The Save the Children Fund, commonly known as Save the Children, is an international non-governmental organisation that promotes children’s rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries.

Summary

Save the Children is seeking a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) candidate for an upcoming USAID-funded opportunity in partnership with the LEGO Foundation on early childhood and early grades education programming in emergency contexts in Ethiopia. This position will collaborate with the local government and other critical partners to provide high-level technical support for effective capacity building at the local level and sustainability of the project interventions. The DCOP will oversee teams of experts both in Save the Children and its partners, prepare reports and annual operating plans, align project initiatives with in-country priorities, and ensure the program complies with Save the Children’s and USAID’s regulations.

The DCOP is responsible for the overall financial and operational management of the project. They are responsible for ensuring that USAID requirements for budget planning, monitoring, and reporting are fully met in a timely manner, and the establishment and management of operational and administrative systems. This requires close liaison with the finance and technical planning departments of all partners and program staff, Save the Children, and USAID.

The position reports directly to the COP, and will be a key member of the Senior Management Team. They will advise the COP concerning relevant issues within or external to the project, including financial, personnel, administrative and security. In addition to necessary finance and administrative skills, this position requires someone with knowledge of humanitarian assistance, working in conflict and crisis settings and ECCE service delivery approaches. They also need to have initiative, be well organized, can handle pressure and deadlines, work in complex and conflict-affected areas, is capable of training and supervising staff, and strong computer skills. This role manages the implementation of program activities and ensures efficient operational support for the project team.

This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

• In collaboration with the COP, ensure that the program is delivered according to the contractual requirements with USAID and the Government of Ethiopia i.e. all activities and deliverables are completed within the agreed timetable and budget, reports are submitted as per agreed schedules and any other requirements or criteria are fulfilled.
• Represent the project at the meetings with USAID, Government of Ethiopia, partners, and other stakeholders when required.
• Ensure proper project management by ensuring that all planned expenditures are on track in strict compliance with the agreed budget lines and USAID’s and Save the Children’s financial regulations.
• Ensure that KPIs for program operations are met, and work closely with other functions to achieve project milestones.
• Coordinate the design and routine update of detailed annual work plans and ensure these are used by the team appropriately to monitor progress towards completion and achievement of program objectives.
• Ensure that reports for donors, government of Ethiopia, and Save the Children are prepared as required, ensuring these are of the highest quality and submitted in a timely manner to the donor. Be fully aware of the grant compliance regulations of Save the Children as well as USAID.
• Manage and motivate direct reports to achieve their work plan objectives, and to contribute to the achievement of the overall program goals.
• Coordinate with key stakeholders, other USG implementing partners, and government of Ethiopia.
• Oversee partners and manage day-to-day consortium service delivery approaches and operational activities.
• Monitor country-level activities, identify challenges and develop appropriate reporting mechanisms, and ensure key project results are communicated to the COP including quarterly and annual reports.
• Coordinate closely with the SC offices (in Ethiopia, as well as at the regional and global levels) and partners in technical, administrative and HR matters, especially regarding project’s operations and financial matters.

Required Qualifications

• Masters Degree in education, management, business administration, humanitarian assistance, development studies or related field is a requirement.
• 10 years’ of experience demonstrated senior program management expertise implementing international development activities in Ethiopia, ideally in education, ECCE, and humanitarian assistance activities.
• Demonstrated experience in leading multi-year projects, and experience in leading partners in the achievement of project milestones.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical specialists in a consortium approach, and with strong skills to work effectively with private sector and non-state actors in the expansion early childhood education as well as within conflict or crisis settings.
• Enriched experience working with local government structure, donors, and other actors engaged in the expansion of early childhood education in Ethiopia
• Familiarity with USAID’s project management, and reporting procedures and systems.
• Strong management skills, leadership qualities, professional reputation, ability to create synergies where applicable, interpersonal skills, and written and oral presentation skills to fulfill the diverse operations and managerial requirements of the project description.
• Fluent oral and strong analytical, written English communications skills.
• Ability to identify the quality issues in education in crisis and conflict (EiCC) in the given context and support the implementation of field-level solutions.
• Experience in capacity building and in strengthening various duty bearers understanding of and response to EiCC.
• Capable and willing to be flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in related field
• Previous experience on implementation of USAID programs
• Demonstrated experience in multispectral early childhood development, health, and/or education programming
• Knowledge of local languages
• Familiarity with the political, social, and cultural context of Ethiopia, including relevant policies and strategies.

Why you should join the Save the Children Team…

Save the Children International Ethiopia offers competitive benefits that include health, and life insurances, disability coverage, annual leave, personal sick leave, and paternal leave