Project Director At Save the Children

Position planned to be based in Guatemala, El Salvador or Panama.

Summary

Save the Children is currently accepting applications for a Project Director (PD) for a Department of Labor-funded project with the objective of increasing collective action in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to address child labor, forced labor, and other unacceptable conditions of work. The project will focus on people of African descent, Garifuna, and indigenous communities, and will work with CSOs to address labor exploitation, including issues of gender and racial discrimination, and workers’ organizations that represent the collective interests of formal and/or informal workers, including these target populations. The project will work directly with national and local authorities, the private sector, people of African descent, Garifuna, and indigenous communities, and other critical stakeholders. The project will also help workers’ organizations and CSOs to address child labor and other violations of acceptable conditions of work by strengthening their capacities to advance gender and racial equity.

The PD will be Save the Children’s primary point of contact with the Bureau of International Labor Affairs of the U.S. Department of Labor and all other relevant stakeholders, including the local partners. This person will collaborate with relevant Ministries and agencies in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras and other critical partners to provide high-level support for effective capacity building at the local level and sustainability of the project interventions. The PD will ensure adherence to overall technical and programmatic quality in implementation, compliance with donor rules and regulations, and the timely submission of all deliverables. The PD will also be responsible for the overall direction and coordination of the project activities of all sub-recipient partners.

The PD will oversee a team of experts and project staff, prepare reports and annual operating plans, align project initiatives with in-country priorities and ensure the project is compliant with the U.S. government and Save the Children’s regulations. The project will be designed to align closely with the current objectives of these governments for combating child labor, so that activities are complementary and create sustainable solutions.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

• Lead the project’s strategic, financial, and operational planning, including the annual work planning process and development of an appropriate exit strategy;
• Oversee the timely submission of all deliverables to USDOL, including quarterly and annual reports, annual work plans, performance indicators, financial reports, and regular results reporting as needed in addition to overall quality control;
• Supervise all program staff and manage the work of all sub-grantees;
• Ensure good practice by supporting the development of strong M&E mechanisms and a robust monitoring process;
• Play a leading and substantive role in developing and implementing program activities;
• Provide overall coordination of the institutional/organizational capacity building of local NGOs and other key stakeholders;
• Fully inform Save the Children’s home/field office on all matters relating to the project, and maintain appropriate links with partner home/field offices;
• Ensure that efficient systems to support all aspects of the project (including sub-grant management, financial, capacity building and performance monitoring and reporting) are in place and support the effective use of project resources in compliance with USDOL regulations and Save the Children policies;
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where the project team strives to achieve excellence; and
• Incorporate SC’s vision and values and full adherence to Code of Conduct principles.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, or law or Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree reflecting expertise in areas relevant to this project, such as labor law, public policy, sociology, and project management; or, ten (10) years or more of related work experience;
• Minimum of five years of experience in project management, supervision, administration, and implementation of cooperative agreement and/or contract requirements (including meeting deadlines, achieving targets, establishing and maintaining systems for managing project operations, working with multiple sub-recipient(s) and/or contractor(s), and overseeing the preparation and submission of required reports to donor agencies), preferably in one of the countries of implementation;
• Experience establishing and maintaining systems for managing project operations;
• Proven experience in a leadership role for a project addressing labor-related issues, including child labor, forced labor, and other unacceptable conditions of work;
• Demonstrated ability to maintain working relationships with all project stakeholders and to engage in coalition building and multi-stakeholder partnerships;
• Understanding of gender, racial, and equity issues in Central America;
• Demonstrated experience as an effective public speaker; and
• Fluent speaking, listening, reading, and writing English and Spanish communications skills are required.

Important Remarks:

• This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.
• Closing date for applications: Sunday, September 12th, 2021
• Position planned to be based in Guatemala, El Salvador or Panama.
• Local candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Interested candidates are encouraged to apply promptly as they will evaluated and interviewed throughout the period
• Due to Covid19 restrictions remote work will be necessary. Travel required

Why you should join the Save the Children Team

The work in Save the Children is challenging but is also immensely rewarding. At Save the Children, you will be in good company, working with talented, like-minded individuals who are determined to ensure that all children survive, learn, and are protected.

We offer a dynamic and supportive work environment with a competitive compensation package and outstanding benefits.

Click to learn more about how Save the Children

About Save the Children

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 realize 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.