Deputy Director of International Programmes

Role purpose:

ShelterBox is searching for a senior humanitarian leader with significant programme, people, and budget management experience to join the leadership team of our agile and effective International Programmes Department. Reporting to the Director of International Programmes, this is a transformational and impactful role. The successful candidate will manage urgent priority activities and manage regional programmes/projects, ensuring we deliver high quality, impactful outcomes at speed and scale for the people we support. Working with the Head of Emergency Response to ensure that regional programmes teams can effectively support and/or lead emergency responses as appropriate.

As Deputy Director of International Programmes, you will lead and oversee the design and delivery of ShelterBox’s regional programmes. You will also ensure ShelterBox prioritises equitable partnership, overseeing and guiding work to develop our strategic and in-country programmatic partnerships, and ensuring that our partnership approaches, systems, and processes are supportive and effective.

The Department has a recently completed programme strategy and this will form the basis of strategic and departmental changes for growth, building on a significant increase in programme portfolio in 2022. This role will be expected to support the Director in the delivery of the strategy with the aim of achieving greater scale, quality and focus on partnerships in our programmes. The Deputy Director will also be key in leading critical work on project cycle management and supporting programme staff in the development of high-quality concept notes and proposals, helping to drive sustainable income growth in line with strategic objectives.

This role will deputise for the Director of International Programmes when required and will report to the CEO/Board of Trustees on a regular basis on programme delivery performance. The International Programmes Senior Leadership team will also work closely with our Fundraising /Finance teams and larger affiliates (particularly ShelterBox USA) to ensure an aligned approach to programme funding.

The role will also encompass high-level relationship building and advocacy with partner organisations to consolidate the reputation and position of ShelterBox within the humanitarian sector.

The successful candidate will be starting a role within a fast-paced organisation realigning itself for further growth in the face of mounting humanitarian needs. We look forward to welcoming candidates who share our passion and teamwork to achieve this.

Duties will include but not be limited to:

• Management of a broad and growing portfolio of regional programmes (responding to chronic emergencies, budget circa £10 million per annum) in line with the organisational and international programmes strategies ensuring quality, timely, impactful, and on-budget programme/project implementation.
• Ensuring regional programmes have the appropriate infrastructure to respond in a timely, effective way to humanitarian emergencies in coordination with response team.
• Providing effective line management to direct reports, ensuring their roles and responsibilities are clear and defined workplans are in place at team and project levels.
• Working closely with the Head of Security to prioritise the safety of our teams.
• Embedding and supporting a culture of project cycle management. Playing a key role in defining ShelterBox’s PCM approach and mentoring and coaching staff on putting this into practice.
• Lead relevant areas of work under organisational and international programmes strategies and participate in internal strategic meetings and reporting processes
• Participate actively in and contribute to strategic meetings and initiatives of the humanitarian community where relevant e.g., Shelter Cluster, etc.
• Deputising for the Director of International Programmes (as and where appropriate).
• Identifying and developing key partnerships that will enhance ShelterBox’s programme effectiveness. Strategically positioning ShelterBox by fostering innovation and learning, and in identifying new opportunities and partnerships.
• Collaborating with the MEAL team to further develop and strengthen ShelterBox’s approach to monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning and embed new/adapted activities in the project cycle.
• Accounting for the best use of financial resources within the regional programmes team, ensuring all budgeting, financial monitoring and procurement processes are effective and efficiently implemented.
• Prioritising ‘do no harm’ principles. Working with the Programme Quality team to define a Protection and Inclusion Framework relevant for ShelterBox’s programmes and leading work to embed this within the project cycle. Ensuring those who encounter ShelterBox as a result of our activities are safeguarded from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings which place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury, and any other harm.
• Maintaining exacting standards in all aspects of ShelterBox’s activities so that the reputation of the organisation is protected in the view of donors, partners, and the people we support. This includes effective measurement of impact and overall performance.
• Leading a culture which actively promotes learning and improvements in its practices, processes, and outcomes, across all aspects of its work, seeking feedback from all stakeholders including other departments such as Fundraising & Communications and Finance.
• Providing timely updates to International Programmes Director/CEO/Board of Trustees on all aspects of ShelterBox’s programme/project delivery and impact.
• Working away from home, this may be UK or overseas training or deployment to disaster affected areas. You may be required to travel 2 – 3 times a year.

Other responsibilities

• Any other duties as required which are deemed appropriate to the level and grade of the post.