Head of Technical and Quality Unit (Maternity cover)

The orgnization

Plan International is an independent child rights and humanitarian organisation committed to ensuring children live a life free of poverty, violence and injustice. We actively unite children, communities and other people who share our mission to make positive lasting changes in children’s and young people’s lives. We support children in gaining the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. We place a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries. Plan International Jordan was established in 2016 and has programmes throughout the country on education, youth empowerment, and protection (CP, GBV, SRHR) in (Amman, Karak, Jarash, and Azraq camp). Plan’s Global Gender Equality and Inclusion policy states that the core objectives of Plan International’s work are to achieve gender equality, promoting gender justice, realizing girls’ rights and fostering an inclusive society. This commitment is reflected in our five-year country strategy, our Values and Behaviors Framework, and our Theory of Change.

We aim to:

• confront and challenge discrimination and human rights violations based on gender. This includes gender-based violence and other forms of exclusion.
• challenge stereotypes and unequal power relations between women, men, boys, and girls to promote gender equality, girls’ rights, and inclusion.
• foster an organizational culture that embraces and exemplifies our commitment to gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion, while supporting staff to adopt good practices, positive attitudes and the principles of gender equality and inclusion.

role PURPOSE

Plan International Jordan is seeking an experienced Head of Technical and Quality Unit with an ability to to provide leadership to the program thematic development and quality assurance within an organization, with a focus on protection and/or girls rights programming, in support to the Plan International’s development and Syria crisis programmes in Jordan. The Head of Technical and Quality Unit will be responsible to ensure the effectiveness and quality of the education, child protection, ECCD, education and YEE programmes implemented by national and local partners and promote integration with other sector interventions including the linkages with the monitoring , evaluation, research and learning component.

Dimensions of the Role

He/She will lead the technical support provided through proposal development, programme design and implementation. She/he will also be responsible to ensure quality of all programs and projects implemented by the Office. The post holder will oversee the work of the technical specialists as well as the MERL team.

Accountabilities

1. Country Office Strategy Development and Technical Programming:

• Provides leadership in strategy formulation, implementation planning, execution, and monitoring to ensure alignment with global Plan international guidance, regional strategy, country context, priorities and requirements of donors and other Plan International frameworks.
• Develop and review technically sound sector approaches and strategies that will enable the PIJO to respond to humanitarian emergency and sustainable development needs of the operational areas of Plan International.
• Leads Technical specialists in the development and implementation of technical approaches including; the Gender/SRHR, CP & GBV, YEE, ECD, and Education

1. Programme Design:

• Lead on proposal drafting and submission with relevant regional and NO staff including; identifying priority areas of intervention, identification of potential partnerships, and ensuring timely and quality submission to donors.
• Lead rapid and detailed education/ child protection/ ECCD/ and livelihood assessments in new target areas; determine priorities and immediate activities and required resources.
• In close collaboration with the regional specialists, define objectives and key outcomes of Plan International’s overall programmatic response in Jordan in line with national strategies.
• Develop an evidence-based programms plan including programmatic, research and advocacy priorities, closely linked to other sector programmes.
• Ensure that programmes are in line with global and international Minimum Standards; such as the MS for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, INEE, and gender- and conflict-sensitive.

1. Quality Management and Implementation:

• Ensure that a robust monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) system is in place, and that the country office engages in the collection and use of evidence and that this is shared across the global organization, and that reliable data is used for decision-making.
• One key aspect of the department is ensuring continuous positive engagement of its technical specialists including (Education, CP GBV, Livelihoods, and ECCD specialists) with the project teams in a view to; support program quality in line with global standards and key performance indicators, informing the future project’s design and delivery, and set up joint action plans for common vision of success.
• Work closely with Plan International Jordan’s implementing partners to ensure that activities are implemented in a coordinated and phased manner, in accordance with Plan International’s approachs, best practices and policy.
• Coordinate with the technical team to provide technical guidance and direction including ongoing training, coaching and mentoring to Plan International Jordan’s and partners’ staff members to ensure quality programming in compliance with Plan International’s quality standards and policies.
• Ensure that quality data collection and information management systems are in place for appropriate programme analysis, planning, evaluation, and advocacy.
• Ensure regular communication with programme managers and project coordinators to integrate appropriate technical input and priorities in program design implementation.
• Coordinate with the technical team to undertake regular field monitoring visits to assess progress and identify technical quality issues and/or other implementation issues, provide solutions and implement modifications as required.

1. Coordination and Communication:

• Support strategic positioning with donors and partners and leads on project design to ensure that the country office strategy can be delivered in line with Plan International Quality Programming Principles.
• Provide updates and reports on ongoing activities and strategies to Plan International’s regional team, Head Office, relevant National Offices and donors;
• Build and maintain relationships with relevant ministries (incl. Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Labour, etc.), UN organizations, INGOs and national NGOs;
• Coordinate with the technical team to participate in relevant Working Groups, thematic task forces, and other relevant coordination entities;
• Attend regular calls, meetings, etc. as required by Plan International.

1. Human Resources

• Coordinate and/or implement training and briefing of Plan International staff, partners, and other key stakeholders on child protection, child safeguarding and/or related issues.
• Identify the staffing needs for the child protection response and support the recruitment process for these staff.

1. Dealing with Problems:

• Application of knowledge required for the role, complexity of problems handled & the degree of investigation, analysis, & creative thinking required to solve them.
• Demonstrated capacity to solve challenging issues/concerns with collaborating project partners.

1. Child protection, gender equality and inclusion

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children, Young People and Programme Participants, 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

The post holder will be part of the Country Management Team (CMT), this requires close coordination with all CMT members, specifically with the HoP, BDM, and Advocacy Manager.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in technical support with a focus on child protection work of which at least 2 in humanitarian or refugee settings;
• Master’s degree in social work, social sciences or another related field;
• Strong experience in working with NGOs in technical support including child protection, Education/ECD in humanitarian or refugee settings, community-based child protection and child and youth participation required;
• Experience in programming related to child labour, girls’ rights, gender-based violence and child marriage are an asset;
• Good facilitation skills and ability to deliver induction briefing/trainings;
• Demonstrated ability to network and liaise with UN, coordination mechanisms and donors;
• Excellent skills in project design, time management, and problem solving;
• Flexible work attitude and ability to work independently within a small team;
• Ability to effectively communicate with a diverse and cross-cultural audience;
• Excellent knowledge of Arabic and English mandatory.

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

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

Physical Environment

Typically office environment with frequent travel to the program areas

Level of contact with children

Mid contact: Occasional interaction with children

ROLE PROFILE

Type of Role: Fixed-term job

Contract Duration: 4 Months

Reports to: Country Director

Location: Amman – Jordan

Grade: Level 17