BHA Senior Project Manager

The Opportunity – Senior Project Manager – BHA

Post location: Field Office in Gaza

Contract Duration and Level of Effort: 12 months with possibility for extension

ROLE PURPOSE:

Save the Children is seeking a Senior Project Manager to oversee delivery of an integrated, multisectoral project funded by the United States Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs (BHA), which is providing critical MPCA, nutrition and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and child protection (CP) services to affected communities across the West Bank and Gaza.

The Senior Project Manager’s role is to provide effective leadership, oversight and monitoring and evaluation, and be the overall point of accountability for the quality and timely implementation of the project. To do so, the post-holder will be required to collaborate with Technical Advisors, Thematic Program Managers (FSL, Nutrition, WASH and Child Protection) and a range of implementing partners. The SPM will also ensure effective financial and operational management of the project and acts as the key focal point and represents the project to BHA, and other key stakeholders, including government representatives, while ensuring SCI participation in key technical working groups and sector Clusters.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Director of Operations

Staff reporting to this post: No direct reports – but dotted line management to project staff in the field.

Budget Responsibilities: Total project budget of circa $8m, approval levels in-line with the Scheme of Delegation

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Program Planning and Implementation

• Working closely with the Field Managers and relevant technical teams:
• Ensure robust planning and project management processes are in place, following Save the Children’s Program Management Methodology (PMM) and good practices.
• Ensure that efficient systems are in place to support all aspects of project activity, including financial and grant management, procurement planning, project monitoring, and evaluation, and that they support the effective use of project resources in compliance with BHA requirements.
• Oversee and support implementation, including the supervision of proper targeting, identification, registration, and monitoring of beneficiary lists to prevent overlap with other humanitarian programs in the intervention areas and ensure maximum integration with Save the Children’s other programs.
• Ensure that activities are appropriately planned, that delays and constraints are quickly identified and documented, and solutions identified.
• Provide effective leadership and strategic oversight for integrated programming
• Contribute to situation/response analysis and any corresponding revision of program strategy documents and sector response plans, ensuring integration with other sectors.
• Working with the Program Development and Quality (PDQ) team ensure close coordination through clusters with other humanitarian actors and UN agencies carrying out program activities for geographic mapping and to ensure program activities are in line with national and humanitarian technical priorities.
• Ensure close collaboration with PDQ Technical Advisers and Specialists to deliver programming according to Save the Children’s quality standards and sector wide good practice standards, including safe programming and conflict sensitivity guidelines
• Work with oPt national NGO partner to ensure partner implementation of program activities is timely, appropriate, and compliant with program design and donor regulations.
• Ensure partner capacity building plan is rolled out.
• Provide accurate program reports and other deliverables for submission to Save the Children US and BHA in a timely and accurate manner.
• Continually monitor for developments in the operating context that might require a change to the program implementation plan (e.g. revision to the budget, or inclusion of a geographical area due to increased need) and discuss with relevant stakeholders to proactively propose solutions

Financial, Budget and Grant Management

• Serve as overall budget holder for the BHA award
• Ensure that the project budget is managed through rigorous budget and finance monitoring practices (at least monthly review) with participation of all key functions involved in projects.
• Oversee timely expenditure of approved budgets, avoiding both underspending and overspending.
• Ensure that BHA funds are spent in compliance with 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 (AGRESSO) reports at least every month and bringing to the timely attention of Director of Operations and the Finance Director any major budget concerns.

People Management and Administration

• Work closely with Field Managers in a ‘matrix management’ approach to ensure support and supervision to field program teams.
• Contribute to performance evaluations, identify staff development needs and opportunities for professional development, provide management support to staff as needed, and maintain office policy of respect and communication between supervisors and subordinates.
• Promote accountability, communicating expectations and providing constructive feedback through regular performance reviews.
• Responsible for the timely recruitment, orientation, and training of new staff as needed.
• Ensure all administrative procedures are followed, such as those regarding vehicle use and procurement; ensure logistics/administrative staff provide sufficient and timely support to programs and programmatic staff, and that data collection processes are standardized and applied by all field staff.

Representation and Leadership

• Represent SC and the multi-sector program in USAID/BHA donor meetings and with representatives from USAID/BHA.
• The senior Program Manager will represent Save the Children in relevant coordination forums within the country, and internationally, as and when required.
• Maintain good working relationships with officials and other humanitarian actors, particularly those within the relevant government agencies (local and national authorities including technical departments, INGOs, NGOs, UN agencies.)
• Represent SC and maintain good working relationships among the international and local NGO community, among community leadership structures and community-based organizations, and with visiting donor and other key contacts. Keep abreast of NGO, government, and donor initiatives relevant to SC’s work.
• Maintain focus on SC program principles.
• Encourage teamwork, openness, and honesty among BHA project staff and between SC and its partners.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning

• Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) team (MEAL Advisor, MEAL Coordinators, and MEAL Officers) to develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation plans and to capture learning opportunities (see additional information in the Monitoring and Evaluation section below). Build adaptive management into routine program activities to leverage this learning.
• Where security permits, the SPM will make regular visits to field sites, to monitor and oversee project implementation – this will include going to the Gaza field office.
• Support the DP to work with the MEAL team to develop MEAL plans and tools to ensure that the program is monitored against measurable and appropriate indicators.
• Drive program assessments, evaluations and other reviews required in the program.
• Cooperate with Third Party Monitors assigned by BHA and closely follow up on findings to improve program quality
• Contribute to situation/response analysis and any corresponding revision of program strategy documents and sector response plans ensuring integration with other sectors.
• Ensure that learning and good practice is gathered, documented and shared with the wider project

Safeguarding and risk management

• Ensure that project risks mitigations are in place and regularly monitored to prevent fraud, corruption, diversion or other harm in line with SCI policies and standards
• Ensure SCI safeguarding and PSEA policies are implemented in the project and are subject to continuous monitoring/review
• Coordinate with security teams to maintain situational awareness in the project locations and ensure safety and security measures are followed as per SCI safety and security protocols

In order to be successful you will bring/have:

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in development, humanitarian response, technical sector (health, nutrition, WASH or protection), or related field is required.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential:

• 8 + years of demonstrable professional experience in implementing multi-sector programs, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a leadership role overseeing the implementation of projects relevant to the focus sectors: health, nutrition, FSL, WASH or child protection
• Experience in complex emergency responses and fragile states; prior experience working in conflict settings
• Demonstrates exceptional managerial and operational leadership skills; experience managing through influence in a matrix organisation
• Significant experience of NGO emergency program cycle management, including field-level project implementation and working against log frames
• Demonstrable financial and budget management experience; experience as a budget holder
• In-depth knowledge and experience of logistics systems and requirements in a multi-field office, multi program setting
• Experience in managing US Government funding and familiarity with federal regulations is critical (e.g. USAID, BHA)
• Flexibility and the ability to effectively adjust expectations to on-the ground realities, while adhering to humanitarian principles and standards.
• Strength in inspiring and enabling others through teamwork, training, and capacity building to realize organizational objectives.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in Arabic and English.

Desirable

• Previous BHA experience
• Technical expertise in at least one of the project sectors
• Experience in cash and/or food assistance programs
• Previously completed Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT)

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector**. This role is offered on the basis of** national terms and conditions, Application will be reviewed and selected on a rolling basis.

Save the Children promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment, women and people with different abilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Organisation

Save the Children works in development and humanitarian contexts with children and partners to help families, communities, and governments identify and use innovations to ensure all children survive, learn and are protected.

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realize the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.