TITLE: OFDA Project Director
TEAM/PROGRAMME: OFDA LOCATION: 50 % Sana’a with frequent travel to Hodeida, Sa’ada, Amran, Hajjah, and Taiz
GRADE: TBC CONTRACT LENGTH:
Permanent 0
Fixed Term 1 15 months
CHILD SAFEGUARDING: (select only one)
Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programmes; or are visiting country programmes; or because they are responsible for implementing the policy checking/vetting process staff.
ROLE PURPOSE:
Save the Children (SC), one of the largest NGOs in Yemen, is seeking a Project Director for its 2019-USAID/OFDA-funded programme, designed to deliver emergency health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, and child protection services with significant reach to conflict-affected people in Hodeida, Sa’ada, Amran, Hajjah, and Taiz governorates of Yemen. In this project, SC will contribute to reducing mortality and morbidity levels and increase wellbeing among conflict-affected children and their families in Yemen through integrated services. We are currently seeking a senior-level Project Director to lead this critical programme in Yemen.
The Project Director (PD) will be based in Sana’a with 50-60% travel to the governorates of implementation to work with a strong and committed team of Field Managers and Health, Nutrition, WASH and CP programme teams to provide management oversight and operational guidance, support monitoring and evaluation, and ensure the quality and timely delivery of the project. They will also ensure effective financial and operational management of the project. The Project Director will represent the project to USAID/OFDA, and other key stakeholders in Yemen and the region.
In the current humanitarian emergency context, the role holder may be expected to work outside the normal profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Director of Programme Operations
Staff reporting to this post: Highly dedicated OFDA project team members (Health & Nutrition Sr. Project Manager, WASH Sr. Project Manager, Child Protection Manager, Finance, Reporting and Compliance Manager, MEAL Coordinator, Pharmacy Coordinator, Project Assistant)
Budget Responsibilities: OFDA project, according to Scheme of Delegation TBC
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :
Programme Implementation
Working closely with the Field Managers and Health, Nutrition, WASH and CP programme managers:
• Ensure that efficient systems are in place to support all aspects of project activity, including financial and grant management, project monitoring, and evaluation, and that they support the effective use of project resources in compliance with USAID/OFDA requirements.
• Oversee and support implementation, including the supervision of proper targeting, identification, registration, and monitoring of beneficiary lists to prevent overlap with other humanitarian programmes in the intervention zone. Work closely with the USAID/FFP-funded program team to ensure maximum integration of services.
• Coordinate closely with other humanitarian actors and UN agencies carrying out programme activities for geographic mapping and to ensure programme activities are in line with national and humanitarian technical priorities.
• Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) team (MEAL Advisor, MEAL Coordinators, and MEAL Officers) to develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation plans and to capture learning opportunities (see additional information in the Monitoring and Evaluation section below). Build adaptive management into routine program activities to leverage this learning.
• Ensure the development and successful implementation of work plans, and oversee the creation of reports and other deliverables for submission to Save the Children US and USAID/OFDA in a timely and accurate manner.
• Oversee timely expenditure of approved budgets, avoiding both underspending and overspending on grant line items.
• Continually monitor for developments in the operating context that might require a change to the programme implementation plan (e.g. revision to the budget, or inclusion of a geographical area due to increased need) and discuss with relevant stakeholders to proactively propose solutions
• Ensure compliance with all USAID/OFDA grant requirements.
Personnel and Administration
• Supervise programme staff: conduct performance evaluations, identify staff development needs and opportunities for professional development, provide management support to staff as needed, and maintain office policy of respect and communication between supervisors and subordinates.
• See that all project staff are aware of and understand SCI policies and procedures; take appropriate disciplinary measures as needed.
• Promote accountability, communicating expectations and providing constructive feedback through regular performance reviews.
• Responsible for the timely recruitment, orientation, and training of new staff as needed.
• Ensure all administrative procedures are followed, such as those regarding vehicle use and procurement; ensure logistics/administrative staff provide sufficient and timely support to programmes and programmatic staff, and that data collection processes are standardized and applied by all field staff.
Representation and Leadership
• The Project Director will represent Save the Children in relevant coordination fora within the country and internationally as and when required.
• Maintain good working relationships with officials and other humanitarian actors, particularly those within the relevant government agencies (local and national authorities including technical departments), INGOs, NGOs, UN agencies) and with visiting donor and third-party monitoring teams, and other key contacts. Keep abreast of NGO, government, and donor initiatives relevant to SC’s work.
• Represent SC and maintain good working relationships aamong community leadership structures and community-based organizations.
• Maintain focus on SC programme principles.
• Represent SC and the multi-sector programme in USAID donor meetings and with representatives from USAID/OFDA.
Monitoring and Eevaluation
- Where security permits, the Project Director will make regular visits to field sites, to monitor and oversee project implementation and offer advice.
• Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning unit to develop tools and ideas to ensure that the programme is monitored against measurable and appropriate indicators.
• Support programme assessments, evaluations and other reviews required in the programme.
• Contribute to situation/response analysis and any corresponding revision of programme strategy documents and sector response plans ensuring integration with other sectors.
Business Development and New Initiative
- Contribute to the identification of new initiatives and opportunities that respond to country strategy.
• Play a leadership role in the development of follow-on proposals; coordinate input from Field Offices and relevant stakeholders in country, and define programme strategy
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
• Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, 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 their team to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
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 calculated risks.
Integrity:
• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
QUALIFICATIONS
Master’s degree or equivalent experience in development, humanitarian response, technical sector (health, nutrition, WASH or protection), or related field is required.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
• Minimum 10 years of demonstrable professional experience in implementing multi-sector programmes, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a leadership role overseeing the implementation of projects relevant to either health, nutrition, WASH or child protection
• Experience within a complex country programme in complex emergency responses and fragile states; prior experience working in conflict settings
• Demonstrates exceptional managerial and operational leadership skills; experience managing through influence in a matrix organisation.
• Significant experience of NGO emergency programme cycle management, including field-level project implementation and working against log frames.
• Demonstrable financial and budget management experience; experience as a budget holder
• In- depth knowledge and experience of logistics systems and requirements in a multi- field office, multi programme setting
• Experience in managing USG funding and familiarity with federal regulations is critical.
• Flexibility and the ability to effectively adjust expectations to on-the ground realities, while adhering to humanitarian principles and standards.
• Strength in inspiring and enabling others through teamwork, training, and capacity building to realize organizational objectives.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.
Desirable
• Previous Project Director experience
• Technical expertise in at least one of the project sectors
• Experience in cash and/or food assistance programmes
• Prior experience in Yemen
• Oral and written communication skills in Arabic
• Familiarity with the political, social, and cultural context of Yemen
• Experience in designing and managing USAID-funded programmes
• Previously completed Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT)
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.
More Information
- Job City Ethiopia
