TITLE: Project Director, Girls’ Education in Conflict Affected Areas in Northeastern Nigeria
TEAM/PROGRAMME: Programme Implementation
LOCATION: Yobe, Nigeria with regular travel to the field (40%)
GRADE: TBC
CONTRACT LENGTH: 1 year with possibility of extension
CHILD SAFEGUARDING:
Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.
ROLE PURPOSE:
Save the Children seeks an experienced Project Director to lead a flagship Girls’ Education in Conflict Affected Areas in Northeatern Nigeria. The program is funded by the Global Affairs Canada to deliver the Education for Crisis-Affected Girls (ECG) in Borno and Yobe. “Education for Crisis-Affected Girls (ECG)” project is a 2.5-year initiative (Feb 2020 – 31 Aug 2022) to support crisis-affected girls (aged 6-14) to exercise their equal and inalienable rights to quality education and gender equality (GE) in the States of Borno and Yobe in the northeast (NE) Nigeria.
The Project Director (PD) will be responsible for providing technical leadership and overall management of the GAC Education program, working closely with field teams to provide technical and operations guidance, support monitoring and evaluation, and ensure program quality. S/he will also ensure effective financial and operational management of the project working closely with the wider Operations Team and the Field Managers in Yobe and Borno. The PD will act as the primary focal point and represent the project to GAC and other key stakeholders in Nigeria and the region. The Project Director will also be the key focal point for Save the Children Canada (SCC), SC Member responsible for managing the relationship with the donor. The PD is ultimately responsible for compliance and the oversight of project activities which will meet the stated objectives of the project. An understanding of gender equality principles and practice is a strong asset.
We are currently seeking an experienced Program Director to lead and put on track the next phase of this critical project for SC Nigeria.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Director of Programme Operations
Staff reporting to this post: Technical and day to day management of field GAC Education Program staff in Yobe and Borno states.
Close working relationships: Country Director, PDQ Director, Field Manager Yobe and Borno and Education Sector Manager.
Budget Responsibilities: Approximately 4 million USD per annum
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Programme Implementation and Monitoring
- Lead the implementation of high quality program activities in line with grant agreement and SC technical and operational requirements
- Ensure that implementation is accelerated and on track in line with approved budget and required quality.
- Ensure that effective monitoring and performance management systems are in place for achieving prior agreed programme activity targets, budget allocations and financial expenditures, ensuring that value for money can be effectively demonstrated to the donor and activities and expenditures are compliant with donor requirements
- In coordination with SCC, continually reflect on the extent to which implementation of activities and outputs will lead to the achievement of desired outcomes and make necessary adjustments
- Conduct planning meetings with key program staff, while ensuring adequate planning documents are established and maintained
- Monitor progress of activities against the detailed implementation plan and log frames while evaluating the relevance and appropriateness of the intervention.
- Identify technical and operational program supply needs and coordinate with logistics teams to put in place a sensible phased procurement plan.
- Prepare timely and quality programme and donor reports on project activities in compliance with internal requirements and any relevant external donor requirements.
- Ensure that activities are appropriately planned, that delays and constraints are documented, and solutions identified.
- Ensure programs are adequately resourced and oversee timely expenditure of approved budgets, ensuring appropriate spend and proper and effective use of program resources.
- Communicate with the Member on the overall progress of implementation, as well as all the key risks and mitigation measures. Timely flag and discuss key challenges, incidents and divergence from the donor-approved plans.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
- Make frequent visit to project sites to monitor and oversee project implementation and provide technical and managerial guidance/support identifying issues that need timely action and support at different levels.
- Work with the MEAL team to develop tools and ideas to ensure that the program is monitored against measurable and appropriate indicators.
- Ensure regular post distribution monitoring is carried out appropriately, and contributes to situation/response analysis, and any corresponding revision of program plans
- Support program assessments, evaluations and other reviews required in the program.
- Ensure that learning and good practice is gathered, documented and shared with the wider programme.
People Management and development
- Strategically plan staffing needs to implement the program, supporting the timely recruitment, orientation, and training of new staff as required
- Provide necessary support to the Program Manager to ensure that implementation is adequaltely supported in Borno state
- Technical management and supervision of program staff, working closely with the Field Managers to ensure that they have clear objectives and received meaningful feedback on their performance
- Identify development needs, prepare and deliver appropriate training plans, and support program staff to access other relevant training and development opportunities
Coordination and Representation
- Internal coordination with other SC program teams, particularly GAC teams, to ensure effective program integration in the areas of intervention.
- Represent Save the Children and the GAC Education project in relevant coordination fora within the country and internationally as and when required.
- Maintain good working relationships with officials and other humanitarian actors, particularly those within the relevant government agencies (local and national authorities including technical departments, INGOs, NGOs, UN agencies.)
- Represent SC and maintain good working relationships among the international and local NGO community, among community leadership structures and community-based organizations, and with visiting donor and third-party monitoring teams and other key contacts. Keep abreast of NGO, government, and donor initiatives relevant to SC’s work.
- In coordination with SCC represent SC and the program in GAC donor meetings and with representatives from GAC as required.
- Encourage teamwork, openness, and honesty among staff and between SC and its partners
Other
- Undertake any other tasks as assigned by the relevant line manager.
- Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.
BEHAVIOURS (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 their team to do the same
- widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
- future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
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; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
QUALIFICATIONS
Master’s degree or equivalent in education, gender or development studies or a related subject
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of developing and managing major donor contracts and grants in excess of $5mil
- 7+ years of project management experience
- Experience of project and financial management of multi-partner or agency consortia
- Strong skills in coordinating and collaborating with others in partnership
- Proven track record of solving complex problems through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in
- Strong representation skills and willingness to speak out for children amongst senior government, donor and diplomatic officials, both at provincial and national level
- Training, facilitation, briefing and presentation skills
- Experience in proposal development for institutional donors such as GAC, USAID/OFDA, FCDO etc.
- Demonstrated experience of building and leading a team of senior staff with different backgrounds and expertise
- Computer skills, i.e. Microsoft suite
- Previous working experience in fragile states
- Previous working experience in improving the programme delivery with adequate quality
Desirable
- Fluent in local langiuages.
- Knowledge of current trends, activities and best practices in Nigeria .
- Previous experience in NNGOs/INGOs, UN etc.
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:
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.
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.
How to apply
Please follow this link to apply: https://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=aC5zYW5pLjMyNTQwLjEyMTg1QHNhdmV0aGVjaGlsZHJlbmFvLmFwbGl0cmFrLmNvbQ
