Team Leader – FCDO Samartha At Options Consultancy Services

Company Description

Options is a global team of experts and innovators tackling some of the world’s most pressing health challenges. We work with leaders and change makers around the globe to bring health strategies to life. We provide ideas, advice and technical know-how that enable our partners to build a path to lasting change. We have offices in the United Kingdom, Nepal, Nigeria and Kenya and have delivered client-funded projects in over 50 countries worldwide.

As part of MSI Reproductive Choices, all our profits go back into supporting MSI’s own work making choice possible around the world. We believe in a world where everyone can access the high-quality health services they need, without financial burden.

Options has worked alongside the health system in Nepal for over 25 years, with longstanding relationships with government and a deep and nuanced understanding of health sector structures and the current challenges and opportunities of transition to a devolved system. Our work has focused on strengthening the health system and enabling women and children to access the healthcare they need by overcoming financial, geographic, and social barriers and facilitating long-term systems change. We have worked in partnership with government at all levels from national to district and palika, and through local communities, supporting the delivery of successive Nepal Health Sector Programmes.

Position

Based in the Kathmandu office, the Team Leader will provide inspirational, strategic, technical and managerial oversight of the Samartha programme. They will need to be a strong, proactive leader, sensitive to the experience of Samartha’s technical teams and have the ability to engage and build strong collaboration across a large team of experienced technical staff. They will be a self-starter and be able to take initiative to push the programme forward. The Team Leader will work closely with the Deputy Team Leader, regional based Senior Technical Specialist, and the Programme Management Team to provide strategic and technical oversight and management of the team, operations and client relations. The Team Leader will directly line manage the programme Senior Management Team. The Team Leader has oversight responsibility of the long-term Samartha team and short-term technical inputs. Coordinating the inputs of the team from Options and partners, they will ensure that programme objectives, outcomes, and deliverables are met and that financial, operational, and reporting requirements are in compliance with FCDO regulations and Options’ policies and processes.

Requirements

1. Programme delivery

• Oversee development and revisions of work plans, payment deliverables, and programme logframes for approval by FCDO and the Government of Nepal.
• Oversee the smooth implementation of the programme and ensure timely reporting to Options (senior management, programme management and technical team), FCDO and relevant government ministries.
• Provide technical expertise to guide delivery of the programme in line with best practice and the programme terms of reference.
• Oversee delivery of all programme deliverables, ensuring that deliverables are of high quality and that they are submitted to FCDO on time.
• Quality assurance of the programme with the support from Options’ Technical Team.

2. Team leadership

• Provide overall leadership and strategic guidance to the programme team.
• Act as line manager to staff as per the programme organogram.
• Identify short term technical assistance (STTA) inputs required to deliver the programme work plan and deliverable schedule and oversee the development of terms of reference for all STTA in line with plans.
• Oversee management of all STTA.
• Oversee the hiring and inductions of new staff.
• Work with the Programme Manager to ensure that a tracking system for technical assistance (TA) is established, to monitor the progress and impact of the TA.
• Represent and promote the programme’s vision and results in high level policy and advocacy forums such as conferences and international platforms.
• Support leveraging of additional resources for the programme and areas of work.

3. Client and government relations

• Liaise and maintain positive relations with FCDO Nepal.
• Serve as the key point of contact for Government of Nepal, FCDO and other sector stakeholders.
• Ensure programme stakeholders are fully apprised of programme objectives, activities and progress.
• Coordinate the preparation and submission of detailed quarterly and annual technical, financial and administrative reports to FCDO that demonstrate delivery and progress of the programme as a whole against the logframe, in collaboration with the Samartha Programme team.

4. Programme management oversight

• Oversee financial management and reporting of the programme including the signing of cheques and vouchers in collaboration with the Finance and Administration Manager.
• Work closely with the Programme Manager to regularly coordinate and update the work plan and ensure adherence to the programme budget.
• Trouble shoot to support the smooth implementation of the programme including timely reporting to the relevant government ministries and to FCDO
• Ensure adherence to Options policies and templates on:
• Procurement of goods and services
• Contract development and approval
• Reporting of programme to FCDO
• Financial reporting and planning
• Risk identification and management
• All other agreed protocols.

5. Consortium management

• Coordinate, oversee and manage inputs from consortium members.
• Participate in consortium meetings and report on technical, managerial and policy issues and ensure that consortium members are kept up to date with programme and sector developments.

6. Security

• Ensure security systems are effective and adhered to by all staff and consultants, in collaboration with the programme security focal point.
• Be available to respond to emergency calls in case of security incidents. The Team Leader will be expected to carry the programme satellite phone with him/her at all times in case of emergency.

7. Safeguarding

• Act as the regional Safeguarding Focal person.
• To act as a champion for safeguarding within Options, seeking to improve and drive the organisational culture such that a safeguarding mindset becomes embedded.
• Ensure that the name and contact details of the Safeguarding Focal Point are made available so that people know how to raise a concern/where to seek advice.
• To act as one of a number of points of contact for concerns regarding safeguarding incidents at country and/or programmatic level, and to raise those concerns to the Director of Global Health and the Assistant HR Director.
• To support the implementation and monitoring of the Child and Adult at Risk Safeguarding Policy.

Benefits

Options offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package specific to each country, for further information please contact HR at opportunities@options.co.uk.

Other information

• Fixed contract, position contingent upon funding.
• Options is dedicated to equal opportunity for all and recognises that every individual is unique. Whilst we always seek to embrace individual differences and celebrate the diversity of our workforce, we also want to ensure that every team member is suited to their role and that they are given the best opportunity to succeed*.*
• Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment.