Area Manager

JOB TITLE: Area Manager (AM)

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Program

Operations

LOCATION: Aswan

GRADE : 1

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Fixed Term

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: (select only one)

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.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Area Manager is responsible for area level management of programmes / projects of various sizes and complexities, AO budget development and management, governorate level coordination and representation with key stakeholders and other government departments/INGOs/NGOs, safety and security, logistics, awards management, including management of multiple teams. The post holder will be responsible for program management, supply chain, admin, finance and MEAL operations in their field office. The post holder will play a key role in staff building capacity processes at field level, and will contribute in the effective scale up and management of Save the Children programmes in the governorate (Development and Emergency) to increase SCI footprint and enable positive change for children.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Director of Program Operations

Staff reporting to this post: Project Managers (Deputy area manager for larger area offices), Finance, Supply Chain, Admin

The position is based in Aswan Governorate.

Budget Responsibilities: Yes

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :

1. Area Office Management.

• Oversee the management of the implementation of projects and programmes and all related operational activities the area, effectively using the assistance of technical sector advisors and operational support staff.

• Manage multiple grants across multiple sectors, ensuring that projects and reports are delivered according to SC and donor contractual requirements, within the agreed timescale and budget.

• Ensure effective award management system is in place at field level to ensure that donor and SCI requirements are met.

• Working with the PDQ team and Program Operations Director to revise AO plans and master budgets as needed and contribute to Save the Children's updates to the overall CO strategy.

• Develop and implement participatory needs assessment to contribute to programme planning and MEAL processes.

• Support fundraising efforts for the related area location, including development of high quality concept notes and proposals.

• Lead / support on partners' identification and assessments, implementation monitoring and capacity building

• Oversee programme implementation to ensure timely delivery of programme activities (for example: DIPs, IPPTs, budget spending plans, etc..).

• Ensure that Field MEAL team regularly tracks project progresses toward the achievement of agreed goals and results. Ensure that project managers elaborate and implement corrective plans if projects are off course in achieving desired results

• In collaboration with CO MEAL team and PQI director regularly conduct project lessons learned and track impact on children and communities

• In coordination with CO HR team, lead and support recruitment processes and ensure that programme/projects are adequately staffed.

• In collaboration with the CO Safety and Security Manager, develop and implement effective safety and security procedures for multiple implementation locations within the field base or area, ensuring that these procedures are updated and revised at regular intervals and that new programmes are built based on deep security contextual understanding where risks are mitigated.

• Assume the responsibilities of the S&S focal point at the governorate level.

• Oversee/manage supply chain and admin processes to procure, store and distribute stock, supplies and services for the timely delivery of project objectives within the field area.

• Manage and motivate field based staff to perform highly in their respective roles and responsibilities. This will include leading on staff structure, recruitment, performance management and implementing staff wellbeing policies.

• Manage the MEAL activities in the FO by ensuring monitoring tools are in place, being used on timely basis, review the indicators tracking sheet of the projects.

• Oversee the accountability mechanisms are applied and actions taken towards recorded requests.

• Oversee the evaluation activities of the projects in the field office in collaboration with MEAL Manager.

2. Budget Management and Compliance

• Manage FO level financial processes in close cooperation with the field Finance team and CO Finance director in line with SCI finance policies and procedures.

• Responsible for financial management of program/projects budgets in the field office; forecasting, planning, tracking of expenditures, and burn rates.

• Ensure expenditures are approved and in accordance with the budget lines.

• Ensure grants and contracts are managed in line with SCI's award policies.

• Ensure that SCI regulations are communicated to all staff and that all activities meet SCI's requirements financially and technically.

3. Technical Assistance and Capacity Strengthening

• Ensure appropriate training/capacity strengthening for staff members, partner agencies and others in support of high-quality programs.

• Provide other technical support particularly in the areas of program development, research, monitoring and evaluation and/or ensure that adequate support is being provided.

• Oversee the identification and selection of appropriate short and long-term technical assistance to support program quality (e.g. drawing on technical assistance within the Country Office).

4. Human Resources support

In coordination with the CO HR team:

• Ensure appropriate staffing for al field office projects

• Build and nurture effective teamwork and ensure a cohesive workplace environment for optimum staff retention.

• Utilize the Performance Management System, define expectations of staff members, develop work plans and improvement plans as needed, and provide technical support for staff development.

• Ensure communicating and mainstreaming SCI policies and procedures as well as accountability and child participation practices throughout the FO activities;

• Embed counter-fraud and ethical controls in all operational planning, implementation, and monitoring processes.

• Ensure compliance with donor, legal, and SCI internal controls in program delivery

• Collaborate with Finance and Counter-Fraud to mitigate operational risks.

• Conduct risk assessments for high-value programs and activities.

5. Representation and Networking

• Establish effective relations with local authorities and INGOs at the governorate level.

• Represent SCI with the Government and local and international partners.

• Ensure strong communication and coordination with other Save the Children teams in order to maximize the use of resources to achieve multi-sector program integration and avoid redundancy and overlap.

• Ensure identification of advocacy issues relevant to the FO areas of focus, development of advocacy and influencing plan (ensuring collaboration with CO-level advocacy efforts), and its proper implementation with government as well as with other stakeholders.

6. Child Safeguarding:

• Support managers in the implementation of child safeguarding policy within the program cycle; including identifying and addressing risks to children that are caused/exacerbated by programme design and intervention.

• Ensure that children's activities are safe for children and that all steps are taken to ensure their meaningful and safe participation.

• Provide leadership and guidance in the implementation of the child safeguarding policy and the code of conduct within the field office.

7. General:

• Contribute to the CO risk management process and matrix development, communicate mitigation measures with the field team and ensure that they are in place.

• Contribute to the development of communications products, in collaboration with the CO Communications Manager;

• Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures;

• Ensure the security, health and well-being of staff and that staff management and other processes and policies and systems reflect SC 's principles of equity and fairness.

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 - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

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 AND EXPERIENCE

• Relevant University Degree.

• Minimum 5 years' experience in management positions, managing integrated multi sector or multi-locations programs.

• Strong project cycle management experience.

• Previous experience of managing a large team

• Budget management experience including institutional donors

• Demonstrable experience of MEAL and beneficiary accountability

• Strong experience in dealing with government officials at both strategic and operational levels.

• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, advocacy, negotiation and coaching.

• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mind-sets.

• Experience working through/with sub grants and partners is a requirement.

• Experience with capacity building of local partners and communities.

• Fluency in English with strong written and oral communication skills.

• The capacity and willingness to be flexible and accommodating in difficult 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

• Professional expertise in one of the Save the Children program areas is preferable

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

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.

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.