Area
Representative
Duty Station: Nairobi – with potential travel to field sites pending a significant improvement in security.
Reports to: Director of Operations
Working relationships: Area Representative Central Somalia, Humanitarian
Director & Emergency Response Team membersDuty Station: Nairobi – with potential travel to field sites pending a significant improvement in security.
Reports to: Director of Operations
Line Management responsibility: International & National Staff: Project Managers, finance, HR,logistics and Field Managers (final composition of team tba) Indirect line management of over x national staff
Budget Holding Responsibility: Over GBP 10 Million
Grade: 3.1. (international Contract)
Contract Length: 6 months (renewable)
Child Safeguarding Level: 3
Introduction:
Save the Children (SC) is an international organization with 27 member organizations across the globe.
It is united by a common mission and brand but, to some extent, has until now been working independently from country to country and within countries.
With the decision by all Save the Children organizations to create an International Programmes Unit (IPU) taken in 2010, Save the Children aims to create a stronger voice for children by unifying the operations in all countries.
This will result in one organisation at the national level in each country and a unified programme delivery structure for all Save the Children International Members.
Save the Children UK, Denmark and Finland unified in Somalia in January 2010 under the name Save the Children in Somalia which will move to the IPU model by the end of 2012.
After one year of unification and as a result of an active fundraising strategy the programme budget was over GBP 10m covering thematic areas of protection, child survival (which includes health, nutrition and livelihoods), education, and Child Rights Governance.
Save the Children works in the three “zones” of Somalia: Somaliland, Puntland and Central South Somalia (CSS).
Due to constraints on security, and the need to liaise with UN agencies, other NGOs and donors, the country office is based in Nairobi.
Directors and senior managers are expected to travel extensively to monitor and support programme work in all parts of Somalia that are accessible and where security threats are being effectively mitigated Save the Children has been engaged in Somalia for over 20 years.
The programme has substantially grown since and intends to continue long-term. During the drought crisis of 2011, the programme in Somalia expanded exponentially and we presently work across 5 regions of Somalia with offices in Hiran, Abudwaq and a shared office with our partner in Mogadishu.
The post holder will be based in Nairobi, at present there is no access for international staff to Abudwaq and Hiran.
Therefore, a strong understanding of remote support to Save the Children staff and partners is a vital component of this position.
This is a new position within the organisation; due to the large growth of operations in Somalia over the past 8 months a decision was taken to split Somalia into southern and central regions, with an Area Representative for each.
A Transition Manager will be in place for a number of months to support the change in the structure, working closely with the Area Representatives and their teams, Operations Director and Humanitarian Director.
Job Purpose
- The
Area Representative has overall responsibility for the development,
management and delivery of good quality programmes in Central Somalia.
- S/he
will work through Field Managers based in Galgaduud and and Hiran to
ensure that all aspects of programming are coordinated resulting in
efficiency, high team moral and cost effectiveness and ensure that Save
the Children continues to reach more children.
- As
the senior representative of Save the Children in Central Somalia,
- s/he
will ensure that Save the Children’s programmes implement key humanitarian
principles and that we work in close collaboration with other key
stakeholders and the government to promote and advocate for realisation of
children’s rights.
- The
Security environment in Central Somalia is fragile and requires the
post-holder to liaise closely with staff and to advice senior management
on robust security management guidelines and plans for Central Somalia.
Key Accountabilities
It is important to note that at present, a large component of these accountabilities will need to be done remotely.
1. Program Development, Implementation and Delivery
It is important to note that at present, a large component of these accountabilities will need to be done remotely.
1. Program Development, Implementation and Delivery
- Lead
on development and implementation of participatory and consultative Area
Programme Operations Plan in line with the Country Annual Plan.
- Implement
a robust remote project monitoring system that allows for timely evidence
gathering, management action and organisational learnings in quality
programme management.
- Ensure
that effective remote support mechanisms are in place to listen to, act
upon and address children’s and communities’ concerns/recommendations
through active participation by children and communities in project
design, monitoring and evaluations at field level.
- Ensure
a proactive and strategic fundraising plan is pursued and implemented in
close collaboration with Programme Quality and the Emergency Response
teams.
- Ensure
that staff capacity in quality project management is improved and
strengthened through direct and remote training, coaching and mentoring.
2. People Management and Development
- Work
closely with the HR and Admin Director, to ensure that all HR policies and
guidelines for national staff are in place, are understood by all staff
and are adhered to. Support all managers in recruitment, induction,
placement, promotion, training/development and separation/termination
- Enhance
staff performance through mutually agreed performance management plans,
clarity of individual and collective roles and responsibilities; ensure a
robust process of performance monitoring, learning & development
initiatives and timely management actions.
- Represent
staff concerns that can not be dealt with locally, in a timely manner to
the Director of Operations and Human Resources.
- Promote
an inspiring and motivating working environment through teamwork,
delegation and the team building initiatives.
- Promote
and ensure a culture that respects and promotes collaboration, diversity,
inclusion and staff recognition.
