Director – Program Operations At Save the Children

ROLE PURPOSE:

Save the Children Sri Lanka Country Office shifted its strategic focus to respond to the food security and livelihood crisis due to the sudden economic deterioration, and its consequences on all other aspects of children’s rights. As a result, the Country Office portfolio and structure increased significantly within a short period of time demanding greater capacity to operate. The Country Office portfolio may further increase in 2023 with opportunities in pipeline.

The Director of Program Operations is responsible for ensuring overall management and quality delivery of Save the Children’s emergency response and development programs The post holder will require strong, sustained coordination with the Director Programme Development and Quality (PDQ) S/he is expected to be an active member of the Country Office Senior Management Team and provide overall leadership and direction to the Program Team.

This position is responsible to ensure timely and quality delivery of the planned projects and programs. S/he will provide guidance and management support to his/her direct reports, Project Managers includes Humanitarian and Partnership Projects, Award Management and supply chain functions in his/her line management. S/he will be held accountable for all aspects of program implementation including administration, project related procurement and supplies, financial and quality reporting requirements and learning.

In the event of a humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

The Director of Program Operations is accountable for the areas below for which S/he may choose to delegate parts of these responsibilities to his/her team:

Programme Operations & Management

• Ensure all our programmes (Development and Humanitarian response) are implemented with the quality, compliance, efficiency and embedding safer programming concept as a special priority.
• Coordinates and liaises with relevant department heads to ensure that proper policies, procedures and operational systems are in place to properly and adequately support program implementation.
• Oversees the timely, efficient, and effective delivery of a high-quality child-focused and right based programs including,
• Creation and revision of Detailed Implementation Plans
• Review of Budget vs Actuals (BvA)
• Coordination with PDQ to ensure strategic project implementation sites and themes
• Ensures financial oversight of projects and thematic budgets, maintaining timely expenditure in line with agreed priorities and donor guidelines.
• Ensure monitoring of program/project progress during entire project cycle and budget expenses according to forecasting.
• Builds the capacity of staff in programme/project management (includes Save the Children International project management methodology-PMM), technical competency, and policy.
• Ensure safeguarding systems, standards and practices are applied in Development Projects and Humanitarian Responses.

Planning, & Budgeting

• Facilitates the updating/development of Detail Implementation (DIP) Plans, phased budgets and program implementation strategies for each of the projects and ensure they are followed thoroughly by all project/program managers.
• Tracking program progress and budget expenses of all field offices, partners, projects and take corrective actions as required.

Procurement & Supply Chain

• Provide management oversight to the procurement and supply chain team
• Ensure that P&SC function can effectively deliver quality goods and services on time based on the needs from the programs and Country Office needs
• Ensure that P&SC provides necessary support to the programs across the organization in planning their needs, influence positively the impact of Save the Children programs and implementation
• Ensure resources are used in the best way; ensure transparency and accountability

Programme Development

• Support PDQ and NBD/Resource mobilization team for new opportunities for funding by engaging in programme design and planning.
• Ensure Country Office develops high quality program/project concepts and implementation plan in coordination with PDQs.
• Generate field level information required for new project/proposal development.
• Work closely with Thematic functions and Awards during the project proposal development phase and ensure inclusion of country/regional perspective and requirements.
• Ensures learning from the Field Offices and projects are inbuilt within relevant proposals and plans.

Partner’s Management

• Ensures Project implementation partners are in full compliance with Save the Children and donors’ requirement with coordination of other departments.
• Work with head of partnership to ensure that partners selected for humanitarian and localisation programmes are assessed as per Save the Children International Partner process (including Safer Partnership Tool) and embedding the capacity building strategies.
• Ensure Project implementation partners are in full compliance with Save the Children and donors’ requirements and mandatory policies with coordination of other departments.
• Ensure smooth management or partnership with NGOs and government line agencies including phase-out and selection of new partners
• Ensure for rolling out strategies, policies and standards of Save the Children in close coordination with partnership other departments
• Ensure that issues related to partner NGOs are flagged and followed up and closed appropriately and on time.

Capacity building of SC and P/NGOs staff

• Support country office and field team to identify and facilitate capacity building for Save the Children team and partners.
• In coordination with thematic, Ensure Country Office staff under Program operations, field offices and project implementation partners have plans and resources to access required quality technical assistance in time and capacity development plan is developed and implemented.
• Ensure field offices and partners are technically equipped to implement quality programs for children by coordinating with different departments.
• Ensure cross- learning is fostered across program/projects, centre and regions significantly and in an institutionalized way.

Representation and Networking

• Coordinates and represents project implementation at district and national level with relevant donors, networks, government, and other forums that will consolidate Save the Children reputation and programming.
• Builds strong networks with other NGOs, CSOs, UN agencies and Government line agencies working on children’s issues to promote coordination and resource sharing.

As a member of the Senior Management Team, contribute to CO

• Represent Sri Lanka Country office in absence of Country Director or as per SMT guidance.
• Support the development of an organizational culture that reflects our dual mandate values, 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 service for our members and donors.
• Help design and implement a coherent organizational structure that is consistent with agency practices and appropriate to programme needs.
• Ensure Sri Lanka Country Office complies with all Save the Children Management Operating Standards and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Ensure that all required support is provided promptly, at scale and in line with the rules and principles during emergencies, working closely with the regional office.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree or equivalent.
• At least 10 years of management experience with minimum 7 years’ senior management experience preferably in an I/NGO environment, including experience in directing and implementing programs for children in both emergency and development contexts,
• Demonstrated significant experience in Humanitarian response and thematic programmes in a developing country context.
• Prior experience in working with UN, INGOs, CSOs, Government and Private sector.
• Demonstrated management and development of diverse teams of national and international professional staff.
• Proven sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively and be innovative, set priorities, manage work plans and evaluate progress.
• Highly developed relationship building, negotiation and interpersonal skills
• Highly developed verbal and written communication s