Deputy Country Director - Programmes

ROLE PURPOSE: As a member of the Lebanon Senior Management Team (SMT), the Deputy Country Director (DCD) leads on the design and delivery of Save the Children’s programmatic strategy. The position is also responsible for the quality of programs and compliance with contractual requirements. To deliver on these responsibilities the DCD – Programs manages 5 key departments – program development and quality, program operations, awards management, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL), and the Lebanon Cash Consortium Chief of Party. The position will ensure that programs are in line with the Save the Children mandate, strategy and theory of change and will ensure that both programmatic, operational, awards and MEAL quality framework standards are met. The DCD will be required to lead on the development of programmatic capacity building programs and the enhancement of an organizational culture reflecting the organization’s values. The role will require strengthening relationships with priority members and donors whilst also ensuring compliance with member and donor reporting requirements. The role will require strengthening and consolidating program development and quality, program operations, awards management teams and MEAL teams – extensive team building and prioritization is required to optimize the performance of these four departments. The role is also responsible for line management of the Lebanon Cash Consortium Chief (LCC) of Party, and participation as the lead LCC Steering Committee representative. To build capacity of directors and field teams to deliver on the country programs ambitious 2016-18 strategy, the DCD – Programs will be required to undertaken extensive mentoring, coaching and team building.    SCOPE OF ROLE: Reports to: Country Director Number of direct reports: Direct line management of 5 staff: Program Development and Quality (PDQ) Director, Program Operations Director, Awards Director, MEAL Director, and Lebanon Cash Consortium Chief of Party.  (As the organisation evolves, director reports can change) Working with: Close working relationships with the Deputy Country Director (DCD) Support services. Focal point for MEE Senior Operations Advisor and Save the Children International Humanitarian/Operations teams. Dimensions: Budget responsibilities of US$50,000,000. Seek cooperation with other Save the Children Country Programs, the Regional Office and Centre, when relevant.    KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: Strategic Programmatic Planning: With the support of the PDQ Director, lead on the development of programmatic strategy for the country program with the support and participation of the ESMT, ensuring that the strategic vision is embedded at all levels of the organisation Provide strategic direction to the country program as it relates to all programmatic activities including integrated program design, efficient and effective operational platforms, donor compliance and fundraising and supporting a holistic approach to MEAL that supports the above three core functions. Take a lead role in developing and reviewing program strategies, area plans and annual plans Keep abreast with and contribute to Save the Children’s global initiatives and global trends Through management of the Awards Management Unit (AMU) coordinating with members in identifying strategic opportunities for expanding organization’s work Facilitating Transformational Change:  To support the Country Director on promoting an environment of continuous learning, where staff are encouraged and supported to grow and develop and are willing to be held accountable for their commitments. To support the Country Director on promoting the culture of high performance through implementing necessary processes to measure performance against key indicators and member’s satisfaction, monitoring levels and taking corrective action to ensure on-going measurable improvement of the Country Office. Ensure productive communications and collaboration with Save the Children’s members and donors as assigned by the Country Director and with the AMU Designing quality programs and MEAL  To set the strategic direction of Save the Children Lebanon’s programs and ensuring program quality in line with our child rights mandate. Lead on strategic planning; program development; program quality; technical support to implementation; representation and advocacy. Working with the MEAL Director, ensure evidence-based programming through setting organisational agenda for research and assessments. Prioritize the strengthening of the PDQ team, with a focus on ensuring consistent (primarily national) technical capacity amongst Advisors and Specialists. Ensure development of - and maintain oversight of progress against - sector strategies in coordination with technical advisors and ensure accountability to SMT. Ensure effective quality assurance of Save the Children Lebanon’s programming and compliance with Save the Children’s Quality Framework and global humanitarian standards. Ensure appropriate knowledge management systems are in place to support program quality. Provide active leadership in Save the Children’s relationships with key donors. Ensure clear identification of fundraising needs and priorities. Provide strategic decision making for new funding opportunities in alignment with country and sector strategic priorities. Delivering Accountable Programs: Provide overall supervision to the implementation and integration of activities in all humanitarian and development programs, including allocation of resources and ensuring that appropriate controls are maintained at all levels With the Director of Program Operations, lead and oversee program implementation, ensuring adequate resources are made available to recruit, train and retain operational staff. Prioritize building leadership of Area Managers and Deputy Area Managers, and ensure the retention of Program Managers. To manage and implement quality programs for the country through ensuring all programs are delivered within time, on budget, achieving program objectives and responsive to the communities, as well as in line with Save the Children’s principles, values and strategic plans and following donors and compliance procedures To engage staff, partners and other stakeholders to create real shared ownership and collaboration. Working with AMU, ensure that all reports prepared by field staff for donors and other external parties are carefully reviewed and if necessary revised before sign-off. Ensure the development and application of a practical field based Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) system/plans for all projects and the provision of qualified technical assistance to field operations in implementing the system and in documenting the measurement of achievement and progress toward program goals and results through the M&E system Lead in the development of all project proposals within the framework of the country strategy, global initiatives, and theory of change while ensuring and coordinating through AMU the participation of Programs, Security, Finance, HR and Operations departments in this process from an early stage – ensure proposals are of the highest quality. Work with the Country Director (CD) to continually right size the Lebanon team in continued scale up and through shifts to recovery and/or scale down Representation and Networking: Support in establishing, maintaining, and improving active and regular working relationships with host government authorities, donors and partner agencies, the UN system, and local and international NGOs including other members of Save the Children. Lead Save the Children representation to key government departments, namely Ministry of Labor and Ministry of Social Affairs, and Ministry of Education and Higher Education Maintain regularly communications and interactions with the international donor and NGO community to ensure awareness of Save the Children programs. Be acting County Director in the absence of CD. Represent Save the Children in key forums both in Lebanon and more widely as appropriate. Represent Save the Children with UN, donors, government and other INGOs.  Line and team management: Ensure clear team structure and recruitment of staff, with a focus on nationalisation of positions where appropriate. Define expectations and provide appropriate one to one support to direct reports and others within the Programs teams. Manage the performance of direct reports using Save the Children performance management policies and procedures as well as through appropriate coaching, mentoring, training and development. Ensure the recruitment, training and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff in relation to core PDQ related competencies. Oversee the delivery of capacity building plans to develop the requisite technical competencies in program staff. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE Master’s degree in social sciences, public/business administration, or equivalent work experience at appropriate level Minimum of 8 years management experience in international development contexts or at a similar level, as well as humanitarian response operations experience in large and complex emergencies. Excellent conceptual and analytical skills, effective negotiator, with the ability to positively influence cross departmental and cross sectoral working relationship Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in Strong skills and expertise in operational planning, financial and budget management as well as people management Experience in program development and good knowledge of donors (including multilateral, institutional, and corporates) and context in the Middle East Resource mobilization, training and capacity building, coaching/mentoring skills Good understanding of key trends in international and humanitarian development Demonstrated ability to set and achieve objectives Strong project and people management skills Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and writing skills) Proven staff management and supervisory skills Flexible and adaptable to dynamic changes and fast-paced work environment High level of financial and ethical integrity Commitment to the Save the Children values Fluent in Arabic