3. Financial, Budget and Grant Management
- Efficiently
and successfully manage the grant cycle by putting in place robust remote
support mechanisms to start, implement and close grants in line with donor
as well as Save the Children’s policies
- Ensure
that programme budgets are managed through rigorous remote budget and
finance monitoring practices with participation of all key functions
involved in projects.
- Oversee
the general application and observance of financial procedures and
guidelines set out in SC financial manual and donors’ requirements
- Ensure
that budgets are spent and charged to their respective budget heads and
grants by diligently reviewing the financial (SUN) reports at least every
month and bringing to the timely attention of the Director of Operations
and the Finance Director any major budget concerns and
suggestions/recommendations
- Ensure
that adequate support to and monitoring of the field finance teams is
provided by the finance and grants team at in Nairobi and head office
- Ensure
that grants are managed as per Save the Children’s and donors’
requirements including the quality and timely submission of reports.
4. Partnership management and Development
- Identify
within Central Somalia appropriate partners through whom Save the Children
can impact in the rights of children at scale.
- Work
with existing SC partners to ensure a quality partnership environment
through mutual respect and trust, robust partnership assessments, capacity
building , project monitoring, sharing and networking by drawing support
from technical resources from within the country programme.
- Ensure
that all partnerships in Central Somalia are fully compliant to donor
guidelines and requirements Ensure that partners understand and implement
Save the Children’s policies and procedures including child safeguarding,
procurement, fraud and whistle blowing.
5. Operations Management
- Ensure
that standardised systems, in line with the Country Programme policies,
procedures and guidelines in the areas of logistics, finance and HR are in
place, well understood and adhered to by all staff
- Ensure
that minimum logistics/financial/administrative standards and country
policies are implemented
- Ensure
that rigorous remote project management tools are put in place and used by
relevant managers (operational plan, procurement plan, output trackers,
etc…)
- Ensure
that staff have operational and capacity development support within their
operating
- environment
- Ensure
the strict adherence of Central Somalia team to the basic humanitarian
principles at all times: neutrality, impartiality and independence while
delivering programmes for children
6. Representation and Advocacy
- Represent
Save the Children at Central Somalia, network with INGOs/NGOs and other
stakeholders and government.
- Continuously
and proactively engage in strategic analysis of evidence and document and
implement learnings for quality improvement in programme strategies for
children.
- Identify,
establish and maintain close working relationship with key stakeholders in
the furtherance of children’s rights
- Ensure
appropriate representation in all relevant meetings: clusters, working
groups,
7. Security and Context Monitoring
- In
close collaboration with the Security Manager, the Field Managers, the
Security Focal Points and local partners proactively monitor the political
and security situation at both national and local level and ensure that a
clear and updated security management plan is in place for all areas of
operations in Central Somalia.
- As
far as possible ensure that all staff are involved in the establishment of
guidelines, protocols in developing security plans that should be formally
reviewed on a weekly basis.
- In
close collaboration with the Security Manager, the Field Managers, local
partners and the Security Focal Points, manage any significant security
incident in Central Somalia. If this involves a “critical incident” the
Security Manager and the Operations Director must be informed immediately.
- Adapt
to security constraints and ensure that staff are adequately aware of
security risks and management issues in order to deliver projects for
children.
Person Specification
- Degree
in the field of social sciences, management or related field or a minimum
of 5 years progressive senior management experience in humanitarian work
- Previous
experience of working in partnership with and managing local NGOs to
deliver quality programmes.
- At
least 10 years experience in the development and management of programmes
in conflict affected countries. Experience of Somalia desirable.
- Experience
in the leadership/direction, development, implementation, monitoring and
reporting of multi donor, multi-site field programmes, including direct
and remote management and supervisory experience.
- Proven
strategic planner and team leader with sound technical knowledge,
conceptual and analytical ability, good judgment, and adaptive, flexible
capacity.
- Proven
ability to develop and lead a high performing team both directly and
remotely.
- Excellent
people manager, mentor and coach
- Excellent
written communications skills in English including proposal/report-writing
- Strong
problem solving and organisational skills in day to day and crisis
situations
- Experience
of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and
multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
- Outstanding
interpersonal and inter-organizational skills
- A
commitment to working through systems of children/community participation.
- Commitment
to and understanding of Save the Children’s vision, mission, values and
principles.
Child Safeguaring Policy:
- Any
employee, consultant, contractor or the supplier undertaking an activity
on behalf of SC UK must sign the Child Safeguarding - Declaration of
Acceptance Form] and comply with the SC UK’s Child Safeguarding Policy
which is a statement of SC UK’s commitment to preventing abuse and
protecting children with whom it comes into contact.
- This
extends not only to children with whom SC and its partners work directly,
but also includes children whom staff are responsible for. SC UK believes
that the situation of children must be improved through the promotion of
their rights supported and demonstrated by all members of staff. Save the
Children's Code of Conduct sets out the standards which all staff members
must adhere to.
Applications should be forwarded to: vacancies@scsom.org
Application Closing Date: Friday 27th April 2012.
However, the closing date may be earlier than this date due to the urgency in filling the position.
Application Closing Date: Friday 27th April 2012.
However, the closing date may be earlier than this date due to the urgency in filling the position.