Head of Najahona Programme Management Unit

The OrgAnization

Plan Denmark and Plan International Jordan have been contracted by the Novo Nordisk Foundation to implement a 5 Year program (2022-2026) called “Najahna” focused on youth economic empowerment in Jordan. The action will aim to complement JRP’s top priority, which is to strengthen systems to protect the dignity and welfare of Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians impacted by the Syrian crisis. By doing this, the project will support Jordan’s enduring commitment to continue to build an integrated multi-year framework to respond to the Syrian crisis in a transparent, collaborative, and sustainable manner in line with the Global Compact on Refugees framework.

Plan International is an independent child rights and humanitarian organisation committed to children living a life free of poverty, violence and injustice. Plan actively unite children, communities and other people who share our mission to make positive lasting changes in children’s and young people’s lives. Plan support children to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. Plan place a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind. Plan have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years and are now active in more than 70 countries. Plan Denmark and Plan International Jordan are both part of Plan International. Plan Denmark works with Plan Country Offices in more than 77 countries to ensure that children, adolescents and young people are safe and influence decision making in resilient communities that respect their rights and offer equal opportunities for all regardless of gender. Plan International Jordan was established in 2016 and works to improve the resilience of vulnerable Syrian refugees and Jordanians in both Azraq refugee camp as well as in host communities.

role PURPOSE

Plan International Jordan is seeking an experienced Head of Programme Management Unit to provide leadership and overall management of the Najahna program in close coordination with Plan Denmark, Plan International Jordan and program partners. Plan International Jordan is seeking a highly professional individual with demonstrated knowledge and proven experience in the management of large scale and complex humanitarian programs in the education, livelihoods and protection sectors.

The PROGRAM

Going on its eleventh year, and with 6.6 million refugees worldwide, the Syrian displacement crisis is the largest the world has seen in decades. Of those, 5.6 million are hosted in Syria’s neighbouring countries. The Kingdom of Jordan, being one of the most affected countries by the Syrian crisis hosts over 1.36 million refugees. Syrian refugees and conflict affected youth in Jordan confront many challenges, including poverty, limited access to quality formal and non-formal education, high unemployment rates and barriers to economic opportunities. In addition, the youth often experience an exacerbation of harmful social norms, attitudes and behaviours in their communities that prevent adolescent girls and young women from achieving their full potential. The Najahna program aims to empower 48,000 young Syrian refugees and other conflict-affected youth in Jordan, especially adolescent girls, and young women, to become economic, social viable actors in an inclusive, healthy protective and gender responsive environment. The three interlinked program objectives are focused on working with Education, Economic Empowerment, and an Enabling Environment respectively, and provide a gender-transformative frame for a holistic approach to a complex problem. Against this background, the program targets different barriers that young people face from the systems level, with a weak educational system and a restrictive legal and policy environment for refugees, to the societal level characterized by harmful social norms, practices and traditions that stand in the way of young women’s economic empowerment, and finally, to the skills and capacities that young people need at an individual level.

The Najahna program will be led by Plan Denmark and Plan International Jordan in collaboration with four consortium partners; The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), The Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS), Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and The Confederation of Danish Industries (DI). The consortium partners bring an exceptional combination of experience, capacity and presence built on many years working with refugees and conflict-affected youth in ensuring access to Education, Youth Economic Empowerment, Health/Protection mainstreaming, gender and gender transformative approaches in various countries around the world as well as in Jordan.. ODI and local partner “Information & Research Center King Hussein Foundation (IRCKHF)”will ensure that learning and research are integrated and inform program design and adaptation throughout the program duration.

Dimensions of the Role

The Head of Najahna Programme Management Unit will be based in Amman with frequent travel to project locations inside Jordan. He/ she reports directly to the Plan International Jordan Country Director and refers to the Plan Denmark Programme Manager and supervises the technical specialists, Policy and Advocacy advisors as well as financial management staff that make up the Programme Management Unit. The Head of Najahona Programme Management Unit is responsible for providing direction, management and strategic vision for the implementation of the program and coordinates closely with the five implementing partners. He/she will coordinate staff, resources and partnerships to ensure that the program achieves objectives and deliverables on time and within budget, and that results, lessons and challenges are reported to Plan International Jordan and Plan Denmark. Finally, He/she will represent the program to program and government partners as well as other stakeholders in Jordan.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Implementation:

