About the role
Crown Agents is seeking an experienced Team Leader to provide leadership, strategic direction and managerial oversight of Samarth, and thereby ensure that the programme achieves its ambitious objectives. Recruitment is contingent upon successful award of the programme, and selection of the final applicant is subject to FCDO approval.
Responsibilities:
Specific responsibilities of the Team Leader will include:
Leadership & strategy
- Shape the strategic direction for Samarth, soliciting feedback from other team members and programme stakeholders, and securing their buy in.
- Build a cohesive, efficient and outcome-oriented team, supporting and inspiring them to deliver the programme’s objectives.
- Lead the integration of a systems thinking approach to the implementation of Samarth.
Technical oversight
- Oversee the development, delivery and continuous review of the technical strategy and detailed workplan to achieve results and drive value for money.
- Lead the development of terms of reference for programme activities, collaborating with other team members as required.
- Oversee and support the work of personnel engaged to deliver programme activities.
- Provide quality assurance of technical outputs, ensuring all activities are implemented to a high standard of quality and within agreed timelines.
Stakeholder management
- Proactively identify and map programme stakeholders with a view to developing and implementing appropriate engagement strategies.
- Establish and maintain productive, trust-based relationships with counterparts in the FCDO, the Government of Nepal and other programme stakeholders.
- Engage regularly with other development partners operating in the social sectors to ensure complementarity of effort and identify opportunities for collaboration.
Operational management
- Lead the implementation of an adaptive approach to programme management, ensuring the team regularly reflects on progress and lessons learned and considers alternative courses of action.
- Proactively identify and document risks that threaten the achievement of programme objectives, formulating and implementing appropriate mitigation strategies.
- Work with the programme manager and accountant to implement routine financial management tasks (forecasting, accounting, payments etc.).
Monitoring, evaluation, research and learning
- Review and approve the programmes monitoring and evaluation framework, ensuring appropriate log frame indicators and milestone targets are agreed with the FCDO.
- Support the programme MEL adviser to ensure appropriate procedures are in place for collecting data and evidencing programme performance.
Communications & reporting
- Represent the programme in national, regional, and international fora, including technical conferences and policy briefings.
- Lead all client reporting on programme progress.
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion & Safeguarding
- Work with technical specialists in GESI and safeguarding to ensure the programme complies with FCDO requirements and Crown Agents GESI and Safeguarding Policies.
- Create a culture of collective accountability, where every staff is familiar with key GESI and safeguarding concepts and applies a GESI and safeguarding lens to the design and implementation of their workstream.
About you
Person Specification:
- Advanced degree (MSc, PhD, MD) in a relevant field, such as public health, social science, or management.
- At least ten years’ experience working in social sector governance programmes, including experience in Nepal.
- At least ten years’ experience in senior-level programme management positions (e.g., Team Leader, Chief of Party, Programme Director, Deputy Team Leader, Deputy Chief of Party).
- Excellent people management skills, including coordinating teams and consortium partners based in multiple locations.
- Strong existing networks with development partners, governments, CSOs and other key stakeholders in Nepal and strong external relationship management skills.
- Proven experience managing programmes, including work planning, financial management and programme quality assurance and control.
- Demonstrable commitment to gender equality and social inclusion, as evidenced by experience managing programmes with a strong GESI component, e.g., which empower women and marginalized groups, and/or challenge discriminatory laws, norms, policies and practices.
- Fluent English oral and written communication skills.
- Experience of working on FCDO programmes (desirable).
- Full Nepali language working proficiency (highly desirable).
About us
Crown Agents is a high impact social enterprise passionate about transforming the future for millions of people. Since our creation in 1833 we have worked across the globe to improve public services and drive economic growth. Our expertise is finding new solutions to difficult problems for clients in the areas of health, governance, economic growth, humanitarian action, and supply chain services. We work with and train leaders at local, national, and international level to achieve lasting change drawing on our insight and experience.
Crown Agents is committed to diversity and will always promote diversity for all candidates as well as a business culture that reflects that belief. Crown Agents will treat everyone equally irrespective of race, religion, colour, sex, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation, and places an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy. Crown Agents shall not discriminate unlawfully when deciding which candidates are selected for interview, or in any terms of employment, and will ensure that each candidate is assessed only in accordance with their merits, qualifications, and abilities to perform the role. Crown Agents is committed to being an organisation enhanced by diversity and encourages applications from anyone who shares our values and commitment to improving the lives of communities affected by poverty or conflict.
About what’s on offer
Crown Agents is an equal opportunity employer and offers a competitive salary and employee benefits. We support a work-life balance and an individual’s desire to learn beyond the experience gained at work through both personal and professional development and growth opportunities.