Head Programmes And Partnerships (Education And Society), Syria

Accountabilities, responsibilities and main duties: Team Building and Knowledge Sharing Participate in planning and contribute to regular cluster/regional/organisational-level meetings on the Syria Response. Actively contribute to quarterly meetings of the Syria team in Beirut. Input contextual and sector expertise into Syria team communications (both internal and external). Lead on identifying mutually beneficial networks for knowledge sharing that support the objectives of portfolio development and lesson learning. For example, explore interest and potential in convening a network of British Council Education or English practitioners across key countries. ·         Model key behaviours to help ensure that the British Council Syria team becomes a model for remote working and matrix working over multiple countries. Be a leader in helping to define and implement a team culture and values built on professionalism, integrity and learning.   Portfolio Management Lead on portfolio strategy development, in coordination with the Director Syria, Regional and UK-based sector Leads, and Programme & Partnerships Leads in Host Countries. Developing a strategy and portfolio that positions the British Council for future re-opening in Syria, aligns with existing Country, Regional and SBU Strategies, and directly responds to the agendas of priority donors and partners. Manage project delivery teams as and when new programmes are developed. Long-term, this role will focus on oversight of programme compliance and quality assurance; more immediately it will require flexibility and may include some programme management responsibilities. Also involves working with the management team to identify and fill gaps in programme management capacity. Work with relevant colleagues to address risk management issues related to programming that targets populations in Syria. Ensure all necessary security and risk requirements are built into project design and delivery. Design and deliver an expenditure plan for 2015/16 with Director Syria that utilises our sector budget and ensures funding is used as a seed to generate greater income and impact.   Business and Partnerships Development Identify, track and resource forthcoming business opportunities for Syria with the support of MENA Business Development colleagues. Lead or support the technical conceptualisation, design and winning of proposals with the support of SBU expertise in-country, region or UK. Manage recruitment of consultants where necessary for scoping or proposal development. Develop strong relationships and professional networks with client, customer and partner contacts, sector experts and relevant delivery teams across countries affected by the Syrian crisis. Key relationships will include institutional donors (DFID, EU, FCO, USAID), UN Agencies and other INGOs working in multiple affected countries. May include participation in the country and sector level working groups that coordinate the international Syria response. Work with Regional Communications and Strategic Business Unit colleagues to develop capability statements for our work in Social Development, along with appropriate track record information to illustrate our sector response to the Syrian crisis. Manage the pipeline of social development business opportunities for the Syria response, with full responsibility for leading on opportunities targeting populations in Syria, and responsibility for coordinating opportunities in host countries – by working with local offices to identify/agree priorities and put in place the necessary support to enable effective pursuit (e.g. scoping, facilitating pursuit, consultant recruitment, partner identification).   M&E and Learning Ensuring effective Value for Money and Monitoring & Evaluation plans are built into all programmes, in coordination with the relevant SBU Lead and the MENA Research & Evaluation Manager, and implemented effectively. Develop a system for collecting impact stories at the field level.   Key Result Areas: Effective planning and management of the portfolio, including budget management that meets all expenditure and income requirements. Building a sustainable and growing portfolio composed of client and co-funded opportunities that delivers impact in the short/medium term and positions us for the long term. Contribution to shaping the British Council’s offer to displaced people and to countries / communities affected by fragility and conflict, Positive internal and external reviews of the British Council’s Syria Response and our social development work in Syria and affected countries, with particular emphasis on feedback from host country teams in Jordan and Lebanon.