MEAL Manager (national contract) At Save the Children

ROLE PURPOSE: The MEAL Manager is a central part of the SC Syria Response Office MEAL team to support the implementation of the overall response MEAL system for programmes which are delivered by Syrian NGO partners. He/she will report directly to Deputy Head of Office in NW Area Office in Antakya and will be leading the NWS MEAL team (including the teams inside Syria) and provide technical MEAL guidance both to Turkey and Syria teams including relevant technical support, and manage overall MEAL planning (Monthly mid-year and yearly plans including budget planning and follow up) and supervision.

He/she will be focusing on NWS programming impacts, strengthening MEAL strategic objectives, strengthening MEAL functional themes and strengthening overall capacity of the MEAL team through regular meetings, coaching and supervision. He/she will also lead on TPM and external evaluation activities, MEAL overall reports to MO, as well as representing NWS MEAL in MEAL WG and other forums.

He/she will coordinate with the Syria Response Sn. MEAL and Research Manager to ensure proper running of the MEAL system across the programme. The MEAL Manager will also support the implementation of activities for integrating a high level of beneficiary accountability across programme including the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for digitised data collection. He/She will generally coordinate the central MEAL team and programme teams to ensure learning and accountability systems are working effectively across the programme.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Deputy Head of Office
Staff reporting to this post: NWS MEAL Coordinator and 3 MEAL Officers

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Quality Assurance and Technical Supervision
* The MEAL Manager is the technical lead to ensure the quality and performance of NWS team Strategy: development of MEAL strategy; development of monitoring and evaluation tools for NWS strategy
* Proposal development: budget and narrative for MEAL; review of log frame ensuring indicators are SMART and MoV appropriate and leads in designing/developing/reviewing the log frame/ MEAL Plan of the projects
* Develop, modify and oversee all data collection processes in NWS for Save the Children and Implementing partner programming; ensuring that data collection approaches and methodologies are contextually relevant and sensitive. And, prepare routine analysis tools such as dashboards, coverage analysis etc. to enable CMT to analyse and inform strategic decisions.
* Assure that different accountability and participation aspects are being streamlined across the MEAL work of Save the Children and its implementing partners in NWS
* Ensure accurate and up to date MEAL plans and project data collection per sector (inclusive of programme, donor, project & output tracker data) including supporting teams to maximise quality and effectiveness of data.

Capacity Building, Staff Management and Mentorship
* Lead the design and implementation of capacity building activities (including training, on the job coaching and other appropriate methods) for SCI MEAL team including (Filed monitor, MEAL Coordinator and Officers) as well as the MEAL implementing partners
* Ensure appropriate staffing within the MEAL team, and ensure that all MEAL staff understand and are able to perform their role
* Establish performance management of all MEAL staff through effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measureable objectives, on-going feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations.
* Support, mentor and develop the MEAL team to develop leadership, management and technical capacity including implementing partners when needed.
* Effectively lead the MEAL team across field and NWS Turkey office, ensuring technical and programmatic support to MEAL Coordinator and MEAL officers

Research, Learning and Overall Knowledge Management
* Support the development of Research and Assessment, and Learning agendas for NWS to plan and produce evidence and incorporate learning to long term programming strategy and proposals. And support both SC and Partners MEAL team in the design of needs assessment tools, as well as with the analysis of programmatic data and information collected through needs assessments.
* Encourage a culture of data use and evidence based decision making by using and displaying updated data in the office to demonstrate progress and areas of concern.
* Maintain and implement robust and efficient documentation and information management systems with clear guideline on data privacy and protection

Implementation and Reporting
* Coordinate the implementation of the Syria Response Office MEAL System for programmes which are delivered through Syrian NGO partners
* Support programming to ensure that projects are carried out with participation from all affected communities (including children) and that information is shared with affected communities.
* Work with the MEAL Third Party Monitoring to regularly update the MEAL framework, work plan and budget in line with SRO MEAL standards
* Coordinate with project focal point and MEAL CO to review weekly/monthly data submissions from each partner team, including MEAL plans per partner as well as project achievement tools.
* In collaboration with MEAL Coordinator, provide monthly analysis and reporting against the needed regular requirements with appropriate set of recommendations to the program management as a part of the Learning process.
* Develop analysis and top line reports for program to be communicated with internal and external stakeholders.
* Support the sector team(s) in donor reporting with accurate figures.
* Support SC MEAL staff and contribute to donor reporting with the provision of quality data and analysis, information, evidence, and narrative on MEAL as appropriate.

Partnership
* Lead the design and implementation of capacity building activities in MEAL related areas to SC implementing partners
* Maintain, implement and review accountability systems and mechanisms for regular reporting and are used for continued program quality, transparency and learning. As well as design child-friendly and inclusive CFRM mechanisms; provide trainings for SC and Partners MEAL staff; sign off of FCRM report
* Responsible for roll-out of MEAL system, coordinating the SC and partners’ MEAL team to increase data quality through supervision, verification and feedback, providing training and mentoring where necessary.
* Support partner and beneficiary accountability in line with the MEAL team’s accountability planning and implementation.

General
* 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.
* Represent SCI in external coordination when requested.
* Ensure that the minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Charter and Red Cross Code of Conduct
* Other duties as assigned by line manager
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
* Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
* Supports the DDPDQ to hold the team 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
Collaboration:
* Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to; builds and maintains effective relationships with colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
* Values diversity and different people’s perspectives, able to work cross-culturally.
Creativity:
* Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
Integrity:
* Honest, encourages openness and transparency, builds trust and confidence
* Displays consistent excellent judgement
QUALIFICATIONS
* At least BSc/BA/BEng level education in Social Sciences, Information Management, Statistics or related field
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
* Minimum 3 years’ experience in MEAL (with at least one-year experience in managerial roles)
* Previous relevant experience such as data collection and analysis, software engineering, conducting surveys/assessments.
* Demonstrated ability in community mobilisation and community-level dialogue.
* Strong skills in excel and other data management software.
* Strong communication (written and spoken), influencing and interpersonal skills in English and Arabic, with experience in working with multicultural teams
* Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy.
* The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
* Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. In particular, a good understanding of the SC mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support
* Ability and willingness to work inside Syria for occasional visits.

Position holder will be based in Gaziantep, therefore legal right to work in Turkey is necessary at the time of applicaton.

Desirable
* Previous experience working in context of Northwest Syria
* Previous experience working in humanitarian programmes
* Experience with institutional donors (i.e. ECHO, NMFA, DANIDA, SIDA..etc)
* Extensive experience in knowledge and database management
* Experience working with implementing partners
* Experience of training and capacity building

Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection.