Purpose: The position holder provides conceptual and strategic direction for programme design and Implementation. S/he will bring specific technical expertise in the thematic area leading and ensuring achievement of the relevant outcomes and impact as identified in the Country Strategy. S/he assures the quality of the Early Childhood Development program delivery and the achievement of agreed outcomes in accordance with program design. S/he is responsible to achieve a rights-based, gender trans formative and inclusive program. S/he will also lead on influence work approach in program implementation, ensuring efficient technical support to the Field team. S/he is accountable for leading the innovation and ensuring lessons learnt are constantly integrated in program interventions, thus continuously improving efficiency and effectiveness. S/he also leads the national level networking and advocacy in coordination with the Head of Influencing, program teams and Communication teams

Terms and Location:  Fixed term employment for 3 years based in Country Office, Lalitpur

Required Qualifications and Experiences:

• Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Development or Parenting Education or relevant related field
• At least 6 years of demonstrated experience working in a senior position leading and managing the Early Childhood Development program portfolio
• Advanced knowledge and experience of International and national Early Childhood Development programs, concepts, projects and policies
• Knowledge and experience in using quantitative as well as qualitative monitoring and evaluation methods to assess programme impact, especially related to child development outcome monitoring and measuring behavioral change
• Experience of development and humanitarian issues affecting children, women and families 
• Demonstrated experience in successfully using key influencing strategies such as advocacy, lobbying, movement building, or policy development
• Experience in carrying out power, policy and political analysis to inform strategies and projects
• Strong knowledge of child and women’s rights and gender justice
• Advanced understanding of the development and NGO sector
• Essential Experience of working with coalitions and networks
• Excellent organisation and prioritization skills and excellent verbal communication skills
• Creative thinking and problem solving skills
• Team-orientated, versatile, personable and flexible and ability to work comfortably and sensitively across cultures

Key Responsibilities:

• Shape the early childhood development multi-sectoral program strategy and contribute to the Country Strategy development and review process aligning national and sub-national issues with Plan International global and regional priorities
• Lead the process of drafting and finalizing the early childhood development program sector strategy working with program team members at Country and Field level along with partner staff aligning with global strategy
• Ensure that the Early Childhood Development program is gender trans formative
• Ensure that the Early Childhood Development program builds on and generates evidence to inform Plan’s influencing agenda
• Ensure effective program partnerships in Early Childhood Development including meaningful participation and efficient use of resources to meet the program objectives and outcomes set out in the Country Strategy
• Accountable for the achievement of program outcomes across all of Plan International’s work in Early Childhood Development
• Provide direct supervision of Early Childhood Development project management on different technical/practical challenges and day to day operations
• Design an evidence-based early childhood development program ensuring program quality that establishes a consistent and coordinated approach to quality and accountability across Plan International
• Ensure project cycle is followed for each project including kick off meetings, drafting of project outlines, implementation of activities, mid and end term evaluation
• Review all projects periodically under her/his portfolio management and ensure that project objectives are achieved effectively
• Make regular program reviews and provide feedback to the program team at Country Office and Field Office levels and report to Deputy Country Director Program
• Ensure that qualitative report has been submitted on time to Business Development team for their submission to NO/ Donor
• Ensure high degree of technical expertise while designing and implementing projects relevant to technical specifications/standards
• Contribute as a Cluster lead in cluster meetings and collaborate with Emergency response Team for project design, developing response plan and delivery. Oversight and guide Emergency response projects when necessary as technical heads
• Work closely with Field Implementation and Partnership Manager, Field Offices and strategic partners to achieve program quality as per Program Quality Policy 
• Ensure timely delivery of project activities as per project log frame, theory of change and detailed implementation plan and share the report to Field Implementation and Partnership Manager
• Assess partner’s capacities in terms of technical skills for project delivery, design a training plan to enhance their capacity and monitor it regularly in coordination with Field Implementation and Partnership Manager
• Provide leadership to develop priority national campaigns ensuring harmonization with global priority campaigns in collaboration with Head of Influencing  
• Coordinate the production of briefing papers, policy position and public communication materials
• Represent Plan International Nepal in relevant committees, professional networks and sectoral clusters to maintain organisation’s professional image on the sector
• Proactively seek out opportunities for funding and work closely with Business Development Team and NO on proposal design and budget allocation 
• Develop proposals meeting the quality and standard of the donors/NO
• Ensure annual staff training plan of the team are being designed, approved and implemented in close collaboration with Deputy Country Director Program, Human Resources and Field Implementation and Partnership Manager