Head of Programme Implementation and Quality 130 views0 applications

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.

Position	Head of Programme Implementation and Quality	Grade
Department & Location	This is a local Position based in Ouagadougou Burkina Faso	Date	July 2023
Reports to (position):	Country Director (CD)
Purpose:  How does this post support Plan’s strategy and mission?	The Head of Programme Implementation oversees the overall management and monitoring of Plan International Burkina Faso programs and projects within the framework of the Country Strategy. This includes planning, implementation, performance monitoring, risks and budget management.  She/he supports the Country Leadership Team to strengthen programme quality and to build and maintain partnerships. The position reports to the Country Director and may at times act as her/his interim   She/he directly supervise the Program Influence & Impact areas Managers (PIIAMs) and some project managers.

Dimensions of Role:

• Directly supervises Program Influence & Impact areas Managers (PIIAMs) and project managers.
• Has a delegated authority for expenditure up to 200 000 €
• Is Member of the Country  Leadership (CLT)
• Works closely with Head of Programming Development & Influencing,Emergency response Manager and Grants and Business Development Manager
• Participates in regional and global forums, networks, consultative sessions

Typical Responsibilities – Key End Results of Position:

 

Oversees the overall implementation of programs and Projects

• Ensure Program Influence and Quality Procedures ( PIQP ) are integrated in all program and project cylces
• Train and give orientation to all staff involved in project Management on the Project Manament Manual
• Support proposal development process
• Organise start up of new funded projects: support to project teams recruitement process, start up workshop with all stakeholders involved, development of Detailed implementation plans, etc
• Lead the selection process of implementing partners
• Monitor the overall implementation of the project with the project teams throughout the project lifetime to ensure timely and quality project implementation
• Monitor the achievement of the project management KPIs: progress against planned
• Provide inputs for the quarterly reporting process
• Ensure Program and Project managers provide quality and timely reports to NOs/Donors
• Ensure the critical stages of program and project start up and close up is well managed
• Monitor the implementation of all actions and recommendations following GA Audits  and risk management
• Monitor and provide updates to the CLT on the Management Standards implementation
• Support the progam and project annual review process
• Support the development of the Country Strategy

Support the Program Influence & Impact area Managers for a good coordination and management of Plan International overall oprations in the program area :

• Provide support to PIIAMs to enable them play their role properly
• Hold regular meetings with PIIAMs to discuss operational issues and give them the required support
• Ensure issues raised through the weekly PIIA team meetings are properly dealt with
• Facilitate network between PIIAs for experience sharing and lessons learnt purpose
• Conduct Field visits on a regular basis  to support PIIA Teams and follow up program and project implementation

Team Management

• Ensure the Program Implemenation departement team objectives are well set and their performances well monitored using Plan’s performance management system.
• Discuss the personal development and carrior aspiration needs with the team and support them in achieving these objectives
• Ensure all team members complete mandatory training on the Plan Global Policies:Gender and Inclusion, Children and Youth Safeguarding, BSAFE, Money landering, Sexual harassment and bullying, ….

Dealing with Problems:

 

• The Head of Programme Implementation oversees a large team. Excellent team management and leadership skills are then crucial for the job holder to succeed in this role.

• Plan International Burkina’s programme portfolio is steadily growing. The right staffing, skill set and delivery mechanisms will need to be in place to ensure timely and effective portfolio management that meets the requirements of all stakeholders.

• Overseeing program implementation in a complex environment will require the Head of Programme Implementation to be a strong leader, critical thinker, team player and sound decision maker.

• The person may be appointed as acting CD and represent Plan International Burkina Faso in key internal and external fora, and therefore should have strong representation skills.

Communications and Working Relationships:

 

• Country Director: High
• CLT: High
• Sector leaders : medium
• MER Unit : Medium
• PIAMs: High

Knowledge, Skills, Behaviors, and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

Gained through education, training, & experience

Knowledge

• University degree (Master level II) with background in Development Studies, Management, Social Sciences or related area
• At least 8 years experience in related managerial position with solid supervisory and support skills
• Understanding of country’s development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and implications to community development
• Demonstrated experience as a development professional in planning, monitoring, and evaluating programs
• Networking experience with development organizations in the country and at the international level
• Proven experience in a similar managerial level position in a reputable international organization
• Understands Plan’s work, and implements processes and practices that support achievement of organisational objectives
• Sound understanding of field realities
• Speaks, reads and writes English fluently.

Behaviours/skills

Striving for high performance:

• Achieves clarity and accountability among whole team of their individual and collective objectives;
• Organises work clearly and effectively within the team;
• Deals with poor performers by either improving their contribution or managing their exit, if appropriate.

Strategic thinking and innovation:

• Creates strong strategic direction for own part of organisation in wider Plan context;
• Major contributor to direction in the management team of which they are a member;
• Flexible in responding to new demands presented in emergency situations.

Decision making and risk management:

• Can address complex problems in a balanced way;
• Good judgment in decision-making, making best use of available information;
• Willing to make difficult or unpopular decisions and stand by them.

Influence and communication:

• Uses the potential of varied cultures to reach solutions;
• Excellent listener who understands and shows sensitivity to the views of others;
• Forms good relationships quickly with wide range of people, including those in positions of power and who have different views/ interests;
• Represents Plan effectively with senior people in external stakeholder organisations;
• Understands external and internal politics and able to navigate these;
• Communicates with clarity and passion both 1-1 and with large groups;
• Effective negotiator in complex situations;
• Assertive without being aggressive.

Building effective teams and partnerships:

• Creates a highly motivated team with a unified purpose;
• Modifies own view to get best outcome for organisation;
• Contributes effectively to work of other functions/ units and to management team as a whole
• Able to build partnerships and improve relationships;
• Resolves conflict effectively in own team or across boundaries.

Developing people:

• Continuously uses both 1-1 and team situations to develop others;
• Organises work to give others development opportunities;
• Adapts style to suit the needs of a wide variety of people;
• Deals effectively with mistakes and re-motivates those involved.

Self-awareness and resilience:

• Aware of own strengths, weaknesses and pro-active in using feedback and self-development
• Aware of impact on others and uses impact to create positive climate at work
• Aware of own emotional reactions and able to manage them
• Manages own workload effectively and manages stress without harm to self or others
• Positive about change and able to cope well with ambiguity and support others in doing so

Physical Environment and Demands:

 

This position requires 60% travel within Plan Program Influence & Impact areas and sometimes outside the country.

Level of Contact with Children:

Mid contact: The job responsibilities of this position does not require the post holder to have frequent contact with children. There would be occasional contact with them and it is expected that children shall be protected at all times.

Location: Ouagadougou /Burkina Faso

Type of Role: Local Fixed Term

Reports to: the Country Director

Grade: E

Closing Date: september 30th 2023

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates