Save The Children Director of Operations Job

Job Title: Director of Operations

Location: Nairobi

Reports to: Country Director

Budget Management Responsibility: Budget Holder

People Management Responsibility: Line Manager

Coordinates with: Director of Programme, Director of Finance and Director of Human Resources

Child Safeguarding Level: 3

Context of Work

Save the Children (SC) is an international organisation that has 27 member organisations across the globe. It is united by a common mission and brand but, to some extent, has until now been working independently from country to country.

Through Unified Presence, Save the Children aims to create a stronger voice for children by unifying the operations in all countries where more than one Save the Children Member have programmes.

This will result in one organisation at the national level in each country and a unified programme delivery structure for all Save the Children International Members.

The programmes of Save the Children UK, Denmark and Finland unified in Somalia in January 2010 and as a result of this and of an active fundraising strategy at the beginning of 2011 the programme budget was over GBP 10m covering the thematic areas of protection, child survival (which includes health, nutrition and livelihoods), education and Child Rights and Governance.

Save the Children works in all three “zones” of Somalia: Somaliland, Puntland and Central South Somalia (CSS).

Due to constraints on security, and the need to liaise with UN agencies, other NGOs and donors the country office is based in Nairobi and senior managers and directors are expected to travel extensively to monitor and support programme work in all parts of Somalia that are accessible and where security threats are being effectively mitigated.

The position of Director of Operations has been newly created in January 2011 and under the management of the Country Director, this position will share in the overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of the country programme together with Directors of Programmes, Finance and Human Resources.

Within this the Director of Operations is responsible for the effective management and delivery of all programmes and for emergency preparedness and response.

The position will line manage a group of area managers (currently 3), the Emergencies Manager and the emergencies education cluster chairperson, as well as the logistics manager and the logistics technical coordinator and will coordinate closely with the Director of Programmes and with other directors to deliver programmes efficiently and to leverage greater impact for children in Somalia.

Specific Job Description

1. Strategic Planning

• Provide strategic vision and direction to programme through membership of the Senior Leadership Team.
• Participate fully in developing programme strategies and annual plans.
• Participate in conceptualizing and designing cost effective, innovative programmes to serve difficult to reach children.

2. Managing Program Implementation

• Provide overall supervision to the implementation and integration of activities in all programme sectors, including allocation of resources and ensuring that appropriate controls are maintained at all levels,
• Ensure all programmes are completed within time, on budget and achieve their objectives.
• Ensure, in co-operation with the Directors of Programmes, HR and Finance that that a startup and end of grant meeting is held involving staff from all departments.
• Contribute to and ensure the implementation of security guidelines and procedures as developed by the security manager and approved by the SLT
• Ensure the timely preparation at area office level of quarterly, half-yearly and annual progress reports, programme reports, and donor reports, that must be approved for quality by the quality programmes section and signed off by the country director before distribution.

3. Proposal Development

• Through management of the emergencies manager to lead on the development of proposals related to emergency response and to ensure that the operations team (area managers and logistics manager) participate fully in the development of all proposals. In thematic work (rather than emergency) this will be coordinated by the programmes director.
• Ensure that all proposals contain costs for staff development to the maximum amount possible allowed by the donor.

4. Representation and Networking

• The programme director and his/her team will lead on liaison and representation with the major donors in relation to work in thematic areas while the Operations Director, through the emergencies manager, will lead on representation on all aspects related to emergency preparedness and response. The Country Director will lead on ensuring high level external representation and lobbying.
• To respond to requests from the unified presence members related to issues of representation and to work closely with the programme director in planning monitoring and support visits by them.

5. Supervise and manage programme staff

• Ensure appropriate staffing at all levels of the operations department (Work with Senior Leadership Team to recruit, manage and motivate team)
• Ensure appropriate gender, caste and ethnic diversity within the programme team.
• Incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process.
• Establish result based system and follow up
• Work together with the HR Director to ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for programme staff.

6. Disaster Response Management

• Establish appropriate disaster preparedness and response plans.
• Ensure an appropriate and timely response to all disasters consistent with established plans and organizational policy (ACE).
• Coordinate with government, donors and other agencies as required.
• Lead on fund raising efforts for disaster response.

7. Staff Development

• Ensure that all emergency proposals include costs for staff development activities to the maximum extent as allowed by the donor and assist the SLT in prioritising the use of these funds through the year.
• As a Senior leadership team member support the Director of HR, in compliance with local labor laws and practices; in ensuring that the recruitment, training, management, promotion, and supervision of staff follows Save the Children’s guidelines and policies.

8. SLT Participation

• Contribute to overall management of SC in Somalia
• Contribute to policy formulation
• Work with SLT to ensure adequate security for staff and programs

Person specification

• Post graduate masters degree on development or other social sciences and 10+ years management experience of running country programs in a range of cultural and political environments.
• A very good understanding of at least 3 of the sector/thematic programmes and a working knowledge of the Programme priorities.
• Proven experience of delivering multi sector programmes with an annual budget in excess of GBP 8m indicating substantial experience and knowledge of effective financial and budgetary control and securing and managing grants (e.g., EC, ECHO, UN mechanisms, SIDA, DANIDA and DFID grants).
• 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.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Child Safeguarding

As an employee of Save the Children you are required to comply with the practice and principles as stated in Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy either in the course of your employment or in your private life.

By signing the Declaration of Acceptance Form and the general Code of Conduct.

Actions undertaken solely, or participated in by you, which seriously contravene the principles of this policy either in the course of employment or in your private life, may be considered to be gross misconduct, [constituting automatic dismissal] depending on the facts of the case.

Comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures with respect to child protection, the Code of Conduct, Health and safety, fraud, whistle blowing, equal opportunities and other relevant policies

General statements and responsibilities

• Ensure that all the education grants are of good quality, timely and well reported and managed.
• Comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures with respect to code of conduct, child protection, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies.
• Account for Save the Children Somaliland/Somalia assets and interests and safeguard from loss arising from fraud, waste, weak administration and poor value for money
• To undertake any other duties that may be required for the education sector development, and as advised by the Head of Office, Belet Weyne, and the CSS Regional Manager

Code of Conduct

Because Save the Children's work is based on deeply held values and principles, it is essential that our commitment to children's rights and humanitarian principles is supported and demonstrated by all members of staff. Save the Children's Code of Conduct sets out the standards which all staff members must adhere to.

Our selection processes reflect our commitment to the protection of children from abuse. Our people are as diverse as the challenges we face.

Applications should be forwarded to: vacancies@scsom.org

Application Closing Date: Friday 4th Mar 2011, 15:00 pm

Save the Children is an equal opportunities employer and highly encourages women to apply. S

Save the Children is committed to supporting performance based career progression for female employees.

The following are additional benefits which would apply to successful female candidates:

• Childcare support for children under 3 years
• Maternity leave
• Flexible working options
• 80% of tuition fees for children