Plan International is an independent non-profit organization that advances children’s well-being and equality for girls. Working in building powerful partnerships for children for over 75 years and present in 70 countries, Plan International strives for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children while working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners. Plan International Ethiopia is looking for Head of Programme Operations for Country Office.

Role PURPOSE

Plan International is an independent child rights and humanitarian organisation committed to children living a life free of poverty, violence and injustice.

We actively unite children, communities and other people who share our mission to make positive lasting changes in children’s and young people’s lives. We support children to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. We place a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

The role of the Head of Programme Operations (HoPO) is to lead, manage and support Program Areas Managers in quality programme delivery (planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation); and to provide support and technical guidance in the management of their respective teams to ensure high level performance and the achievement of organisational goals. Responsible for Country Strategic Plan design and roll out. He will also be a focal person to high level government negotiations such as with the CHSA (The Charities and Societies Agency), the Federal Government Ministries and Regional high level authorities. He will also deputize the Country Director as deemed necessary. He/she will attend high level federal and regional meetings, INGO cluster meetings and GO/NGO. The incumbent will be a member of the Country Management Team, and will provide high-level, strategic contribution to the leadership of the organisation as a whole, in close cooperation with other senior staff.

Dimensions of the Role

·         Responsible for rolling out the Country Strategic Plan (CSP)

·         Will closely work with the Head of Program Quality and the Country Program Leads (CP Leads) at the CO.

·         He/ she will have a financial delegation of 100,000 USD

·         Reports to the Country Director and is a member of Country Leadership Team (CLT) and extended Country Leadership Team

·         Supervises all the Programme Area Managers, the Sponsorship Manager and some high level Chief of Parties.

·         Ensures right staff capacity, competencies and skills are in place; involved in recruitment and staffing of the programme field teams.

·         Ensures smooth teamwork in PAs and enhancement the integration among other departments;

·         Attend high level federal and regional meetings.

·         Creates high performing teams and an effective working relationships between programme  staff at the Country Office and in the Program Units

·         Provide oversight role in budget  management in the PAs

·         Reviews and authorises POs within financial limits  for all PAs

·         Reviews Annual plans and Project Completion Reports for CD approval in the system

·         Ensures PAs comply with corporate governance systems, policies and procedures.

Accountabilities

Key Roles and Responsibilities of the Position:

1.    Provide Programme Leadership to the programme areas

• Ensure that Plan Ethiopia’s Country Strategic Plan is understood and followed by all PAMs and local partners,
• Create and maintain work environment that promotes vision, growth and delivery of quality programmes.
• Build and oversee managerial accountability with particular attention to overall project design, planning, delivery, monitoring, and Evaluations.
• Support systematic programme growth in the PAs in line with the entry – exit strategy

• Ensure annual project interventions are carefully and consistently planned and implemented in line with the strategic technical areas (STAs) across the programme areas.
• Periodically review project goals, strategies and priorities with local partners and programme staff to ensure proper alignment with the STAs.

• Provide leadership in supporting Quarterly and annual project reflection in line with CCCD standards and sponsorship commitment
• Work closely with the Sponsorship Manager to ensure timely and quality production of sponsorship communications and implementation of sponsorship commitments
• Actively support effective grant management at the PA levels through the PAMs and ensure project budgets and delivery targets are well managed.
• Actively support partnership management (identification, profiling, assessment and review of partnership agreement plus monitoring partner’s activities.
• Provide leadership and support to PA programme teams in ensuring timely management of staff performance systems
• Participate actively in all CMT meetings and ensure presentation of critical programme management issues.
• Promote corporate image of Plan and maintain appropriate relationship with Federal and regional government officials.

2.    Proper coordination of programme planning and implementation in line with Child centred community development standards, programme quality framework and the CSP’s strategic technical areas:

• Coordinate and support the HOPQ on annual project  planning and budgeting in line with the strategic technical areas;
• Coordinate and guide the integration of CCCD standard in all projects and conduct regular review of programme implementation against the CCCD standards;
• Coordinate the production of quality field work progress reports for timely submission to the Region.
• Build and oversee managerial accountability at the PA level, with particular attention timely utilization of budgets in line with annual plans and donor conditions.
• Work closely with PAMs to maintain good relations, planning and coordination between Plan and other development partners in the regions and federal levels.
• Represent Plan in meetings with partners

3.    Build strong networks of partners and maintain good relations, and coordination with other development partners in the district, regional and federal. Take leadership in:

• Identifying, profiling and maintain an updated list of key strategic partners in all districts, regions and federal levels
• Collaborating with the CP leads and Business Development Manager to ensure that partner capacity gaps are identified, partners’ capacity building plan developed and fully implemented;

• Where applicable actively participate in the regional budget conference meetings
• Proactively participate in the review and planning meeting with all implementing partners
• Ensuring partner project monitoring reports are properly managed.

• Engaging with and supporting implementing CSO partners to influence key policy issues affecting the communities, and ensuring that they inform national level policy engagements.
• Contributing to the appraisal and approval process of project proposals/plans of partners and ensure that funds for the approved plans are secured and disbursed on a timely basis.

4.    Supervise Human Resource management at the PA levels

• Effectively supervise all Programme Area Managers
• Develop effective field teams and work collaboratively with others, especially as part of the CO programme leadership  team
• Ensure timely PMS and submission of staff appraisal reports
• Take an active responsibility for HR recruitment for PA programme staff
• Work hand – in – hand with Human Resources  to ensure new programme staff in the field get adequate orientation

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge:

Essential

Qualification and Experience

• BSc in any relevant field and a minimum of 15 year progressive program leadership or MSc in any relevant field and a minimum of progressive program management experience.
• Demonstrated track record of proposal writing
• Experience in leading team, coaching and mentoring
• Experience working with partners mainly with government

Desirable

· Thorough knowledge of programming processes, systems and principles, and the ability to provide leadership and support to staff working at field level.

· Comfortable with taking timely decisions in situations where information may be incomplete, based on consultation and sound judgement.

· Numeracy and the ability to interpret financial data, in order to provide management support to budgetary processes including planning, monitoring and reporting.

·  Ability to communicate effectively and build high performance teams in support of achievement of organisational objectives.

·         Ability to interact and work effectively with others at all levels.

·         Good analytical and administrative skills.

·         Strong skills in facilitation and negotiation.

·         Strategic thinker

·         Team player

·         Excellent writing skills