Deputy Country Director Programme Operations

Deputy Country Director Programme Operations

ROLE PURPOSE:

As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Deputy Country Program Operations (DCDPO) shares in the overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of the Country Office. The DCDPO in his/her capacity is responsible for implementation of all programming in country, including the management of all sub offices, emergency preparedness and response (including DRR). The DCDPO will deputise for the Country Director as needed.

SCOPE OF THE ROLE:

Reports to: Country Director

Technical Report: Operations and Humanitarian Response Director

Dimensions: Overall responsibility of programme implementation for the Ukraine Country Office’s program portfolio, approximately $100m USD annually across all Of Ukraine both GCA and NGCA.

Staff directly reporting to this post: 7 direct reports

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contribute to:

• Leadership of the Ukraine Country Office
• Support the development of an organisational culture that reflects our dual mandate values, promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and frees up our people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our Members and donors
• Help design and implement a coherent organizational structure that is consistent with agency practices and appropriate to program needs
• Help establish, maintain, and improve active and regular working relationships with: host government authorities, donors, partner agencies including major institutional donors, and local and international NGOs
• Ensure that the required support is provided promptly, at scale and in line with the rules and principles during emergencies, working closely with the Regional Office

Oversight and Management of Program Operations

• Responsible for overall coordination of program implementation and delegated responsibility for field delivery of high quality programming in line with Save the Children standards and the objectives of the country strategy
• In close coordination with the Deputy Country Director Program Development and Quality (DCDPDQ) and Director of Finance and Admin, participate in program proposal process and ensure that all programs progress in accordance with award agreements, are completed within time, on budget, with quality and compliance
• Working with DCDPDQ, participate in conceptualizing and designing cost effective, innovative and high quality programs to serve difficult to reach children
• Serve as overall budget holder for most programming; manage and support budget holders for individual projects and awards and ensure project expenditure is in line with work plans and commitments to donors and members
• Ensure programs are implemented in ways responsive to the communities, and children in line with Save the Children principles, values and strategic plan and following Save the Children compliance procedures. This includes working with government and national NGO-partners to strengthen national capacity
• Ensure, with the Director of Awards and his/her team, the preparation of timely and high quality progress reports, program reports, and donor reports
• Coordinate overall funding process from both donors and Save the Children Members. This including: developing funding strategies, participating in the development of award proposals, and identifying strategic leads and concepts
• Oversee all sub-offices through the Deputy Director Programme Operations

Supply Chain, Inventory and Procurement

• Ensure that the country office Supply Chain capacity and systems meet the Minimum Operating Standards and are able to satisfy the programming requirements

• Ensure appropriate and adequate emergency Supply Chain procedures are detailed in the Country Office Emergency Preparedness Plan in order to enable rapid scale up

• Ensure goods and services procured are cost effective and of standard quality

• Ensure procurement processes are effectively implemented

• Work closely with the procurement team in negotiating the best deals with suppliers

• Ensure proper record keeping, maintenance and control of inventory

• Ensure proper documentation and recording of fixed assets of the organisation

• Manage the fixed assets

Emergency Response Management

• Strengthen the Ukraine CO organisational readiness to respond to emergencies in line with global emergency goal and benchmarks
• Ensure that the CO designs, updates and implements a full set of emergency preparedness actions, drawing on member input and resources
• Mount appropriate and timely responses at scale to all emergencies consistent with established benchmarks, plans and organizational policies, and in close cooperation with incoming surge teams
• Ensure that all CO staff across departments and sub offices are familiar with, adhere to and implement the procedures and processes detailed in the Rules and Principles for emergency response
• In coordination with Country Director and Director for Program Design and Quality maintain consistent and coherent engagement in key inter-agency emergency preparedness and response coordination mechanisms including the Cluster system

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development – Program Operations

• Ensure appropriate staffing within Program Operations, including field offices staff
• Ensure that all staff understand and are able to perform their role in an emergency
• Manage Program Implementation team; define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly
• Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff
• Incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process.
• Establish result based system and follow up
• Manage the performance of all staff in the Program Operations work area through:
  • Effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measureable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations;
  • Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities;
  • Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance;
  • Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/ work plans

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.

COMPETENCIES FOR THIS ROLE:

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 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 disciplined risks.

Integrity:

honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential:

• Previous Country Director of a medium to large Country office for an International NGO

• Substantial leadership management experience in an NGO environment, including significant field operations experience running both emergency and development programs

• Robust experience of NGO emergency program cycle management, and with experience of working within a complex and matrix organisation structure

• A very good understanding and working knowledge of at least 3 of the sectoral programs priorities of the Country Office

• Substantial experience in supply chain including sourcing and buying

• Significant knowledge of international humanitarian systems, institutions and donors (including BHA, FCDO, DFATD, UNICEF, WFP, WHO, UNHCR, OCHA, ECHO) and of procedures, accountability frameworks and best practices in emergency management

• Substantial experience and knowledge of effective financial and budgetary control and securing and managing grants from major institutional donors

• Solid project management skills related to organisational development projects and international, cross-functional teams with a proven history of delivering results

• Ability to analyze information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically

• An in-depth understanding of national and international development issues in particular in relation to children

• Previous experience of managing and developing a large diverse team and the ability to lead, motivate and develop others

• Demonstrated credibility with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels of an organization

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills

• Ability and willingness to change work practices and hours, and work with incoming teams in the event of major emergencies

• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights-based approaches

• Fluency in written and spoken English

• Experience working in fragile states or conflict affected country

Desired:

• Project Management Qualification
• Master’s degree in related field

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. This Role is offered on the basis of International terms and conditions. Also, interviews will be held on ongoing basis, adverts will be closed once a person is identified.

For non- EU citizens; Visa is to be obtained.

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/careers

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.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.