Deputy Project Director – Operations, DOS/ Zambia Bilateral Anti-Trafficking Program Save the Children International

JOB TITLE: Deputy Project Director – Operations, DOS/ Zambia Bilateral Anti-Trafficking Program

This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Senior Management Team, Zambia

LOCATION: Lusaka, with regular travel to field sites

GRADE: 2

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3:  the role 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 in country programs; or are visiting country programs; ore because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:

Save the Children is currently recruiting for an upcoming U.S. Department of State Child Protection Compact (CPC) partnership opportunity focused on advancing and strengthening efforts of the Government of Zambia and civil society organizations to combat human trafficking in a victim-centered, coordinated, sustainable, and multi-sectoral approach to support an effective system of justice, prevention, and protection. The purpose of this project is to strengthen the efforts of Zambia’s government and civil society organizations to prevent human trafficking; proactively identify, protect, and provide comprehensive, trauma-informed care for victims of trafficking; effectively investigate, prosecute, and convict perpetrators of human trafficking; and create an enabling environment to promote effective collaboration and partnerships to address human trafficking. This partnership will encompass all forms of human trafficking and will target both adult and child victims. This program will be modeled after the successful Child Protection Compact (CPC) partnerships and expanded to comprehensively address trafficking of adults. This multi-year partnership will implement a victim-centered prevention strategy that addresses targeted risk factors, promotes high-quality comprehensive victim protection, and investigates, prosecutes, and convicts perpetrators of human trafficking. The goal of the Zambia Partnership and program is to support the Government of Zambia in combatting forced human trafficking in a coordinated and proactive manner following the broad objectives of: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnership.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Project Director

Role Dimensions: The Deputy Project Director (Operations) will primarily be responsible for the oversight and overall delivery of a high-quality project focused on addressing human trafficking in Zambia. The Deputy Project Director (Operations) will work in close collaboration with the Country Director, a team of Save the Children staff, and Zambia. This role manages the implementation of project activities and ensures efficient operational support for the project team. Specifically, this person is a key part of the senior management team and oversees high-level HR duties, such as setting training standards and hiring procedures.

The Deputy Project Director (Operations) will assist the Project Director to lead project staff,  consortium partners, and work closely with the Zambia government’s Ministry of   Labor and Social Security; Ministry of Community Development and Social Services; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Home Affairs, National Prosecution Authority , Child Labor Observation and Monitoring System of Zambia, The National Monitoring Committee for Actions to Combat Trafficking, Exploitation and Child Labor (CNS), Anti-Trafficking actors, the civil society, and other relevant ministries and inter-ministerial committees to oversee the activities delivered under this project.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Operations Leadership (40%)

• Provide overall operations leadership of the project to ensure the quality of project interventions.
• Develop and maintain excellent relationships between consortium partners, wider civil society, international community, and government agencies and networks working on child protection, general protection and CTIP in close collaboration with the Zambia project team.
• Work closely with the Zambia government to ensure strong integrated programing, support broader anti-trafficking strategies, and mitigate duplicative efforts.
• Establish and implement an effective governance structure for the project that ensures government leadership, buy-in, harmonization, and sustainability.
• Contribute to the development, review, and revision of the project strategy.

Donor Compliance and Operations (20%)

• Serve as the project’s primary point of contact with the U.S. Department of State with regards to overall project implementation and management matters relating to the grant/cooperative agreement.
• Monitor programmatic, financial, and administrative performance of the project, supervising and ensuring that standard project administrative and financial procedures are followed.
• Ensure proper project management by ensuring that all planned expenditures are on track in strict compliance with the agreed budget lines and USAID’s and Save The Children’s financial regulations.
• Ensure that KPI’s for project operations are met and work closely with other functions to achieve project milestones.
• Ensure that reports for donors, the Government of Zambia, and Save the Children are prepared as required, ensuring these are of highest quality and submitted in a timely manner to the donor.
• Work with the project leadership team to ensure that consortium partners are provided with adequate support and that project plans are achieved.
• Ensure compliance to U.S. Federal Awardee controls and Department of State rules and regulations.
• Ensure that all project activities are aligned and implemented according to Save the Children guidelines.

Staff Leadership and Management (20%)

• Manage and supervise the work of all field staff, long-term staff, short-term staff, consortium partners, and/or sub-partners, as proposed.
• Work with the HR Department to ensure appropriate staffing for the project and planning and implementing strategies to recruit, manage and motivate staff.
• Ensure appropriate gender and ethnic diversity within the project team.
  Ensure compliance with staff development strategies and support Performance Management systems and evaluations.
• Establish and maintain a culture of teamwork, participation, and accountability for Save the Children program excellence.
• Put in place appropriate management systems, including regular team and individual meetings, mechanisms for cross department coordination and collaboration, and norms and practices that are result driven.
• Coordinate closely with the SC offices (in Zambia, as well as at the regional and global levels) and partners in operational, administrative, and HR matters, especially regarding project operations and financial matters.

Communications (10%)

• Ensure smooth and effective internal and external communications and coordination of project activities.
• Fully inform Save the Children’s home and field office on all matters relating to the project and maintain appropriate links with partner organizations.
• Lead the development and implementation of the project’s communication and knowledge sharing strategy.
• Ensure strong and consistent internal communication with partners that meets their needs for policies, compliance, knowledge, and information sharing.
• Ensure the production of high-quality communications materials including websites, bulletins, social media, fact sheets, and brochures including photos and videos.
• Work closely with the communications contact in the country office.

Representation (10%)

• Represent Save the Children in child protection committees, anti-trafficking working groups, and other relevant national networks.
• Establish, maintain, and improve active and regular working relationships to represent the principles and work of Save the Children to representatives of other organizations (UN System, NGOs, INGOs, counterparts, donors, government authorities).
• Engage closely with external actors within the region and in the country office.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in accounting, business administration/ related field or bachelor’s degree plus 12 years of professional experience.
• Minimum of five years of experience in managing operations, administration, logistics, finance and/or HR with strong skills in strategic planning, management, supervision, and budgeting along with holding a leadership position (Deputy Team Leader, Technical Director, Deputy Chief of Party, etc.) in a program of similar complexity and size (or a bachelor’s plus ten years Relevant Experience).
• Experience managing U.S. Government-supported projects and activities (USAID, Department of State, DOL, etc.).
• Past operational experience in any of the following areas: counter trafficking in persons, labor rights, private sector partnerships, rule of law, advocacy, and/or capacity strengthening of government ministries working on human trafficking.
• Excellent management, communication, and negotiation skills demonstrating the ability to lead and build consensus, cooperation, and coalitions among individuals, civil society groups, private sector, and government officials.
• Proven experience developing effective working relationships with government ministries, international organizations, donors, academics, and community based and grass roots organizations.
• Demonstrated senior management experience on USAID projects including familiarity with the donor’s project management, reporting procedures and systems.
• Experience working in Zambia, or the South Africa region is strongly preferred.
• Experience with gender equality and/or social inclusion is preferred.
  Commitment to Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding, global policies, and to Save the Children values.
• Practical knowledge of current thematic issues and debates regarding child protection in developing countries and of the major institutional donors.
• Fluency in English is required.