Save the Children recrute 01 Regional Programme Manager HEA-CH

Role purpose

The Regional Programme Manager HEA-CH will be responsible for the oversight of a 4-year Institutional strengthening programme funded by the EU through Save the Children UK, and a 2-year Household Economy Approach (HEA) programme funded by USAID/BHA through Save the Children US, aimed at fostering Early Warning System and Response capacity building in 11 countries in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone). Both programs will seek to implement the Household Economy Approach (HEA) within the countries, reinforce civil society and regional / national institutions through the transfer of expertise, support for the sustainable appropriation of methodologies and processes and the institutionalization of HEA and transfer to national Early Warning Systems (EWS), to ensure the quality and reliability of analysis and participation within the Regional System for Food Crisis Prevention and Management (PREGEC) system.

The programmes are led by SCI and to be implemented in consortium with two other international partners (Oxfam and ACF), 11 government’s entities and regional institutions.

The Regional Programme Manager HEA-CH will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing the quality of the implementation of the programmes, providing overall strategic leadership and managerial oversight on the administrative, programmatic, technical, data collection and operational aspects. S/he will oversee the day-to-day implementation of the programmes, especially through the Project Coordination Unit and including the teams in the field. S/he will be accountable for the timely and quality implementation of activities, compliance with donor rules and regulations and effective stakeholder relationship management. S/he will be also responsible for developing and maintaining strong working relationships with the donor, regional institutions, governments, consortium members, Save the Children Members (UK and US in particular) and countries’ offices. S/he will act as the primary liaison and program representative.

S/he will also be responsible for the overall management and oversight of areas related to finance, budget management, partner sub-contracting, award / grant management, as well as other operational and administrative duties required by the programmes, ensuring that they are executed timely, efficiently and effectively by the coordination unit and project teams on the field.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

Scope of role

Reports to: Head of Regional Program Unit (HRPU)

Staff reporting to this post:

Direct: Senior HEA Coordinator, Advocacy Coordinator and Finance Coordinator

Matrix Management

Regional level: Level of Effort (LOE) for Awards / Grant and Partnership Management, Admin and Technical Advisor (TA) Food Security and Livelihood (FSL)
In countries: Country lead and technical expert (1 per country)
Role Dimensions: The Regional Programme Manager HEA-CH will be required to work closely to a full spectrum of stakeholders, at SCI regional, country and member levels as well as with international partners.

Save the Children, in partnership with the consortium co-applicants Oxfam and ACF will be implementing the programs in 11 countries. The programmes’ budget are approx. 4.5 Million Euro for the DEVCO and 1.1 Million USD for the USAID/BHA. SC is the consortium lead organization and has the direct lead for activities implementation in Mali, Nigeria, Niger, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast

Annual Gross Salary Level : XOF26,200,000 – XOF35,000,000 (Offer will be based on experience/internal equity and financial ability).

Key areas of accountability

General

• Overall responsibility for the day to day management, coordination and oversight of both programs’ implementation.
• Ensure strategic directions and recommendations provided by the Steering Committee are incorporated and transposed into daily management of the programs and program delivery.
• Provide guidance, strong leadership and ensure rigorous decision-making processes.
• Ensure that the programs are appropriately staffed, including the appropriate combination of expertise across technical and operational areas, building capacity where needed;
• Inspire, lead and motivate the programs’ team to deliver programs’ objectives, including technical advisors, experts, country teams and consultants as well as finance and admin staff working on the programs.
• Ensure constant support is provided by SC and partner country offices to the programs’ staff
• Demonstrate high levels of commitment to Save the Children and our vision, mission and values in order to ensure our strategic objectives and breakthrough are met;
• Ensure the programs and their teams comply with the requirements of Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy to ensure maximum protection for children.

Program delivery, management and quality assurance

• Lead the development, update and regular follow-up of all program management documents such as phased budget, plans of implementation, procurement plans, monitoring plans, grant’s cycle, staff recruitment plans, etc.
• Ensure program coordination and delivery happens in strict adherence to security policy and procedures in 11 West African countries;
• Develop/reinforce external partnerships and in particular with national institutions and ensure adherence to SC partnership procedures.
• Mentor, coach and supervise staff and partners, including ensuring that they report on time and with quality on financial and programmatic aspects in line with agreed schedules and partnership guidelines.
• Ensure the provision of high quality technical assistance by technical advisers at regional, national and local level to the program staff; Mobilize SC members’ TA support as per budget;
• Ensure spending in accordance with value for money-focused management, to be effectively demonstrated to the donor;
• Ensure that regular monitoring, review and evaluation, are implemented in respect with highest quality standards;
• Produce high quality reports within agreed reporting schedules;
• Ensure monthly Programme Key Performance Indicators are within expected Save the Children standards;
• Ensure Save the Children’s Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy is understood by staff within the programme as well as partners and suppliers including stakeholders, and that it is integrated into all aspects of the team’s work;
• Oversee the process of learning, evaluation, capturing and disseminating lessons from the programs for continuous improvement of programs’ performance and overall outcome;
• Ensure that an effective monitoring system is in place for achieving agreed programs targets;
• Ensure monitoring and evaluation tools are systematically implemented and used by the teams, in collaboration with the technical staff and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) staff;
• Oversee the programs’ dissemination of results and ensure that data collection and analysis informs advocacy. Ensure document programme learning, and incorporate analysis and lessons learned into new strategies/activities, communication and advocacy work;
• Support spot checks and audit processes throughout the programs’ lifecycle while ensuring the implementation of recommendations.

