Program Manager – TVET Skills Development (FOR MYANMAR NATIONAL ONLY)

ROLE PURPOSE:

Under the direct supervision of Area Program Manager and supported by Child Poverty Technical Lead, the Program Manager will be responsible for the successful implementation and consortium management of the Technical, Vocational, Education and Training project in Kayin, Northern Shan and Kachin. Project includes both direct implementation by Save the Children, as well as activities implemented through engagement with local partners. This action aims to contribute to the inclusive development and wellbeing of children and youth by delivering demand-driven, equitable, and quality Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) opportunities in Shan, Kachin, and Kayin States, informed and led by the communities themselves.

The Program Manager will coordinate with respective stakeholders to achieve the project goal. This post holders will support overall management and coordination to ensure successful implemenatation of project activities in project areas as planned.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Direct Reports to: Area Program Manager

Technical Report to: Head of Program (Child Poverty)

Staff reporting to this post: Program Coordinator/Project Officer (Kayin) -TVET

Budget Responsibilities: Authorise expenditure up to 20,000 USD

Travel: Frequent over 10-15 days per month

Role Dimenesions: Regular contact of detailed explanations of policy, regulations, programs, services and representation of SCI at the local level or with mid-level counterparts.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :

Project Delivery

Assessment / Research

• By coordination with Technical Lead, Senior Programme Manager and MEAL team to implement baseline/mid term and endline studies, as well as relevant project level assessments, including regional gender sensitive labour market assessment;
• Supervise and support project coordinators and partners to conduct necessary research and studies along the project period.

Program Management

• Manage the TVET project in its entirety, ensuring efficient and effective delivery of program activities in targeted townships, including supervising proper program mobilization, preparation, and monitoring according to project plan.
• Together with the Child Poverty Team (SPM, HoP, thematic MEAL and Technical Lead), design and implement TVET and Skills Development component for the targeted community /beneficiaries
• Lead on problem solving and overcoming of implementation challenges, while ensuring that participative management culture is built through involvement of relevant actors in the decision making process.
• Lead on the targeting and verification exercises as required to ensure transparency and accountability in the targeting and selection of programme beneficiaries.
• Together with MEAL team, ensure that accountability and feedback mechanisms are established, and feedback points are set up including documenting and follow up on feedback received.
• Ensure implementation of and compliance to the SOPs and other operational manuals designed for the implementation of the programme (e.g., Productive Grants Scheme, Transferable Life Skills Manual, etc.).
• Coordinate and work with the programme teams and partner for project implementation, including engagement with other sectors when and where needed.
• Provide support and supervision to the staff to ensure successful implementation of programme, and provide opportunities for staff development. Develop capacity building plans fit for project purpose and in line with the long term staff development and succession plans.
• Ensure proper budget management, including budget planning, phasing, expenditure, financial monitoring and reporting in line with donor requirements and as per SCI Scheme of Delegation.
• Through monitoring and field visits, provide supervision and management guidance to staff to ensure quality and timely implementation of the project, within defined budget and in line with the key performance indicators.
• Define programme supply needs through the development of Procurement Plans and coordinate with the logistics team and program coordinators to put in place a practically phased procurement plan.
• Identify budget variances and communicate with HOP and SPM on major variances and solutions identified.
• Coordinate with HOP and awards team to prepare requests for budget revisions, realignment and other grant modifications.
• Coordinate and work closely together with the HAOs, APM and PC in everyday management, detailed work planning, etc.
• Address any project-related issue timely and raise any potential risks or issues to the Head of Area Office and Senior Programme Manager.
• Undertake additional tasks that are relevant to program management and activity implementations that may be assigned by his / her line manager or technical lead, including the development of new project proposals and the response to emergencies, in the area or at country level.
• Comply with Save the Children policies and practices with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities, and other relevant policies and procedures.

MEAL

• Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) team (including the MEAL Manager, MEAL Advisor, MEAL Coordinator, MEAL assistant) and Child Poverty technical lead to develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation plans and to capture learning opportunities around the effectiveness and efficiency of the project intervention.
• Together with MEAL focal, ensure the program have fully functional accountability mechanism and information is analysed to inform programme adaptation and risk mitigation
• Ensure quality benchmarks are successfully implemented in all project activities and that ongoing analysis informs programme adaptations and quality improvement in coordination with TL, HoP, APM and MEAL team
• Discuss quality (i.e Quality benchmarks) and performance monitoring (i.e IPTT analysis) findings during program coordination/review meetings, regular monitoring visits, review MEAL reports to highlight key project strengths and areas of improvement,
• Supporting MEAL data analysis with MEAL Officer / IMAs and MEAL Coordinator
• Create and maintain communication channels among MEAL Manager / Program Leads / MEAL Coordinator and MEAL Officer

