The Organisation

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 realise 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 workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued. 

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Save the Children International seeks to always be a child-safe organization by fulfilling its obligations to the community and through programme implementation carried out by the organization for safeguarding children and improve their living standards of the child.

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Position: Deputy Country Director - Programme Operations (DCD-PO)

Location: Yemen- Aden with frequent travel to Sanaa and other governorates.

Contract Length: 24 months

The Opportunity:

ROLE PURPOSE: 

As a most senior position under the Country Director, the DCD-PO is a member of the Yemen Senior Management Team (SLT). TheDCD-PO shares the overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of the Country Office.  The DCD-PO in his/her capacity is responsible for implementation of all programming in country, emergency preparedness and response (including Anticipatory Action), and logistics and supply chain for the Country Programme in Yemen. The DCD-DPO guarantees business continuity in periods of absence of the CD.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

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

• Leadership of the Yemen Country Programme
• Business continuity planning and deputizing for the CD position
• Ensure appropriate funding for shared costs in all locations, working in collaboration with Finance and Awards
• To lead and chair the Country Coordination meeting (ESMT meetings), and ensure the latter is used as an effective platform for coordination, problem solving and decision-making.
• To build and maintain relationships with relevant networks and operational staff of similar organizations in the country.
• Ensures relevant coordination meetings are scheduled for inter-departmental collaboration (day-to-day, information sharing, review, decision-making)
• Coordinates functions at country level for effective delivery and field support
• In collaboration with the CD lead developing and establishing an organisational culture that reflects our values, our mandate to operate and respond in all contexts, 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
• Design and supports the implementation of a coherent organizational structure that is consistent with agency practices and appropriate to program needs
• Responsible for establishing and improving active and regular working relationships with: host government authorities, donors, partner agencies including major institutional donors, and local and international NGOs
• Ensure that the required support is provided promptly, at scale and in line with the rules and principles during emergencies, working closely with the Regional Office
• To engage regionally and globally on the development of Save the Children operational systems and processes and the sharing of best practice.
• Local, national and international representation with Members, Regional Office, Donors, government and NGO and UN.

Leadership and oversight of Program Operations

• Leads the overall program implementation and delegated responsibility for field delivery of high-quality programming in line with Save the Children standards, including SCIs Project Management Methodology (PMM) and the objectives of the country strategy
• Oversee the program proposal process as aligned to PMM and participate on the strategic level with the Director of Program Quality to ensure that all programs progress in accordance with grant agreements, are completed within time and on budget
• Overall budget holder for all programming; ensure project expenditure is in line with agreed work plans and commitments to donors and members
• Work with the PQ Director to ensure business partnership in the overall leadership of program strategy plans and implementation to ensure responsiveness to 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 and as part of SCIs broader commitment to advancing the partnerships agenda
• Oversee all Field operations. 
• Lead on monthly portfolio review meetings, maintain oversight of all high-risk awards, with a focus on multi-sectoral and multi-location ones, and mobilize relevant staff as needed to ensure quality implementation.
• Ensure projects are properly kicked-off, monitored, closed out, and implemented with compliance.
• With the Partnership and PDQ team, continue to drive the partnership strategy, ensure that partnership management processes continue to adapt to changing needs, and build strategic and long-standing partnerships built on mutual respect and benefit.
• Oversee the continuous improvement of cash transfer systems, in light of changing economic and financial situation in Yemen.
• Ensure that programmes are delivered efficiently, maximising opportunities for convergence and integration of activities where possible.
• Work with the Regional Office to put in place a robust scenario-based contingency and business continuity planning approach across the country programme;
• Ensure relevance of project/programme scope to Country Office Strategies and context and lead on any adaptation where applicable.
• Conduct regular field visits and ensure an environment of continuous learning and improvement within the operations team, and that lessons learned throughout programme implementation and utilized to inform the adaptation of existing, and the design of future, programmes.
• Ensure active engagement in advocacy strategy development and delivery, and in particular ensure the voices and views of children are heard and taken into account in the delivery of our programs and against our program objectives.

