Deputy Country Director - Programme Operations

DEPUTY COUNTRY DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMME OPERATION 

 

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Sudan Country Office Senior Management Team LOCATION: Port Sudan  GRADE:  Grade 2 POST TYPE: National or International

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: As a member of the Senior Management Team, the Deputy Country Director of Program Operations has a significant share in the overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of the Country Office.  The Deputy Country Director of Program Implementation in her/his capacity is responsible for implementation of all program implementation (except for research projects) in country including the management of all sub offices.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to: Country Director

Dimensions: Save the Children works in 13 out of 18 states in Sudan with a current staff complement of approximately 352+ staff and current expenditure of approximately $66 + million each year.

Staff directly reporting to this post: Program Operations Directors, Thematic sector directors/heads; PRIME Lead and Supply chain and operation support Director.

 

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our 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 others to do the same.
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, other 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 

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

As a member of the Senior Management Team, contribute to:

• Contribute to the Leadership of the Sudan Country Office and provide the leadership for Program Implementation
• Support the development of an organisational culture that reflects our values, promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and frees up our people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our members and donors.
• Help establish, maintain, and improve active and regular working relationships with host government authorities, donors, partner agencies including major institutional donors, and local and international NGOs.
• Provide the leadership to implement the Country Strategic Plan under the guidance of the Country Director support the implementation and follow up of CO KPI Improvement plan, Audit recommendations and other general CO Risk management plans. 
• Contribute to strategic development and delivery of international programming, in both humanitarian and development contexts, in line with the Save the Children mandate, strategy and theory of change.
• Contribute to global knowledge and learning in Save the Children

Oversight and Management of Program Implementation

• Responsible for overall coordination of program implementation and delegated responsibility for field delivery of high-quality programming in line with the objectives of the country strategy
• In close coordination with the members of Senior Management team participate in program proposal process and ensure that all programs progress in accordance with grant agreements, are completed within time and on budget.
• Working with Deputy Country Director PDQ, participate in conceptualizing and designing cost effective, innovative and high-quality programs to serve difficult to reach children.
• In collaboration with the POD’s and SMT, define and implement an effective, efficient and sustainable operating model, including defining and developing the role of Save the Children and its partners.
• Serve as overall budget holder for most programming; manage and support budget holders for individual projects and grants.
• Ensure programs are implemented in ways responsive to the communities, and children in line with Save the Children principles, values and strategic plan and following Save the Children compliance procedures. This includes working with government and national NGO-partners to strengthen national capacity.
• Ensure preparation of timely and high-quality progress reports, program reports, and donor reports
• Through the Program Operation Directors oversee all sub-offices and ensure all relevant SCI processes and procedures are in place with the support of the various heads of departments.

Budget Management  

• Ensure expenditure is authorized in accordance with the budget authorization procedures within the scheme of delegation. 
• Monitor for significant variances between budget and actual expenditure under DPO  being managed by  CoPs and National Program Managers. 
• Ensure appropriate action is taken for budget under/overutilization identified working closely with Award team.  
• Ensure that budget holders under direct report prepare reports on financial performance of their award as required either by donors or by other, internal demands. 

Humanitarian Response Management (through the line management of the Humanitarian Director)

• Strengthen the Sudan CO organisational readiness to respond to emergencies in line with global SCI humanitarian goal and benchmarks.
• Ensure that the CO designs, updates and implements a full set of humanitarian preparedness actions, drawing on SC member input and resources.
• Mount appropriate and timely responses at scale to all emergencies consistent with established benchmarks, plans and organizational policies, and in close cooperation with incoming surge teams.
• Ensure that all CO staff across departments and sub offices are familiar with, adhere to and implement the procedures and processes detailed in the Rules and Principles for humanitarian response.
• In coordination with Country Director and Deputy Country Director PDQ maintain consistent and coherent engagement in key inter-agency emergency preparedness and response coordination mechanisms including the Cluster system

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development – Program Operations

• Ensure appropriate staffing within program operations, including sub office staff and Supply Chain unit.
• Ensure that all direct reports understand and are able to perform their role and support where needed.
• Manage program operations team; define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly ensure the same happens for the Supply Chain team
• Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff and implement the talent review program.

Representation and Networking

• Proactively seek and maintain, active and regular working relationships with - host government authorities, development, humanitarian and corporate donors and partner agencies (e.g., USAID, DFID, SIDA, etc.), the UN system, and local and international NGOs
• Interact regularly with the international donor and NGO community to ensure awareness of SC programmes and to collect up to date information about the plans and programmes of other actors.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Recommended a minimum of 10 years of senior management and experience in non-profit environment, including significant field operations experience running both emergency and development programs. 
• Excellent conceptual and analytical skills, effective negotiator, with the ability to positively influence cross departmental and cross sectoral working relationship. 
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in 
• Demonstrated experience working on complex, multi-partner projects in an international setting
• Degree in development or other social sciences or relevant degree 
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills; excellent people management skills, experience of managing and developing a team.
• Solid project management skills related to organisational development projects and international, cross-functional teams with a proven history of delivering results.
• Significant knowledge of international humanitarian and development systems, institutions, and donors, and of procedures, accountability frameworks and best practices in emergency management
• Ability to think creatively to solve problems and find effective and efficient ways to accomplish goals.
• Ability to make decisions, work under pressure on a number of competing tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work successfully in a complex political environment and on sensitive issues
• Flexible and adaptable to dynamic changes and fast-paced work environment
• Experience in, and/or knowledge of, Sudan or the region is preferred
• A very good understanding of at least 3 of the sectoral programs (Education, Livelihoods, WASH, Child Protection, Health and Nutrition) and a working knowledge of the program priorities of the Country Office 
• An in-depth understanding of national and international development issues in particular in relation to children 
• Willingness to spend 50 to 60% time traveling to implementation sites for technical monitoring and supervision visits.
• Ability and willingness to change work practices and hours, and work with incoming teams in the event of major emergencies.
• Fluency in written and spoken English 
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights-based approaches.

 

Date of issue: May 26 2024                                                                             Author: