GRADE: 8

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Senior Management Team, Nepal and Bhutan

LOCATION: Fixed term position based in Nepal Country Office, Kathmandu

CONTRACT LENGTH: 1 year with possible extension

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: 

As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) in Nepal, the Director of Program Development and Quality is responsible for overseeing and ensuring strategic development of high quality, evidence based, innovative full spectrum programs that deliver immediate and lasting change for children and contribute to Save the Children’s global Breakthroughs: Learn, Survive, Be Protected. One of key aspects of the Role is ensuring capacity building, mentoring and coaching of thematic leads and advisors in order to build strong PDQ department.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Strategic Planning

• Provide leadership, strategic vision and direction to the country program as a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT)
  
• Lead on the SMT to drive forward the Country Strategic Plans (CSP) by coordinating input for the development and review of CSP’s across departments
  
• Ensure development of high quality programmes that provide evidence-based results
  
• Ensure programmes are in line with the thematic strategy development and strategic direction of Save the Children
  
• Position Save the Children as the leading organization for children's issues in the country, with child rights at the core of all programming and advocacy work
  
• Lead the development/updating of the Country Program Strategies and Country Annual Plans and Reports, ensuring participation and buy-in from all relevant staff, partners and other stakeholders as necessary
  
• Support development of cross-team coordination mechanisms to ensure effective collaboration across key programs (e.g. program operations, advocacy) and related departments (e.g. awards, local fundraising)

Program and project design 

• Ensure that the country office has a high quality and cost-effective multi-sector programs reflecting Save the Children's global initiatives and theory of change
  
• Ensure all thematic strategies include key global indicators to guide program development and project design
  
• Ensure that the PDQ team leads on proposal development by being the lead coordinator of member technical advisors input, as well as facilitating the project design process in country ensuring meaningful participation from Director of Program Implementation, relevant field and technical staff, and local partners and beneficiaries as appropriate.
  
• Ensure programs have a strong evidence base with needs assessments and situational analyses included in the program/project design process
  
• Ensure that holistic needs of children and communities are considered in project designs, with effective cross-thematic collaboration among the different technical teams
  
• Balance needs/requests of Save the Children members, donors and external partners to ensure quality results in programming 
  
• Ensures that Fundraising and Advocacy and Communications teams receive regular timely and quality program inputs to help guiding their strategies and support marketing and fundraising efforts.

Technical assistance and capacity building

• Support capacity development of thematic lead/advisors, maximizing their role as technical support providers to field teams and local project partners
  
• Ensure the development of regular thematic working groups, and facilitate cross-thematic learning 
  
• Ensure effective working relationships with SCI global and regional technical advisors, procuring technical support as needed to support program and advocacy efforts
  
• Working closely with the Human Resources team, provide recommendations on key technical competencies and related capacity building support and training for program staff as appropriate

Advocacy 

• Representation of Save the Children at a senior level, actively networking to promote SC perspectives and building relationships that help facilitate the success of our projects 
  
• Ensure strong and effective collaboration with the campaigns and advocacy team in developing and leading national advocacy campaign and related initiatives
  
• Ensure effective partnership building with government authorities at the national level
  
• Ensure that learning from the field contributes to development and implementation of national programs/projects and advocacy initiatives; and support establishing links of the technical and implementation teams to link field level advocacy to advocacy efforts at the national level
  
• Ensure scale-up of programs by the government to widen reach and effectiveness 
  
• Lead on advocacy initiatives that promote to national government, civil society and political leaders, child rights and governance and work to influence policy and legislation in the best interests of children

Thematic Expertise and quality assurance

• Monitor and advance technical and operational quality of field programs across all themes
  
• Accountable for results as well as sustainability of program outcomes 
  
• Ensure team members know their responsibilities 
  
• Use knowledge of thematic areas to develop strategies 
  
• Focus on learning regarding what has been done, reflect on the processes that have occurred and further build upon them by recollecting data and evidence of programs and analysing it
  
