Deputy Director Program Operations Save the Children

Are you passionate about quality, impactful, evidence-based, scalable programs for children? Do you want to use your expertise to bring about lasting change for children and be a part of an inspiring, dynamic global movement?

As a member of the Extended Senior Management Team, the Deputy Director Program Operations (D-DPO) shares the overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of Program Operations Department. The job holder deputizes and supports the Director of Program Operations with operations management, award management, budget management and reporting. The job holder will ensure SCI’s interventions as part of our development programs and humanitarian response are timely, coordinated and of high quality. S/he holds direct responsibility for a selection of national level or strategically significant projects. The D-DPO encourages a team culture of learning, innovation, accountability and delivering outstanding results for children.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
As a member of the Extended Senior Management Team, contribute to the following:
• Promote the development of an organizational culture that reflects SCI full spectrum mandate & values, accountability & high performance, encourages a team culture of learning, innovation, accountability and delivering outstanding results for children.
Establish, maintain, and improve active and regular working relationships with government authorities, donors, partner agencies including major institutional donors, and local and international NGOs at the region of operation.
• Ensure programs are implemented in ways responsive to the communities and children in line with Save the Children principles, values, strategic plan and policies.
• Ensure that responsibilities for the delivery of the projects are clear to the program operations team and team members are held accountable for performance.
• Support working with government, civil society and partners to maximize SCI’s impact.
• Supporting in the preparation of CSP and country annual reporting.

Overseeing Project Management
• Support project teams on development and implementation of DIPs and phase budgets/management.
• Support management of projects in line with award agreements, DIPs, approved budget and awards annual plans.
• Support awards kick off, implementation and closure processes in line with SCI guidelines and procedures for Awards Management.
• Coordinate with Awards team on monthly BvA review meetings and follow up implementation of the actions, including outstanding award management issues.
• Provides day-to-day oversight & support in the implementation of the projects plans and through this maintain with the DPO an up-to-date oversight of project implementation.
• Liaising and following up with Finance and field teams on implementation of BvA explanations and those corrective actions are implemented timely.
• Provide support in liaison with Awards Manager, Field teams and Technical Specialists on report development/ preparation process within the reporting preparation deadlines.
• Working with teams to ensure preparation of timely and high-quality progress reports, program reports, and donor reports.
• Support with timeliness and effectiveness of procurements of goods and services, including constructions, consultancies through regular follow up and effective participation on the CO Operations Procurement Committee ( OPRC).
• Support partnership identification, assessment and contracting in line with SCI partnership guidelines, tools and procedures.

Program Quality
• Support the development of proposals for new opportunities, linking with the field teams on specific support input required.
• Liaise with PDQ on MEAL and Program Quality and follow up the implementation of action issues raised by PDQ/ Specialists from various field visits.
• In liaison with MEAL and field teams, track and follow up on the implementation of issues in the MEAL trackers and MEAL recommendations.

Staff, Resources and Assets
• Work with Safety and Security Coordinator to ensure that the regional/field staff, property/assets are safe and secure.
• Supporting direct reports/ and their teams with clarification of their roles and responsibilities.
• Support staff capacity development through mentoring and coaching.
• Ensure effective performance management of direct reports and support field managers with appropriate performance improvements/work plans for their teams.

Monitoring and reporting
• Conduct regular support visits to implementation sites to ensure that programming meets Save the Children standards and corresponds to work plans and budgets.
• Monitor the implementation of awards and budgets, keeping key CO stakeholders informed on any corrective actions needed.
• Review projects implementation performance and BVA analysis awards and regularly update the DPO and RAMs.
• Monitor programme quality across awards by closely liaising with technical leads and field teams.

To be successful for this role you will bring/have the following:
• At least a Master’s degree in development studies, Social Sciences, Education, Public health or related discipline.
• Preferred certificate in project cycle management
• At least 6 years management experience in a corporate or an NGO environment, including significant field operations experience, preferably in both development and emergency settings.
• Solid understanding of national and international development issues in relation to children.
• Robust experience of project cycle management, and with experience of working within a complex and matrix organization structure, and proven history of delivering results.
• Preferably a good understanding and working knowledge of the SCI sectoral program areas.
• Substantial experience in logistics, including procurement, supply chain, fleet management & inventory.
• Significant knowledge of international humanitarian systems, institutions and donors, and of procedures, accountability frameworks and best practices in emergency management
• Substantial experience and knowledge of effective financial and budgetary control and managing grants from major institutional donors.
• Ability to analyze information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically.
• 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.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively in country.