Save the Children  recruits a Head of Programmes – Nutrition – (200002Y9)

TITLE: Head of Programmes – Nutrition (for Myanmar National only)

Role purpose:

The Head of Programme (HoP) Nutrition provides technical and managerial oversight, builds the capacity of the sector implementation team, engages in sector and cross-departmental coordination, promotes innovation, and is responsible for technical excellence as well as budgetary and programmatic oversight of the sector portfolio.

The HoP works in close coordination with relevant SEID, Technical Advisors, including Nutrition, Child Poverty (food security and livelihoods), and Health on sector strategy, programme development, identification and design of technical assistance to projects and partners and proposal development. The HoP also works in close collaboration with the Communications and Advocacy Manager to pursue national nutrition-related advocacy objectives. The post holder ensures that all project reports and publications, including Save the Children Member and donor reports, are prepared to a high quality and submitted on time in line with agreed-upon deadlines.  

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 Programme Implementation

Staff reporting to this post: LEARN Program Manager, SUN CSA Nutrition Advocacy Advisor, Program Managers in Rakhine (OFDA and BMZ), MEAL officer (Nutrition).

Budget Responsibilities: US$2 million per year

Financial Approval: Budget Allocation on General Funds over 10 000 USD

Role Dimensions: (e.g. complexity, relationships, communication with stakeholders)

Interpersonal contact regular and varied in both oral and written. Negotiation and representation with senior level representatives including government level decision makers, donors, wider SC community

Key areas of accountability : 

Team Management and Development 

  • Directly manage sector Programme Managers who are based in Yangon
  • Provide nutrition technical support to other Project and Programme Managers based in field offices
  • Lead and manage the Nutrition sector team in the Program Implementation Department, ensure the recruitment, training and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities.
  • Ensure effective collaboration and coordination between Nutrition Programme and Project Manager(s), and operational managers in the field and react quickly and decisively to bring any internal team challenges and problems to a swift and satisfactory resolution
  • Ensure that the sector team proactively builds and maintains technical skills and competencies required for leading and developing first class programmes in collaboration with SEID, Thematic Advisors and Regional/Member TA, where applicable
  • Ensure the effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measureable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations
  • Ensure the documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, develop appropriate performance improvements/ work plans and take appropriate performance management actions in line with country programme/SCI policy.

 

Leadership and Representation

  • Cultivate positive, collaborative relationships with a range of stakeholders for advocacy (including campaign) and program purposes, including: international and national NGOs, UN agencies, donors and government and ministries and mobilize their support for effective implementation and wider sector programming
  • Develop and maintain positive, collaborative relationships with relevant government Ministries and Departments
  • Proactively engage in national food and nutrition security policy fora and activities, including the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Multi Stakeholder Platform, the SBCC National Task Force, and the Nutrition Cluster, or other relevant networks. Coordinate with the Sector Lead and Senior Technical Nutrition & Health Advisor to ensure adequate representation by SCI in these fora.
  • Ensure coordination, communication and liaison with key stakeholders including: relevant Ministries (most notably the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, the Ministry of Health and Sports, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation), UN agencies (UNICEF, WFP and FAO, among others), international and national NGOs and other relevant civil society organisations
  • Ensure the implementation of a high quality Nutrition programme through integration, expansion and growth of existing projects and strengthening links across sectors and in coordination with relevant extermal stakeholders
  • Represent Save the Children at national and international events and proactively explore opportunities to engage in advocacy work to change policies and practices for wider and lasting impact on the lives of children in Myanmar
  • Promote and support cohesion between the SCI Every Last Child Campaign and SCI program and advocacy priorities

Programme Growth and Learning

  • Ensure project learning informs programme strategies and implementation and contributes to advocacy actions and initiatives
  • Ensure that projects are aligned with SCI and Government strategies and plans.
  • Supports the SEID and Thematic Advisors in the development of key documents within the SCI M&E system (Country Annual Plan, Country Strategy Paper, Total Reach,  Advocacy Measurement Tool and Country Annual Report)
  • Ensure that projects have detailed M&E plans, linked to the programme wide MEAL system and that project knowledge and learning feeds into project and programme designs
  • In coordination with SEID and Thematic Advisors and other Heads of Programmes and, establish and participate in cross departmental teams in developing high quality proposals.
  • Maintain links with relevant SCI regional and SC Member Advisors and contribute to regional and global information sharing and learning
  • Ensure that project reports and publications are of a high quality and produced on time in line with agreed deadlines
  • Maintain and overview of long and short term emergency risks and hazards in Myanmar and support emergency preparedness planning

 

Project Delivery and Quality 

  • Ensure that Programme and Project Manager(s) and their teams implement projects in line with project plans and work with Project Managers and their teams to  innovate and be responsive to changing internal and external factors
  • Maintain an overview of project and sector budgets and ensure that Programme and Project Manager(s) develop timely solutions to project’s under and over spends in line with SC Member and donor requirements
  • Ensure teams’ access adequate technical support from Thematic Advisors and/or Regional and Member TA, where relevant, to deliver high quality projects and support the establishment of innovative and collaborative working approaches to ensure continual learning and programme and operational improvement.
  • Support field teams in identifying and supporting civil society partners including: partner assessments/risk analysis, capacity building, planning and technical support
  • Provide technical input and support to staff developing and implementing emergency response programmes

Child Safeguarding Responsibilities:

Ensure that your staff is providing all beneficiaries of your programme with ongoing, age-appropriate verbal or written information in relevant languages about Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct.

Qualifications : 

  • Master’s Degree in a nutrition-related field desired.
  • At least 8 years’ experience in integrated nutrition development programming and policy-advocacy
  • A minimum of 3 years of management experience.
  • An in-depth understanding of national and international development issues related to nutrition

Experience and skills 

Essential

  • Work experience in and deep understanding of the regional context
  • Excellent personal coordination and organisational skills, including time management, and ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure
  • Ability to negotiate among diverse and complex internal and external actors and stakeholders
  • Results focused and ability to develop and drive innovative programmatic and operational  solutions
  • Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation developing effective working relationships to deliver outstanding results for children
  • Ability to analyse information, evaluate options and think and plan strategically
  • Willingness to travel to field offices and work in difficult environments according to travel requirements
  • Demonstrated experience building a strong and effective team including members of diverse technical areas, skill levels and backgrounds
  • Excellent English communication skills, with written and verbal fluency
  • Excellent people management skills/experience and proven ability to create an environment which encourages team-work and motivates a team across various geographical areas
  • Proven experience in effective programme planning and strategic management, monitoring and evaluation, project development  and report writing
  • Experience managing complex, cross-sectoral programmes
  • Experience and demonstrated strong knowledge of effective financial and budgetary control and of managing large grants
  • Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles.
  • Willingness and capability to comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures with respect to health and safety, security, equal opportunities and other relevant policies, including the Child Safeguarding Policy

 

Desireable

Experience working in Myanmar or the Asia Region

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

Apply here