ROLE PURPOSE:
The Director of Programme Operations (DPO) is responsible for the overall management and implementation of the country's programme operations, ensuring that programmes are delivered with quality, on time, on budget, and safely. This includes overall supervision of area and field offices, project teams, and supply team. The DPO will work collaboratively across all departments to coordinate and ensure the safe, effective and efficient delivery of programmes and projects directly through SCI Project Teams or through Partners. The DPO leads on Country Office emergency preparedness and response.
The DPO is accountable for the development and management of the CO Supply Chain team, ensuring that SCI in Iraq gets the right quality of goods and services to the place of need at the required time at reasonable costs. In SCI Iraq, the DPO is also accountable for the efficient, effective, and pro-active compliance and risk management from award signature to closeout.
As a member of the SMT, the DPO contributes in developing and achieving the strategic direction of the Country Office.

SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to:
Country Director
Direct reports: Field Managers, Partnership Manager, Project and Programme Managers, Head of Supply Chain, Awards Coordinator/Manager (lead of the Awards team)

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Oversight CO Programme Implementation and Supply Chain
* Accountable for the programme implementation, project performance and budget tracking of CO awards (grants) to ensure that SCI is responsive to the needs of children, compliant with donor requirements and with a strong commitment to quality.
* Accountable for an effective supply chain department that ensures and effective, quality and timely delivery on donor commitments and compliance.
* Serve as prime budget holder
* Supervise Field Managers for programs implemented in their areas of operation in coordination with respective country office departments.
* Ensure effective communication between Field Offices and Country Office departments is in place.
* Collaborate with the Director of Program Development and Quality (DPDQ), to conceptualize and design cost effective, innovative and high-quality projects
* Ensure donor reports are submitted with quality and in a timely manner.
* Accountable for all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and tools necessary for effective and efficient programme and supply chain operations.
* Provide support to field teams for ensuring correct cost base and triggering line management about business continuity scenarios.
* Ensure that the CO has the appropriate Field Office, Project Team, and Supply Chain Team structures for effective and efficient delivery
* Ensure Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for BvA and Supply Chain are within required metrics
* Contribute to the development of thematic plans and master budgets and development of Save the Children's country strategy.

Operations Management
* Collaborate with ESMT colleagues to ensure that an appropriate operational base is in place to ensure effective and efficient delivery of programmes.
* Ensure appropriate resourcing, accountability and authority at field level (in line with levels of decentralisation) are in place.
* Accountable for assessing and managing programme operational risks
* Ensure remote management plan is in place and used appropriately

* Ensure safe programming and child safeguarding are in force at all area/field offices in all aspects of program and supply chain management among all stakeholders.
* Act as key lead in the implementation of SC High Performing Organisation Projects and SCI global breakthroughs

Partnerships
* Supervise implementation of the Partnership Strategy through the implementation teams
* Ensure the partnerships component of the Theory of change informs the country strategy and delivery approaches.
* In coordination with support from other departments, ensure that local partners have the capacity to implement Save the Children programming, and provide for their capacity development as needed

Emergency Preparedness and Response Management
* Accountable for the development of Iraq's Emergency Preparedness plan, CO's organisational readiness to respond to emergencies in line with the global SCI emergency goal and benchmarks
* Ensure that the CO designs, updates and implements a full set of emergency preparedness actions, drawing on SC member input and resources
* Mount appropriate and timely responses at scale to all emergencies consistent with established benchmarks, plans and organizational policies, and in close cooperation with incoming surge teams
* Ensure that all CO staff across departments and sub offices are familiar with, adhere to and implement the procedures and processes detailed in the Rules and Principles for emergency response
* In coordination with CD, maintain consistent and coherent engagement in key governmental and inter-agency emergency preparedness and response coordination mechanisms including the Cluster system

Awards Management
Through the Awards Team, the DPO is expected to
* Monitor portfolio of country awards and provide management information to SMT on award status, progress and risks
* Manage administration for awards including award files
* Coordinate regular Award Review meetings and monthly monitoring of award progress
* Support Budget holders in partner management including capacity building.
* Maintain reporting schedule, communicate upcoming deadlines and coordinate report preparation processes
* Supervise donor report preparation and finalisation (narrative and financial)
* Lead on donor compliance reviews and training for all staff with member support as necessary
* Liaise with member to request amendments
* Manage input and processing through AMS
* Coordinate close out partner agreement, facilitate final evaluations and audits
* Coordinate award close-out

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development
* Develop a culture and focus on quality of Programme delivery and ensure appropriate staffing, the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate
* Manage the Operations team through: effective use of the Performance Management System (Develop to Perform); regular evaluation of direct reports; provision of coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities
* Ensure that all direct reports understand and able to perform their roles.

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
Essential:

* Minimum of 7 years of senior management experience in an NGO environment.
* Significant Programme operations experience in both emergency and development contexts.
* Proven experience of NGO emergency programming with a significant knowledge of international humanitarian systems, institutions and donors, and of procedures, accountability frameworks and best practices in emergency management
* Proven experience of working in partnership with Civil Society Organizations.
* A very good understanding of at least 2 of the sectoral activities of Save the Children Iraq and a working knowledge of the other programmatic priorities of the Country Office
* Substantial experience in managing awards from major institutional donors and knowledge and use of financial and budgetary risk mitigation tools
* Master degree in development, other social sciences.
* Experience of working within a complex and matrix organisation structure
* Ability to analyse information, evaluate options and plan strategically
* Previous experience in managing, developing a team and ability to lead, motivate and develop staff and partners
* Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
* Fluency in written and spoken English
* Ability and willingness to change work practices and hours, and work with incoming teams in the event of major emergencies
* understanding and commitment to Save the Children's aims, values and principles

Desirable
* Previous experience and knowledge of Iraq or Middle East.
* Arabic language
* Knowledge of Save the Children systems and ways of working

The Organisation
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:
* No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
* All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
* Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:
Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.

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.

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

This vacancy is archived.

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