Director Program Development and Quality (PDQ) Save the Children International

JOB TITLE: Director Program Development and Quality (PDQ)

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Senior Management Team, Zambia

LOCATION: Lusaka, with regular travel to field sites

GRADE: 1

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; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:

As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) in Zambia, the Director of Program Development and Quality (PDQ) is responsible for driving cross-functional engagement in the development and delivery of the Country Strategy Plan (CSP), developing annual plans and reporting on results. S/he is responsible for ensuring development and delivery of high quality, evidence-based, innovative programs for children, in all contexts, that contribute to Save the Children’s global Breakthroughs: Learn, Survive, Be Protected. The Director of PDQ ensures that a robust monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) system is in place, that the country office engages in the collection and use of evidence and that is shared across the global organization, and that reliable data is used for decision-making. One key aspect of the role is ensuring capability building, mentoring and coaching of technical specialists in order to support program quality in line with global standards and key performance indicators. As a senior leader in the country office s/he plays a representational and strong advocacy role with the government, donors, partners, peer agencies, SC Members and others. The Director of PDQ supports strategic positioning with donors and partners and leads on project design to ensure that the country office strategy is delivered in line with child rights programming principles.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Country Director

Staff directly reporting to this post: MEAL Manager, Advocacy Communications & Campaigns Coordinator and Program Development Manager and Technical Specialists (may include education, health and nutrition, child protection, child rights governance, Public Investment in Children and other cross-cutting areas such as gender equality, advocacy, climate change)

Role Dimensions: As one of the senior staff in the Country Office, the Director of Program Development and Quality (PDQ) must demonstrate the qualities of agile leadership. S/he plays a key role in defining and pursuing the strategic direction for Save the Children’s programs in Zambia, ensuring the relevance, coherence, safety and impact of our programs for children in all contexts. This is a challenging role requiring an individual who can work with complexity and multiple tasks at one time. It is essential that she/ he builds and maintains strong relationships across functions within the CO, including with team members from Operations, Award Management, Humanitarian, and Finance, and s/he should lead by example in demonstrating this cross-functional collaboration. This role demands dedication to demonstrating outcomes for children, experience in integrated child rights programming and a highly motivated leader. S/he has specific oversight for ensuring that programs demonstrate thematic excellence in contributing to Save the Children’s three Breakthroughs for children, especially for the most deprived and marginalized: no child dies from preventable causes before their fifth birthday; all children learn from a quality basic education; and violence against children is no longer tolerated.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Strategy, Planning and Reporting (15%)
Lead the development/updating of the Child Rights Situation Analysis, including analysis of country context and taking into account child rights principles and gender issues, ensuring participation and buy-in from all relevant staff, partners and other stakeholders as necessary.

Program Design & Development (20%)
In coordination with the New Business Development and Awards Management Team, oversee the development of a country funding strategy and donor engagement plans based on funding landscape and strategic portfolio analysis, and to mobilize the resources required to deliver strategic plans and ensure our funding portfolio supports the resilience and sustainability of the country office.

Program Quality and Program Technical Excellence (20%)
Ensure the country program delivers high quality, multi-sectoral programming and advocacy in both development and humanitarian contexts (as appropriate).

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning (MEAL) and Knowledge management (20%)
Oversee a monitoring system that provides timely and accurate project results by embedding MEAL across program implementation. This requires ensuring effective collaboration across MEAL staff, Technical Specialists, Technical Advisors and program implementation teams to develop log frames, indicators, implementation plans, quality benchmarks, monitoring and evaluation frameworks and related tools.

Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications and Media (10%)
Ensure development of an advocacy strategy and annual plans linked to the CSP, with clear Campaign deliverables, for the Country Office.

Partnership (5%)

Play a leading role in identifying nurturing and strengthening strategic partnerships with local and international civil society organizations, NGOs, governments etc., in advancing the country and global strategy to inspire our three breakthroughs for the most deprived and marginalized children.

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development (10%)

Support the development of an organizational culture that reflects SC’s full spectrum mandate and values, promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a cross -team culture of learning, creativity and innovation in a productive work environment, and frees up people to deliver outstanding results for children.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree or bachelor’s Degree (master’s preferred), and experience in relevant social science (especially in Child Development or Community Development), human rights, development studies, NGO management or equivalent fields.
• A minimum of seven years of progressive senior management and/ or development experience, including experience designing and implementing programs for children.
• Experience in one or more of Save the Children’s thematic sectors: education, child protection, child rights governance, health and nutrition, child poverty, emergencies.
• Understanding of advocacy, policy, and government systems in the host country, and particular experience with child rights programming, including UNCRC.
• Strong skills and proven experience in leading strategic planning, change management and program management processes; also from the knowledge and learning perspective.
• Strong skills and proven experience in new program development, project design and proposal writing with corporate, foundations and/or institutional donors.
• Credibility to lobby, influence and represent Save the Children at all levels.
• Experience in developing and managing monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning systems.
• Excellent listening, inter-personal, communication and networking skills; proven experience and effectiveness working across functional teams and in a matrixed structure; and an ability to work with diverse populations.
• Skills in training, capability building, coaching, mentorship, problem solving, and project cycle management.
• High level of self-awareness and willingness to take feedback for growth and self-development.
• Proven experience as a team player and leader in an international organization.
• Ability to speak, read and write clearly in English.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

QUALIFIED APPLICANTS SHOULD ONLY ATTACH A COVER LETTER AND AN UPDATED CV.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday 22nd November 2023. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Save the Children reserves the right to re advertise if suitable applicants are not found.

Save the Children is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer that does not engage in any practices which discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, gender, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status and we will never ask that you pay for anything as part of the selection process or thereafter.