COMIC RELIEF PROGRAMME MANAGER AT SAVE THE CHILDREN TANZANIA
Child Safeguarding:
Level 3 – the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people
ROLE PURPOSE:
The Comic Relief Programme Manager will provide strategic leadership and is accountable for providing management and oversight of the implementation of the Comic Relief programme and to represent and advocate for Save the Children’s work and organizational priorities with a wide range of external parties including government representatives, communities, donors, UN and other agencies operating in Songwe and at Dar es Salaam level.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Save the Children has been operational in Tanzania since 1986 providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered in support of Government of Tanzania priorities and policies both directly and through local partners. Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, nutrition, HIV/TB and emergency response. In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined programmes of SCUK, SCUS, SC Sweden to create a single operation in Tanzania. We currently have an operational presence in Lindi, Shinyanga, Zanzibar, Songwe and Kigoma as well as Dar es Salaam and we also work through partners in other parts of the country. We employ nearly 100 staff and have an annual operating budget of approximately $10 million.
Reports to: Director Programme Implementation
Dimensions: Maintains strong linkages with the Technical Specialists for Education, Child Protection and Health and Nutrition and the Meal Specialist amongst others in the Programme Development and Quality team
Staff directly reporting to this post: Programme Coordinator Mbozi, MEAL Coordinator
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW:
The programme is researching the impact that a series of low cost interventions to support children from conception to the end of Standard 2 will have on their learning outcomes. This includes:
– The impact of parenting support on children’s development and school readiness at each of four key measurement points: age three and on to entry to pre-primary (in Phase 1) and on to entry to primary school and at the end of Standard 2 (Phase 2).
– The impact of school and teacher focused interventions on children’s learning at 2 key measurement points: end of pre-primary and end of Standard 2.
– In addition there will be community based interventions promoting improved nutrition and child health and cognitive development of the child.
– Systems level interventions that include changing the discourse around caregivers’ roles and creating enabling environments for children’s development and reduction of violence in homes, communities and schools.
– Engaging Local Government Authorities in programme design and oversight and using research and learning to influence decision making and planning.
The two outcomes from the programme are:
– Children have improved learning outcomes in literacy and numeracy at end of Standard 2.
– Government and development partners support effective allocation of resources, and adopt strategies in early childhood and basic education that improve the learning outcomes of all children.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
1. Programme leadership
– Providing strategic vision, direction and leadership of the programme.
– Lead strategic, financial, and operational planning, including the annual work planning process ensuring programme is adaptive to experience, learning and evidence.
– Building, leading and enabling a high performing team (including capacity building activities, training, peer learning.)
– Make effective and timely strategic decisions about the design and direction of the programme.
– Creating effective partnerships for implementation and advocacy / influence.
– Support advocacy and engagement with development partners and relationships with government at a policy level.
2. Programme management responsibilities
– Provide management oversight of the implementation of the Comic Relief programme both in Dar es Salaam and Mbozi.
– Liaise closely with the Education, CP and Health and Nutrition Specialists for technical guidance to the programme.
– Develop detailed implementation plans, procurement plans and phased financial forecasts in collaboration with the programme staff and partners.
– Ensure that all planned activities and related expenditures for the Comic Relief programme are on track with recorded DIP in strict compliance with the agreed budget lines and Save the Children’s financial regulations and reviewed on a monthly basis during Award Review Meetings. Adjust plans accordingly.
– Oversee and ensure the quality of partner identification and support implementation. Ensure a capacity assessment and development plan is in place, regularly reviewed and followed-through.
– Regularly travel to the Mbozi field site locations to lead the start-up, manage implementation, and in coordination with MEAL staff oversee the monitoring of project activities.
– Oversee and/or develop technical materials in collaboration with Technical Specialists within country and from member to further project activities, objectives and results.
– Ensure all programme activities on the ground fulfil the requirements of the approved Save the Children Country strategic plan.
Operational
– Ensure all staff comply with Save the Children financial and logistics procedures.
– Ensure functional systems are in place for effective project planning, preparation, start-up and implementation.
– Prepare monthly projects updates and quarterly / annual reports including all project documentation and ensure timely submission to the Senior Management and donors through the head office.
