Director of Programme Development Quality and Advocacy At Save the Children

ROLE PURPOSE:
The Director of Programme Development, Quality and Advocacy shares in the overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of the country program. S/he champions a team culture of learning and continuous improvement and is responsible for overseeing development of programme strategies and advocacy initiatives to deliver immediate and lasting change for children. S/he manages a team focused on design, funding, monitoring, evaluation, learning, advocacy, campaigns, communications and media

As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) in Iraq, the Director is responsible for driving cross-functional engagement in the development and delivery of Country Strategy Plans (CSPs), developing annual plans and reporting on results. S/he is responsible for ensuring development and delivery of high quality, evidence-based, innovative programs for children, in all contexts, that contribute to Save the Children’s global Breakthroughs: Learn, Survive, Be Protected. The Director ensures that a robust monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) system is in place, that the country office engages in the collection and use of evidence and that this is shared across the global organization, and that reliable data is used for decision-making. One key aspect of the role is ensuring capability building, mentoring and coaching of technical specialists in order to support program quality in line with global standards and key performance indicators and ensuring effective TE support to field operations. As a senior leader in the country office s/he plays a representational role with the government, donors, partners, peer agencies, SC Members and others. The Director of PDQA supports strategic positioning with donors and partners and leads on project design to ensure that the Country Office (CO) strategy can be delivered in line with child rights programming principles.

In addition, the Director is responsible for Save the Children Iraq’s influencing, public engagement, and visibility strategy, in line with the country program’s strategic plan. The Director will especially focus on developing and implementing a domestic and internationally-focused advocacy agenda that supports our country office operations. This will complement our programmatic priorities of protecting children, supporting their educational needs, and ensuring that the impact of the crisis on children remains a global priority across our advocacy network. The post-holder will also serve as a key focal point for Iraq Country Office. As well as leading the country office’s Advocacy function, the Director will line manage and support both Communications & Media and Campaign functions, ensuring that they are aligned with country priorities and supporting the day-to-day operations of the country office. The Director will also ensure that Iraq’s ACCM strategy is aligned with regional and global priorities – and will use this network to maximize our impact on children in Iraq.

SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Country Director, with a dotted line to the Regional PDQ and AMC Directors

Staff directly reporting to this post: Head of MEAL, Advisors (currently Education; Child Protection and MHPSS, ; Food security and livelihoods; Water, sanitation and hygiene; Gender, Partnerships and Localization), Advocacy and Media Manager and Business Development Manager.

Role Dimensions: As one of the members of the Senior Management Team (SMT) of the Country Office, the Director of Program Development Quality and Advocacy (PDQA) must demonstrate the qualities of agile leadership. S/he plays a key role in defining and pursuing the strategic direction for Save the Children’s programs in Iraq, ensuring the relevance, coherence, safety and impact of our programs for children in all contexts. This is a challenging role requiring an individual who can work with complexity and multiple tasks at one time. It is essential that the Director of Program Development Quality and Advocacy builds and maintains strong relationships across functions within the CO, including with team members from Operations, Award Management, and Finance, and s/he should lead by example in demonstrating this cross-functional collaboration. This role demands dedication to demonstrating outcomes for children, experience in integrated child rights programming and a highly motivated leader. S/he has specific oversight for ensuring that programs demonstrate thematic excellence in contributing to Save the Children’s three Breakthroughs for children, especially for the most deprived and marginalized: no child dies from preventable causes before their fifth birthday; all children learn from a quality basic education; and violence against children is no longer tolerated.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

* Strategy, Planning and Reporting
* Program Design & Development
* Program Quality and Program Technical Excellence
* Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning (MEAL) and Knowledge management
* Partnership.
* Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications & Media:
* Leadership, Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development

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 AND EXPERIENCE
* Masters Degree or Bachelor’s Degree, and experience in relevant social science, human rights, development studies, NGO management or equivalent fields.
* A minimum of seven years of progressive senior management and/ or humanitarian and development experience, including experience designing and implementing programs for children.
* Solid understanding and experience in one or more of Save the Children’s technical areas: education, child protection, child rights governance, health and nutrition, child poverty, MEAL
* Appreciation of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus and strategies for transitional programming.
* Understanding of advocacy, policy, and government systems in the host country, and particular experience with child rights programming, including UNCRC.
* Strong skills and proven experience in leading strategic planning, change management and program management processes; also from the knowledge and learning perspective.
* Strong skills and proven experience in new program development, project design and proposal writing with corporate, foundations and/or institutional donors.
* Credibility to lobby, influence and represent Save the Children at all levels.
* Experience in developing and managing monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning systems.
* Excellent listening, inter-personal, communication and networking skills; proven experience and effectiveness working across functional teams and in a matrixed structure; and an ability to work with diverse populations.
* Skills in training, capability building, coaching, mentorship, problem solving, and project cycle management.
* High level of self-awareness and willingness to take feedback for growth and self-development.
* Proven experience as a team player and leader in an international organisation.
* Fluent written and spoken English. Arabic language skills desirable.

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.

Application Information:
Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.

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 does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

*for those interested please request the full JD by reaching out