ROLE PURPOSE

The Programme Lead is responsible for the overall planning, coordination and management of programme interventions, ensuring that program activities are implemented to the highest quality standard. She/ he will be responsible in ensuring high-quality and timely coordination and support for implementation of program activities; ensuring program implementation according to nationally/internationally accepted and recommended standards; and work with technical and MEAL teams to ensure the quality programme delivery.

The Programme Lead oversees the work of field offices and project managers who will be responsible for the programme implementation at the field level; and ensure cross functionality and coordination across the different units. S/he will ensure adherence to overall technical and programmatic quality in implementation and the timely submission of all deliverables to the member and donor/ consortium lead, including, annual work plans with the required budget, performance monitoring plans, periodic (quarterly, bi annual and annual) reports as may be required. He/she will be responsible in developing strong external relations with key stakeholders; and represents SC values and principles in interactions with staff and external audiences. These values and principles include commitment to the mission of Save the Children, team orientation, quality management and leadership development, introducing systems and procedures to strengthen staff motivation and productivity.  

The Programme Lead will serve as focal person for EMP within Save the Children. She/he is responsible for steering all communications related to the program (technical, operational, award management etc.) between DRC and Save the Children; and internally between all functions of SCI Eth. CO and SC UK through the Program Manager designated for Ethiopia.

SCOPE OF ROLE:  

Reports to: Program Operations Director, North Hub

Technical / dotted reporting lines to: Consortium Chief of Party based at Danish Refugee Counsel (DRC). She/ He will also have a dotted technical relationship with; Director for Child Protection and Migration (Save the Children)

Staff reporting to this post: Project Manager based in Addis Ababa and dotted line management of field based Project Managers (North Wollo and Metema)

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

Programme Management and Coordination:

• The PL will be the overall lead of the programme thereby responsible for ensuring that Save the Children fully executes roles, responsibilities in the programme management unit (PMU) and program, thereby ensuring implementation of the Programme through field teams in North Wollo, Metema and Addis Ababa led by respective Project Managers as per the organigram.
• Play the key leadership role for the EMP implementation to which Save the Children is leading on, and be responsible for overall implementation and management of all aspects of the project as per the design to meet the intended objective, outcomes and outputs of the project. That includes providing overall technical, administrative, operational, and logistical management, with a focus on achieving the results
• The PL will ensure that Save the Children staffs who may represent the EMP at Regional, Zonal and Woreda levels, and negotiate and manage relationships with government and other stakeholders, are fully operating according to the governance structure and organigram.
• The PL will be responsible for ensuring that Save the Children engage, as per governance structure and organigram of EMP, in periodic sessions for planning, monitoring, reviewing and learning of the program as per the program design
• Ensure approved project deliverables are completed within the agreed timescale and budget, reports are submitted as per the agreed schedule and formats and any other requirements or criteria are fulfilled as specified in signed agreements.
• Lead the program’s financial and operational planning, including the annual work planning process and development of an appropriate exit strategy. Work closely with the technical Specialists and field based staff to ensure work plans are adequately resourced to deliver effectively
• The PL will internally provide monthly high-level updates about the programme status and challenges that would require the support/decision of SC’s leadership to SC’s representative at the Program Advisory Committee (PAC) meetings and SC’s operational leadership.
• Identify critical issues in the implementation of projects and take the necessary actions to address problems and constraints. That include identifying and advise on key risks related to the programme’s response to migration, protection and livelihoods issues, and ensure effective reporting of and consultation to address such risks.
• The PL will serve as the main hub of information, ensuring that relevant meeting updates are shared with the wider SC team.
• Ensure that strategies for phasing out and closely followed during implementation
• Provide management guidance and support to field team in order to ensure smooth and timely start-up and implementation of project activities as per the approved project plans
• Ensure adherence to overall technical and programmatic quality in implementation and the timely submission of all deliverables to DRC (consortium lead)/ Donor, including annual work plans, performance monitoring plans, semi-annual reports and annual reports as may be required
• Document and communicate programme achievements against agreed strategic objectives and milestones for a wide range of internal and external audiences. 
• Coordinate, manage and motivate field teams, ensuring that they have clear objectives/individual work plans as part of performance management and receive meaningful feedback on their performance.  

