Head of Programme Implementation 252 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 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

ROLE PROFILE

Title	Head of Programme Implementation
Functional Area	Programmes
Reports to	Country Director
Location	Kampala, Uganda	Travel required	50%, including over the weekend.
Effective Date	August 2020	Grade	F

ROLE PURPOSE

The Head of Programme Implementation (HoPI) is responsible to ensure the programmes and project are implemented with the highest of standard and quality for impact on the lives of children as defined in the Plan International Uganda (PIU) country strategy. The incumbent will be accountable for delivery of our projects on  time, scope and budget as per project management standards.

The position reports to the Country Director and works closely with the Head of Programme Strategy, while line managing the Project Managers for big projects (PMs, Program Area Managers (PAMs) and Grants and compliance  Manager for quality implementation of all projects. Quality implementation is defined as implementation on time, scope and budget.

Dimensions of the Role

• Ensures all project implementation is aligned with Country Strategy and that projects are implemented according to donor compliance standards and objectives as well as those of Plan International.
• Ensures that all projects are implemented on time, scope and budget.
• Ensures that grant reporting is of high quality and accurate.
• Responsible for ensuring knowledge management and learning is shared and taken into consideration in new projects and programmes.
• Effectively translating programme design into implementation, delivery and direction through to final report submission.
• Continually monitor and evaluate programme implementation to determine necessary adaptations to meet programme goals and objectives.
• Responsible for effective use of tools for project monitoring by programme teams, and review and development of tools where necessary.
• Review programme related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and procedures, identifying gaps and setting benchmarks to ensure effective programme implementation, communication, monitoring and reporting
• Travel regularly ( spends at least 2 weeks per month outside of Kampala office) to programme sites to ensure project objectives are being met and Country Office technical staff are closely connected to field operations.
• A member of the Country Management Team (CMT) and Country Leadership Team (CLT)

Accountabilities

• Leads and coaches Project Managers, Program Area Manager, Grants team and other relevant staff/departments to achieve the targets of the annual plans and effectively use available tools for monitoring of budgets and work plans.
• Ensures all project expenditures are as per plan and meet the monthly/quarterly KPIs with timely budget re-adjustments where needed.
• Develops and supports effective mechanisms for collaboration between Country Office based Programme leadership and Programme Area Managers to ensure all teams are working well together in line with approved annual plans.
• Contributes to the development and management of the Programme Department budget.
• Ensures that different sectoral projects are implemented in a coordinated and integrated programmatic manner and that Sponsorship funded programme  activities are contributing to achievement of the Country Strategy

• Child Protection and Gender Equality & Inclusion

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Key relationships

Internal:

• Head of Programme Strategy
• Project Managers
• Program Area Managers
• Grants & Compliance  Manager
• Technical Advisers
• Business Development Manger
• Sponsorship Manager
• Country Leadership Team
• Country Programme and Country Operations Team
• Programme Area Managers and field staff

External:

• Partners, civil society members and alliances
• Other INGO leaders and networks.
• National and local authorities (national government, municipalities, etc.)
• Relevant UN cluster group, including UN and donor representatives

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

• Proven track records of excellent program cycle management within a complex organizational structure.
• Knowledge / experience in humanitarian response or development work
• Team leadership and development experience with diverse national and international staff.
• Uses management information systems and tools for analysis to identify and make recommendations on improvements to ways of working, processes, procedures and/or resources that will enhance efficiency and effectiveness in programme delivery.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills with an advocacy and influencing focus
• Experience of capacity building and prior experience in the design, delivery, or management of programmes in education, youth economic empowerment, water and sanitation, humanitarian response in Uganda/East Africa or in a country with similar context.
• Conceptional and analytical skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and the ability to analyse and synthesise complex issues will be essential as will strong networking, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Master’s Degree in relevant field
• Minimum five years of professional experience in direct programme management or overseeing the program implementation

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience of gender transformative programing
• Knowledge of child rights-based approach to programming

Behaviours

• Ability to follow on details and hold his team responsible for results.
• Clear and effective communication that builds relationships in order to influence others
• Proactively organises and manages performance
• Responsibility for own decisions
• Cooperates and work with team members
• Demonstrate high degree of professionalism and integrity
• Confident in taking initiative and exploring new opportunities
• Behaves consistently in approach to work and decision making
• Strongly drives performance in the area of responsibility with the team

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
• We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
• We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

Physical Environment

Typical office environment with 50% travel locally in programme areas and internationally.

Level of contact with children

Mid contact: Occasional interaction with children

As a Child Centred Development organisation, Plan International Uganda strives to ensure that children are kept safe in all the areas we operate. The organisation further has a Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy that every staff is required to sign. As a result, this position comes with additional responsibilities for safeguarding children and young people:

Additional Responsibilities:

Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy (SCYP) Responsibilities (mandatory for all staff)

• Adhere to the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy, Code of Conduct and reporting any Safeguarding issues.
• Responsible for the implementation of the Safeguarding Children and Young People  standards as they apply to area of responsibility plus the development of actions to address identified gaps and monitoring their effectiveness.
• Ensure that all Plan International partners, visitors and associates in his/her area of responsibility are provided with, are made aware off and have signed and returned a copy of the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy. Inform the partners, visitors and associates that they must comply with the policy in all contacts and communications with children during their visit.