***Due to the urgency to fill this role, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Kindly note that the position will be filled before the vacancy announcement is closed; therefore, early applications are encouraged.***

The Opportunity

The Head of Program will be responsible for program development and quality benchmark across Northwest Syria (NWS) area office, she/he leads the technical specialists and MEAL manager in designing high quality program and ensuring that there is standard programming across all the field offices as well as areas of expansion, and will be responsible for making sure that all programmes are implemented in line with Save the Children’s common approaches and quality benchmarks. She/He will also ensure that there is proper program integration across the different sectors right from the program design stage and that there is meaningful involvement of partners in the design, set-up, implementation and close out phases of projects.  The post holder will also support the capacity development efforts of national NGO partners to ensure quality delivery of programming. They will work to ensure that program design is aligned with the Syria Response Office as well as response plan of the area office by giving strategic direction. The post holder will play a leading role in ensuring quality of Save the Children’s programme across NWS.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3:  the post 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 country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

The post holder should report and respond to interventions as determined by position related responsibilities identified in the Child Safeguarding Policy.

Scope of Role:

Reports to: Head of Office

Staff reporting to this post:  Technical Specialists, MEAL Manager

Budget Responsibilities: TBC

Role Dimensions: Save the Children (SC) NWS implement a multisectoral program, including Education, Child Protection, Health and Nutrition, FSL, Shelter and NFI, and WASH through local partners. The AO is well established, and in addition to responding to the chronic needs of children and adults who have been impacted by the protracted conflict, the office has scaled up its response in order to meet the increased needs following the earthquakes. The portfolio consist of emergency and multi-year projects and is projected to increase its reach over the next 12 months. 

In order to be successful you will bring/have: 

Required

•    Extensive experience of working within a management role within a complex country programme in an emergency response or fragile state
•    Previous experience of managing partner programme teams in NWS or similar contexts
•    Education to MSc/MA/MEng level in a relevant subject or equivalent field experience
•    Experience of managing institutional funding for emergency and early recovery projects
•    Commitment to, thorough understanding of, and able to train staff in participation and accountability approaches
•    Demonstrated ability to set up monitoring & evaluation systems in large complex programmes.
•    Demonstrated ability to set up learning and development processes for a large team
•    Proven ability of mentoring and coaching internal and partner staff
•    Experience of senior level representation
•    Experience in all phases of project management, as well as in working closely with Technical Advisors 
•    Experience of developing and negotiating successful partnerships with institutional donors
•    Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment, proposals and project reports
•    Proven ability to influence change at an operational and strategic level
•    Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
•    A high level of written and spoken English 
•    The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
•    Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. In particular, a good understanding of the SC   mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support

Desirable 
•    Language skills in Turkish and Arabic is advantageous
•    Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/contexts

 
Key Areas of Responsibility:

As a member of the Core Management Team, contribute to:
•    Strategic discussions to improve program design, direction and quality implementation.
•    In close working relationship with the Head of Office develop NWS area office program direction and provide guidance on the key priorities areas for funding through proper gap analysis.
•    Support the Head of Office in advising and informing in order to prioritise programme sectors or funding where this is limited, in line with SCI Global Humanitarian and Syria Response Office standards
•    Feed into Syria Response Office strategy through leading the Child Rights Situational Analysis, multi-sector needs assessments, and relevant research or technical studies in NWS area office.
•    Lead the development of an organisational culture that reflects our all contexts mandate and values, promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a team culture of learning, and ensures teams are adequately supported to deliver quality programmes for children
•    With the technical specialists, MEAL manager and Support Departments develop and follow through clear capacity building plan for direct reports. 
•    As requested lead the area CMT meeting, and represent the organisation with diplomatic tact in relevant external fora 

Planning 
•    Lead in the development of proposal with the technical specialists, ensuring integration and area based approaches, aligned with the overall SRO Country Strategic Plan. 
•    Lead in the area office program context understanding, needs assessments and cross-cutting sections of proposals and reports in the area office.
•    With the technical specialists, lead and sign off on the reports, while ensuring accuracy, quality and timely reporting to donors 
•    Develop close working relationship with the programs operations team internally and from partners side to improve program quality, integration and standardisation across the area office.
•    Ensures gender-sensitivity, conflict-sensitivity and safe programming is integrated into all proposals developed by the area office.
•    Support efforts to identify, assess, develop capacity and monitor partners.
•    Lead on programmatic and related aspect of partner selection, with clearly defined criteria that are evidence based

Main responsibilities
•    Lead the technical specialists on an understanding of need for and capacity to support fundraising and targeted programming
•    Lead on programmatic contingency planning, and response plan development
•    Provide guidance and direction, in collaboration with the MO PDQ team, to ensure structured capacity building of program and support aspects
•    Lead on task allocation for Partner assessment teams, main point of contact for the partnership manager
•    Lead on the preparation for project review meetings, ensuring up to date financial and program revisions (IPTTs) on a monthly basis
•    Work closely with Partnership and Award team to ensure a clear and rational ways of working with partners 
•    Ensure quality programmes through regular monitoring planning and follow up by the technical specialists and measuring deliverable against Save the Children quality benchmarks, as well as project targets. 
•    In close collaboration with Specialists and relevant internal team members lead in advocating for Save the Children program approaches to the different clusters and working groups.
•    Support HoO where needed by participating in NGO Forum meetings 
•    Ensure that MEAL processes are systematic, efficient and effective, and that master logframes, MEAL plans, budgets, and IPTTs are up dated. 
•    Oversee the quality benchmark development process, MEAL monitoring, and ensure it is integrated in every program design and development. 
•    Ensure the use of information sharing plans that are relevant, additionally roll out and ensure a robust accountability system.
•    In designing programs, ensure that the minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Charter and Core Humanitarian Standards.
•    In coordination with the main office award team, ensure that SC members and SC Technical Working Groups are kept informed of program direction and gaps and seek for technical support as required.
•    Develop and implement plans with program teams to ensure minimum standards of partnerships are being met
•    Leading the initiative of documenting lessons learnt, best practice and case studies to shape in-country strategies and programme approaches, and contribute to broader sector learning.
•    Help shape broader sector strategies through influence of and leadership within inter-agency coordination forums, ensuring the specific needs of children are being addressed.  This may involve representing Save the Children at different levels.
•    Lead on NWS area office organisational level programme policy, innovation, learning or representation initiatives in consultation with relevant internal stakeholders.

Other

•    Other projects as defined by the Line Manager.  
•    Be prepared to varying day to day activities and work pattern/hours in humanitarian response situations.
•    Position holder may be required to outside of normal duties and working hours during emergency responses.

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector at the pay-grade of the position, transportation allowance as per relevant internal policy and 20 days of annual leave per year.

Position holder will be based in Gaziantep, therefore legal right to work in Turkey is necessary at the time of applicaton.

The Organisation
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.  

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:
•    No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday 
•    All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
•    Violence against children is no longer tolerated 

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.  We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued. 

Save the Children is committed to create a truly inclusive, effective and representative organisational culture, encouraging equity and diversity among its employees and eliminating discrimination. Having a diverse profile of employees, different age groups, backgrounds, cultures, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientation etc., including a range of different experiences and capabilities helps us understand, represent and serve children better. Therefore all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or age.

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 www.savethechildren.net/careers

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.