• Integrate Save the Children programs from different country offices and mainstream them to get a more holistic approach in achieving SCI breakthroughs

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning (MEAL) and Knowledge management

• Build stronger accountability systems and focus on knowledge management 
  
• Ensure effective collaboration between MEAL staff, Technical leads and Thematic specialists in the development of sector log frames, indicators, implementation plans, and monitoring and evaluation frameworks and related tools
  
• Ensure regular data collection and meaningful analyses of quantitative and qualitative data, establishment of accountability and learning mechanisms, with regular dissemination of strategic information to SMT and other relevant staff to drive learning and improve program quality
  
• Support capacity development of MEAL staff, maximizing their role as trainers and facilitators of quality standards in project design, monitoring and evaluation for the country office
  
• Engage in relevant national, regional and global networks and coalitions
  
• Guide and conduct operational research programs, delivering existing research projects and developing new ones. 

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development 

• Ensure appropriate staffing within PDQ
  
• Ensure that all staff understand and are able to perform their role 
  
• Manage PDQ team; define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly
  
• Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff. Incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process. 
  
• Supervise Advocacy and Communication team 

Member of the Senior Management Team

• Leadership of the Country Office
  
• Conduct regular meetings with Senior Leadership and SMT members to make sure they understand targets and plans
  
• Support the development of an organisational culture that reflects SCI’s full spectrum mandate and values, promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a cross -team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and frees up people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our members and donors
  
• Ensure Country Office complies with the Save the Children Quality Framework Essential Standards and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS)
  
• Interface with Members to effectively execute strategy and build effective donor relationships

Partner Management

• Ensure coordination and cooperation with the Director of Operations to improve level of partnership with the government, national civil society, community and others, and seek to meet the relevant standards as indicated in the Theory of Change 
  
• Support the Operations Department in the proper analysis of potential partners using documented selection methods, to ensure compliance with Save the Children standards and donor requirements and regulations 
  
• Promote mutual assessment, feedback and learning with partners and assist their engagement in knowledge building and advocacy

Innovation

• In consultation with the SMT, oversee dissemination of the outcome of research projects widely, in particular to Government, civil society and other humanitarian and development actors in country and across the region
  
• Ensure discussion on innovation, policy making and bringing in outside stakeholders that can help with innovation 
  
• Implement innovative methods of securing undesignated and flexible funding 
  
• Introduce innovative approaches to turn ineffective programs into effective programs to improve program quality

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’s degree in relevant social science, human rights, development studies, NGO management or equivalent fields 

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Human Rights, Development Studies, NGO Management or relevant Social Science
  
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive senior management and/ or development experience in a corporate or an NGO environment, including experience directing and implementing programs for children
  
• Experience in more than one of Save the Children's thematic sectors: Education, Child Protection, Child Rights Governance, Health and Nutrition, Child Poverty, Emergencies 
  
• Outstanding project design and project cycle management and coordination
  
• Knowledge of New Business Development, members and donors and their environments 
  
• Basic understanding of advocacy, policy, and reform in the host country
  
• Experience working with high level government agencies and academics on issues related to children
  
• Strong skills and proven experience in leading strategic planning
  
• Strong skills and proven experience of new program development and design of donor proposals with corporate sector, foundations and institutional donors
  
• Developing and managing monitoring, evaluation and learning systems
  
• Strong skills and proven experience in change management and program management processes; also from the knowledge and learning perspective 
  
• Credibility to lobby, influence and represent Save the Children at all levels
  
• Training, capacity building, coaching and mentorship skills
  
• Ability to research, write and represent well
  
• Problem solving and analytical skills
  
• Ability to manage time, multi-task and delegate
  
• Excellent listening, inter-personal, communication and networking skills; ability to work with diversified populations 
  
• High level of self awareness and willingness to take criticism as an opportunity for growth and self-develop
  
• Ability to self care and separate work and personal life 
  
• Excellent English writing and speaking

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