Regional Director of Strategy Management - Southern Africa (SARO) , South Africa

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

This role will provide leadership to the Regional Office of Strategy Management (ROSM), a technical function tasked to lead the development of the regional strategy, review, research, monitor, and measure all aspects of the regional strategy, highlight issues of strategic importance for leadership, and support the development and execution of strategy at the National level. The role is responsible for facilitating the effective implementation of the Partnership Planning cycle in the Region, and for design, coordination and facilitation of Regional processes, meetings, and agendas that advance Regional strategy.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy Leadership : 20%
• Lead the ROSM in establishing goals, strategic objectives and targets, and core implementation strategies to achieve results in the region and NOs, in support of and in alignment with global strategies and priorities.
• Advise and act as a sounding board for Regional leadership and management on matters related to: regional strategy formulation; developing business plans; strategic resource allocations linked with regional and partnership strategy; organisational performance based on data driven information; and creating a performance based culture.
• Coordinate input to the Regional Forum on strategy.
• Contribute to the development global strategies, priorities and plans ensuring that the Regional priorities are given due consideration.
  
  Planning Cycle: 20%
• Facilitate the effective implementation of the Partnership Planning Cycle in the Region, including:
• Lead the development of regional strategies, and business plans ensuring alignment with WVI partnership strategies, and priorities:
• Design a regional strategy development and management process that is within the WV partnership strategy framework and appropriate to the regional context.
• Coordinate strategic planning processes and ensure that key stakeholders are appropriately engaged in regional strategy formulation and management.
• Support regional sector strategic planning with process, tools and ensure alignment and integration with regional and partnership strategic priorities including monitoring alignment of guidance across all offices in the region.
• Operationalize partnership guidelines on the purpose, scope, membership and implementation of the RWG with appropriate adjustments to the regional context.
• Implement a consultative process to ensure a common understanding and buy-in by all stakeholders.
• Develop and implement a project plan for the triennial RWGs
• Coordinate and deliver the data analysis required for the RWG to fulfil its objectives, focusing on high quality pre-reads and presentation materials
  
  Organize and provide support to all RWG meetings –
• Circulate agenda, data analysis, key issues, etc. to RWG members for review prior to meeting;
• Support RL to present strategic issues to RWG.
• Ensure well-focussed discussion and conclusions regarding strategic issues at the RWG;
• Ensure a concrete list of recommendations for the RL is minuted and posted on WVI Strategy web site.
  
• Guide and support National Office strategy formulation, including provision of strategy processes and adaptive tools, review and guidance on strategic alignment.
• Work with the regional governance advisor to ensure appropriate board engagement in National Office strategy development, approval and monitoring where applicable.
  Facilitate and support regional strategy roll-out.
  
  With regional finance, manage the annual regional strategic resource allocation process:
  Using partnership models and standards, plan the annual process for negotiating strategic investment to support regional strategic priorities, considering the Partnership strategic mandates and priorities, models of ministry, growth targets and funding models. This may or may not include a virtual investment review (VIR), but must as a minimum:
• Include analysis of current and projected resources and their alignment to Partnership, regional and national strategic priorities
• Provide visibility to all key stakeholders in SOs, NOs and the RO of the current status of regional resource allocation and especially strategic misalignments
• Facilitate a process to address misalignments (this will need to be completed in time to make any necessary adjustments to your budgets by the scheduled completion date on PBAS of 31 July)
• Track and report on progress in resolving misalignments and securing allocation of resources to strategic priorities
  
  Determine regional optimal funding levels (ROLs) for national offices based on
• Global Growth Guidance
• Minimum scale requirements for acceptable operating cost ratios
• Scale requirements for national-level influence
• Country-specific considerations (eg security and risk issues)
  
  Support regional and national leadership in negotiations with support offices to acquire funding in line with ROLs.
  
  Support, capacity building and coordination: 10%
• Assess and develop capacity building plans for strategic planning capabilities at the national and regional levels. Ensure that they are abreast with partnership recommended strategy development methodologies and best practice.
• Ensure that tools for identifying capacity gaps that impact strategy implementation are in place as part of the strategy development process and communicate any identified capacity gaps to the appropriate function and monitor to ensure that the function has taken corrective action.
• Ensure strategies for capacity investment and maintenance are included, appropriate and aligned with the region’s strategic priorities.
• Advise, coach and support the National Offices on all aspects relating to development of strategies, goals, objectives, business plans aligned with regional and partnership strategy.
• Facilitate the development of a regional strategy network that builds and focuses capacity for strategy development within NO and RO.
  
