Head of program – Strategy (National vacancy) At Plan International

Position

Head of Programme – Strategy

Grade

F

Department & Location

Programme, Egypt Country Office

Date

June 2021

Reports to :

Country Director

Purpose: How does this post support Plan’s strategy and mission?**

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And its girls who are most affected. Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 75 countries.

We need bold, forward thinking and innovative individuals to drive change and deliver results that will allow us to reach our target of 100 million girls.

Please see https://plan-international.org/organisation/strategy for Plan international strategy

Plan started working in Egypt in 1981 and has a presence in twelve of the 27 governorates in which the country is divided: two urban (Cairo and Alexandria) and five rural (Giza, Beheira, Kalyoubia, Damietta, Qena, Assuit and Sohag, Port Said and Luxor). Plan Egypt’s work focuses on child rights, implementing programmes designed to enable communities to improve the lives of the most marginalised children and their families. Plan Egypt’s Country Strategy will come to an end by June 2022. Its current focus includes five strategic objectives.

a) Improve the quality of early childhood care & education;

b) Promote economic empowerment of vulnerable young men & women;

c) Facilitate girls in realising their full potential in an enabling and gender responsive environment that protects them from all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence;

d) Support adolescents and young people, particularly girls to become active drivers of change and lead the way towards more equitable and inclusive societies;

e) Promote adolescents and young people, particularly girls to be empowered to take informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and live free from gender-based violence

The Head of Programme – Strategy (HOP-S) is a very senior position that will report directly to the Country Director (CD) and will assume direct responsibility and accountability for the effective support and oversight of all five Plan Egypt programme departments. These are; the Strategic Partnerships & Advocacy, Programme Quality and Partnership, Business Development, Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), & Sponsorship. Together with the Country Director, the HOP – S will co-lead the design of the new country strategy for PIE. In addition, the HOP– S will undertake a senior internal and external representation role with donors, government counterparts, Plan National Offices (NOs) and other key stakeholders. The HOP – S will be a leading member of the Country Leadership Team (CLT) and work with her/his peers to ensure Plan is making progress towards its purpose.

Dimensions of the role:

§ The post holder will report to the Country Director, oversee the design of Plan Egypt country strategy, ensure the implementation of Plan Egypt’s country influencing strategy, strong technical support to programme implementation team – particularly in the area of gender transformation, promote programme quality and effectiveness, and support knowledge management & learning through robust M&E;

§ Supervise, support and mentor the managers of the Strategic Partnerships & Advocacy, Partnership Support, Programme Quality , Business Development, Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) & Sponsorship departments;

§ Ensure smooth teamwork within and across the different units and management lines within the departments, while enhancing integration with other departments. Of particular importance is supporting the creation of high performing teams through establishing effective working relationships between programme staff at the Country Office and in the Programe Units working in tandem with the Head of Programme – Implementation;

§ Support the CD directly in senior level representation, both internally and externally, including brokering and enhancing productive working relationships with key NO partners, donors and influencers for Plan Egypt;

§ Support the CD closely in realising the full income target for the Country Strategic period, to be sourced from both institutional grants and individual giving funds.

Typical Responsibilities – Key End Results of Position:

Strategic leadership in Programme Management

Co-lead the design and overall development of the new country strategy for PIE ensuring alignment with the revised global strategy as well as provide technical support to ensure quality

operationalization. Play a lead role in periodic reviews within the context of the global programme quality and influencing policy framework to ensure that all key strategies, policies and plans pertaining to CS and global strategy are in place and updated. Work with the programme teams at country office and field level to support the embedding of Plan’s global approach to programming and influencing with strong emphasis on gender equality and transformation.

• Build and oversee managerial accountability with particular attention to overall programme design, alignment with influencing priorities, effective partnerships, M & E and integration of the child sponsorship commitments;
• Ensure that organizational strategic objectives as provided in the CS are achieved, and that appropriate benchmarks, targets and performance indicators are established and monitored.

· Promote new programming innovations and identify opportunities for national scale up through documentation and promotion of best practice models.

· Oversee the timely production of high-quality project concept notes and proposals.

• Ensure that all major institutional donor compliance requirements from a programme perspective are fully adhered to.
• Conduct regular monitoring visits to field locations as a key measure to improve programme quality.
• Strengthen the strategic focus of PIE in responding to humanitarian crisis including Syrian and African refugees in the country.
• Ensure that all Plan Egypt sponsored communities are involved in the design and delivery of programmes through all key stages of the programme cycle, working with the Sponsorship Manager and Head of Programme – Implementation.
• Lead and see through Plan Egypt’s annual planning process working in tandem with the Plan Egypt CO programme departments, other country office-based departments and the field offices.

Representation and networking

• Establish and support the development of collaborative relationships with a range of partners and stakeholders to amplify Plan Egypt’s voice and level of influence with key external stakeholders, including within the Egyptian government and across the broader region.

· Support the Strategic Partnerships & Advocacy Manager to define and drive forward Plan Egypt’s national influencing strategy and campaigns.

• In liaison with the Country Director, act as overall organizational representative for Plan Egypt Programmes in relevant coordination fora, networks and with other external entities.
• Build strong professional relationships and networks with key international and national organizations, government and multilateral partners, and Plan Egypt donors.
• Contribute to regional learning and programme development and maintain close working relationships with the Plan’s Eastern, Southern Africa & Middle East Regional Hub.
• Identify and nurture working relationships with key donors at the local level and tie these back to the relevant Plan NOs to increase Plan Egypt’s funding base.
• Establish and nurture strong working relationships with counterpart Plan National Offices (NOs), including ensuring timely and accurate delivery of all key contractual deliverables held between Plan Egypt and counterpart NOs.

