Thematic Director – Health and Nutrition At Save the Children

Internal/External Vacancy of Thematic Director, Health and Nutrition

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Health and Nutrition Thematic Director (H&NTD) is primarily responsible for development and quality of all Save the Children’s health and nutrition (H&N) programs in Ethiopia in both humanitarian and development contexts. This includes developing a multi-year thematic strategy and annual plans; identifying innovative and technically sound project ideas, approaches and methodologies that can help the Country Office effectively achieve its strategic breakthrough goals; proactively engaging with CO’s business development team, SC members and donors in identifying funding opportunities through presenting and marketing of those ideas; playing a major/leading role in technical designs of new programs; developing and maintaining strong external relations with key stakeholders in particular the Government of Ethiopia Federal Ministry of Health, H&N cluster and coordination forums; ensuring the development and application of H&N quality assurance standards/benchmarks, tools etc. across the programs of the CO. The position also includes responsibilities of overseeing the provision of quality and timely technical assistance to all projects; leading/managing a team of H&N experts; ensuring the production and utilization of high quality, well-articulated project evidence and research by working together with Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability, Learning (MEAL) and Innovation team of the CO; supporting and strengthening Communities of Practice forums to disseminate learning and knowledge; and supporting advocacy and campaign strategies.

S/he represents SC values and principles in interactions with staff and external audiences, including frequent interaction with member technical staff. These values and principles include commitment to the mission of Save the Children, team orientation, quality management and leadership development, introducing systems and procedures to strengthen staff motivation and productivity. The Thematic Director will also understand our work in the field by frequently travelling to field locations. S/he is a member of Program Development, Quality and Impact (PDQI) Department Senior Leadership Team.

Strategic Program Development and Representation

• Provide overall leadership for the strategic development and quality implementation of the H&N program, including development of strategic plans and supporting a portfolio of projects, research and initiatives required to achieve of strategic objectives.
• Lead the strategic planning process for H&N and then annual operational planning based on the strategic plan, and regular internal program planning and review meetings for the health and nutrition teams, as well as related inputs to quarterly and annual reports.
• Support Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) for the documentation of program achievements
• Communicate program achievements against agreed strategic objectives and milestones, and any emerging new evidence for a wide range of internal and external audiences.
• Actively communicate and coordinate with the other Thematic Directors, relevant technical specialists and project managers to ensure synergy and integrated approaches across themes that take into account current good practices.
• Develop and maintain strong external relations with key stakeholders in particular the Government of Ethiopia Federal Ministry of Health, H&N cluster and coordination forums
• Ensure a deep understanding of FMOH priorities; communicate these to the H&N and relevant Program Operations team; and use these for program development and implementation.
• Maintain and cultivate key external relationships including with the GOE FMOH, donors, multi-lateral organizations, and INGOs
• Regularly coordinate with member technical staff. Identify technical support requirements, inclusive of field visits, as and when necessary.
• Serve as the senior representative for all relevant external representation opportunities

Program Development

• Contribute to the development and regular updating of an SCI Ethiopia fundraising opportunities matrix.
• Identify innovative and technically sound project ideas, approaches and methodologies that can help the Country Office effectively achieve its strategic breakthrough goals in collaboration with PDU and SCI members, identify institutional and other funding opportunities.
• Work proactively by engaging with CO’s business development team, SC members and donors in identifying funding opportunities through presenting and marketing of technically viable ideas
• Support pre-positioning for identified opportunities including understanding FMOH and donor priorities, and identifying partners
• Present compelling H&N business cases through analytical assessment of donor and Ethiopia’s priorities in the sector
• Develop and maintain contacts with current and potential donors, potential partners and key technical agencies, in coordination with the Program Development Unit (PDU) and DCD PDQ. Attend relevant donor meetings and visits.
• Ensure that high quality technical inputs are provided while designing new H&N project proposals
• Ensure that technical proposals are relevant through proactively and systematically gathered needs and information from beneficiaries and stakeholders in the field
• In collaboration with MEAL ensure current technical knowledge, research and current/previous programming lessons learned and good practices are widely shared and used in proposals.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Post graduate level education with extensive experience in health and nutrition (H&N).
• A minimum of 10 years health and nutrition technical management and leadership with significant field experience with both emergency and development programs.
• Strong, proven and successful H&N technical and policy level engagement with donors, academia, CSOs and national and regional policy actors.
• Experience in providing technical oversight to a portfolio of diverse projects, including humanitarian and development, and research and advocacy projects.
• Successful track record in designing and contributing technically to large-scale funding
• Proven representation, influencing and advocacy skills and experience.
• Strong analytical and writing skills with demonstrated ability to write business cases, technical proposals, briefing papers (ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner) and reports.
• Proven ability to manage a networked team of professionals, with good communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to motivate staff.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Experience in humanitarian programs and preparedness.
• Experience working with government partners, with partner agencies, including local partners, and in consortia and relevant to resilience programming.
• An understanding of child rights programming and commitment to Save the Children values.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets
• Proven ability to manage a complex and demanding workload
• Excellent spoken and written English
• Good computer skills (particularly Excel, Word and database)

  Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at https://stcuk.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en