GRADE: Executive
TEAM/PROGRAMME: Nepal Country Office    
LOCATION: Kathmandu, with frequent travels to the implementation districts and Village Development Committees, Nepal . Travel expected at least 20% of the time to the field
CONTRACT LENGTH: 2 Years
CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Level 3:  the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

 

ROLE PURPOSE: 
Save the Children is the Nepal and Bhutan’s leading independent organization for children.  We save children’s lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfill their potential. We work together, with our partners from civil societies and government, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. 

The Deputy Country Director, Program Operations is responsible for ensuring overall management and quality delivery of Save the Children’s development as well as emergency response programs in Nepal. This will require providing strategic overview and strong, sustained coordination with the DCD for Program Development and Quality (PDQ). The position holder will have significant representational responsibilities with key government ministries and non-governmental stakeholders.

The job-holder is responsible to ensure timely and quality delivery of the planned projects and programs. S/he will provide guidance and management support to his/her director reports, including 4 thematic directors, the director of operations and the humanitarian director. In addition, s/he will provide direct support to the senior manager for Logistics. S/he will be held accountable for all aspects of programme implementation including administrative, project related procurement and supplies, financial and quality reporting requirements.  

As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) in Nepal, s/he shares the overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of the Country Office.

 

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

The Deputy Country Director- Program Operations,  is accountable for the areas below for which S/he may choose to delegate parts of  these responsibilities to his/her team:

Programme Operations & Management

• Responsible for strategic overview of program implementation and ensuring delivery of quality programmes are in line with the country strategy. 
• 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. 
• Coordinates and liaises with relevant department heads to ensure that proper policies, procedures and operational systems are in place to properly and adequately support program implementation.Oversees timely, efficient and effective delivery of a high quality child-focused and right based programs including:
• Creation and revision of Detailed Implementation Plans
• Review of Budget vs Actuals (BvA)
• Analysis/approval/rejection of requests for No Cost Extensions
• Coordination with PDQ to ensure strategic project implementation sites and themes
• Direct line management of thematic directors, humanitarian director and senior manager for logistics 
• Coordinates with the Awards team to ensure that Save the Children complies with donor and SCI regulations on all projects. In particular, ensure organizational policies and procedures are closely followed in regard to bidding and tendering processes.
• Reviews Program Operation Department’s structure and ensures timely recruitment of staffs, their performance review and their training in consultation of HR.
• Have oversight and be accountable for all program and operations budgets; Ensures tight financial oversight of project and thematic budgets, maintaining timely expenditure in line with agreed priorities and donor guidelines. 
• Builds the capacity of staff in programme management, technical competency and policy.

Planning, & Budgeting

• Work closely with PDQ in conceptualising and designing cost effective, innovative and high quality program 
• Takes the co-lead with PDQ in organizing Country Annual Planning and project plans development meetings and workshops in all regional offices and at the national level.
• Facilitates the development of Detail Implementation (DIP) Plans, phased budgets and program implementation strategies for each of the projects and ensure they are followed thoroughly by all project/program managers.
• Reviews the DIP on quarterly basis and up date as required.
• Tracking program progress and budget expenses of all field offices, partners, projects and take corrective actions as required.
• Ensures the inclusion of procurement and supplies in the Country Annual Plan and followed thoroughly. 
• Ensures Emergency Preparedness Plans is in place and updated and for small and medium sized humanitarian response are in place and responded as and when required.
• Supporting Save the Children’s dual mandate of development programs as well as being the leader in emergency preparedness and response and ready for the deployment if required.

Programme Development

• Ensures partners and Regional offices develop high quality program/project implementation plan. 
• Reviews the final draft of proposals to ensure they meet all operational requirements.

Partner’s management

• Coordinates with PDQ in identifying districts and NGOs for the new and pilot projects.
• Ensures Project implementation partners are in full compliance with SC and donors requirement with coordination of other departments. Work with Partners team to ensure that partners selected to work with SC Nepal have the operational capacity to meet SC project objectives

Capacity building of SC and P/NGOs staff

• Ensures KTM staff under Program operations, Regional offices and project implementation partners have plans and resources to access required quality technical assistance in time.

Representation and Networking

• Coordinates and represents project implementation at district and national level with relevant donors, networks, government and other forums that will consolidate SC reputation and programming.
• Builds strong networks with other NGOs, CSOs, UN agencies and Government line agencies working on children’s issues to promote coordination and resource sharing. 

Logistics, Inventory and Procurement

• Ensure that the CO logistics capacity and systems meet the SCI standards and are able to satisfy the programming requirements
• Ensure appropriate and adequate emergency logistics procedures are detailed in the Country office Emergency Preparedness Plan in order to enable rapid scale up.
• Manage the CO Logistics department ensuring that all CO logistics activities (fleet, assets transport, supply chain, base setup etc) are coordinated. 

Emergency Response Management 

• Strengthen the CO organisational readiness to respond to emergencies in line with global SCI emergency goal and benchmarks
• Ensure that the CO designs, updates and implements a full set of emergency preparedness actions, drawing on SC member input and resources

As a member of the Senior Management Team, contribute to

• Leadership of the Nepal/Bhutan Country Office.
• Supports 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 service for our Members and donors.
• Helps design and implement a coherent organizational structure that is consistent with agency practices and appropriate to programme needs.
• Ensures Nepal/Bhutan Country Office complies with all Save the Children Management Operating Standards and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Ensures that all required support is provided promptly, at scale and in line with the rules and principles during emergencies, working closely with the ARO.

 
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

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  

• Master Degree or equivalent. 

 

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential

• At least 10  years (7 years for GSI group*)  of senior management experience preferably in an I/NGO environment, including experience in directing and implementing programs for children in both emergency and development contexts,
• Demonstrated significant experience in health, education, protection, livelihood and humanitarian response sector in a developing country context.
• Sound program cycle management experience and ability to work in a complex organisation structure.
• Significant experience in logistics management (supply chain, procurement, inventory and fleet management)
• Substantial knowledge / experience in humanitarian
• Substantial knowledge of financial management and budgetary control
• Prior experience in working with government staff.
• Demonstrated management and development of diverse teams of national and international professional staff.
• Proven sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively, analyse and be innovative, set priorities, manage work plans and evaluate progress.
• Highly developed relationship building, negotiation and interpersonal skills
• Highly developed verbal and written communication and presentation skills. Fluency in written and spoken English and Nepali language.
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights based approaches

 

Note: The candidate would be offered national terms and conditions and the role doesn’t come with an international package entitlement.

*GSI group include Female, Dalit Madhesi, People with Disabilities and other indigenous/minorities