Save the Children Area Representative Job in Kenya

Job Description

Job Title: Area Representative – Central Somalia

Duty Station: Nairobi – with potential travel to field sites pending a significant improvement in security.

Reports to: Director of Operations

Working relationships
Area Representative Central Somalia, Humanitarian Director & Emergency Response Team members

Line Management responsibility
International & National Staff: Project Managers, finance, HR, logistics and Field Managers (final  composition of team tba)

Indirect line management of over x national staff

Budget Holding Responsibility: Over GBP 10 Million
Grade: 3.1. (international Contract)

Contract Length: 6 months (renewable)
Child Safeguarding Level: 3

Introduction:

Save the Children (SC) is an international organization with 27 member organizations 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 and within countries. 

With the decision by all Save the Children organizations to create an International Programmes Unit (IPU) taken in 2010, Save the Children aims to create a stronger voice for children by unifying the operations in all countries. 

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.

Save the Children UK, Denmark and Finland unified in Somalia in January 2010 under the name Save the Children in Somalia which will move to the IPU model by the end of 2012. 

After one year of unification and as a result of an active fundraising strategy the programme budget was over GBP 10m covering thematic areas of protection, child survival (which includes health, nutrition and livelihoods), education, and Child Rights Governance.

Save the Children works in the 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. 

Directors and senior managers 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 . 

Save the Children has been engaged in Somalia for over 20 years. The programme has substantially grown since and intends to continue long-term. 

During the drought crisis of 2011, the programme in Somalia expanded exponentially and we presently work across 5 regions of Somalia with offices in Hiran, Abudwaq and a shared office with our partner in Mogadishu. 

The post holder will be based in Nairobi, at present there is no access for international staff to Abudwaq and Hiran. Therefore, a strong understanding of remote support to Save the Children staff and partners is a vital component of this position.

This is a new position within the organisation; due to the large growth of operations in Somalia over the past 8 months a decision was taken to split Somalia into southern and central regions, with an Area Representative for each. 

A Transition Manager will be in place for a number of months to support the change in the structure, working closely with the Area Representatives and their teams, Operations Director and Humanitarian Director.

Job Purpose
The Area Representative has overall responsibility for the development, management and delivery of good quality programmes in Central Somalia. 

S/he will work through Field Managers based in Galgaduud and and Hiran to ensure that all aspects of programming are coordinated resulting in efficiency, high team moral and cost effectiveness. and ensure that Save the Children continues to reach more children. 

As the senior representative of Save the Children in Central Somalia, s/he will ensure that Save the Children’s programmes implement key humanitarian principles and that we work in close collaboration with other key stakeholders and the government to promote and advocate for realisation of children’s rights. 

The Security environment in Central Somalia is fragile and requires the post-holder to liaise closely with staff and to advice senior management on robust security management guidelines and plans for Central Somalia.

Key Accountabilities

It is important to note that at present, a large component of these accountabilities will need to be done remotely.

1. Program Development, Implementation and Delivery

• Lead on development and implementation of participatory and consultative Area Programme Operations Plan in line with the Country Annual Plan.
• Implement a robust remote project monitoring system that allows for timely evidence gathering,  management action and organisational learnings in quality programme management.
• Ensure that effective remote support mechanisms are in place to listen to, act upon and address children’s and communities’ concerns/recommendations through active participation by children and communities in project design, monitoring and evaluations at field level.
• Ensure a proactive and strategic fundraising plan is pursued and implemented in close collaboration with Programme Quality and the Emergency Response teams.
• Ensure that staff capacity in quality project management is improved and strengthened through direct and remote training, coaching and mentoring.

2. People Management and Development

• Work closely with the HR and Admin Director, to ensure that all HR policies and guidelines for national staff are in place, are understood by all staff and are adhered to. Support all managers in recruitment, induction, placement, promotion, training/development and separation/termination
• Enhance staff performance through mutually agreed performance management plans, clarity of individual  and collective roles and responsibilities; ensure a robust process of performance monitoring, learning & development initiatives and timely management actions.
• Represent staff concerns that can not be dealt with locally, in a timely manner to the Director of Operations and Human Resources.
• Promote an inspiring and motivating working environment through teamwork, delegation and the team building initiatives.
• Promote and ensure a culture that respects and promotes collaboration, diversity, inclusion and staff recognition.