Programme Quality and Effectiveness

• Work closely with technical specialists of Save the Children to provide technical and managerial support in reviewing and adapting strategies and project plans in view of changes in the internal and external operational environment.
• Work with technical specialists and ensure timely and quality delivery of capacity building activities and other technical support for programme staff and other stakeholders, in line of relevant minimum quality benchmarks
• Collaborate with field-based teams to ensure protection records and documentation are properly managed and compliant with organizational requirements and international best practices.
• Ensuring guiding documents for project activities draw on international best practices and global research, lessons learned from the field-level and reflect implementation realities related to key migration, protection and self-reliance issues in Ethiopia.
• Working closely with the MEAL unit and technical specialists, ensure inputs to key assessment/ operational research activities of the EMP. That include providing ongoing monitoring and coordination of timely implementation of the research activities, and provide technical guidance to the research lead, as required.
• Work with MEAL focal person and technical specialists to ensure development and continual revision of monitoring and evaluation system for the program linked to its strategies, indicators, and information management tools; which supports program management, accountability and learning. 
• Work with MEAL unit to contribute to the development of an M&E framework/ systems that monitors progress of activities and progress towards achievement of the program objectives and outcomes, with quality. That includes the identification and design of needs assessments, profiling exercises and other research initiatives, which contribute to enhancing knowledge on migration and protection issues relevant to the programme
• In cooperation with Learning and Knowledge Management, ensure proper documentation of experiences and lessons learned from the programme under supervision
• Work with the technical team and ensure proper understanding of cross-cutting issues among project staff (e.g., gender, child protection and safeguarding), and integration of same in the programme implementation
• Ensure a quarterly review is conducted to monitor progress and where appropriate take corrective measures.
• Review, edit and submit timely and quality written reports on the programme activities capturing impacts related to all activities.
• Work closely with Project Managers to support teams in the field by ensuring that DIP, budget phasing, Procurement Plans (PP) and staff recruitment plans are completed in a timely fashion and that teams are supported in the implementation of the plans to ensure effective and efficient program implementation.

Budget Management/ Budget Holding Responsibility

• In collaboration with program, award and finance staffs, prepare annual project budgets based on the project budget proposal and ensure compliance with donor requirements; 
• Ensure that budget for the assigned projects accurately reflect anticipated costs of planned work at all times.
• Ensure that the annual project budget is properly phased, mapped to the budget coding and uploaded on Agresso (Financial Management System),
• Ensure effective and efficient utilization of project budget and other resources for intended purpose; monitor budget utilization and project expenditure as needed
• Ensure an integrated approach to programme implementation in order to maximize resource utilization and synergy between the staff and different programmes.
• Exercise sound judgment to ensure project expenses are reasonable, allocable and prudent. Ensure all project funds are spent in accordance with donor rules and regulations. 

External Representation and Coordination:

• Ensure establishment and maintenance of relationships with relevant stakeholders - government ministries, local authorities, and other NGOs in line with key EMP areas of work
• Work with and support Project Managers to nurture strong relationships with partners, relevant government offices and donor as well as other key stakeholders at Regional and local levels as required
• Actively participate in various migration related coordination meetings as required
• Participate in the regular and ad hoc EMP meeting representing Save the Children.

Staff Management

• Collaboratively undertake performance-based management of staff members who are reporting to post holder and providing 360 feedbacks to PMs who are based at North Wollo and Metama offices, including regularly reviewing their performance, identifying areas for development, addressing those areas with capacity development opportunities, and developing longer-term career goals
• Establish annual objectives and anticipated results from all staff members
• Support filed based Project Managers in selecting, managing, and leading a diverse project team.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds him/herself accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modeling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

Job Requirements

• Advanced degree in relevant Social Science field, such as law, migration or refugee studies, or international development from a recognized institution
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience working in international humanitarian or development aid, with significant experience in implementing migration and protection-related programming for an international NGO, UN agency or relevant government ministry.
• Significant understanding of donor (DFID) requirements and results agenda. Experience in managing DFID funded project will be a value add.
• Robust experience in working with government counterparts and other partners at various levels; excellent communications and interpersonal skills, including political awareness and understanding of local context, and demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with governments, donors, partners, local organizations, and other stakeholders. 
• Proven ability to manage a networked, diverse team of professionals, with good communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to motivate/lead staff.
• Strong results-based management style with the ability to challenge existing mindsets as necessary
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Demonstrated skills in leadership and supervision over complex projects
• Experience in documenting and sharing lessons learned across a multi-location programme, ensuring that knowledge is captured effectively to contribute to improved performance.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITY

• Excellent understanding of migration issues in Ethiopia at both field and policy levels.
• Practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities in realizing rights of migrants in Ethiopia (with focus of children and youth).
• Proven advocacy and representation skills
• Ability to develop strong professional relationships and collaborations externally with stakeholders, and internally across functions, projects, and teams
• Good communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to train and mentor staff
• Ability to work effectively in a complex, fast-paced, matrixed, and multi-cultural environment
• Proven ability to manage a complex and demanding workload
• Strong organizational skills
• Experience in managing DFID funded programs (as added value)
• Willingness to travel to remote field locations
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights-based approaches
• Excellent verbal and written proficiency in English

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience

Equal Opportunities 

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures

Child Safeguarding:

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

How to Apply

The Organization

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 realize 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 environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

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 https://stcuk.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobsearch.ftl

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.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.