Programme Development and Quality Director

Job Title

Director of Program Development and Quality (PDQ)

Location

Freetown with regular travel to operational areas

Grade

Intl 3

Contract Length

2 years, possibility for extension

Child Safeguarding

Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently or intensively because they work 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 Leadership Team (SLT) in Sierra Leone, the Director of Programme Development and Quality (PDQ) is responsible for driving cross-functional engagement in the development and delivery of Country Strategy Plans (CSPs), developing annual plans and reporting on results. S/he is responsible for ensuring development and delivery of high quality, evidence-based, innovative programs for children, in all contexts, that contribute to Save the Children’s global Breakthroughs: Learn, Survive, Be Protected. The Director of PDQ ensures that a robust monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) system is in place, that the country office engages in the collection and use of evidence and that this is shared across the global organization, and that reliable data is used for decision-making. As a senior leader in the country office s/he plays a representational role with the government, donors, partners, peer agencies, SC Members and others. The Director of PDQ supports strategic positioning with donors and partners and leads on project design to ensure that the country office strategy can be delivered in line with child rights programming principles.

Scope of Role

Reports to: Country Director
Staff reporting to this post: 7 (Direct: 7)
Role Dimensions: As one of the most senior staff in the Country Office, the Director of Programme Development and Quality (PDQ) must demonstrate the qualities of agile leadership. S/he plays a key role in defining and pursuing the strategic direction for Save the Children’s programs in Sierra Leone, ensuring the relevance, coherence, safety and impact of our programs for children in all contexts. This is a challenging role requiring an individual who can work with complexity and multiple tasks at one time. It is essential that the Director of Programme Development and Quality builds and maintains strong relationships across functions within the CO, including with team members from Operations, Award Management, Humanitarian, Advocacy and Finance, and s/he should lead by example in demonstrating this cross-functional collaboration. This role demands dedication to demonstrating outcomes for children, experience in integrated child rights programming and a highly motivated leader. S/he has specific oversight for ensuring that programs demonstrate thematic excellence in contributing to Save the Children’s three Breakthroughs for children, especially for the most deprived and marginalized: no child dies from preventable causes before their fifth birthday; all children learn from a quality basic education; and violence against children is no longer tolerated.

Key Areas of Accountability

Strategy, Planning and Reporting (15%)

• Lead the development/updating of the Child Rights Situation Analysis...
• Lead the Senior Management Team to develop/update and drive forward the Country Strategy Plan (CSP)...
• Provide leadership on development of the Country Annual Plan...
• Facilitate the development and pursuit of thematic and cross-cutting strategic priorities...
• Support ownership and commitment to the Country Office strategy by all staff and departments...
• Participate in global discussions and working groups to represent country office...
• Support change processes and roll-out new ways of working to improve achievement of the CSP.

Programme Design & Development (30%)

• Based on tracking provided by the Awards Management team, review and position for opportunities that will drive the CSP...
• In consultation with the Country Director and Members, ensure technical engagement with donors to pre-position and prepare for opportunities...
• Play a leading role in designing proposals...

Programme Quality and Program Technical Excellence (20%)

• Ensure the country program delivers high quality, multi-sectoral programming in both development and humanitarian contexts...
• Build and lead a team of program technical experts needed to successfully deliver against the CSP...

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning (MEAL) and Knowledge management (20%)

• Oversee a monitoring system that provides timely and accurate project results...
• Lead programme quality improvements by monitoring and improving Programme KPI performance...
• Ensure the research, evaluation and policy work of the Country Office contributes to generation of evidence...
• Establish effective program learning and knowledge management systems...

Partnership (5%)

• Play a leading role in identifying, nurturing and strengthening strategic partnerships...
• As appropriate to the country context, provide technical support and capability building to implementing and strategic partners.

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development (10%)

• Ensure appropriate staffing of Programme Development and Quality team, and engagement of additional technical support when needed...
• Ensure that all PDQ staff understand and can perform their role in delivering first-class, quality programs for children...
• Manage individual and team performance using principles of leadership agility...
• Ensure that staff proactively build and maintain technical, managerial and leadership skills...

Behaviours (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...

Ambition: sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same; widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others; future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

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; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

Qualifications

Masters Degree or Bachelor’s Degree, and experience in relevant social science (especially in Child Development or Community Development), human rights, development studies, NGO management or equivalent fields.

Experience and Skills

Essential

• A minimum of seven years of progressive senior management and/or development experience...
• Experience in one or more of Save the Children's thematic sectors...
• Understanding of advocacy, policy, and government systems in the host country...
• Strong skills and proven experience in leading strategic planning, change management and program management processes...
• Strong skills and proven experience in new program development, project design and proposal writing with corporate, foundations and/or institutional donors...
• Credibility to lobby, influence and represent Save the Children at all levels...
• Experience in developing and managing monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning systems...
• Excellent listening, inter-personal, communication and networking skills...