TITLE:  REAL Deputy Project Director Operations
TEAM/PROGRAMME: REAL Project    
LOCATION: Sana’a Country Office
CHILD SAFEGUARDING: (select only one)

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

ROLE PURPOSE: 

SCI Yemen is embarking on the Restoring Education and Learning (REAL) project, funded by the World Bank and implementing by the three implementing partners SCI, WFP and UNICEF. The project objective is to maintain access to basic education, improve conditions for learning and strengthen education sector capacity in selected districts of several governorates in Yemen.

The Deputy Project Director Operations (DPDO) will act as the operational lead of the programme on behalf of REAL Project Director. S/he will be responsible for providing operational leadership and management of the 6 Project Coordinators, working closely with REAL PMU to provide operational guidance. S/he will play a critical role in overseeing a project deliverable.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to: Project Director
Staff reporting to this post: 6 Project Coordinators  
Budget Responsibilities: TBD according to scheme of delegation.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

Program Implementation and Management

• Lead the development of detailed implementation plans, ensuring a link with phased budgets, MEAL and indicator tracking and procurement plans for the REAL Project, updating these as required
• Conduct planning and review meetings with field-based teams, while ensuring adequate planning documents are established and maintained
• Monitor progress of activities against the detailed implementation plan and agreed frameworks while evaluating the relevance and appropriateness of the intervention  
• Identify operational programmes supply needs and coordinate with Supply Chain teams to put in place a sensible phased procurement plan
• Prepare timely programme and donor reports on project activities in compliance with internal requirements and any relevant external donor requirements 
• Ensure that activities are appropriately planned, that delays and constraints are documented, and solutions identified
• Ensure programs are adequately resourced and ensure timely expenditure of approved budgets, ensuring appropriate spend and proper and effective use of programme resources
• Ensure robust planning and project management tools and processes are in place, following Save the Children’s Project Management Methodology (PMM) and project management systems.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

• Ensure frequent visit to project sites to monitor and oversee project implementation and provide technical and managerial guidance/support identifying issues that need timely action and support at different levels (access & security dependant)
• Support the MEAL team to develop MEAL plans, tools and ideas to ensure that the programme is monitored against measurable and appropriate indicators. 
• Support program assessments, evaluations and other reviews required in the program.
• Ensure that operational learning and good practice is gathered, documented and shared with the wider programme and PMU.

Safeguarding 

• Ensure SCI safeguarding mechanisms are in place and are subject to continuous monitoring/review
• With the technical support from the Social & Environmental Safeguarding (ESS) Advisor, oversee project specific ESS plans and frameworks implementation throughout project lifetime
• Ensure WB approved ESMF, ESMP, SEP and SMP are in place and are subject to continuous monitoring/review.

People Management and Development

• Technically manage and supervise Field Teams to ensure that they have clear objectives and received meaningful feedback on their performance
• Identify development needs, prepare and deliver appropriate training plans, and support project staff to access other relevant training and development opportunities

Coordination and Representation

• Join the PD to Represent SCI in coordination mechanisms amongst implementing partners (SCI, UNICEF, WFP) and to the World Bank ensuring adequate follow up on agreed action points, and deputise in his absence
• Lead necessary communication and negotiation process with government line agencies, in particular MOE, SCAMCHA & MOPIC, necessary for the timely implementation of the project
• Represent SCI and the REAL project in relevant coordination fora within the country and internationally specially SCUK and SCI MEEE RO as and when required.
• Support internal coordination with other SC programme teams, to ensure effective programme integration in the areas of intervention and within the wider country portfolio

Security

• Coordinate with security teams to maintain situational awareness in the programme locations and ensure safety and security measures are followed as per SCI safety and security protocols

Business Development and New Initiative

• Contribute to the identification of new initiatives and opportunities that respond to country strategy.

Other

• Undertake any other tasks as assigned by the relevant line manager
• Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Education

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in development, humanitarian response, technical sector (Education, Protection, etc.), or related field is required.

Experience 

• Minimum 10 years of demonstrable professional experience in overseeing the implementation of programmes, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a leadership role 
• Experience in complex emergency responses and fragile states; prior experience working in conflict settings
• Demonstrates managerial and operational management skills
• Experience of NGO emergency programme cycle management, including field-level project implementation and working against log frames
• Demonstrable financial and budget management experience; experience as a budget holder
• In-depth knowledge and experience of logistics systems and requirements in a multi-field office, multi programme setting
• Experience in supporting/managing large scale funding 
• Flexibility and the ability to effectively adjust expectations to on-the ground realities, while adhering to humanitarian principles and standards.
• Strength in inspiring and enabling others through teamwork, training, and capacity building to realize organisational objectives.

Desirable

• Familiarity/experience of working within Yemen or a similar context 
• Experience of working with the World Bank or similar institutional donor and navigating complex compliance conditions
• Experience of complex project management with a large number of internal and external stakeholders
• Understanding of education programming and working with line ministries

Skills 

• Excellent organizational and analytical skills
• Ability to identify, address and resolve communication issues within the activity and with external stakeholders is required
• Demonstrated problem solving skills, a collaborative and flexible manner, creativity and willingness to innovate
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with Yemen host government partners at the national and governorate levels
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations, and within a matrix management structure
• Fluent oral and strong analytical, written English communications skills is required; Arabic language is desirable
• Proven track record of effective and convincing negotiation skills is preferred