• Lead the implementation of the Najahna Program and coordination amongst all partners in accordance with the objectives, activities and targets outlined within the proposal and in line with project’s budget.
• Oversee program start-up and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations.
• Oversees overall budget and monitor expenses for the program
• Forecasts and follows up on expenditures related to the project and participates in budget revision exercises with all partners .
• Field monitoring visits to Plan’s and partners’ activities.
• Submit periodic internal project activity updates (activity and budget follow up) to Plan International Jordan Country Director and Plan Denmark Programme Manager and regular meetings with the Plan Denmark Programme Manager and Plan International Jordan Country Director.
• Lead the work planning process with partners and coordinate between partners to ensure complementary activities and sequencing among activities and between projects
• Frequently revise the work plan ensuring proper sequencing of activities and timelines match donor and other project commitments
• Lead the recruitment of Programme Management Unit staff in collaboration with Plan Denmark and Plan International Jordan
• Develop and manage an indicator tracking tool for the project and lead the finalization of the log frame
• In collaboration with the technical leads of all partners, ensuring that the activities are synergized, organized and managed optimally while at the same time operated in compliance with donor requirements and relevant guidelines.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established criteria.
• Ensure that learning and research informs program adaptation and that learnings are shared amongst partners
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Plan’s policies and procedures.
• Fulfil Plan International’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Plan International’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
• Represent the program towards program and government partners as well as other stakeholders in Jordan.

Coordination and Communication

• Leads overall coordination, involving all partners in the consortium to ensure adequate implementation of the project;
• Coordinates with other Plan International sectors ( Thematic Areas ) to ensure implementation of standardized and quality activities.
• Chairs the project’s Strategic Review Group that incorporates program experts and operational management focal points of each partner, is responsible for annual planning, coherence and synergy.
• Works in close collaboration and consultation with available government structures, non-government actors, cluster system and community representatives.
• Coordinate with other departments (program and support) as necessary.
• Represents the members of the consortium (if needed), in platforms and meetings held at community and national level.
• Develops a network to facilitate the project acceptance and stake holder’s contribution and ownership
• Provides compiled reports to the Country representative and national office, including relevant context update and analysis.
• Maintain positive and productive relationships with partners and support to complete their responsibilities in compliance with donor rules and regulations.
• Work closely with partners to elaborate and harmonize tools, SOP, guidelines and conceptual frameworks to guide the implementation.
• Undertake all other duties that may be determined by the line manager from the national office and the Country Director and that are compatible with the job.

Technical capacity building

• In collaboration with the Partners project managers and technical team of all partners, participates in designing strategies and objectives for improved support to beneficiaries and contribute actively in its monitoring, evaluation and revision.
• Ensure quality technical inputs into the design and delivery of the program activities including field implementation.

Team Management

• Recruit and develop the capacity of the Programme Management Unit team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Orient and lead team members as necessary.

Strategy

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.
• Provide a strategic vision in all aspects of the program implementation, development and management. Ensure that program implementation is adapted to communities and partners, guided by a resilience approach and strong adaptive management, and aligned with the principles, values ​​and strategic plan of Plan International organization.
• Determine and implement a strategic plan for the implementation of program activities.

Child protection, gender equality and inclusion

• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan

Key relationships

• This position will report to the Plan International Jordan Country Director and refer to the Plan Denmark Programme Manager
• The Head of Najahna Programme Management Unit will work closely with the consortium partners and will follow up with the focal points for each partner.
• The Head of Najahna Programme Management Unit will coordinate and work with different departments inside plan Jordan to make sure the project is implemented according to the plan and Donor’s regulations and procedures.
• The Head of Najahna Programme Management Unit will be responsible for government engagement and for representing the program to external stakeholders in Jordan.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

• Masters or equivalent experience in development studies, international relations, non-profit management, Education, Protection , economic recovery and development or any other relevant field.
• 7 to 10 years of relevant development experience – ideally in the areas of livelihoods, employment, and/or youth economic development.
• At least five years Program management experience with integrated multi-sector programs of similar size and scope.
• Experience in managing a consortium
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations and partners.
• Experience managing complex requirements for programmatic and financial reporting.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Arabic and English required .
• Knowledge of different donors , International and national organizations’ standards and other training in humanitarian response preferred.
• Knowledge of business and income generating activities in the context of Jordan with clear understanding of related legal and policies frameworks.
• Previous experience in team leading and implementing through partners’ projects.
• Experience in management of large scale budgets
• Experience of working with partners.
• Ability to communicate and maintain appropriate and productive relations with a range of actors, including youth , parents, local and national authorities.

Additional Requirements

• Ability and experience in working in cross-cultural contexts
• Experience in team capacity building as well as strong coaching skills
• Ability to work manage situations under pressure. Multitasking, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
• We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
• We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

Physical Environment

It is an Office-based environment, the office is located at Plan Jordan (Amman). The team consists of a separate unit within Plan Jordan Office

Level of contact with children

Low contact: No contact or very low frequency of interaction

ROLE PROFILE

Type of Role: Fixed-term Job

Contract Duration: 1 year

Reports to: Plan International Jordan Country Director

Location: Amman, Jordan

Grade: 17

Closing Date: 27 June 2024