Reporting

• Produce timely and quality reports fit to donor requirements that ensure appropriate capturing of programme impact and outcomes as well as programme outputs based on logical framework and M&E system.
• With the support of the PCs, prepare and submit project reports. As per donor requirements, this will include quarterly progress reports, annual report, final project report, monitoring findings/briefs/reports (baseline, PDM, endline etc.), gender sensitive labour market report, ad hoc monthly/biweekly repots (to be confirmed with donor)
• Prepare ad-hoc project briefs, when required by donor, member or other relevant departments of SCI
• Participate in monthly award review meetings and provide detailed inputs when needed in regards to monthly project review process
• Provide the regular field visit report and updating the Monthly Progress Update of program achievments and plans.
• Supporting and mentoring the creation of quality program reports for co-applicants and entities receiving financial support to third parties (FSTP).
• Regularly communicate, collect and review the monthly partner achievement report.
• Regularly support and collect partner updates on achiemvement, key challenges and local context changes.
• Ensure regular case study and success story collection practice is esablished for the project.

Project Quality Management

• Facilitate necessary preparatory work for monitoring and evaluation (M&E); directing specific data collection exercises including identification and documentation of case studies for documentation by M&E unit.
• Coordination with regional MEAL team for IPTT, QB and KPI data analysis.
• Ensure the regular PDM data collection by project/partner staff to deepen the understanding of activit impact, community context and program achievements.
• Ensure the community based FRM systems are in place for to ensure continuous and adequate feedback loop with beneficiaries and stakeholders.
• Timely and with high data quality update the IPTT (Indicator Performance Tracking Table) to ensure regular monitoring of the Program indicator achievement.
• In coordination with Child Poverty Technical Lead ensure the sustainability and scalability of the project approach and document adequately.
• Coordination with other implementation sectors, Partner and agencies for effective assistance to targeted communities.

Leadership

• Establish clear and compelling objectives with teams and individuals and monitors progress and performance.
• Encourage good initiatives and innovative ideas for her/his staffs and be a supportive and empowering manager.
• Take a results driven, flexible and positive leadership style, adapting to a given situation or to the needs of the team.
• Maintain a focus on achieving results and meeting the agreed objectives, and pro-actively solve problems without having to be instructed by line management.
• Identify clear development needs and development plans for the team through regular reviews of the performance, opportunities and capacity gaps
• Manage and support the team under his/her responsibility and assess the performance of personnel under his/her direct supervision following SCI performance management processes
• Ensure adherence to safety and security regulations and guidelines by personnel under his/her supervision
• Identify learning and training opportunities for project staff and partners and work as a mentor and role model for less experienced staff.
• Work closely with the HR team to identify and address staffing needs.
• Identifying capacity building needs (management, language etc.) for the whole team and in conjunction with the HAO or delegated person, devise a plan for personal development of each staff member.

Coordintion and Liaison

• Assist the Head of Area Office in coordinating with stakeholders, in their area of jurisdiction (e.g., township or villages, as the case may be).
• Represent the project as the project focal person to partners and donors, as well as within interagrency and working group meetings
• Coordination with LNGOs and relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure the coordination with respective departments for effective program planning, support and ensuring value for money.

Child Safeguarding Responsibilities:

• Ensure that staff is providing all beneficiaries of programme with ongoing, age-appropriate verbal or written information in relevant languages about Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree (3 years + education post-secondary school) in development, education, economics, management or other relevant field. Preferable completed or ongoing Master studies in thematic area related to project intervention.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience implementing projects on TVET, skills development, youth engagement or other relevant field. Preferred 3 years in project management roles.
• Excellent written and spoken English, as well as proficiency in Burmese language.
• Basic data management skills preferred, including experience in managing project level data, project level research and studies (baseline, endline) and other relevant MEAL skills.
• Very good people management skills/experience and proven ability to create an environment
• which encourages team-work and motivates a team across various geographical areas.
• Excellent knowledge of project management cycle, including relevant experience in financial management
• Ability to work well in a team, train other staff, and demonstrate experience efficiently managing a team.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.
• Experienced in attending and participating in sector/cluster meetings.
• Experienced at conducting project monitoring and evaluation.
• Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge of Youth Development and TVET sector
• working with children and on children’s issues.
• Ability to make decisions when needed with high level of accountability.
• Capacity to anticipate change and adapt the plans and priorities accordingly
• Knowledge about local context of Norther Shan, Kachin and Kayin will be adventage
• Capacity to work in multicultural environments
• Willingness to frequently travel to project target area from Kayin, Northern Shan and Kachin.
• Willingness and capability to comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures with respect to health and safety, security, equal opportunities and other relevant policies, including the Child Safeguarding Policy.