NGO JOBS

Organization: Save the Children
Country: Iraq
Closing date: 27 Aug 2013

Save the Children is the world's leading independent organisation for children. We work in 120 countries. We save children's lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfill their potential.

We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

We have over two million supporters worldwide and raised 1.6 billion dollars last year to reach more children than ever before, through programmes in health, nutrition, education, protection and child rights, also in times of humanitarian crises.

There are 30 national Save the Children organisations around the world. By the end of 2012 all our international programmes will be delivered through a merged operation with 14 000 staff, managed through seven regional hubs and reporting to a relatively small, central office. We're changing to become more efficient, more aligned, a better par tner, a stronger advocate, a magnet for world-class people and relevant for the 21st century.

Role:
The Child Protection (CP) Specialist is a member of the Program Development and Quality team, and is responsible to lead all CP project in Iraq with the aim of supporting a comprehensive sector program to help improve Iraqi children’s protection from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. This currently includes the piloting of child protection units (CPU), policy and advocacy work, oversight of a Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism initiative as well staff mentoring/strengthening and partner support and capacity-building. Frtnher, there is responsibility to identify and help secure other CP initiative opportunities. The incumbent will ensure that SC Iraq CP activities are consistent with SCI and Members’ programming principles and approaches, draw on best practices and lessons learned, enable children to attain their rights and are compliant with donor regulations. As part of SC dual mandate, the CP Specialist will participate in emergency preparedness and response activities/initiatives as requested by the country leadership team. The role is for two years and based in Suleimaneyah (KRG) w/travel to Basra and Baghdad. Key areas of accountability:

As a member of the PDQ/program leadership team, contribute to:
* Ensuring program quality and helping set CP program strategic direction
* Encouraging a culture of learning, creativity and innovation that supports staff to deliver outstanding results for children
* Strengthening positive, productive relationships with relevant government authorities, donors, partners and communities
* Promoting SC values: accountability, ambition, creativity, integrity and collaboration through personal role modelling and mentoring Iraqi colleagues
* Reflecting SCI develop ment and emergency preparedness/response dual mandate in program design and implementation

Program Implementation Leadership/Oversight
* Provide technical leadership in all areas of CP programming, ensuring that implementation methods are consistent with acknowledged good practice and achieve sustainable results
* Ensure that proposed project results are achieved on time, within budget and in compliance with donor regulations.
* Ensure CP program is implemented in ways responsive to communities, especially children and youth, in line with SCI values and principles, and with the Iraq Country Office strategic and annual plans; do so in compliance with agency operational policies and procedures
* In collaboration with the PDQM, ensure appropriate, timely and accurate data collection against agreed indicators to enable both internal and external reporting.
* Manage CP project budgets: monthly budget forecasting, clos e tracking of spending and quarterly budget revisions; include Iraqi program team colleagues to ensure their learning/understanding of budget management
* Coordinate closely with the SC Member Technical Advisors and with Iraq CO line management for needed technical support and organizational/management support
* Draft timely and high quality progress and final reports showing progress against agreed indicators for external and internal stakeholders, especially Members and their donors
* Work with relevant government and non-government partners to improve the situation/conditions for universal child protection in Iraq; contribute to advocating for government law/policy change, including creation of key laws and legal structures that support child rights
* Support Iraqi colleagues to manage CP partnerships, including partner capacity building, follow-up and reporting
* As requested, participate in project design and proposal development

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development
* Help recruit CP staff and then to build technical, project implementation and leadership knowledge, awareness and abilities
* With PDQ Director guidance and support, manage/supervise and mentor CP direct reports, ensuring that they and their teams achieve expected results on time and within quality standards.
* Ensure all CP team members have SMART performance objectives and professional development plans; support, monitor and evaluate direct reports and ensure they, in turn, monitor, support and evaluate their direct reports.
* Manage relevant consultancies for the Child Protection Program in Iraq.

Collaboration and Representation
* Regularly coordinate and collaborate with other sector/thematic teams to strengthen programmatic synergies and impact
* Coordinate and collaborate with colleagues on all relations and agree ments with Government and non-government partners to ensure that SC is represented as an organization rather than as a series of individual programs
* Represent CP on behalf of SC with government entities/colleagues, NGO, communities and within SC

Emergency Preparedness and Response
* Participate in the CO emergency preparedness and planning processes as requested
* Where possible, integrate emergency preparedness in all CP project/program design/work planning
* In emergencies, e.g., Syria, be prepared to contribute to the delivery of an appropriate and timely response as requested

Qualifications and Experience:
* At least 5 years CP sector leadership/management experience in an NGO environment, including experience directing and implementing programs for children in both emergency and development contexts
* Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, psychology or field related/relevant to international CP work
* Proven technical knowledge and capacity to lead implementation of CP activities, projects, programs
* Good understanding of challenges facing vulnerable children and communities in Iraq/Middle East
* Commitment to humanitarian principles/accountability frameworks, especially for work with vulnerable populations
* Ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, to motivate and inspire team work
* Ability to analyze information, evaluate options and to think strategically
* Solid knowledge/experience of effective budget design and management: spending/control/reporting
* Excellent (English language) narrative writing skills: reports, proposals, promotional materials, etc.
* Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
* Arabic or Kurdish language skills are an asset
* Experience of working in an emergency setting and/or commitment to build that capacity
* Flexibility and a sense of humour – ability to work, live and thrive in challenging circumstances
* Able and willing to learn from others and share experiences, professionally and personally (as per group living)
* Commitment to and understanding of SCI aims, values and principles including rights-based approaches

We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Please note that the closing date for applications is on Tuesday, 27 August 2013.

For further information on this role, please see our website at www.savethechildren.net/jobs

How to apply:

 Please apply with a covering letter and up-to-date CV to:
 jobs.61210.3830@savethechildrenint.aplitrak.com