3. Financial, Budget and Grant Management

• Efficiently and successfully manage the grant cycle by putting in place robust remote support mechanisms to start, implement and close grants in line with donor as well as Save the Children’s policies
• Ensure that programme budgets are managed through rigorous remote budget and finance monitoring practices with participation of all key functions involved in projects.
• Oversee the general application and observance of financial procedures and guidelines set out in SC financial manual and donors’ requirements
• Ensure that budgets are spent and charged to their respective budget heads and grants by diligently reviewing the financial (SUN) reports at least every month and bringing to the timely attention of the Director of Operations and the Finance Director any major budget concerns and suggestions/recommendations
• Ensure that adequate support to and monitoring of the field finance teams is provided by the finance and grants team at in Nairobi and head office
• Ensure that grants are managed as per Save the Children’s and donors’ requirements including the quality and timely submission of reports.

4. Partnership management and Development

• Identify within Central Somalia appropriate partners through whom Save the Children can impact in the rights of children at scale.
• Work with existing SC partners to ensure a quality partnership environment through mutual respect and trust, robust partnership assessments, capacity building , project monitoring, sharing and networking by drawing support from technical resources from within the country programme.
• Ensure that all partnerships in Central Somalia are fully compliant to donor guidelines and requirements
• Ensure that partners understand and implement Save the Children’s policies and procedures including child safeguarding, procurement, fraud and whistle blowing.

5. Operations Management

• Ensure that standardised systems, in line with the Country Programme policies, procedures and guidelines in the areas of logistics, finance and HR are in place, well understood and adhered to by all staff
• Ensure that minimum logistics/financial/administrative standards and country policies are implemented
• Ensure that rigorous remote project management tools are put in place and used by relevant managers (operational plan, procurement plan, output trackers, etc…)
• Ensure that staff have operational and capacity development support within their operating environment
• Ensure the strict adherence of Central Somalia team to the basic humanitarian principles at all times: neutrality, impartiality and independence while delivering programmes for children

6. Representation and Advocacy

• Represent Save the Children at Central Somalia, network with INGOs/NGOs and other stakeholders and government.
• Continuously and proactively engage in strategic analysis of evidence and document and implement learnings for quality improvement in programme strategies for children.
• Identify, establish and maintain close working relationship with key stakeholders in the furtherance of children’s rights
• Ensure appropriate representation in all relevant meetings: clusters, working groups,

7. Security and Context Monitoring

• In close collaboration with the Security Manager, the Field Managers, the Security Focal Points and local partners proactively monitor the political and security situation at both national and local level and ensure that a clear and updated security management plan is in place for all areas of operations in Central Somalia.
• As far as possible ensure that all staff are involved in the establishment of guidelines, protocols in developing security plans that should be formally reviewed on a weekly basis.
• In close collaboration with the Security Manager, the Field Managers, local partners and the Security Focal Points, manage any significant security incident in Central Somalia. If this involves a “critical incident” the Security Manager and the Operations Director must be informed immediately.
• Adapt to security constraints and ensure that staff are adequately aware of security risks and management issues in order to deliver projects for children.

Person Specification

• Degree in the field of social sciences, management or related field or a minimum of 5 years progressive senior management experience in humanitarian work • Previous experience of working in partnership with and managing local NGOs to deliver quality programmes.
• At least 10 years experience in the development and management of programmes in conflict affected countries. Experience of Somalia desirable.
• Experience in the leadership/direction, development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of multi donor, multi-site field programmes, including direct and remote management and supervisory experience.
• Proven strategic planner and team leader with sound technical knowledge, conceptual and analytical ability, good judgment, and adaptive, flexible capacity.
• Proven ability to develop and lead a high performing team both directly and remotely.
• Excellent people manager, mentor and coach
• Excellent written communications skills in English including proposal/report-writing
• Strong problem solving and organisational skills in day to day and crisis situations • Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
• Outstanding interpersonal and inter-organizational skills
• A commitment to working through systems of children/community participation.
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s vision, mission, values and principles.

Child Safeguaring Policy:

• Any employee, consultant, contractor or the supplier undertaking an activity on behalf of SC UK must sign the Child Safeguarding - Declaration of Acceptance Form] and comply with the SC UK’s Child Safeguarding Policy which is a statement of SC UK’s commitment to preventing abuse and protecting children with whom it comes into contact.

• This extends not only to children with whom SC and its partners work directly, but also includes children whom staff are responsible for. SC UK believes that the situation of children must be improved through the promotion of their rights 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.

• Applications should be forwarded to: vacancies@scsom.org. Applications Closing Date: Will be Saturday 30th June 2012. However, the closing date may be earlier than this date due to the urgency in filling the position.