Fresh Jobs at Save the Children

Overall Description

• The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for Programmes will be responsible for the provision of technical leadership and expertise for the anticipated large-scale program focused on Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Nigeria.
• The program will reflect the objectives of the PEPFAR strategy with respect to care and support for orphans and other vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS.
• The program will be responsible for ensuring:
  • Coordinated national response to OVC service provision, monitoring and evaluation
  • Coordination and collaboration with GoN entities at the Federal and State level (Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, National Agency for the Control of AIDS , Ministry of Health ) and other implementing partners; and
  • Support districts to implement and monitor OVC support including issues of quality, coverage, and improvements in well being of children.
• S/he will develop technical strategies and will oversee and guide the implementation of program activities across the all target geographic areas and will provide expert technical guidance related to the mitigation of the impact of HIV/AIDS on children, family and communities in Nigeria.
• The DCOP will be responsible for technical quality assurance, so that the project is in line with and advances the state of the art and achieves the program objectives and expected results; and will lead and oversee monitoring and evaluation of the project.
• S/he will represent the program in related technical fora and will provide overall coordination of technical capacity building of government and civil society partners.
• The DCOP will have sufficient experience to serve as the Chief of Party during absences of the incumbent.
• S/he will maintain close liaison with USAID, Save the Children offices, and partners as needed and will work with the COP to ensure the timely submission of all deliverables to USAID, including annual work plans and performance monitoring plans.
• This is a senior leadership role and will serve as a key member of the project team; the DCOP will report directly to the COP.
• The DCOP will coordinate and maintain close liaison with project partners and with relevant stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Public Health or a related professional advanced degree
• At least ten years of experience in public health, including at least four years of experience in multi-sectoral care and support for OVC and persons living with HIV/AIDS
• At least seven years of experience in a field-based management position for a complex, multi-sectoral, public health and/or international development USAID/PEFPAR project, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa in general. Specific experience in Nigeria desirable.
• The ability to manage a program of similar magnitude and complexity; work collaboratively across technical disciplines
• Solid knowledge and understanding of current good practices in OVC programming.
• Strong communication skills - both verbally and in writing, with proficiency in English
• Proven expertise in developing and implementing effective partnerships with private sector entities
• Proven experience in designing, implementing and monitoring capacity strengthening approaches for government and civil society partners
• Proven experience mentoring and strengthening technical skills of staff.
• Proven ability in promoting and collaborating closely with multi-level stakeholders
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations
• The ability to travel extensively to locations within/outside Nigeria as required

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Role Summary

• The Chief of Party (COP) will work with Save the Children’s existing country office in Nigeria, but will be solely responsible for overall management of the USAID Cooperative Agreement for the anticipated Orphans and Vulnerable Children Program.
• S/he will provide strategic and operational leadership to develop and implement a successful and integrated multi-sectoral program that builds upon existing USAID/PEPFAR and GON investment and that will achieve memorable outcomes in the mitigation of the impact of HIV/AIDS on children, families and communities in Nigeria.
• The program will reflect the objectives of the PEPFAR strategy with respect to care and support for orphans and other vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS.
• The program will be responsible for ensuring a) coordinated national response to OVC service provision, monitoring and evaluation b) coordination and collaboration with GoN entities at the Federal and State level (Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, National  Agency for the Control of AIDS, Ministry of Health) and other implementing partners; and build local capacity of organizations and government bodies to support districts and communities to implement and monitor OVC support including issues of quality, coverage, and improvements in wellbeing of children. 
• To this end, the COP will liaise closely with USAID/Nigeria Government of Nigeria representatives, Save the Children’s Office of HIV/AIDS and Africa Area and Country Offices, and partner organizations.
• The COP will be the principal representative of the project. 
• The COP will ensure adherence to overall technical and programmatic quality in implementation, compliance with USAID rules and regulations, and the timely submission of all deliverables to USAID, including annual work plans, performance monitoring plans, semi-annual reports and annual reports as may be required. 
• The COP will be responsible for overall direction and coordination of the activities of any sub-recipient partners under this grant, and for linking to broader fora in country for coordination of OVC work more broadly. 

Key Functions

• Lead the program’s strategic, financial, and operational planning, including the annual work planning process and development of an appropriate exit strategy.
• Establish and guide overall technical direction of the project.
• Act as principal representative and liaison to all external stakeholders, including but not limited to USAID/Nigeria and the Government of Nigeria.
• Oversee the timely submission of all deliverables to USAID.
• Provide oversight and coordination with international and national sub-recipient partners.
• Supervise key program staff, both technical and managerial, and oversee the hiring process of all local personnel.
• Serve as key liaison with Save the Children partners and any local sub-grantees.
• Oversee the process of selection of sub-recipient CSO partners.
• Provide overall coordination of the institutional/organizational and technical capacity building of local partners and stakeholders.
• Fully inform Save the Children’s home/country office on all matters relating to the program, and maintain appropriate links with partner home/field offices.
• Ensure that efficient systems to support all aspects of the program (including sub-grant management, financial, capacity building and performance monitoring and reporting) are in place and support the effective use of program resources in compliance with USAID regulations and Save the Children policies.
• Ensure knowledge management systems are in place and the production of quality evidence based documentation is produced and disseminated.
• Undertake any other tasks as assigned by the Office of HIV/AIDS or the Africa Area Director.

Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced Degree in International Relations, Public Health, or related field.
• 10-12 years of field-based experience managing large and complex overseas, multi-partner development programs, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Experience managing large scale USAID funded project(s) at a senior level
• Demonstrated knowledge of and familiarity with USAID (PEPFAR) policies, rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Experience in managing large child focused field programs for an international NGO
• Demonstrated skills in strategic and program planning and understanding of HIV/AIDS-related support services
• Demonstrated skills in leadership and supervision of staff and teams
• Demonstrated skills in building and maintaining a high performance team internally and across organizations.
• Demonstrated skills in negotiating with partners at a strategic  and contractual level and proven skills in diplomacy
• Familiarity with USAID regulations and policies, with specific understanding of PEPFAR guidelines, rules and regulations.
• Extensive experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa; specific work experience in Nigeria desirable.
• Proven experience building capacity of local NGOs and government bodies.
• Proven ability in promoting and collaborating closely with multi-level stakeholders
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.  Fluency in English required.

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Role Purpose

• To assume a lead technical role in developing, implementing, and maintaining effective and appropriate Monitoring and Evaluation systems for all project activities.
• The post will involve coordination with project management and state teams, and will be responsible for reporting data to USAID in line with their requirements, and with SC guidelines and best practices.

Key Areas of Accountability
Objective 1: Develop Project Monitoring and Evaluation Systems:

• Based on the project proposal, implementation plan, and donor reporting requirements, develop a system for capturing and documenting data and relevant information on project activities, beneficiaries, outputs, outcomes, and impact, which is feasible, practical, and “user friendly”, and will obtain valid and reliable information.
• Develop the projects Performance Monitoring Plan based on USAID reporting requirements and
• Ensure that systems developed capture both quantitative and qualitative information to measure results as detailed in the Project’s Results Framework.
• Ensure an effective roll-out of M&E collection and reporting systems to all staff and partners through training, site visits, manuals, and other technical support as needed.  Ensure systems are well understood and properly implemented by staff and partners.
• Ensure that systems developed capture appropriate cost and financial information to enable development and tracking of value for money indicators over the project, including benchmarking information to analyse programme effectiveness and cost effective inputs.
• Ensure that all tools are practical to use and accommodate different levels of expertise and computer literacy, from community groups, to partners, to project staff.

Objective 2: Implementation of Project Progress and Quality Monitoring Systems:

• Work with partners and state teams to establish reporting processes to ensure that all information and data is collected, documented, and collated in an accurate and timely manner.
• Conduct periodic supportive supervision and Data Quality Assessment visits to state teams, partners, and communities.
• Create a system for ensuring that information obtained is also shared with communities, children, and other stakeholders through a regular feedback mechanism.
• Ensure programming is aligned to targets and indicators contained in project proposal using the IPTT.
• Support Programme Management to ensure programming quality is constantly audited and is of acceptable quality.

Objective 3:  Coordinate Project Evaluations, Assessments, Operations Research and Other Studies:

• Support overall project review and evaluation activities as required in partnership with the USAID partner for- evaluation. This includes coordinating mid-term and final evaluations, and supporting donor and external reviews as required.
• Design methodology and coordinate research activities for any project operations research and assessments (HEVA)

Objective 4: Manage Project Databases:

• Facilitate trainings on the use of project/USAID approved databases and software (DHIS2, NOMIS).
• Monitor roll out and functionality of databases across implementing CSOs.

Objective 5:  Institute Functional Reporting, Knowledge Management and Learning Platforms:

• Lead in the preparation of monthly reports for Save the Children Nigeria and other partners involved in the project (including the donor) ensuring utmost quality.
• Design and Develop appropriate information products to disseminate project progress (Programs Review Presentation, M&E Bulletin)
• Coordinate monthly project review and learning meetings with consortium partners and CSOs.
• Constantly update programme management and the Head of MEAL on activities progress and quality as well as recommendations for improvement.

Objective 6: Monitoring of Project Accountability Structures and Platforms:

• Facilitate accountability assessments (CRM, Child/Stakeholder Participation & Information Sharing)
• Design, implement and monitor project based Complaint and Response Mechanisms
• Manage project complaints and response mechanism central database.

Objective 7:  M&E Capacity Strengthening:

• Provide on-going support to state teams, partners, and communities to maintain M&E systems; identify skill gaps that can be addressed in subsequent refresher trainings.
• Ensure regular reviews of the M&E system itself, making improvements as needed and recommended, in consultation with managers, staff, and partners.
• Work with the other Nigeria program managers and effective programs team to ensure that the project’s M&E system is well linked and/or integrated with overall M&E systems for the SC Nigeria Country Program.
• Identify the need for additional technical support to ensure effective programme delivery and coordinate the allocation of that support.

Qualification and Experience
Essential:

• Advanced training in quantitative methodologies, including database management.
• 5 years of direct experience of monitoring and evaluation related to one or more of these fields: health, HIV, nutrition and/ or economics.
• Strong analytical skills and an understanding of a range of methods for monitoring, evaluation and assessment to promote evidence-based learning.  Demonstrated ability to design, commission, and manage assessment methodologies and evaluation.
• Experience of cost benefit analysis, economic appraisal or other value for money methodologies.
• Computer literate.
• Ability to build support from staff across teams and across members, and to build the capacity of others.
• Proven ability to coordinate effective resource allocation to ensure quality programmes.
• Sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively and innovate and to set priorities, manageable workplans and evaluate progress.
• Strong communications skills (both written and verbal). The ability to analyse complex data and summarise it for a range of different audiences.
• Experience of working within budget constraints.
• Commitment to SC’s mission, values and approach (includes child protection, equal opportunities and health and safety).
• Commitment to support cross organisational initiatives.
• Commitment to team working and understanding of how to contribute.
• Ability to operate within a predominantly administratively self-servicing environment.

Desirable:

• Professional qualification at postgraduate level or equivalent in economics or related discipline
• Experience working with Systems Strengthening programs to support vulnerable children.
• Experience in qualitative research techniques
• Experience in international development.