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, it is now a global movement made up of 29 national member organizations which work in 120 countries.

ROLE PURPOSE:  

As a member of the Operations SLT, provide leadership and strategic direction to all programmatic aspects of Save the Children’s national programs in Ethiopia.  The role holder will focus in supporting DPO on advocacy, representation, policy, member and donor engagement, UN and cluster engagement, proposal and budget development for all national projects/ programs. The role holder will support the Operations Leads and Directly work with the Director of Program Operations. The role will collaborate with Area Directors , PDQ Directors, the RO and SC members to ensure timely and efficient program delivery in the 4 Area Offices.

The role holder will also ensure that all national programs are delivered through strong cross sector collaboration with technical units. S/he will ensure funding proposals are produced and donor reporting requirements are adhered to, and are of the highest standard and that Save the Children’s commitment to improving quality and accountability in humanitarian work is upheld, and complies with all relevant policies and procedures with respect to child protection, health and safety etc.

In addition, the role holder will represent Save the Children, when delegated by DPO,  at high-level donor meetings where emergency programing is concerned, ensuring an appropriate positioning of Save the Children within the humanitarian response in Ethiopia

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to: Director of Program Operations

Dimensions:  Save the Children operates across all zones in Ethiopia and currently has four area offices and additional field offices. Programmatically Ethiopia is a large Country Office with more than $80million annual budget and staff over 800 staff.

Staff directly reporting to this post: 

Operations Lead, ECC director, NSA Case Project Director

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

As a member of the Program Operations Leadership Team, contribute to:

• Provide leadership to the program delivery of the Ethiopia national programs
• Research, analyse and lead on cost effective and timely program delivery strategies and advise DPO on strategic planning for delivering the same.
• Research, analyse and lead on sustainable operations strategies and advise DPO on delivering the same.
• Lead and deliver on comprehensive risk informed program delivery strategies and plans for program operations.

Program Leadership and management 

• Assume overall management oversight of planning and implementation of the SC national program  budget
• Expand the programming portfolio through capacity building of field staff, development of partnerships and networks, as well as development of new funding opportunities
• Drive innovation and sustainability in program operations. Implement, analyze and document key initiatives in this regard.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of program strategies, systems, and procedures to ensure effective and compliant program delivery. Drive continuous improvement.
• Lead annual strategic planning for all programs and operations. Set objectives, targets, and initiatives.
• Ensure that existing finance guidelines and related administrative procedures are adhered to and that grant finances are kept in an exemplary state
• Coordinate regular management and technical support visits to implementation sites to ensure that programming meets/exceeds international and Save the Children standards and corresponds to work plans and budgets
• Ensure compliance with all relevant policies and procedures of Save the Children, e.g. child rights and safeguarding, donors and the government
• Work closely with other thematic areas to harmonize humanitarian interventions and ensure quality delivery of emergency projects
• Work closely with the Logistics, Security, Operations Director, Operations Leads, Area Directors, Project Directors/COPs and Program Managers to ensure efficient delivery and support of humanitarian programmes and staff safety and security in high-risk areas where national programs are operational
• Work on the Cost parameters – cost-effectiveness and efficiency, sustainable operations, lead by example, models and implementations
•  Foster strong collaboration across programs, finance, HR, IT, security, and other teams. Break down silos.
• Oversee donor reporting and representation to ensure compliance, high quality, and value. Conceptualize improvements.
• Oversee timely completion and submission of donor reports, meeting documents and evidence requirements.- conceptualizing innovating the quality and timely reporting
• Support the director of program operations in providing leadership and strategic direction for all programming and grants management.
• Develop, improve and learn from an innovative pathway of delivering high quality operations through improving on operations tools, integration of technologies and real time data intelligence.

Monitoring and reporting

• Work with the MEAL team and the programme teams to ensure that programme objectives and activities are agreed upon within the context of Save the Children values, aims and objectives
• Ensure production and timely dissemination of high quality, analytical reports, supply of regular situation reports, and collection, analysis and dissemination of relevant information and data relevant to the national programs
• Evaluate, monitor and review to ensure strict compliance of programme activities with Save the Children national and global policies and procedures and with relevant donor regulations and agreements, SPHERE guidelines and the NGO code of conduct.

Representation, communication & relationship building

• Build and maintain strong relationship with key line ministries, Regional government offices and key institutions.
• Represent Save the Children on national forums, workshops and meetings regarding as delegated by DPO
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with key INGOs and other stakeholders with humanitarian capacity, including government and UN colleagues
• Ensure effective representation of Save the Children’s humanitarian response to local authorities, donors, working groups, clusters, task forces, and other members of the humanitarian community
• Support establishment and maintenance of strong working relationships with local communities, community-based organizations and government authorities at both federal and regional state levels as appropriate.

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development – Humanitarian

• Ensure that all staff understand and are able to perform their role in their programs
• Manage the operations team; define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly
• Incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process. Establish result based system and follow up
• Manage the performance of all staff in the national program work area through:
  • Effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measureable objectives, regular and timely feedback, periodic reviews and fair evaluations;
  • Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities;
  • Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance;
  • Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements plans and provide appropriate plan

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Delivering Results

• Translates complex contextual information into planning and achieving results effectively
• Ability to take a range of potentially complex and conflicting information and make decisions
• Designs and reviews large and complex operations to ensure maximum impact
• Ensures measures and metrics are in place to track performance in large and complex programmes
• Establishes clear and compelling objectives with teamsand individuals and monitors progress and performance
• Holds others accountable for achieving results and challenges underperformance

Working effectively with others

• Put mechanisms in place to ensure effective collaborative working across boundaries
• Enables people from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives to contribute to positive outcomes
• Breaks down silo working and challenges behaviours that are not collaborative
• Knows when to follow and lend leadership to strengthen other leaders

Problem Solving and decision making

• Identifies and addresses root causes of long-term problems facing the country programme
• Brings in external perspective to ensure strategic decision making remains relevant and future focused
• Provides a strategic framework to support decision making
• Explores and analyses external trends and their potential impact on strategic choices
• Takes calculated risks and has the courage to stand by decisions despite resistance

Leadership and Developing Others

• Delivers needs-based results in complex and fast-changing contexts
• Evaluates the opportunities and risks of each idea and solution to make informed strategic decisions
• Demonstrates managerial courage by willingness to confront difficult situations and take potentially unpopular decisions
• Actively encourages a team environment where team members feel able to contribute, champion or challenge decisions
• Conveys complex strategic issues with clarity,brevityand confidence
• Develops and implements processes to ensurethat theworkplaceis inclusive and the talents of individuals are harnessed to achieve individual and organisational success.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required, Master’s degree preferred
• Recommended minimum of 12 years’ experience in programme management, humanitarian leadership
• Significant experience of managing logistics, security and operations
• Understanding of international aid systems and agencies
• Knowledge of some of the Save the Children’s thematic areas such as Child Survival, Education (EiE), H&N, WASH, CP (CPiE), CRG etc. is required
• Experience of managing programs/ lead AO in insecure environments and willingness to work and travel in insecure environments
• Ample knowledge of development & humanitarian programing and transitional program concepts, policies, frameworks, strategies and components, as well as development concepts and frameworks
• Extensive on the ground experience in multi-sectoral humanitarian response, including food aid programs
• Solid budgeting skills and knowledge of key donor regulations
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing and negotiation
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Commitment to Save the Children’s practices and procedures and ways of working with children
• Fluency in English, both verbal and written.
• Competency in Amharic and other regional language is required
• Commitment to Save the Children values