Save the Children seeks to recruit a humanitarian programme advisor – Bamako, Mali

Child safeguarding :

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 :

• Provide leadership and strategic direction to all programmatic aspects of Save the Children International humanitarian and emergency responses in Mali ;
• Coordinate, review and input on humanitarian assessments, reports, proposals, sector program plans, master budgets, response strategy and other key planning processes and documents ;
• Ensure countrywide humanitarian analysis, representation and coordination with humanitarian stakeholders ;
• Ensure the improvement of the country-office’s capacity to respond to emergencies throughout the country ;
• Identify, and advocate for immediate and appropriate actions to respond to specific children’s needs during humanitarian crises ;
• Ensure cross sector collaboration among technical units/sectors during humanitarian crises ;
• Ensure integration with ongoing development and transition to development programs, and identify possible durable solutions whenever possible ;
• Contribute in the development of new funding proposals for humanitarian responses ;
• Ensure that Save the Children’s commitment to improving quality and accountability in humanitarian work is upheld, and complies with all relevant policies and procedures with respect to child protection, health and safety.

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 : 1). Humanitarian preparedness and response, 2). Representation, communication & relationship building; 3).  Mentorship, and Development – Humanitarian

Reports to : Program Operations Director

Staff reporting to this post : 1

Direct : Humanitarian information officer and other if applicable

Indirect : N/A

Budget Responsibilities : Humanitarian Contingency and preparedness budgets as well as specific responses when applicable.

Role Dimensions : Save the Children works in 6 regions in Mali with a staff complement of approximately 380 and current expenditure over 25 million each year. Save the Children operates humanitarian programs (about 4 million a year) in the Northern and central Regions (Mopti, Timbuktu, Gao)  with a wide range of donors (ECHO, FFP, Danida, Save Sweden..) supporting vulnerable populations as well as host communities throughout:  Child Protection, Health and Nutrition, education in Emergency and Emergency Food Security and Livelihoods.

Key areas of accountability :

Leadership and management of humanitarian programmes :

• In collaboration with PDQ , takes overall leadership in prioritising response sectors or funding where this is limited, in line with SC Global Humanitarian Strategy, ensuring maximum integration between sectors where possible ;
• In collaboration with PDQ, take overall leadership on response fundraising, ensuring the development of high quality concept notes and proposals linked to the response strategy, and engage effectively with donors’ humanitarian advisers ;
• In collaboration with PDQ , ensure quality humanitarian programmes as per SCI and international standards and the monitoring of this through regular site visits within the response ;
• As a member of a response Senior Management Team, play a leadership role in the overall management of SC emergency responses ;
• Coordinate with the Sector Managers/Coordinators (Area managers/Health/Nut, FSL, Child Protection and EiE) to ensure programme supply strategies are in place ;
• In collaboration with PDQ, Support multi-sectoral assessments, ensuring assessment findings are documented and that all assessments include a specific analysis of children’s needs ;
• Maintain regular communications with the Emergency Response Team (ERT) at field level to identify support needs and ensure emergency projects are on track to deliver results on time and on budget ;
• Support the field project management of all emergency response programmes, including the development of work-plans, procurement and HR plans, phased budgets, budget vs actual (BvA) reviews, following-up on procurement and recruitment at Country Office level, and ensuring strong information flow & management between the Country Office and the field locations ;
• Support country programme management through maintaining an overview of the operational aspects of emergency responses across the country programme, including project progress, finances, and any project issues – act as an information focal point to brief staff and senior management before meetings ;
• Expand the programming portfolio through capacity building of field staff, development of partnerships and networks, as well as development of new funding opportunities ;
• Coordinate regular management and technical support visits to implementation sites to ensure that programming meets international standards and corresponds to work plans and budgets ;
• Work closely with other thematic areas to improve the integration of the projects and harmonize humanitarian interventions ;
• Work in closely with the Logistics, Security and Operations Teams to ensure efficient delivery and support of humanitarian programmes ;
• Flexibility to provide surge support to scale-up current programs or initial surge capacity for start-up of a new response; provide assistance in launching rapid assessment, overseeing data collection, write up of needs assessments, work-planning, communication.

Humanitarian preparedness and response :

• In collaboration with PDQ, lead the development, review and update of the country programme’s Humanitarian Response Strategy, Emergency Preparedness Plan and Contingency Plans and liaise closely with the Save the Children Humanitarian Team ;
• Make clear recommendations based on the Mali Response Strategy re: proposed program content, staffing, management and administration arrangements and budget with clear indications of funding and technical support resources ;
• To ensure a short-term funding strategy is in place to resource the delivery of the humanitarian response strategy ;
• In collaboration with the Director of Programme Operations, ensure that the country-office has the capacity to respond to emergencies throughout the country ;
• Carry out emergency preparedness and contingency planning update workshops, support the country office in rolling out the EPP in the different field offices, implement on key emergency preparedness activities ;
• Follow up with the country logistics team to ensure the contingency stock strategy is up to date and in effect, with adequate resources, for the country programme ;
• Act as budget holder for any grants relating to preparedness or contingency planning ;
• Continually monitor the situation situation for changes or spikes in the context and work with stakeholders to identify emergency needs and coordinate necessary intervention (factoring in existing resources).and ensure revisions to humanitarian response strategy where necessary ;
• Activate country Emergency Response Team as necessary ;
• Ensure rapid humanitarian multi-sectoral integrated assessments are undertaken as necessary to continue to inform the implementation of the humanitarian response strategy ;
• Ensure that SMT is well informed on issues related to humanitarian response and humanitarian risk management pertaining to all areas of operations.

