Liberia: Head of Programmes & Policy
Country: Liberia
Closing date: 30 Apr 2014
(Please read submission instructions carefully. Applications not in compliance with submission instructions will be disqualified)
Responsible to: Country Director
Location: Monrovia, Liberia
Grade: G
Line Management: Program Managers, Programme Quality Coordinator, Project Coordinators
A. MAIN PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The post holder is the Head of Programmes & Policy and reports to the Country Director. It is a senior management position with highly responsible functions. These include strategic management, the development and management of all programme and policy advocacy activities at the Country Programme levels. It also involves ensuring the financial management of donor funded projects.
The post holder will be responsible for leading, advising, motivating, and supporting the programme team to plan and manage activities aimed at achieving the goals and objectives of the Country Strategy Paper. To provide strategic leadership on program, policy & advocacy issues arising from the LRPs and national levels. He/she will also initiate, manage, supervise and provide guidance for advocacy & campaigns generated from grassroots whilst liaising closely with the Communications focal person. The postholder will be responsible for co-ordinating networks and will facilitate processes that enhance space for the poor in the national arena. He/she will also link community level governance issues with direct support from programme management specialists and LRP staff from all the programme areas from the community based work at the national level, as well as linking to wider macroeconomic and governance issues including at the Africa and international level. The position will have overall responsibility to establish a functional system to work on country specific policies and their enforcement which is pro-poor and excluded people. This has to be further related with work at international level and learning shared from this to have wider support to influence national and international government agencies at various levels.
B. RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Planning and Development
- ?Support the Country Director and the Senior Mgt Team to lead the development of both strategic and 3-year plans in accordance with Country Strategy Paper (CSP) and 3-year planning guidelines.
- Monitor the implementation of the CSP ensuring short term programmes are within the framework of the CSP.
- Manage the review of the CSP: Mid-term review of CSP successfully conducted and on time
- Support the various teams/sectors in the development and revision of strategic plans
- Undertake the review of any sector when due
Programme Management
- ? Manage the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes in AAIL programmes
- ? Support the Programme staff in the development and implementation of programme support activities
- ? Manage the development of project proposals in accordance with the CSP and donor guidelines
- ? Manage the appraisal and development of LRPs as well as provide support for the management of developed LRPs working closely together with Sponsorship team.
- ? Ensure the timely submission of good quality programme reports as agreed with donors or in project proposal
- ? Ensure project reports are submitted on time and queries calls for information from donors promptly acted on.
- ? Manage the evaluation of programmes; both mid-term and final evaluations conducted on all projects and programmes.
- ? Manage the Annual Participatory Review and Reflection Process. Ensure annual reports are prepared and shared with all partners and within AA.
- ? Support the documentation and sharing of experience in all programmes within AAIL and with partners.
Regular production of documents on experiences
- ? Represent AAIL in alliances and networks both within and outside Liberia as may be required.
- ? Contribute ideas from the micro level work for the development of advocacy at the macro level while feeding macro level policy to inform our work at the micro level
- ? Manage the development, implementation and monitoring and documentation of the outcome of periodic advocacy plans
- ? Contribute to policy briefs and media strategies that inform stakeholders about the policy positions of ActionAid and partners.
Policy & Advocacy
- ? Ensure advocacy plans are developed regularly and outcomes of advocacy activities documented and shared.
- ? Provide a forum through which civil society and the general public can make an input and contribute to the parliamentary policy making and legislative process
- ? Identify key issues and key collaborators for AAIL advocacy work
- ? Conduct pro-poor analysis of policies and programmes aimed at reforms that will have impact on the lives of the poor and excluded.
- ? Initiate, direct and co-ordinate the programme activities relating to parliaments or directed at reforms and policies impacting on poverty
- ? Identify areas of critical concern and within the priorities of the CSP for research and advocacy work aimed at policy influencing, policy input and initiatives and policy measures on poverty issues.
- ? Promote rights based approach with specific focus on women’s rights, in advocating for citizen’s rights.
- ? Contribute to the development of the Country Programme as member of Senior Management Team
Human Resource Management
- ? Support the recruitment and induction of programme staff
- ? Provide line management to direct reports
- Support in highlighting and applying women’s rights values to programmes and organizational development activities
- ? Build a strong programme team among the programme staff located in the Head Office and other locations across Liberia.
Regular meeting of programme staff to share information
- ? Set annual targets for each staff of the Unit in consultation with the staff. Maintain ongoing monitoring of the performance of staff against targets and take corrective steps if targets are not being met.
- ? Provide support and motivate staff to meet targets.
- ? Ensure appraisals are conducted for all programme staff through their line managers in accordance with AAIL staff policies.
- ? Ensure the development of work plans by all reporting directly to HOPP
- ? Develop annual staff development plans for subordinate staff taking into consideration areas of weaknesses and skill gaps noticed during appraisals and from staff career plans.
- ? Provide line management functions to all staff of the Programme Support Unit.
Collaboration with Partners
- ? Support the LRP Managers and other programme staff to strengthen networks AAIL is collaborating with. Provide support to the networks for building of their capacity and building the capacity their member organisations.
- ? Ensure AAIL’s collaboration with networks and other partners to conduct research and disseminate the findings on issues of common interest.
- ? Coordinate AAIL’s collaboration with government agencies in order to share information, experiences, influence them and/or build capacity
- ? Collaborate and exchange information with networks and other organisations in areas of common interest.
Financial Management
- ? Ensure that programme activities are carried out within agreed budgets
- ? Ensure the timely completion of programme processes for the release of funds of donors
- ? Ensure that documents required for release of funds are submitted by dates agreed in each project
General
- ? Support resource mobilization effort and utilization of field programs and evaluate contract management processes of donor funded projects as per planned objectives.
- ? Coach, mentor and develop program staff for better efficiency and coordination.
- ? Perform other related duties as required by the line manager
- ? Participate in international and Regional initiatives, teams and projects
C. KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Internal Relationships:AAI Liberia Team, West Africa Country Coordination and International Fundraising, HROD, HoF etc.
External Relationships:Donors, Government Agencies, Partners and other stakeholders.
D. PERSONS SPECIFICATIONS
Essential
Education/ Qualifications
- ? Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences or Arts/Humanities
- ? At least a Masters degree in a related Development Studies, Project Management or related field
Desirable
? Membership of relevant professional Institute
Experience
- ?At least 10 years minimum working experience in the social development field.
- At least 5 years experience in a senior position in the development sector, particularly in designing, setting up and coordinating monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment systems and processes
- In-depth understanding of programming issues and policy work at state, national and international levels.
- Understanding of gender issues in development and demonstrable commitment to promoting gender equality within the organisation and in programme work.
Skill Abilities
- ? Excellent management & leadership skills
- ? Excellent skills in facilitation and capacity building for inter-linkages between staff, donors, partners & stakeholders
- ? Excellent conceptual, analytical, documentation and presentation skills.
- ? Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including report writing.
- ? Excellent planning and prioritization skills
- ? