Job Title:  Team Leader
Location:  Kathmandu, Nepal
Start date: TBD (currently forecast to start in October 2024)
End date: TBD (currently forecast to be October 2029)
LOE (#days): FTE

About the role

Crown Agents is preparing to bid for the highly anticipated FCDO-funded Samarth programme. Samarth will work to improve social sector governance in Nepal, improve access to quality social services, and strengthen preparedness against shocks. Crown Agents is seeking an experienced Team Leader based in Kathmandu to provide leadership, strategic direction, and managerial oversight of Samartha, and thereby ensure that the programme achieves its ambitious objectives. Recruitment is contingent upon successful award of the programme, and selection of the final applicant is subject to FCDO approval.

Responsibilities:

Leadership & strategy

• Set strategic direction, soliciting feedback from other team members and programme stakeholders, and securing their buy in
• Build a cohesive, efficient and outcome-oriented team, supporting and inspiring them to deliver the programme’s objectives
• Manage and coordinate activities of the senior team members for successful programme delivery
• Lead the integration of a systems thinking approach to implementation

Technical oversight

• Oversee development, delivery and continuous review of the technical strategy and detailed workplans to achieve results and drive value for money
• Lead development of activity terms of reference, collaborating with other team members as required
• Oversee and support the work of personnel engaged to deliver programme activities
• Quality assure technical outputs, ensuring delivery to a high standard within agreed timelines

Stakeholder management

• Proactively identify and map programme stakeholders with a view to developing and implementing appropriate engagement strategies
• Establish and maintain productive, trust-based relationships with counterparts in the FCDO, the Government of Nepal and other programme stakeholders
• Engage regularly with other development partners operating in the social sectors to ensure complementarity of effort and identify opportunities for collaboration

Operational management

• Lead implementation of an adaptive approach to programme management, ensuring the team regularly reflects on progress and lessons learned and considers alternative courses of action
• Proactively identify and document risks, formulating and implementing appropriate mitigation strategies
• Work with the programme manager and accountant to implement routine financial management and reporting tasks
• Assume responsibility for the health, security and safeguarding of project staff and stakeholders, ensuring appropriate procedures are in place, adequately communicated and implemented

Monitoring, evaluation and learning

• Review and approve the programme’s monitoring and evaluation framework, ensuring appropriate log frame indicators and milestone targets are agreed with the FCDO
• Support the programme MEL adviser to establish and implement appropriate procedures for collecting data and evidencing programme performance
• Engage positively with any external evaluation processes, facilitating access to programme documentation and stakeholders as required

Communications & reporting

• Represent the programme in technical conferences, policy briefings and other fora
• Publicise programme achievements and lessons learned within the organisation and wider development community
• Provide updates, relevant communications and reports to the consortium and partners
• Lead all client reporting on programme progress

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion & Safeguarding

• Working with technical specialists in GESI and safeguarding, be accountable for compliance with FCDO requirements and Crown Agents GESI and safeguarding policies.
• Create a culture of collective accountability, where every staff member is familiar with key GESI and safeguarding concepts and applies a GESI and safeguarding lens to their workstream.

Person Specification:

• Advanced degree (MSc, PhD, MD) in a relevant field, such as public health, social science or management
• At least ten years’ experience of social sector governance programmes, including experience in Nepal
• At least ten years’ experience in senior programme management positions (eg. Team Leader, Chief of Party, Programme Director, Deputy Team Leader, Deputy Chief of Party)
• Excellent people management skills, including coordinating teams and consortium partners based in multiple locations.
• Existing networks with development partners, governments, CSOs and other key stakeholders in Nepal and strong external relationship management skills.
• Demonstrable commitment to gender equality and social inclusion, as evidenced by experience managing programmes with a strong GESI component
• Experience of working on FCDO programmes (desirable)
• Full Nepali language working proficiency (highly desirable)

Number of years experience is indicative and we will consider candidates that have the relevant experience gained within fewer years.