GRADE: 7

TEAM/PROGRAM: Program Operations

LOCATION:  Kathmandu

POST TYPE: National 

Child Safeguarding: Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people.

ROLE PURPOSE: 
Save the Children is the 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 Project Manager’s main responsibility is to ensure smooth, timely and quality implementation of the project. The Pooled Appeals project has a total budget of 8.5 million USD, of which approximately 4.8 million is specifically for project implementation The project will be implemented in up to 4 districts (Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchowk and Dolakha). The project manager will be responsible for :

• General: Provide strategic, technical and managerial leadership for the integrated pooled appeals project. This project covers all thematic areas, including FSL, Child Protection, Infrastructure, Shelter, Education, Health & Nutrition and WASH
• Partner Management: ensure effective project implementation, provide technical and managerial support, and act as liaison between partner organization and SCI Nepal on a regular basis. Where necessary provide capacity building by involving the appropriate department (either technical or support)
• Budget Management: ensure thematic/project budgets are phased and include appropriate cost centres and program codes, follow up with BvAs and transaction reports on bi-weekly/monthly basis to ensure adequate burn rate. 
• Staff Management / Coordination: Coordinate and hold regular review meetings across sectors and projects to avoid duplication of effort and to keep all key staff up to date. Ensure staffing is appropriate to reach project goals and their Level of Effort (LOE) is coded appropriately per the budget
• Representation: Work with local and national government and other agencies, as relevant, to ensure SCI is compliant with all requirements. Ensure SCI’s voice is heard at relevant forums
• MEAL: Ensure proper MEAL systems (MEAL plan, IPTT and Quality Benchmarks) are in place, understood and being used. Review IPTTs on a monthly/quarterly basis to ensure targets are being met
• Award Management: Ensure all targets are met to SCI Quality Benchmark Standards, that donor requirements for visibility, eligibility, etc are followed in the field and that all donor and SCI reports are on time and meet quality standards

In close coordination with the Field Manager, Thematic Specialists/Advisors and Thematic Coordinators & Officers the incumbent will ensure timely, high quality and results oriented program plans including strong monitoring systems are developed and applied at all levels in order to ensure all deliverables are finished on time

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

Planning & Budgeting

• Leads the planning processes and ensures partners have annual detailed implementation plan including realistic phased budget outlining major activities and timeline for the funds allocated in required planning templates provided by the organization.
• Ensures appropriate fund allocation and expenditure on a monthly basis and take corrective measures by revisiting plans and communicating timely with Thematic Coordinators and project team.  
• Reviews the project’s BVAs and transaction reports and report on any glitches identified in comparison to the Country Offices sent Program BVA.
• Coordinates with Field and District teams including thematic focal person to design a robust field visit plan, self-assessments and monitoring systems including follow up on recommendations with relevant department and impact areas. 
• Leads the revision of budgets during budget forecast and on exchange rate fluctuations as per organizational procedures. 
• Coordinates with Thematic Specialists for technical assistance as required.

Programme Quality

• Ensures that the programs have minimum standards in place and is exclusively followed at all levels.  
• Ensures the MEAL plans of the project and themes is well familiar and understood by staff and partner staff of related themes, is exclusively used and reported.
• Ensures that baseline, mid-term and end lines are all done on time and that all action plans developed, evaluations and assessments are followed up and completed by respective themes on time. 
• Identifies strengths and improvement areas of staff members and partners for quality delivery of the projects and comes up with plans to improve such gaps
• Ensures that OPMIS is well optimized for all thematic areas - by partners, project team in the District and Field Offices and regular update is done
• Is responsible to coordinate with MEAL for analyzing data from OPMIS, identifying concerns or learnings and scaling up to Thematic Managers/MEAL or to partners as relevant that data from including development of Quality Benchmarks.
• Ensures incorporation of the cross cutting issues of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI)

Programme Operations & Management

Ensures programmatic and financial accountability including tracking of program progress and budget expense in the use of funds and achievement of all related projects in alignment with EQ Strategic Plan
Innovation and Scale

• Identifies best practices, problems and issues around program implementation and works toward finding solutions for improvements, documenting, disseminating and in consultation with relevant departments and themes.

Documentation & Reporting

• Is responsible for timely and quality reports preparation, reviewed by the FM, the Technical Advisors and Program Specialists to be submitted to Awards per the reporting schedule.
• Coordinates with Technical Advisors points including MEAL, to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and documentation of program activities and best practices.
• n close consultation with Technical Advisors and Program Specialists, take initiatives in generating information that are required to add values in on-going programmes or for the programmes visualized for future  
• Ensure proper documentation of the project including and not limited to learning, lessons learned, best practices, case studies, in coordination with Media and Communication. 

Partner’s management

• Supports and is responsible for the partnership in terms of compliance, zero tolerance, audits and management response, identification of capacity gaps and recommends for improvements.
• Ensures strong linkages and coordination among Regional Network Partnerships including those with line government agencies and offices

Representation and Networking

• Collaboration and coordination with government counterparts, external development partners and donors at regional level
• Is part of relevant regional networks and coalitions and ensures regional/district level networks is well represented as necessary
• Supports program areas to build strong networks with other NGOs, CSOs, UN agencies and Government line agencies working on children’s issues to promote coordination and resource sharing at the district level. 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• 7 years (5 years for GSI group) work experience of emergency and/or development work, and an understanding of relevant issues, especially in program/grants management.
• Master Degrees or equivalent degree education in relevant sector related to the humanitarian and development sectors
• A proven record of effective management of complex projects in complex working environments 
• Demonstrated significant experience in managing projects funded by multiple donors including networks.  
• Prior experience in working with NGOs/civil societies and government counterparts
• Proven sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively and be innovative, set priorities, manage work plans and evaluate progress. 
• Basic accounting and bookkeeping skills.
• Good report and written skills and spoken English is essential. 
• Diplomacy, tact and negotiation skills.
• Good interpersonal skills including verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong multi-tasking and organizational skills

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

Qualified candidates from minorities, indigenous groups, women and people with disabilities from local level are highly encouraged to apply.