Logistics, Inventory and Procurement 

Work closely with, supervise and support the Supply Chain Director to:

• Ensure that the country office supply chain, medical supply-chain and logistics capacity and systems meet the Minimum Operating Standards and are able to satisfy the programming requirements
• Ensure close supervision and support to the roll out of the Pro Save procurement system across the country program
• Ensure appropriate and adequate emergency logistics procedures are detailed in the Country Office Emergency Preparedness Plan in order to enable rapid scale up 
• Ensure goods and services procured are cost effective and quality aligned to the SCI Essential Standards
• Assess the implementation of the procurement processes to ensure they are effectively and consistently implemented
• When needed support the procurement team in negotiating the best deals with suppliers
• conduct reviews to ensure proper documentation and recording of fixed assets and inventories of the organisation

Emergency Response Management 

• Strengthen the Yemen CO organisational readiness to respond to emergencies in line with global emergency goal and benchmarks 
• Ensure that the CO designs, updates and implements a full set of emergency preparedness actions, drawing on member input and resources and as aligned to the broader SCI Anticipatory Action Approach
• Lead 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 Country staff across departments and sub offices are familiar with, adhere to and implement the procedures and processes detailed in the Rules and Principles for emergency response
• In coordination with Country Director and Director for Program Design and Quality maintain consistent and coherent engagement in key inter-agency emergency preparedness and response coordination mechanisms including the Cluster system

Risks Management:

• Lead and co-chair the Country Risk and Compliance Committee (CRCC).
• Play a primary and accountable role for risk mitigation within Ops mandate area and play an active leadership role within the SMT around risk mitigation.
• Ensure quality ARAs are developed for every new program, which are properly rolled out with partners and field managers for every award.
• Ensure a particular focus on risk, capacity support, and partnership portfolio, acknowledging the CO will continue to invest and grow its delivery with and through its partners.

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development – Program Operations

• Ensure appropriate staffing within Program Operations, including field offices staff
• Ensure that all staff understand and are supported to perform their role in an emergency
• Provide leadership and technical support as needed to Program Implementation teams. 
• Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff is consistent with SCI standards and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff
• Together with the RO, engage and contribute to the SCI talent management process and succession planning.
• Incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building.
• Establish result-based system and follow up 
• Manage and support staff performance through: 
• Effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measurable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations;
• Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities;
• Recognition for outstanding performance;
• Adequate management of unsatisfactory performance

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• Minimum 10 years programme/organizational management experience in an NGO and/or development/humanitarian actor environment, including significant field operations experience running both emergency and development programs.
• Substantial experience at scale in complex/remote management environments
• Previous experience in Country Leadership roles in emergency settings
• Significant field operations experience in a complex conflict environment 
• Extensive experience of NGO emergency program cycle management, and with experience of working within a complex and matrix organisation structure
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in award management and new business development functions including proposal development, compliance, award reviews and donor reporting.
• A very good understanding and working knowledge of at least 3 of the sectoral programs’ priorities of the Country Office 
• Substantial experience in logistics/supply chain including procurement 
• Significant knowledge of international humanitarian systems, institutions and donors (including World Bank, BHA, FCDO, USAID, UN Donors, OCHA, ECHO) and of procedures, accountability frameworks and best practices in emergency management 
• Substantial experience and knowledge of effective financial and budgetary control and securing and managing grants from major institutional donors
• Excellent leadership and management skills related to organisational development projects and international, cross-functional teams with a proven history of delivering results
• Ability to analyse information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically 
• Good understanding of national and global development issues in particular in relation to children 
• Previous experience of managing and developing a diverse team of senior professionals and the ability to lead, motivate and develop others 
• Demonstrated credibility with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels of an organization
• Substantial experience representing a department or country office with external stakeholders; including engaging/leading advocacy initiatives and conducting media interviews.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills 
• Ability and willingness to change work practices and hours, and work with incoming teams in the event of major emergencies
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights-based approaches 
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Experience working in Middle East. Working knowledge of Arabic language is highly preferred.
• Experience working in Yemen 
• Master’s degree in related field

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.  A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/careers/apply

“Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer. Women are strongly encouraged to apply”