  Strategy to Implementation: 20%
• Facilitate and support regional strategy roll-out and implementation.
  
  Quality management: 10%
• Ensure appropriate procedures, guidance and tools are in place to develop regional and national strategies to the highest standards of excellence and fitness for purpose.
• Review and analyse entity and functional strategy documents to ensure quality and strategic alignment and provide feedback and inputs as needed.
• Ensure RWG deliverables and recommendations are within the defined partnership RWG mandate, guidelines and deliverables.
• Support the SDO and RL in addressing performance and, compliance issues relating to resource allocations and strategy management in NO.
• Ensure that new strategic initiatives are in alignment with regional and national office strategy and priority, and are appropriately designed, implemented, monitored and evaluated. Develop clear frameworks and ensure that all necessary monitoring processes are in place for new strategy initiatives.
  
  Technical knowledge and advisory: 10%
• Maintain up to date knowledge of current best practice in the strategy discipline.
• Monitor the internal and external environment to identify emerging strategic themes.
• Advise and support National Offices on appropriate models, tools, procedures and linkages for strategic planning, resource allocations and accountability systems.
• Encourage mutual learning between National Offices within the Region and between other regions.
• Contribute to establishment and use of regional databases and e-resources including regional good practices relating to strategy management as part of the wider knowledge management strategy.
  
  Liaison and networks: 5%
• Liaise with GOSM on matters of methodology, use of tools, quality of work and integration with Partnership-wide standards.
• Contribute to GOSM design processes, drawing on best practices from the Region towards supporting Global tools and processes.
• Act as a strategic link and focal point for Strategy and RWG connecting National Offices, Support Offices and Global Centre for mutual support.
• Participate and actively contribute to partnership forums, working groups and networks related to Strategy management as deemed necessary by regional leadership.
• Actively participate in and contribute to the Partnership Strategy Network
• Develop and maintain networks with other INGOs, UN agencies, business entities etc. as appropriate.
  
  Other Responsibilities: 5%
  While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the duties involved in this position, WVI reserves the right to add, remove or alter duties when business need dictates. Other responsibilities include:
• Actively represent the region in relevant partnership networks and working groups.
• Represent the region at partnership forums or meetings as needed.
• Support initiatives outside the region as required.
• Attend and participate in the leadership of devotions and chapel services.
• Carry out additional responsibilities and projects as assigned, including administrative and planning functions.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

REQUIRED:
• Master's degree preferred, in economics, business administration, public administration, international development or related field.
• Broad and deep experience in several functions.
• Experience working in diverse organisational contexts; diversity experience (e.g., cultural, gender, cultural, religious).
• Breadth of experience in leading strategy development in large or complex organisations and interacting at various organisational levels (senior, middle, and staff).
• International work experience, including work in the field
• Strategic Planning Knowledge and skills: Demonstrates an ability to perform strategic business planning including setting organizational objectives, overseeing competitive analysis, strategy communication and opportunity recognition.
• Change Management skills: Demonstrates the ability to engage meaningfully and consistently with a wide range of stakeholders so that stakeholders feel that their needs are being addressed
• International Development: Strong knowledge and understanding of humanitarian industry (relief, development, and advocacy), including how NGOs operate in the global and local contexts.
• Field experience in development programming will be highly regarded.
• Finance and funding Knowledge: Applies understanding of the broad financial basis of the organization, strategic resource allocation, and the drivers of efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Biblical Knowledge: Demonstrates knowledge of scripture by accurately applying biblical principles in decisions, recommendations, and actions.
• Business Know-How: Applies a broad-based understanding of key business fundamentals with knowledge of World Vision’s organization, strategic relationships, and the business/political environment. Uses a high-level understanding of finance, operations, marketing, information systems, and human resources to manage across departmental and functional lines. Evaluates and manages risks to the organization at all levels.
• Performance Management: Demonstrates ability to design and implement performance management system, monitor leadership performance, report and document performance, and develop recommendations for strategy development and goals setting.
• Written Communication: Expresses ideas, thoughts, and concepts clearly and effectively in writing, using correct and appropriate grammar, organization and structure.
• Computer Skills: Demonstrates effective computer skills, including use of Microsoft Office Suite, Lotus Notes, intranet and Internet, and various software applications and databases used in management.
  
  PREFERRED:
• Some cross-functional management experience of 3 – 5 years

Regional Director of Strategy Management - Southern Africa (SARO) -- Location: South Africa