Finance, reporting and donor compliance.

• Take full responsibility for the delegated budget holding function on the programmatic aspects of the programs and participate actively in finance and program review meetings and contribute to financial decision making.
• Lead programs’ narrative and financial / budget consolidation between all partners and all countries with an aim to provide an overarching cross-partner & country vision of the program. Develop a sound multi-partner and multi-country reporting architecture in full collaboration with regional Finance and Awards Management.
• Ensure that a sound financial management system is in place, and that value for money management can be effectively demonstrated to the donor.
• Ensure that quality annual plans and budgets are developed and submitted on time, as and when required.
• Ensure that quality quarterly and annual narrative and financial reports and deliverable are developed and submitted on time, as and when required.
• Ensure the development and implementation of Source of Payment for the project in relation to finance, reporting and donor compliance.
• Ensure that a consolidated version of annual plans and budgets and of quarterly and annual narrative and financial reports and deliverables is submitted on time to the donor, as and when required.
• Ensure regular monitoring and reporting on all program management aspects: phased budget and actual expenses analysis, work-plans progresses and updating, procurement plans revision, data collection and analysis and monitoring of indicators.
• Ensure compliance with donor requirements.
• Identify and effectively manage all key risks related to the programs, including compliance with donor transparency (IATI) and due diligence requirements.
• Focus on ensuring appropriate programs closure and readjustment to potentially cover any gaps
• Ensure compliance with and adherence to Save the Children’s rules and regulations in all aspects.

Staff management and Capacity building

• Line-manage the programs’ staff in the areas of responsibility as per program architecture.
• Lead and motivate the programs’ staff, ensuring they have clear objectives and responsibilities.
• Create and maintain a cooperative and positive working environment where staff participate in decision making and are supported in progressing towards their objectives and receive meaningful feedback on their performance regularly, in collaboration with the human resources departments of SCI and partners (Oxfam and ACF)
  Identify capacity building requirements of programs’ staff in collaboration with the human resources departments of SCI and partners (Oxfam and ACF).
• Lead on capacity building of staff and partners through coaching, mentoring and training.

Representation

• Ensure representation of the programs on behalf of the Consortium, building trust and influence with Governments, donor and other key stakeholders, highlighting where effective practice can positively influence policy.
• Lead and represent the programs in relevant fora, avoiding overlap with other programmes in the same areas.
• Represent the programs at donor meetings in country and internationally as required.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationship with CILSS (ECOWAS), National Early Warning Systems and other strategic partners involved in programming.

Coordination inter consortium and external

• Develop country level agreement (service level, ways of working) to ensure adequate support is provided by Save the Children, Oxfam and ACF and its member country office staff and functions to the implementation program teams securing buy-in from Country Office to the programs and their implementation.
• Regularly report to Save the Children, Oxfam and ACF and its senior staff members and ensure they remain committed to the programs’ success.
• Clarify matrix reporting lines and collaboration modalities between program teams and Save the Children, Oxfam and ACF, members and regional offices.
• Identify bottlenecks and find solutions to ensure program teams are adequately supported by Save the Children, Oxfam and ACF and its member country offices’ relevant staff.
• Ensure consistent coordination among the members of the Consortium at local and regional level;
• Communicate effectively and regularly across Save the Children offices to ensure strong communication internally and externally and contribute to a coordinated vision across the organization.
• Participate proactively and regularly when required in senior management meetings in the areas of responsibility, making concrete contributions to strategic and operational orientations.
• In collaboration with the Country leads, represent the programs with local authorities and governmental counterparts (relevant Ministries and Early Warning Systems), donor and members of the international community, and ensure that Save the Children’s work is coordinated with these bodies.

Qualifications

Master Degree in any relevant area

Experience and skills

Essential:

• Solid experience (min 5 years) in managing complex humanitarian and development programming;
• Solid experience (min 5 years) in managing multisector programming
• Solid experience in remote management and implementation in sensitive environments
• Solid experience in management of consortia in multi-countries
• Fluency in written and spoken French
• Sound knowledge and prior experience in managing EU funded program
• Proven skills in program management and administration, including grants management and donor compliance
• Proven skills in program monitoring and reporting.
• Prior experience in managing complex budgets
• Prior experience working in emergency response contexts or fragile states.
• Prior experience working on capacity building and technical assistance project to governments in West Africa
• Prior experience working with the Cadre Harmonisé (or similar assessment methodology of the food security)
• Strong skills in staff management, moderation, conflict resolution and capacity-building
• Ability to lead a programme and support a team working from remote locations
• Willingness to extensive field travel and to remote locations
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills and the ability to think and plan strategically.
• Ability to work with limited supervision.
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children aims, values and principles.

Desirable

• Experience with the Cadre Harmonisé and its network of actors
• Experience with Household Economy Approach and possible uses
• Experience in programming capacity strengthening for national institutions
• Experience of working in the Sahel
• Prior experience working in the management of data driven project and economy analysis
• Knowledge of regional food security institutions
• An academic/professional qualification at post graduate level or equivalent in nutrition, economics, rural development, development studies or related subject
• Working experience in challenging and insecure contexts and/or similar.
• Knowledge/experience of Save the Children
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Closing date: 2 Jan 2023 – 23:59 GMT

Location: Dakar, Senegal