and implementation of the coalition’s activities and supports GoE. In addition, the Lead will also provide support to the ECSC-SUN Chair, Co-Chair and steering committee for program management, coordination, implementation, monitoring and reporting requirements.

The Lead of ECSC-SUN will also be expected to work closely with the Ethiopia Nutrition Leaders Network and collaborate on nutrition leadership capacity building and system strengthening efforts. The Lead will be expected to provide technical support to the different Government sector ministries, in aligning the planning, monitoring, budget allocation to emergent Food and Nutrition Strategy, Seqota Declaration, food system transformation and nutrition related programs. S/he will ensure ECSC-SUN member agencies assigned to lead the ECSC-SUN regional coordination platforms and thematic focus initiatives representing the coalition in different food system and nutrition fora. With the establishment of the ECSC-SUN regional coordination platforms, the Lead is expected to lead a series of meetings with Regional Government officials and sector bureau staff to introduce the purpose and function of SUN, ECSC-SUN and ECSC-SUN regional coordination platform. The Lead is expected to lead the policy advocacy, documentation and sharing of lessons, learning and experiences.

The position holder is expected to lead and coordinate the advocacy efforts to influence effective implementation of food system and nutrition policy at national, regional and sub-regional levels for improved nutritional outcomes. S/he is expected to work and ensure the National Food and Nutrition Strategy is translated to different languages and disseminated at different levels, integrated into other sectorial strategies and adequately supported at all levels of the government structures.

S/he represents SC values and principles in interactions with staff and external audiences, including ECSC-SUN member technical and management staff members. S/he will be a member of Program Development and Quality (PDQ) Department Senior Leadership Team, CO’s Extended Senior Management and National Management Team.

Reports to:  Deputy Country Director -PDQI

Functional relationship: ECSC-SUN Chair, Co-Chair, Steering Committee, regional and thematic leads

Staff directly reporting to this post: ECSC-SUN Secretariat staff

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Technical 

• Provide overall leadership for ECSC-SUN, ensuring timely and effective implementation of ECSC-SUN activities by the ECSC-SUN Secretariat and coalition member agencies.
• Support effective implementation of ECSC-SUN’s work across all regions in Ethiopia to achieve the coalitions objectives through the effective use of program resources in compliance with donors’ regulations.
• Lead in designing and developing ECSC-SUN related program guides, strategies, roadmap, manuals, job aids, and ensure appropriate training and capacity building of ECSC-SUN members.
• Participate in joint supervision visits with coalition member staff, Donors, and GoE to selected sites, share feedback and take appropriate action.
• Work closely with SUN Global, SUN CSN and regional networks to improve the implementation of the ECSC-SUN work.
• Closely work with the Steering committee to ensure program quality and learning.
• Ensure that technical proposals are relevant through proactively and systematically gathered needs and information from coalition member agencies.
• Support pre-positioning for identified opportunities including understanding Government of Ethiopia and donor priorities, and identifying partners which can strength the work of the coalition.
• Provide overall leadership for the development and quality implementation of ECSC-SUN and nutrition related projects, including development of concept notes, full proposals that can be required to achieve of the strategic objectives of ECSC-SUN.
• Lead the annual planning process of the coalition works, regular steering committee and general assembly meetings as well as related quarterly, biannual and annual reports.
• Support Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) for the documentation of ECSC-SUN achievements.
• Work proactively by engaging ECSC-SUN steering committee members in identifying funding opportunities through presenting and marketing of technically viable ideas.
• Present compelling business cases through analytical assessment of donor and Ethiopia’s priorities to strengthen ECSC-SUN with the current potential improvement of Ethiopian Civil Societies laws through the government reform
• Work closely with MEAL in developing a robust evidence-based learning to support ECSC-SUN implementation, development and advocacy; and insuring that lessons learned and good practices are properly documented, effectively disseminated and, where appropriate, incorporated into wider advocacy initiatives.
• Ensure dissemination of learning and knowledge with coalition members and relevant SUN network member staff through using different channels
• Communicate ECSC-SUN’s achievements against agreed objectives and milestones, and any emerging new evidence for a wide range of internal and external audiences.
• Track progress of ECSC-SUN against original proposals and with detailed annual work plans.
• Actively communicate and coordinate with coalition members and other SUN networks to ensure synergy and share lessons across different networks that take into account good practices.
• Develop and maintain strong external relations with key stakeholders in particular ECSC-SUN coalition members, Government of Ethiopia food system and nutrition implementing sectors and others.
• Ensure a deep understanding of Government of Ethiopia priorities; communicate these to the coalition members; and use these for programme development and implementation.
• Maintain and cultivate key external relationships including with the GOE food system and nutrition implementing sectors, SUN networks, donors, multi-lateral organizations, and other International and national NGOs.
• Regularly coordinate with coalition member technical staff to identify technical support requirements, inclusive of field visit to support the coalition members in establishing and strengthening regional ECSC-SUN coordination platforms.
• Serve as the senior representative for all relevant external representation opportunities related with ECSC-SUN and others.
• Manage ECSC-SUN related consultancy services.
• Attend relevant donor meetings and visits.
• Develop and maintain contacts with current and potential donors, potential partners and key technical agencies.
• Understand cross-cutting issues of gender, child participation, and others to ensure their incorporation into program design and implementation.

