Director of Programme Operations (DPO)

TITLE: Director of Programme Operations - Sierra Leone Country Office

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Sierra Leone Country Office Senior Management Team

LOCATION: Freetown

GRADE: National Tier 2

CONTRACT LENGTH: I year with possibility of extension

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3: the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:

As a member of the Senior Management Team, the Director of Program Operations shares in the overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of the Country Office. The Director of Program Operations in his/her capacity is responsible for implementation of all programming in country, including the management of all sub offices, emergency preparedness and response (including DRR), and logistics for the Country Office in Sierra Leone.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Country Director

Dimensions: Save the Children started work in Sierra Leone in 1999. We currently operate in five districts – Kailahun, Pujehun, Moyamba, Port Loko and Bonthe implementing projects focused on: Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection, Child Right’s Governance and cash transfer programming.

Staff directly reporting to this post: Program/Project Managers (3), Area Manager, and Head of supply chain

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

As a member of the Senior Management Team, contribute to:

• Leadership of the Sierra Leone Country Office
  
• Support the development of an organisational culture that reflects our full spectrum mandate, promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and frees up our people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our members and donors
  
• Help design and implement a coherent organizational structure that is consistent with agency practices and appropriate to program needs
  
• Help establish, maintain, and improve active and regular working relationships with host government authorities, donors, partner agencies including major institutional donors, and local and international NGOs
  
• Ensure that the required support is provided promptly, at scale and in line with the rules and principles during emergencies, working closely with the Global Business Partners
  
  Oversight and Management of Program Operations
  
• Responsible for overall coordination and delivery of high-quality programming in line with the objectives of the Country Strategic Plan (CSP)
  
• In close coordination with the Director of Program Development and Quality, Head of Awards and Director of Finance, participate in program proposal process and ensure that all programs progress in accordance with grant agreements, are completed within time and on budget
  
• Working with Director of Program Development and Quality, participate in conceptualizing and designing cost effective, innovative and high-quality programs to serve difficult to reach children
  
• Serve as overall budget holder for most programming; manage and support budget holders for individual projects and awards.
  
• Ensure programs are implemented in ways responsive to the communities, and children in line with Save the Children principles, values and strategic plan and following Save the Children compliance procedures. This includes working with government and national NGO-partners to strengthen national capacity
  
• Ensure preparation of timely and high-quality progress reports, program reports, and donor reports
  
• Oversee all field offices
  
  Supply Chain
  
• Ensure that the CO supply chain capacity and systems meet the Essential Standards and are able to satisfy the programming requirements
  
• Ensure appropriate and adequate emergency logistics procedures are detailed in the Country Office Emergency Preparedness Plan to enable rapid scale up
  
• Manage the CO supply chain function, ensuring that all CO supply chain activities (fleet, assets, transport, procurement, base setup etc) are coordinated
  
• Ensure proper documentation and recording of fixed assets of the organisation
  
• Supervise function that ensures sophisticated, efficient, cost-effective Information Technology Systems are in place which is also in compliance with Essential Standards
  
  
  
  
  
  Emergency Response and Preparedness
  
• Strengthen the Sierra Leone CO organisational readiness to respond to emergencies in line with global SCI emergency goal and benchmarks
  
• Ensure that the CO designs, updates and implements a full set of emergency preparedness actions, drawing on member input and resources
  
• Oversee the in-country emergency response team, ensuring regular training and support
  
• Mount appropriate and timely responses at scale to all emergencies consistent with established benchmarks, plans and organizational policies, and in close cooperation with incoming surge teams
  
• Ensure that all CO staff across departments and sub offices are familiar with, adhere to and implement the procedures and processes detailed in the Rules and Principles for emergency response
  
• In coordination with Country Director and Director for Program Design and Quality maintain consistent and coherent engagement in key inter-agency emergency preparedness and response coordination mechanisms including the Cluster system
  
  Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development – Program Operations
  
• Ensure appropriate staffing within Program Operations, including field office staff
  
• Ensure that all staff understand and can perform their role in an emergency
  
• Manage Program Operations team; define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly
  
• Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff
  
• Incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process. Establish result-based system and follow up
  
• Manage the performance of all staff in the Program Operations department through:
  
• Effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, performance objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations;
  
• Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities.
  
• Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance.
  
• Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/ workplans
  
  Representation
  
• Represent the Country Director at external meetings with Government, donors and other stakeholders at all levels in Sierra Leone, at regional level and internationally when required.
  
• Be proactive in networking with national and international organizations, service providers to strengthen our operational and resource base
  
  SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)
  
  Accountability:
  
• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
  
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
  
  Ambition:
  
• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
  
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
  
• Future orientated, thinks strategically
  
  Collaboration:
  
• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
  
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
  
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to
  
  Creativity:
  
• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
  
• Willing to take disciplined risks
  
  Integrity:
  
• Honest, encourages openness and transparency
  
  QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
  
• Recommended a minimum of 5 years management experience in a corporate or an NGO environment, including significant field operations experience running both emergency and development programs
  
• Master’s or post graduate degree in development or other social sciences
  
• Robust experience of NGO program cycle management, and with experience of working within a complex and matrix organisation structure
  
• A very good understanding of at least 2 of the sectoral programs and a working knowledge of the program priorities of the Country Office
  
• Significant knowledge of international humanitarian systems, institutions and donors, and of procedures, accountability frameworks
  
• Substantial experience and knowledge of effective financial and budgetary control and securing and managing grants from major institutional donors
  
• Solid project management skills related to organisational development projects and international, cross-functional teams with a proven history of delivering results
  
• Ability to analyse information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically
  
• An in-depth understanding of national and international development issues in relation to children
  
• Previous experience of managing and developing a team and the ability to lead, motivate and develop others
  
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
  
• Fluency in written and spoken English
  
• Ability and willingness to change work practices and hours, and work with incoming teams in the event of major emergencies
  
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights-based approaches.
  
  Equal Opportunities
  
  The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures, and all other relevant policies, procedures, and protocols.
  
  Additional job responsibilities
  
  The job duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the Post holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.