Deputy Director of Programme Development & Quality - Kenya Country Office

Team/Programme: Programme Development and Quality    

Location:  Nairobi
Grade:  TBC  (Competitive Package)    

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:

The Deputy Director of Programme Development & Quality (DDPDQ) is a senior leadership position within the Programme Development and Quality Team.  Under the general direction and guidance of the Director of Programme Development and Quality, he/she will ensure effective systems are in place to monitor the quality and impact of all Save the Children programmes.  

The DDPDQ is responsible for overall implementation of SCI’s Quality Framework for planning, proposals and advocacy, as well as programme quality assurance.  

He/she will manage and support advisors and managers who ensure that field teams are appropriately supported to grow the portfolio, ensure programme quality, foster effective partnerships and advocate for children.  

The DDQPM will deputise for the Director of Programme Development and Quality in his/her absence.

Scope Of Role: 
Reports to: Director Programme Development and Quality

Dimensions: 

Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since 1984, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. 

Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH. 

Save the Children has an operational presence in Dadaab Refugee Camp, Eldoret, Habaswein, Mandera, Meru and Wajir and has a logistics hub in Garissa. Currently, we have a staff complement of approximately 370 staff and expenditure of approximately US$30 million this year.

Staff directly reporting to this post: 5: EVERYONE Campaign Manager, Nutrition and Food Security Advocacy Advisor, MEAL Advisor, Civil Society/Partnership and CRG Advisor, and Business Development Manager.

Key Areas Of Accountability:
Strategic Planning and Programme Development

• Implement the SCI Programme Quality Framework effectively and with positive results.
• Coordinate and provide strategic leadership direction, guidance and technical support to development of thematic sectors and projects in the Kenya office.
• Support the PDQ Team in the Country Annual Planning process for technical programme inputs and quality measures, including child participation, child safeguarding, partnership and evidence-based programming.
• Participate in conceptualising and designing cost effective, innovative and high quality programmes to serve children in Kenya with a focus on gender inclusion and gender equity.
• Ensure that programs are relevant to children in Kenya and to the global programme and advocacy objectives of the Save the Children Members, in both Humanitarian and Development contexts.
• Ensure that all sectors apply a risk lens to programme design and implementation in line with the Save the Children policy on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation.

Advocacy Development

• Ensure clear messaging and effective implementation of the SCI EVERYONE Strategy in Kenya.
• Ensure development of key messages and delivery of advocacy for nutrition and food security, including implementation of SC’s strategy for Transform Nutrition in Kenya.
• Participate in advocacy forums and working groups where Save the Children can maximise its advocacy impact and messaging for children.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ensure that the country office has a comprehensive, SMT-endorsed MEAL framework in place, which is implemented and monitored effectively.  Ensure that data and analysis is of high quality and routinely checked.
• Measure achievement and progress toward program goals and results through the MEAL Framework.
• Routinely review outputs and reports from the MEAL Framework to propose changes in programme operations and technical approaches.  Provide a monthly MEAL report to SMT.
• Monitor and report on Minimum Operating Standards within the PDQ sphere of influence.  Assist in developing and implementing action plans to improve MOS performance.
• Support internal and external programme/project evaluations as necessary and ensure the execution of baseline, periodic, and final evaluations as necessary in coordination with Director of Program Operations.
• Ensure a robust and safe system is in place to manage M&E data and access for programme planning, proposal development, reporting and on-going learning.

Accountability

• Ensure that the country office has a comprehensive, SMT-endorsed Accountability Framework in place, which is implemented and monitored effectively.
• Ensures that mechanisms are in place for receiving and responding to beneficiary, partner and donor feedback.
• Routinely review outputs and reports from the Accountability Framework to propose changes in programme operations and technical approaches.
• Serves as child safeguarding focal point within the PDQ team.

Learning

• Develop a clear agenda and inclusive process for learning and reflection, which informs planning.
• Maintains central coordination of research information and evidence about what works within our areas of programme implementation.
• Ensures annual learning from communities through a participatory process with programme participants and key stakeholders.  Manages consolidation of this assessment data – community concerns, risks and adaptation, community mapping, etc. – and ensures it is incorporated in programme design.
• Ensure learning from relevant best practice and assess performance regularly against agreed programme objectives and indicators.

Partnership

• Ensure that the country office has a comprehensive, SMT-endorsed Partnership Strategy in place, which is implemented and monitored effectively.
• Verify that every partnership is formed in the context of the Theory of Change and is designed and managed so that the partnership furthers achievement of Save the Children's global strategy and strengthens local and national capacity to deliver for children.
• Ensure that the Kenya Country Office engages in mutual assessment, feedback and learning with partners and assist partners to engage in knowledge building and advocacy, including annual partnership reviews.

Business Development

• Ensure that the country office has a comprehensive, SMT-endorsed Business Development Strategy in place, which is implemented and monitored effectively.
• Verify effective management of the process of preparing concept papers and project proposals for fundraising purposes. Manage the proposal development processes effectively to ensure Business Development Manager forges strong coordination with other CO teams, particularly Programme Operations (for field team inputs, logistics requirements, security, costings, etc.), Member Services (for donor requirements), Finance (for budgets) and HR (for staffing requirements). 
• Track up-coming funding opportunities, donor engagement and proposal development process.  Provide regular updates to the Director of Programme Development and Quality on the status of the funding portfolio and key trends to monitor.
• Participate in key donor meetings, when necessary, to foster long-term collaboration and engagement.

Management

• Ensure that all staff understand and are able to perform their role in a humanitarian response and development context.
• Ensure the recruitment, training and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff.
• Incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process.  Establish result based system and follow up with performance issues in a timely manner.
• Facilitate the development and implementation of detailed annual work plans and key monthly deliverables for each staff under supervision.
• Actively participate in key relevant internal meetings such as Programme Review Meetings, Senior Management Team or Area-based meetings as required.  Participate in any donor visit to project(s) within PDQ portfolio as required.  

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, 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

Qualifications And Experience

• Development professional with a relevant Masters Degree or equivalent professional experience.
• A minimum of 5 years of management experience in an NGO or similar environment, including experience directing and implementing programs for children in both emergency and development contexts, preferably with solid experience in more than one of the Save the Children priority sectors: education, child protection, child rights governance, HIV/AIDS, health and nutrition, livelihoods and humanitarian response.
• Significant professional experience of working in a senior Monitoring and Evaluation capacity with an international NGOs, UN or donor agency or the private sector in Kenya.
• Experience in both development and humanitarian sector preferred.
• Experience of having designed and managed M&E frameworks for multi-million dollar programmes.
• Excellent understanding of the Monitoring and Evaluation processes and methodologies – with specific technical trainings in these areas. 
• Proven fundraising experience with multiple institutional donors, multi-year projects and portfolios greater than US$1 million.
• Proven representation and advocacy skills.
• Experience in promoting and mainstreaming Child Rights Based programming in programme design, implementation and evaluation.
• Familiarity with key international standards for humanitarian work (e.g. SPHERE, HAP principles, etc.).
• Strong report writing skills, including experience in writing funding proposals and donor reports.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels, taking into account cultural and language difficulties.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets.
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner.
• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies.
• Fluency in English, both verbal and written, required.
• Commitment to Save the Children values, including willingness to abide by and enforce the Child Safeguarding policy.

The application period is now open and will close at midday Wednesday 15th November 2012. 

To apply for an open position, please send a short cover letter and CV to Kenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org  indicating the position applied for in the subject line.