– Incorporate child rights programming into all aspects of Save the Children’s work in the operational areas where possible and with support from head office colleagues and ensure requirements of Save the Children Child Safeguarding Policy are fully complied with by all staff and partners in the Comic Relief programme.
3. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning / Research
– In collaboration with the MEAL team establish and ensure implementation of a strong MEAL system for the Comic Relief programme (MEAL plans, indicators, performance tracking tables, monitoring tools, benchmarks etc.)
– Include baseline studies, formative assessments, mid-term evaluations, final evaluations and other research studies as well as learning events as part of annual DIPs.
– In collaboration with MEAL unit, develop process, output and outcome level Quality Benchmarks and regularly review progress on indicators/achievement of targets (LFA).
– Discuss monitoring findings during program coordination/review meetings, review MEAL reports to highlight key project strengths and areas of improvement, and use learning from monitoring reports for project planning and implementation.
– Provide programmatic inputs for the development of the ToRs of evaluations/baseline studies which include background information and scope of work and proposed methodology in conjunction with TS and MEAL input.
– Review accountability to beneficiaries’ data and reports and provide technical support to implementation team using key learning from accountability system for program development, planning, improvement and implementation.
– Identify staff MEAL capacity needs and inform MEAL unit and set aside MEAL capacity building budget for programme staff.
4. Staff management and development
– Line management responsibilities for the Comic Relief programme staff.
– Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure appropriate professional development opportunities are provided.
– Manage the performance of all supervisees through the effective use of the Performance Management System and ongoing mentoring/coaching.
– Lead, manage and motivate the relevant staff members, ensuring they have clear work plans and objectives and receive quarterly supervisions and reviews.
– Ensure all staff receive the relevant training and support required to enable them to undertake their responsibilities effectively in line with internal project management systems
5. Save the Children representation
– Regularly coordinate and collaborate with other SC sector teams to strengthen programming and impact for children.
– Engage the donor and Tanzania government officials at all required levels as required to ensure Save the Children is considered a preferred and active partner in Tanzania and in the Songwe Region specifically.
– Represent SCI in technical coordination meetings with Comic Relief and local and international partners, and any other relevant meeting when required.
SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)
COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS
Leading
Leading and Inspiring Others
Demonstrates leadership in all our work, role models our value, articulates a compelling vision to inspire others to achieve our goals for children.
Leading Edge
Creates and engages others in a shared vision and strategy that will deliver more for children.
Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
Inspires people to reach the highest standards of performance and a sense of pride in belonging to the organisation.
Thinking
Problem Solving And Decision Making
Takes effective, considered and timely decisions by gathering and evaluating relevant information from within or outside the organisation and making appropriate judgements.
Leading Edge
Identifies and addresses root causes of Long-term problems facing the organisation.
Brings in external perspective to ensure strategic decision making remains relevant and future focused.
Provides a strategic framework to support decision making across the organisation.
Explores and analyses external trends and their potential impact on strategic choices.
Takes calculated risks and has the courage to stand by decisions despite resistance.
Engaging
Networking
Builds and uses sustainable relationships and networks to support the work of Save The Children.
Leading Edge
Role models transparency and openness when engaging with others.
Drives external networks and partnerships in the sector and beyond.
Aligns and builds networks and alliances to reflect global shifts and opportunities.
Gathers intelligence from external networks to influence the medium and longer term impact of our work with children.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Master’s degree in Education, Social Science, Policy or equivalent fields.
Minimum five years of relevant area work experience in leading design and implementation of development programmes (a background in education/early childhood development programming is desirable but not essential).
Experience of leading complex, innovative and adaptive programmes within a context of wider sector change.
Demonstrated experience in working effectively with CSOs, beneficiaries and stakeholders.
Experience in building relationships, fostering interagency coordination and experience of representing an organisation to external parties.
Strong demonstrable skills and experience in programme management, monitoring, evaluation, learning and accountability.
Substantial budget holding responsibilities – experience of managing an annual budget of approximately $500,000.
Problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Proven leadership skills – previous experience of line managing staff.
High level report writing skills in English.
Location: Dar es Salaam with regular visits to Mbozi, Songwe, Tanzania
Contract – Full-Time
Closing date: Sunday 3 September 2017