Coordination

• Maximize the collaboration and participation of partners including ECSC-SUN member agencies, government sector staff, and other SUN movement networks working on food system and nutrition in Ethiopia.
• Closely work with the respective government ministries to ensure the ECSC-SUN activities is aligned with government priorities.
• Contribute to ensuring systems are in place for the most effective program implementation with regards to M&E, financial systems.
• Coordinate program related technical assistances from ECSC-SUN members and Save the Children thematic leads and program operations.
• Facilitate linkages and foster coordination with ECSC-SUN members and key stakeholders, including relevant national, regional and woreda level government authorities.

Representation, Policy Analysis, Policy Engagement and Advocacy for Policy Change 

• Represent ECSC-SUN in relevant working groups, task forces, seminars and related fora in food system and nutrition area; and among donors, UN agencies, International NGOs, and national and sub-national government counterparts including international SUN movement platforms and forums.
• Advocate for and work with multi-sectoral food system and nutrition coordination platforms and working groups in the assessment, review, and updating of relevant policies, strategies, programs, guidelines, training materials and job aids.
• Maintain a close and smooth working relationship with all coalition member agencies, government offices, funding agencies and community.
• Participate in ECSC-SUN General Assembly, steering committee, regional and thematic working group meetings, trainings and advocacy and coordination events as required.
• Develop relevant policy briefs and position papers related to Food system and Nutrition.
•  Lead in networking and articulating ECSC-SUN position, policy and strategy in national forums and meetings.
• Ensure that the voices of children and national burden of malnutrition guide advocacy and policy change objectives and related activities.
• Keep abreast of national policies and global trends/good practices in the area of food system and nutrition, analyze and share with relevant ECSC-SUN member when required.

Program and Network Management and Reporting 

• Ensure appropriate organizational structures are in place to ensure the most efficient and effective implementation of ECSC-SUN programme.
• Lead and manage ECSC-SUN Secretariat team.
• Coach, mentor and provide structured training and technical support for the members of the ECSC-SUN coalition.
• Develop and manage budgets for program, advocacy, consultancies, and research and manage sub-awards/ sub-grants.
• Ensure strong program implementation, financial management and reporting and compliance to donor requirements.
• Develop ECSC-SUN monthly updates, quarterly, semi-annual, annual and final reporting and success stories.
• Develop annual bi-annual and quarterly work plans and budget.
• Conduct regular, comprehensive performance management.  This includes work plans and performance reviews and support of staff learning and development.
• Identify succession plans and team members with high capacity for future promotion.

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

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education 

• Master’s Degree in nutrition, public health, international development or other related field.

Experience and Skills: 

• Minimum of 12 years of experience leading, managing and implementing large-scale international development projects, preferably advocacy projects in the field of nutrition.
• Prior experience in managing and networking stakeholders in developing countries.
• Strong experience in policy advocacy, campaign and proven ability to influence policy change at strategic and operational level.
• Solid experience working with Government of Ethiopia especially with more than one ministry is preferred.
• Solid experience interacting with different stakeholders including Donors, host country governments and other relevant stakeholders.
• Experiences with donor grants in the full project/ program cycle management.
• Demonstrated skills working in partnership with CSOs, international donors and agencies.
• Significant expertise providing technical assistance to national level nutrition policies, strategies or other multi-sectoral programs and staff working on nutrition.
• Extensive experience working in Ethiopia.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations
• Training, negotiation, mentorship, facilitation and team building skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Amharic, able to communicate professionally with a wide range of contacts; able to show tact and discretion when dealing with sensitive and confidential information.
• Excellent in computer skill.
• Ethiopians are encouraged to apply for this position.