Save the Children Finance and Operations Director 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.  
 

Finance and Operations Director
 

Team / Programme: TBD

Location: Nairobi
 

Grade: TBD

Post Type: TBD
 

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 Finance and Operations Director (FOD) for an anticipated large USAID project providing support to orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya. Location TBD. 

The Finance and Operations Director is responsible for overseeing project finances and other operational and administrative duties for the integrated program funded by USAID. 

The FOD will supervise all grant management and reporting on grant performance as well as provide financial and technical management to ensure best use of resources by preparing sound budgets, monitoring project expenses, and ensuring timely preparation of donor financial reports.

Scope of Role: The Finance and Operations Director will be responsible for ensuring the project’s implementation modalities are compliant with USAID regulations, while also meeting program needs and technical requirements of the RFA/P.  

This will require the FOD to work in close cooperation with the technical positions and project team to operationalize the project activities particularly in the first year of the project. 

Reports to: Chief of Party

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: TBD

Key Areas of Accountability:

• Support Save the Children staff in project office start-up activities, including supporting human resource colleagues with staff hiring and on boarding and establishment of office setup and operations
• Monitor budgets to ensure that spending occurs as planned and that variances are anticipated, noted, and addressed; ensure that key program personnel are aware of budgetary resources and are able to monitor their budgets effectively
• Review and consolidation of monthly financial reports to ensure accuracy and to provide regular feedback to staff, also for distribution to senior management
• Prepare any budget revisions and projections and respond to any external questions from USAID and/or internal questions from within Save the Children’s management structure
• Confirm availability of funds for all requests for payment or charges to the project
• Prepare quarterly reports, projections, and any other required donor submissions
• Maintain asset inventories and controls over the life of the project (i.e. IT equipment, furnishings, etc.)
• Prepare a consolidated annual fiscal report, including a cumulative life of project report
• Prepare and revise finance and operation guidelines in order that they adhere to SC and USAID requirements; oversee implementation of changes/improvements in procedures
• Supervise administrative, human resources and finance/accounting staff
• Manage and evaluate staff as necessary to ensure program success and oversee staff capacity-building
• Contribute to the development of reports for the donor, the host country and/or Save the Children
• Ensure that high-quality project deliverables are submitted to USAID in timely manner
• Ensure that an appropriate segregation of duties exists to ensure effective support of field operations and to protect the integrity of the country office finance and administrative operations
• Assist in building the capacity of local sub-grantees to manage USAID funds and comply with donor rules and regulations
• Support relevant colleagues with office management and security planning
• Perform other duties, as assigned by the Chief of Party.

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

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, or other relevant field required; professional qualification in Accounting desired
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in the management of programs funded by the U.S. Government, including experience managing finances for USAID-funded projects, or other donors
• In-depth knowledge of USAID financial management rules and regulations
• Demonstrated capacity and prior experience in managing the personnel, administrative and logistical functions of programs and projects
• Demonstrated strong analytical and financial analysis skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations
• Proven ability to prepare budgets and donor financial reports
• Demonstrated capacity and prior experience in supervising others as a coach/mentor to train staff and develop financial skills of colleagues
• 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 Finance and Operations Director’ on the subject line.