Monitoring and reporting :

• Ensure that programme objectives and activities are agreed upon within the context of Save the Children International values, aims and objectives ;
• Ensure production and timely dissemination of high quality, analytical reports, supply of regular situation reports, and collection, analysis and dissemination of relevant information and data relevant to the response ;
• Evaluate, monitor and review to ensure strict compliance of programme activities with Save the Children national and global policies and procedures and with relevant donor regulations and agreements, SPHERE guidelines and the NGO code of conduct.

Representation, communication & relationship building :

• Represent Save the Children on national forums, workshops and meetings regarding humanitarian issues ;
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with key national partners and coordinate with other INGOs with humanitarian capacity, including government and UN colleagues ;
• Ensure effective representation of Save the Children’s humanitarian response to local authorities, donors, working groups, clusters, task forces, and other members of the humanitarian community ;
• Provide regular communication and updates between CO, regional backstops, in country donors and Members (incl. new funding opportunities and program progress) ;
• When agreed with relevant stakeholder, take forward advocacy issues ;
• Work with SCI comms and media teams to ensure messaging is consistent, coordinated adheres to technical guidelines and supports the response strategy and identified needs.

Mentorship, and Development – Humanitarian :

• In collaboration with the Director of Programme Operations and Director of HR/Admin, establish the Emergency Response Team and field level humanitarian focal points, including developing ToRs ;
• In collaboration with the Director of HR/Admin put in place a data base of available resources for immediate recruitment, and a clear system of internal deployments to support emergency responses ;
• Coordinate with SCI Global Roster Manager and HTWG to identify and deploy requested international technical staff for response.If there is nobody available from the Global Roster, external rosters will be used ;
• Support country programme on international recruitment for longer-term technical posts in response team as required ;
• Identify, and where applicable provide, learning and training opportunities for Save the Children staff and partners to build the capacity of the humanitarian staff members and to build a culture of emergency response (e.g. ERT capacity building activities) ;
• Manage the performance ofstaff under its supervision through :
  1. Effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measureable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations ;
  2. Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities ;
  3. Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance.
• Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/ work plan.

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 :

Education :

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required, Masters degree preferred

Experience and skills :

Essential :

Experiences :

• Recommended minimum of 5 years’ experience in humanitarian programme management, preparedness and response in several fragile or complex contexts ;
• Extensive on the ground experience in multi-sectoral complex humanitarian response, including , Health & nutrition, Emergency Food security, EiE andchild protection ;
• Experience of managing multi-donor, multi-site programmes (including ECHO, DANIDA,and OFDA) ;
• Demonstrated experience of working in insecure environments ;
• Experience of working with partners and a participatory approach.

Knowledge and Skills :

• Understanding of international humanitarian aid systems and agencies ;
• Knowledge of humanitarian response and transitional program concepts, policies, frameworks, strategies and components, as well as development concepts and frameworks ;
• Solid budgeting skills and knowledge of key donor regulations ;
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching ;
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures ;
• Strong relationship building, influencing, negotiating & interpersonal skills, with the ability to liaise with key stakeholders on child rights issues ;
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances ;
• Fluency in English and French, both verbal and written ;
• Commitment to Save the Children’s practices and procedures and ways of working with children ;
• Commitment to Save the Children values.

Desirable :

• Experience or knowledge of working in Mali ;
• Experience of working with Save the Children ;
• Experience of Health and nutrition, Education and Child Protection in Emergencies programming.

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.

Dossiers a fournir :

Les dossiers de candidatures doivent comporter :

• Un CV détaillé mis à jour ;
• Une lettre de motivation mentionnant le titre du poste ;
• Les copies certifiées des diplômes et attestations de travail ;
• Un casier judiciaire en cours de validité (n’est obligatoire qu’une fois retenu au poste) ;
• Les références d’au moins deux précédents employeurs, de préférence des superviseurs directs.

Les dossiers de candidature doivent être envoyés au plus tard le 03/01/2019 à 17H00 précises uniquement via l’adresse électronique suivante : mali.recruitment@savethechildren.org

NB : Seuls les candidat(e)s présélectionné(e)s seront convoqué(e)s pour les interviews.

Les dossiers de candidature ne seront pas retournés.

FR : IL est porté à la connaissance des candidats que Save the Children International ne demande aucun paiement, ni frais durant tout le processus de recrutement. Toute demande allant dans ce sens doit être immédiatement signalée car contraire aux valeurs et pratiques de notre organisation.

EN : Applicants are advised that Save the Children International does not require any payment or expense during the entire recruitment process. Any request in this direction should be immediately reported.