NGO JOBS

Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. We work in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty. Plan's vision is of a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies that respect people's rights and dignity, our aim is to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries. Plan is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations.

About the role With Plan International serving as lead agency, the Chief of Party (COP) has ultimate authority and oversight within the organization and is responsible for overall management and technical support of a girl’s education project, including managing all activities of sub-recipients, coordinating all programme-focused strategic planning and decision making, and managing key personnel. The COP will serve as key liaison with the donor and all other agency counterparts, implementing partners, and alliance partners involved with the programme.

Primary responsibilities include providing overall leadership, management, and general technical direction of the programme, assuring an integrated vision among different components and actors, and ensuring programme performance The COP bears ultimate responsibility for ensuring achievement of programme requirements and adherence to donor regulations.

Dimensions of role•Team management including directly managing plan employees and matrix management of other key roles.•Budget will be approximately £7 million.•This will be a three year fixed term contract.

Main responsibilitiesThe COP is expected to bring experience in education programming and capacity building of organizations in the local context to:•Provide overall technical and managerial oversight and leadership for the project.•Supervise field operations, administration, logistics, and procurement for all project activities.•Manage project personnel and lead strategic planning processes.•Ensure efficient management of financial resources, including review and approval of programme budgets, monitoring expenditures, and implementing cost control measures. •Oversee management and monitoring of sub-grants, and lead strategic project planning for Plan and all partners.•Supervise programme monitoring, evaluation, and reporting and ensure quality control and timeliness of all deliverables as required by the grant and donors.•Serve as a principal representative to the donor, government entities, project partners and stakeholders, and other institutions and individuals to ensure effective, synergistic programme implementation, to create collaborative partnerships and alliances, and to foster positive, sustainable relationships.•Ensure smooth working relations and collaboration among consortium members/subreciepients•Ensures that the Plan Sierra Leone Country Director and Country Management Team are provided with timely reports and analysis to support effective programme management and the optimal use of resources•Support Plan’s submission of timely and reliable financial information to the wider organization and to third parties as appropriate.

About youKnowledge, skills and behaviours required to achieve the roles objectives;•Minimum Master’s Degree or equivalent in social sciences or related field•Long-term, senior-level management experience implementing, and managing large, complex child education and system strengthening projects.•Significant experience managing DFID or EC programmes, including prior COP experience. •Demonstrated ability to implement projects with rigorous timelines and deliverables and to track programme quality through donor approved monitoring and evaluation systems.•Experience working and collaborating with diverse sets of stakeholders, such as local partners, government officials, donor representatives, and international staff.•Proven experience hiring, training, and supervising teams of international and local staff. •Proven leadership, inter-personal and cross-cultural skills, and ability to build and motivate diverse teams. •Previous work experience in Sierra Leone required. •Excellent written and oral English.•Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook.•Demonstrated knowledge of the Sierra Leone and/or other East African Education Systems.•Knowledge of key DFID regulations including, but not limited to Financial reporting standards related to UK Government contracts•Ability to respond on short notice and plan and execute several activities at once. •Ability to work under pressure, as part of a team or independently, and meet deadlines consistently.•Ability to integrate teams of professionals around common goals, as well as demonstrated ability working with host-country ministries and donor colleagues.

LanguagesFluent English required.

Location and TravelChief of Party Sierra Leone to be based in Freetown with International and local travel within the region.

The closing date for applications is Thursday 11th October.

References will be taken and background and anti-terrorism checks will be carried out in conformity with Plans Child Protection Policy. Plan operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all areas of the international community.