Program Support Manager 47 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.

 

Job description

Position:Program Support Manager – Strategy

Department & Location:Programme Department, Country Office

Type of Contract:Local contract

Reports to:Country Director

Location: Country Office             

Amount of travel required:            30%

Date         January 2021            

Grade        E

Manages and develops program support unit staff to improve staff performance. To do this, the position holder will:

1. 1. All program support unit staff actively participate in the annual performance management process, including planning, coaching, monitoring and assessing
   2. Unit staff are provided training and development opportunities that result in professional growth
   3. Unit staff possess the requisite knowledge and skills to perform all assigned job responsibilities
   4. The management of unit staff members promotes organizational values such as teamwork, empowerment, risk taking, customer responsiveness and communications.
   5. Unit staff fully understand and comply with internal operating policies and procedures
   6. Short and long term human resource plans are developed and maintained according to established guidelines.

Performance Management of the direct reports (Technical Specialists)

• Direct reports are clearly communicated to on program implementation issues.
• Direct reports are guided with appropriate key performance indicators.
• Performances are recorded and recognized.
• Coaching/counselling sessions are done on regular basis.
• Professional development needs are identified and addressed in association with HR
• Works with the direct reports closely on program implementation issues.
• Shares program monitoring issues for continuous improvement in program implementation.
• Recognizes and records performance of the direct reports.
• Provides coaching and counselling to the direct reports as and when required.
• Identifies professional development needs for the direct reports and assists HR in arranging appropriate staff development events.
• Carries out routine administrative procedure for the direct reports on their performance appraisal.

Annual operational plan

• Ensures approved operational plans for grant-funded projects are in place as per Country Strategy (CS) and Country Program and shared among staff and partners
• Programs and grant-funded projects are implemented in accordance with CS
• Leads annual program planning activities.
• Provides follow up and support for program implementation.
• Provides inputs for ensuring quality of program.

Programs aligned with Child Centred Community Development approach

• Makes program implementation aligned with CCCD
• Collects regular feedback from the field and passes on to the CO-Program team
• Provides operational guidelines to the PU team.
• Facilitates field staff development process for promoting CCCD
• Screens all materials related to CCCD developed by PIIAs

Program monitoring and evaluation

• Field monitoring activities are led.
• Inputs for reports are provided to grants management team
• Results and inputs are tracked and monitored through PIIAs.
• Fully functional output monitoring system is in place.
• Field staff are trained in participatory M & E system
• Monitors ongoing program activities.
• Monitors grants projects and provides input to donor reporting
• Use of PIIA quarterly reports and research data for improving program implementation.
• Provides inputs to research, monitoring and evaluation exercises.
• Assists HR in capacity building for the monitoring staff in the field.
• Provides supports to field level of advocacy
• Appropriates partner/networks working for Plan programs
• Advocacy campaigns are done in the field

Dealing with Problems:

Complexity of problems handled & the degree of investigation, analysis, & creative thinking required solving them

This includes how much freedom the position has to make decisions; for example, “may approve invoices up to $1,000.”

• Designs, develops and supports the implementation of monitoring, evaluation and research programs  within the organization
• Puts in place creative and easy-to-understand approaches that would support staff understand and implement monitoring, evaluation and research
• Works with minimum supervision
• Analyses issues for decision making to strengthen and support delivery of monitoring, evaluation and research that meets organizational requirements and refer to high manager for approval

Communications and Working Relationships:

Working contacts inside and outside the organization; include the purpose and level (high, medium, low) of the contact

• There is a medium contact with community members, children and other stakeholders to develop and implement programs that would meet Plan Ghana’s monitoring, evaluation and research program implementation.
• Maintains high contact with staff working on monitoring, evaluation and research and program activities at PIIA level to offer support for understanding and implementation of monitoring, evaluation and research related activities
• There is a low contact with other staff to support them with understanding monitoring, evaluation and research and their support in the implementation of related activities.

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

Knowledge:

• A Master’s degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences or any related area.
• Demonstrated excellence in the delivery of health, education water and sanitation, grants support management and community development.

• Proven experience in a similar senior management level in a reputable international organization
• At least 5 years’ experience in related management position with solid supervisory support skills
• Speaks, reads and writes Portuguese fluently, English is an advantage

Demonstrated behaviours needed by the position holder to successfully perform the role:

• Seen as a source of development expertise, and  proactive in sharing knowledge and advice
• Influencing staff to improve performance
• Promotes high performance
• Open to feedback and willing to try new approaches and processes
• Leads by example. Coaches and actively develops others.
• Understands Plan’s work, and implements processes and practices that support achievement of  organisational objectives
• Communicates in a style that inspires confidence and professionalism
• Ability to involve and listen to others to ensure good understanding and implementation of programs activities
• Able to make effort for adaptability
• Team spirit;

Skills Specific to the post needed to put knowledge into practice.

• Process management, facilitation, negotiation, people management, information management,
• Strong leadership skills,
• Excellent report writing and Presentation skills,
• Excellent human relations and ability to work with minimum supervision
• Excellent knowledge of monitoring, research and evaluation using quantitative and qualitative principles
• Good knowledge of data management software (SPSS, Epi Info,  EXCEL, World, Power Point, Access)
• Good training skills
• Excellent written and verbal skills in English;

Physical Environment and Demands:

May be “typical office environment”; note if heavy lifting, climbing, excess travel, etc.

Travel requirements

This position entailles 20% travelling to the field to support communistes, staff and partners in the Program Units.

Level of Contact with Children:

Low contact:     No contact or very low frequency of interaction

Mid contact:     Occasional interaction with children

High level:        Frequent interaction with children

Mid contact: the job responsibilities of this position require occasional contact with children and it is expected that children shall be protected at all times.

Plan’s Values

We strive for lasting impact

We strive to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls. We challenge ourselves to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative.

We are open and accountable    

We create a climate of trust inside and outside the organization by being open, honest and transparent. We hold ourselves and others to account for the decisions we make and for our impact on others, while doing what we say we will do.

We work well together

We succeed by working effectively with others, inside and outside the organization, including our sponsors and donors. We actively support our colleagues, helping them to achieve their goals. We come together to create and implement solutions in our teams, across Plan International, with children, girls, young people, communities and our partners.

We are inclusive and empowering

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

Submission of applications

All applications must be submitted on the digital platform. Access link:

https://jobs.plan-international.org/search/?createNewAlert=false&q=Bissau

The deadline for submission of applications will be until December 15, 2020

The female candidates are highly encouraged.

Office: Guinea Bissau Country Office

Location: Bissau, Guinea Bissau

Operating languages: Portugues, English & French

Employment status: Full time

Type of Contract: Local

Deadline for submission:15/12/2020

 

Female applications are highly encouraged

ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

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.