Area Director, Eastern Ukraine

ROLE PURPOSE: The Area Director will oversee all SCI programming in Eastern Ukraine. The portfolio of the area office is between 20 – 30 mill USD. The implementation covers 4 Oblasts (Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk) with the main office in Dnipro and a sub-Office in Kharkiv city. He/she will be responsible for all implementation (direct and through partners) and ensure SCI is offering comprehensive humanitarian program that takes into consideration the needs of children and communities in areas affected by the conflict. The Area Director will report into the Deputy Country Director for Operations, and manage a large of team of humanitarian professions across all sectors and program support areas dedicated to the area office.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

• Reports to: Deputy country Director of Programme Operations
• Dimensions: Save the Children works throughout Ukraine with area offices in East, Northern, Southern and Western Ukraine, as well as a smaller presence in the Occupied Territories. The area offices are overseeing all partner and direct implementation in their area.
• Number of direct reports: approx. 11 (indirect reports 120+ staff members)

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Programme Management

• Manage all programmes in the respective area, oversight of project implementation plans, assess progress of implementation of activities against plans on monthly basis, and document the progress and action corrective measures as and when required. Take the lead in demonstrating practices for quality program implementation.
• Track budget spending and support the preparation of financial reports and the award review process
• Ensure that all projects have clear indicators aligned with Save the Children global standards, useful and accurate baseline data and staff friendly reporting formats.
• Ensure donor reporting, evaluation (including impact evaluation), and documentation.
• Ensure that country strategy and the annual country plans are implemented and reviewed in line with the regional and global strategies.
• Maintain clear overview of the security, political and legal context.
• Ensure appropriate participation of staff in program management and decision making and raise necessary issues at Senior Management Team meetings held at central level.
• Represent Save the Children in inter agencies meetings and at Governorate level meetings with government officials.
• Play a key role in partners’ capacity assessment and development for building national civil society.

Office/Staff Management

• Manage, mentor and motivate the staff in the field to undertake their roles and responsibilities effectively
• In close coordination with Director Programme Operation and all operations staff, optimally manage the field offices, guest houses, vehicles and other assets including adherence of staff to Save the Children policies and guidelines.
• Ensure all staff in the area of operations adheres to the safety & security guidelines.
• Guide the Human Resources team to develop, maintain and implement the Human Resources strategy.
• Follow Save the Children standards and procedures in terms of supervision, recruitment and evaluation of staff under his/her supervision.
• Support Save the Children visitors to the Akkar Area office and programmes.

Program Design and Development

• Ensure that programs are designed and implemented in a comprehensive manner while aligning to Save the Children national, regional and global priorities.
• In close coordination with Project Managers, Technical Advisors and Programme Development & Quality (PDQ) Director improve the quality of programming that shows impact on the situation of children.
• Help respond to opportunities to expand programmes/impact. Help draft/develop concept papers and proposals with staff, Programme Managers, and other Technical Advisors as requested.
• Help staff build on synergies and integration among all projects.
• Support the development/evolution of existing programmes, with the aim of ensuring that staff has the capacity to support others (local partners and government counterparts) in the implementation of quality programmes that show impact.
• Support staff in the preparation and implementation of advocacy plans as related to their programmes.
• Support and represent Save the Children in coordination, programme learning and capacity building vis-a-vis national policy/advocacy and strategy planning initiatives as requested by supervisor.
• Representation, Advocacy and Coordination.
• Participate in local based coordination with governmental organizations, NGOs and partners.

Staff Management, Mentorship and Development

• Ensure appropriate staffing within the team.
• Ensure that all team staff understand and are able to perform their roles in humanitarian programmes.
• Manage team, define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly.
• Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff.
• Incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process. Establish result based system and follow up.
• Actively develop staff under the Area Manager’s line management, including carrying out succession planning for national staff into positions which are currently international
• Manage the performance of all staff in the team through effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measureable objectives, on-going feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations.
• Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities.
• Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance.
• Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/ work plans.

Representation:

• Represent Save the Children to donors, and local authorities across the area of operation
• Maintain close coordination with peer agencies and UN

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• At least 8 years/substantial experience working with a humanitarian/ development organisation, including at least 5 years of senior management experience.
• University degree in related academic discipline or equivalent work experience.
• Skills and experience in project/programme implementation, monitoring, review and evaluation preferably from a child rights approach in accordance with the Child Rights Convention and international humanitarian rights standards.
• Substantial people and programme management experience with good interpersonal skills and ability to communicate at all levels.
• Solid experience in grant management, including budget holding and donor reporting.
• Substantial understanding or proven experience of security management issues.
• Ability to produce high quality reports in English.
• Representational, political awareness and advocacy skills.
• Ability to work with limited supervision from line manager.
• Experience of working with partners and a participatory approach.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and computer literate.
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles.

Desirable

• Schengen visa