Director of Programs At Helen Keller International

Position scope :

Reporting directly to the Country Director (CD), the main responsibilities of the Director of Programs are project planning/design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting to ensure timely, effective programming and consistent with Helen Keller Intl programming principles and donor requirements. The position requires close cooperation with the Government of Senegal, partner NGOs, food industries, donors and UN agencies. As an evidence-based organization, Helen Keller places great emphasis on operational research and impact evaluation. The Program Director is a member of the management team. Field travel includes visits to project sites, and occasional international travel.

Specific responsibilities:

Strategic planning and program implementation

• The country’s action plan resulting from Helen Keller International’s global strategy is reviewed, updated and monitored according to developments in the environment in Senegal.
• Strategies or plans in the area of ​​communication, awareness raising and resource mobilization are developed and implemented, and progress made is duly documented.
• Helen Keller International Senegal has an effective knowledge management system/approach that promotes learning, sharing, scaling and innovation.
• A clear plan to strengthen the quality of quality programs is implemented on time.
• The program team’s budget is developed, implemented and monitored with the greatest rigor.
• Relevant resource mobilization strategies/plans are put in place to support the implementation of the country’s strategic plan.

Project development

• Build capacity of staff and partners in developing project proposals.
• Ensure leadership of the project design and proposal development process in close collaboration with the CD.
• Play an active role in identifying and securing programmatic or financial support for new initiatives that improve the level of coverage of the Helen Keller organization’s strategic objectives and the country office’s strategic action plan.

Program supervision

• Oversee the design and implementation of effective work plans that enable continuous monitoring of progress and achievement of all key program outcomes.
• Facilitate the integration of projects and activities within Helen Keller as well as with other partners and government entities.
• Work with staff and partners to ensure strong M&E systems are in place for regular project monitoring, through the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) dashboard, as well as for specific studies and project evaluations, including baseline, mid-term and end-of-project evaluations.
• Oversee the design and implementation of specific research and studies with Helen Keller staff at different levels and with implementing partners and ensure dissemination of information with emphasis on publication of key findings .
• Carry out field monitoring to ensure the quality of implementation and provide constructive feedback to Helen Keller staff and project partners.
• Work with program and finance staff to review expenditures related to project implementation on a monthly basis to identify over- and under-consumption trends, and if significant trends are noted, to alert the CD for appropriate action.
• Work closely with the DC to address any issues raised by Helen Keller staff, donors or respective line ministries regarding program implementation.
• Ensure that the technical input of Monitoring/Evaluation staff facilitates the proper maintenance of all files, registers and documents relating to Helen Keller project activities.

Communication

• Contribute to the visibility of Helen Keller so that her national and global achievements are recognized.
• Evidence-based materials are strategically produced and disseminated to support advocacy campaigns and resource mobilization.
• Communications and publication plans are developed, implemented and evaluated to support Helen Keller’s global, regional and national campaigns and advocacy activities.

Team and performance management

• Mentor, supervise and evaluate program team personnel and contribute to an atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development.
• Cultivate an atmosphere conducive to sharing lessons learned and mutual learning among Helen Keller staff and partners.
• Consult and guide program staff to achieve objectives by providing ongoing feedback in a context of mutual respect.
• Provide guidance to project managers/coordinators to supervise their project teams to ensure:
• Robust planning, implementation and evaluation of all programs.
• High-quality financial planning, management and reporting for all programs.
• Compliance with Helen Keller standards, policies and procedures across the portfolio, including performance management.
• Compliance with donor requirements, including quality interim and final reporting.

Coordination with partners

• Ensure, in collaboration with the CFO and the Operations Manager, that partners are aware of Helen Keller’s technical and financial policies and procedures, as well as donor compliance requirements.
• Ensure that project staff have the necessary skills and tools to build partner capacity.
• Collaborate with the respective line ministries and technical staff from other organizations working in related or similar sectors to establish fruitful partnerships.
• Ensure that Helen Keller programs are recognized/promoted and implemented in line with national priorities.
• Ensure the coordination of the specific partnership with the MSAS and the CNDN at the national and regional level
• Participate in meetings and seminars within Helen Keller, nationally and internationally, as requested by the CD.

  Qualifications :

• Master’s degree or equivalent level in development, nutrition, public health, program management, or other relevant field,
• At least 10 years of experience in project management for an international organization in the field of public health and/or nutrition, including 5 years of work in the prevention or treatment of malnutrition, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Specific experience in the conduct of PECMAS – C, the use of SQ-LNS in the fight against child malnutrition and the implementation of the RMNCAH service package would be an asset
• Specific experience in promoting food fortification would be an asset
• Specific experience in leading the routinization of vitamin A supplementation interventions in children 6 – 59 months would be an asset
• Specific experience in promoting the food and nutrition system would be an asset
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including an ability to effectively lead a team, communicate vision, make timely and transparent decisions, and manage conflict.
• Excellent French language skills, both oral and written, including the ability to synthesize complex technical and programmatic issues
• Ability to work in English both written and spoken.
• Proven ability to develop budgets, monitor financial status and manage administrative and financial activities of complex programs.
• Substantial experience with a variety of donors, including USAID and GAC.
• Experience in the field of research or operational research.
• Proven ability to design projects and write proposals.
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation tools and systems
• Proven experience in institutional strengthening and partnership creation
• Proven experience in leading advocacy projects in nutrition or health policy
• Excellent interpersonal skills capable of positively impacting relationships with donors and partners
• Computer literacy and proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and Outlook; experience with EPI-INFO and/or SPSS would be an advantage.