· Support the Country Director in a number of high-level representational responsibilities, both externally and also internally within Plan globally.

People Management

· Ensure a smooth and optimized working and enabling environment across the six departments that will enable excellent team work and contributions for a high performing team.

· Ensure a smooth and productive working relationship with other departments and functions, particularly supporting her/his teams in enhancing collaboration with field offices.

· Play an active role in the identification and recruitment of key programme staff, both at the CO and within the PUs working closely with the Head of Programme – Implementation.

· Provide leadership, coaching for results and support to the broader team as well as in their individual development and performance management.

• Oversee the delivery of effective capacity building support to Plan staff and partners in key areas of programme management, including but not limited to gender transformation, influencing and rights-based approach.
• Develop and manage a high performing team that delivers excellent technical work, using child centred, participatory and gender sensitive approaches in line with Global and Country Strategies

Reporting

• Coordinate the reporting process, in particular quarterly and annual reports, to the RH including timely submission of all required reports and implementation of follow-up actions and recommendations.**

Other

· Actively participate in the CLT in an open, cooperative and proactive manner, ensuring full engagement of the five departments with other organizational initiatives led by other departments and teams, in order to enable a strong and productive Plan Egypt team.

· Ensure understanding and adherence by team members of Plan’s key policies, including but not limited to Child and youth safeguarding policy, gender equality and inclusion policy, Code of conduct, etc to be fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policies including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to her/his area of responsibility.

Dealing with Problems:

The position involves a high degree of complexity in resolving a wide range of challenges which typically occur in the management of large departments encompassing a range of management lines, and a range of contractual obligations, including grant specific deliverables. The post holder will demonstrate an ability to solve problems, thinking strategically while introducing innovations as needed to meet the demands of a dynamic and sometimes unpredictable operating environment, but also ensuring that Plan’s systems and policies are adhered to. The post holder is expected to play a key role in optimizing overall organizational performance and enabling a high performing country team as a whole. This will require innovation, flexibility and the ability to promote change in response to specific challenges and circumstances which may arise. The role will be tasked with strengthening accountability, planning, management, adherence to policies and procedures, and promoting a culture that aims for the consistent delivery of results.

Knowledge, Skills, Behaviours, and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

Knowledge

• Demonstrated knowledge as a result of study, training or practical experience in development, sociology, economics or related field
• A minimum of 5-7 years proven progressive experience as a development professional in similar management and senior management roles.
• Demonstrated track record in driving change and enabling high performing teams, with the ability to lead, motivate and develop others.
• Knowledge of development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and their implications for sustainable community development and particular in the context of Egypt and the Middle East.
• Good level of Knowledge of key programme areas including economic empowerment Child and youth safeguarding, gender equality, civil society strengthening and disaster risk management with focus on refugees as well as a sound understanding of integrated development issues and the ability to conduct a critical analysis of some of the structural causes of child poverty.
• Experience and understanding of the concepts of sustainable community development and participatory approaches and practice in development interventions.
• Proven understanding of “gender in development” concepts and the promotion of girls’ rights in the context of relevant International Conventions (Convention of the Rights of the Child, Convention for the Eradication of Discrimination against Women) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Knowledge of Egypt, the geopolitical factors affecting child-poverty in the country and the political, social and environmental opportunities for change.
• Knowledge of Arabic will be advantageous.
• Knowledge of the requirements of donor compliance and financial management
• Knowledge of programming in difficult environments with good understanding and appreciation of the historical, security context, political environment, economic, social/religious and humanitarian context in Egypt or a comparable environment.
• Knowledge of effective participatory monitoring, evaluation and research systems and processes.
• Knowledge of key influencing tools, approaches and techniques.

Skills

• Exceptional conceptual and strategic thinking skills.
• Comfortable with taking timely decisions in situations where information may be incomplete, based on consultation and the ability to convey sound judgement and assurance to team members and other key internal stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with colleagues through remote means and in a multi-cultural environment.
• Strong diplomatic and communication skills, including through mass media in order to influence decision makers and key stakeholders.
• Proven networking and negotiation skills with governmental and non-governmental actors
• Strong negotiation, influencing and problem-solving skills.
• A proven track record in successfully mobilizing resources across a range of institutional donors.
• A proven track record in the area of influencing and advocacy.
• Numeracy and the ability to interpret financial data, in order to provide management support to budgetary processes including planning, monitoring and reporting.
• A strong understanding of key institutional donor compliance rules and principles.
• Ability to provide leadership, communicate effectively and build high performing teams that work together to achieve goals.
• Ability to analyse information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically

Behaviours (Plan International’s Values in Practice)

1. We are open and accountable

§ Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.

§ Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.

§ Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.

§ Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.

§ Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people.

2. We strive for lasting impact

§ Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.

§ Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.

§ Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.

§ Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

3. We work well together

§ Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.

§ Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.

§ Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.

§ Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

4. We are inclusive and empowering

§ Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.

§ Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.

§ Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.

§ Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

Physical Environment and Demands:

The position will be based in the Country Office (Cairo, Egypt) with frequent in country travel and some international travel. **

Level of Contact with Children:

Medium level: Occasional interaction with children