About us
For over 90 years, Save the Children has been making a difference in children’s lives in more than 120 countries. We are the world’s largest independent child rights organization.
From emergency relief to long-term development, Save the Children secures a child’s right to health, education and protection.
Save the Children is an equal opportunity organization dedicated to our core values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity and Integrity.
We are looking to recruit for this position to be based in Somalia/Somaliland Country Office (Nairobi) with up to 50% travel to the field.
Director of Programme Operations, Somali / Somaliland Country Office
Vacancy Announcement No. SCI/SOM/12/13
Team / Programme: Somalia / Somaliland Country Office Senior Management Team
Location: Nairobi
Grade: TBC (Competitive Package)
Post Type: National or International
Child Safeguarding: Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people
Role Purpose: As a member of the Senior Management Team, the Director of Program Operations shares in the overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of the Country Office.
The Director of Program Operations, through the management of Areas Representative of 3 area offices within Somalia/Somaliland, is primarily responsible for implementation of all programming in country, for emergency preparedness and response and for logistics for the Country Office in Somalia/Somaliland.
As overall manager of the Area Representatives, the Director of Program Operations is also responsible for the development of area plans and thus, together with the Programme Development and Quality team, for the development of area programmes.
Scope of Role:
Reports to: Country Director
Staff directly reporting to this post: At least 5 but to be confirmed
Key Areas of Accountability:
As a member of the Senior Management Team, contribute to:
- Leadership of the Somalia/Somaliland Country Office
- Support the development of an organisational culture that reflects our dual mandate values, promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and frees up our people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our Members and donors
- Help to ensure a coherent organizational structure that is consistent with agency practices and appropriate to program needs is in place and reviewed as necessary
- Help establish, maintain, and improve active and regular working relationships with: host government authorities, donors, partner agencies including major institutional donors, and local and international NGOs
- Ensure that required support is provided promptly, at scale and in line with rules and principles during emergencies, working closely with the Director Program Development and Quality and the humanitarian team at the SCI Centre.
Oversight and Management of Program Operations
- Responsible for overall coordination of program operations and delegated responsibility for field delivery of high quality programming in line with objectives of the country strategy
- In close coordination with the Director of Program Development and Quality and Director of Finance, participate in program proposal development process and ensure that all programs progress in accordance with grant agreements, are completed within time and on budget
- Working with Director of Program Development and Quality, participate in conceptualizing and designing cost effective, innovative and high quality programs, including an overall country strategy, to serve difficult to reach children
- Serve as overall budget holder for most programmes; appoint, support and manage budget holders for projects and grants through support from an “awards team” that reports directly to the Country Director
- Ensure programs are implemented in responsive ways to communities and children in line with Save the Children principles, values, compliance procedures and strategic plans. This includes working with government and national NGO-partners to strengthen national capacity
- Ensure initial preparation from area offices of timely progress reports, program reports, and donor reports and to engage with the Programme Development and Quality team in ensuring these are of high quality
- Participate in the overall funding process from both grants and SC members. This includes developing funding strategies, creating grant proposals, and identifying strategic leads and concepts
- Recruit, appoint and provide leadership to managers of area offices within Somalia/Somaliland.
Logistics, Inventory and Procurement
- Ensure that the country office logistics capacity and systems meet SCI’s Minimum Operating Standards and are able to satisfy programming requirements
- Ensure appropriate and adequate emergency logistics procedures are detailed in the Emergency Preparedness Plan in order to enable rapid scale up
- Provide leadership to the Logistics department ensuring that all logistics activities (fleet, assets, transport, supply chain, base setup etc) are properly coordinated
- Ensure goods and services procured are cost effective value for money and of standard quality
- Ensure procurement processes are effectively implemented
- Work closely with the procurement team in negotiating the best deals with suppliers
- Ensure proper record keeping, insurance, maintenance and control of inventory, vehicles, fixed asset register
Emergency Response Management
- Strengthen the country office’s readiness to respond to emergencies in line with SCI’s emergency goals and benchmarks
- Ensure that the CO designs, reviews and implements a full set of emergency preparedness actions, drawing on SC members input and resources
- Mount appropriate and timely responses at scale to all emergencies consistent with established benchmarks, plans and organizational policies, and in close cooperation with incoming surge teams
- Ensure that staff across departments and sub offices are familiar with, adhere to and implement procedures and processes detailed in the Rules and Principles for emergency response
- In coordination with the Country Director and Director of Program Development and Quality maintain consistent and coherent engagement in key inter-agency emergency preparedness and response coordination mechanisms including the Cluster system
Staff Safety and Security
- Work with the Director of Safety and Security to ensure that staff and assets are safe and secure
- Ensure that all safety and security minimum operating standards and in country guidelines and procedures are met by area offices
- Work closely with the Director of Safety and Security to promote a culture of security awareness and duty of care amongst staff in area teams.
Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development – Program Operations
- Ensure appropriate staffing within Program Operations, including area office staff
- Ensure that all staff understand and are able to perform their roles in an emergency
- Lead the Program Operations team; define expectations, and provide technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly
- Work closely with the Director of HR in recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure availability of relevant development opportunities for staff
- Work with the Director of HR to incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process. Establish result based system and follow up
- Manage performance of all staff in Program Operations through:
- Effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measureable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased 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/ work plans
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 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
Qualifications and Experience
- Recommended a minimum of 12 years senior management experience in corporate or INGO environment, within a range of cultures including significant field operations experience running both emergency and development programs
- Recommended Master Degree in administration, development, strategic management or social sciences
- Robust experience in both NGO emergency and development programmes and commitment to the dual mandate of Save the Children.
- Experience working within a complex matrix organisation structure
- Good knowledge of logistics, including procurement, supply chain, fleet management & inventory
- Significant knowledge of international humanitarian systems and procedures, institutions and donors, accountability frameworks and best practices in emergency management
- Proven substantial experience and knowledge in effective financial and budgetary control, securing and managing grants from major institutional donors
- Solid project management skills related to organisational development projects and international cross-functional teams with a proven history of delivering results
- Ability to analyze information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically
- An in-depth understanding of national and international development issues in particular in relation to children
- Previous experience of managing and developing a team and the ability to lead, motivate and develop others
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
- Fluency in written and spoken English
- Ability and willingness to change work practices and hours, and work with incoming teams in the event of major emergencies
- Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights-based approaches
Interested candidates meeting the above qualifications are required to submit a mandatory cover letter quoting the Job Title and Vacancy Announcement No. SCI/SOM/12/13 on the subject line.
The file name of the attachments must be the applicants name and sent to Somalia.vacancies@savethechildren.org.
Closing Date: 30th April 2013
We work with children, communities and governments all over the world and we believe in the right person for the job regardless of where you come from and how you identify yourself.
We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to ensuring that only those who are suitable to work with children are considered for these posts.
All successful applicants will therefore be required to complete a Police Check and must sign onto our Child Protection Policy and organizational Code of Conduct.
