Save the Children Chief of Party Job in Nairobi Kenya

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 organisation, underpinned by a vision in a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. 

Our mission to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

Save the Children International – Kenya Country Office invites applications from interested Kenya nationals who are experienced Senior and Mid-level Professionals for an anticipated large USAID project to provide support to orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya.  
 

Vacancy: Chief of Party
 

Team / Programme: SMT    

Location: Nairobi
 

Grade: Executive Grade    

Post Type: National 
 

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: Save the Children is seeking an experienced Chief of Party for an anticipated large USAID project providing support to orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya. Location TBD. 

The Chief of Party (COP) will work with Save the Children’s existing country office in Kenya, but will be solely responsible for overall management of the USAID award. 

S/he will provide strategic and operational leadership to develop and implement a successful and integrated multi-sectoral program that builds upon existing USAID and Government of Kenya investment and that will achieve lasting outcomes.
 

Scope of Role: The Chief Of Party will liaise closely with USAID/Kenya, Government of Kenya representatives, Save the Children’s Office of HIV/AIDS and Child Protection, Kenya Country Office, and partner organizations. 

The COP will be the principal representative of the project. 

The COP will ensure adherence to overall technical and programmatic quality in implementation, compliance with USAID rules and regulations, and the timely submission of all deliverables to USAID, including annual work plans, performance monitoring plans, semi-annual reports and annual reports as required.  

The COP will be responsible for overall direction and coordination of the activities of any sub-recipient partners under this grant, and for linking to broader fora in country for coordination of OVC work more broadly.   

Reports to: The Country Director

Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programs delivered both directly and through local partners. 

Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH. 

In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined the programs of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a single operation in Kenya. 

In February 2014, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces with the British INGO, Merlin, and merge their health and nutrition programs with our own. 

Save the Children now has an operational presence in Bungoma, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Turkana and Wajir and we work through partners in many other parts of the country. 

We employ more than 300 staff and have an operating annual budget in 2014 of approximately US$25 million.

Staff directly reporting to this post: Finance and Operations Director

Key Areas of Accountability:

• Lead the program’s strategic, financial, and operational planning, including the annual work planning process and development of an appropriate exit strategy.
• Responsible for guiding overall technical direction of the project and achieving project goals and objectives.
• Act as principal representative and liaison to all external stakeholders, including but not limited to USAID/Kenya and the Government of Kenya.
• Oversee the timely submission of all deliverables to USAID.
• Supervise key program staff, both technical and managerial, and oversee the hiring process of all local personnel.    
• Serve as key liaison with Save the Children partners and any local subgrantees and subcontractors.
• Provide overall coordination of the institutional/organizational and technical capacity building of local partners and stakeholders.
• Fully inform Save the Children’s home/country office on all matters relating to the program, and maintain appropriate links with partner home/field offices.
• Ensure that efficient systems to support all aspects of the program (including sub-grant management, financial, capacity building and performance monitoring and reporting) are in place and support the effective use of program resources in compliance with USAID regulations and Save the Children policies.
• Ensure knowledge management systems are in place and the production of quality evidence based documentation is produced and disseminated.

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

• Advanced degree in International relations, public health, or related field.
• 10-12 years of field-based experience managing large and complex overseas, multi-partner development programs, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Experience managing large scale USAID funded project(s) at a senior level.
• Experience in managing large child-focused field programs for an international NGO.
• Demonstrated skills in strategic and program planning and understanding of HIV/AIDS-related support services.
• Demonstrated skills in leadership and supervision of staff and in building and maintaining a high performing team internally and across organizations.
• Proven ability to ensure gender integration in project design, implementation and M&E.
• Demonstrated knowledge of USAID regulations and policies.
• Proven experience building capacity of local NGOs and government bodies and collaborating closely with multi-level stakeholders.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.  Fluency in English required. 
• Extensive experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa; work experience in Kenya highly desirable.

Qualified national applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Application process:
 

Please send us your 2 page CV and cover letter indicating contacts of three referees to kenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org. 

Quote ‘USAID Chief of Party’ on the subject line.