Deputy Response Team Leader- Operations

Deputy Response Team Leader- Operations

ROLE PURPOSE:

Following the start of the conflict in Ukraine, thousands of people fled to neighbouring countries including Poland which welcomed more than 2 million refugees. STC sent in an initial response team to assess needs of children and their families in Poland and is scaling up programmatic response with local civil society partners and municipalities like Krakow, Warsaw where we support education, child protection and psychosocial support to those in need and a cash and voucher program to newly arrived in Poland.

The Deputy Team Leader of Operations is providing support the Team Leader in managing the Poland refugee response, and provide operational expertise and direction in delivering programmes, in collaboration with the Middle East and Eastern Europe Regional office SMT members. The post-holder will effectively and efficiently coordinate operations systems, processes and activities so that programmes are delivered on time according to organisational strategy, operational plans, donor requirements and within allocated budgets. They will take leadership on aspects related to management of the field offices’ structures and, dependant on size and structure of the response will include the management of other relevant programme delivery departments, such as security, logistics and fleet/transport systems, awards management. The post holder will play a strategic role in the effective scale up and management of Save the Children emergency programmes to increase impact and enable positive change for children.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Operational Leadership

• Lead on the Humanitarian Response operational planning and reviews, in line with the Response Strategic Plan (where applicable) and Save the Children global guidelines.
• Agree and support the design and implementation of the operational structure and model
• Line Manage the operations team
• Oversee effective functioning of supply chain systems to procure, store and distribute stock, supplies and services for the timely delivery of project objectives at national level. Coordinate with Deputy Team Leader Programmes to ensure that programme supply strategies are in place.
• Oversee creation and implementation of effective finance, awards and new business development management systems at country and field office level
• Oversee creation and implementation of effective safety and security management systems at field office levels, ensure that these are updated and revised at regular intervals and that new programmes are built around security considerations
• Support the identification and management of operational relationship with partners, along with implementation of their development and capacity building planning
• Support the development of advocacy and media materials and their review.
• Support the establishment and use of safeguarding policies including prompt incident reporting

Programme Support

Take overall lead to ensure integrated supply chain, project management and, where required, other administrative, advisory and support services to field offices/programmes are in place and efficient to enable effective and impactful programme/project implementation according to donor guidelines and Save the Children minimum standards.

Take overall lead in compiling the Humanitarian Response monthly, quarterly and annual progress reports against the Response Strategy and relevant operational plans and any other KPI system. Ensure strong accountability to beneficiaries

Work with Deputy Team Leader – Programmes to oversee institutionalisation of MEAL systems to ensure timely and effective delivery of programme/projects activities and outputs as well as appropriate accountability to donors, communities and children

As a member of a response Senior Management Team, play a leadership role in the overall management of SC emergency responses.

In coordination with the Deputy Team Leader – Programmes ensure the preparation of timely programme and donor reports on project activities in compliance with internal SC requirements and any relevant external donor requirements.

Take overall leadership on ensuring operational staffing needs (both national and international) for emergency programmes are met – this will include scale up of teams as well as scale down at the end of a response. This will include leading on staffing structure, recruitment, and performance management.

Ensure that the minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Charter and Red Cross Code of Conduct.

Coordinate with SC members and HQ teams to ensure that operational backstopping support is in place.

Capacity Building:

• In liaison with the HR Director, feed into the development of capacity building and, where applicable, nationalization plans
• Oversee the delivery of capacity building plans to develop the requisite operational competencies in operational staff.
• Coach and mentor operational surge capacity staff and national level counterparts and link in to wider organisational talent development mechanisms.

Representation & Advocacy & Organisational Learning:

• Represent Save the Children’s emergency response on a national, regional and international level to donors, the media and members of the humanitarian community.
• Help shape broader sector strategies through influence of and leadership within inter-agency coordination forums, ensuring the specific needs of children are being addressed
• Take the initiative in documenting lessons learnt, best practice and case studies to shape in-country strategies and programme approaches, and contribute to broader sector learning.
• Support implementation of response review framework (OCR, RTR, AAR and EHA) and ensure follow up and implementation of recommended actions
• Pro-actively identify advocacy opportunities, case studies and research opportunities which link with wider organisational strategic objectives, and turn these into action.
• Support organisational level operational practice, innovation and learning in consultation with relevant advisory teams.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Extensive experience of working within a senior management role within a complex country programme in an emergency response or fragile state; and/or extensive experience of setting up responses in out of area contexts (either where no SC presence or CO presence); and/or extensive experience of working in high income contexts

• Previous experience of managing programme teams in large-scale first phase emergency response is essential

• Degree level or equivalent field experience

• Previous experience of managing a large multi-sector, multi-national team

• Previous experience of programme management across multiple locations

• Experience of managing multi-donor, multi-site, multi-sector programmes (including ECHO, DFID and OFDA) Security management experience across a large programme.

• Demonstrated ability to set up operational management systems in a large complex programme

• In depth knowledge and experience of logistics systems and requirements in a multi field office, multi programme setting

• Experience of supporting MEAL systems in large complex programmes

• Proven ability of mentoring and coaching

• Experience of senior level representation

• Experience of developing and negotiating successful partnerships with institutional donors

• Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports

• Excellent communication skills

• Proven ability to influence change at an operational and strategic level

• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy

• A high level of written and spoken English

Desirable

• Fluent in Polish or Ukrainian
• Media experience
• Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/context

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.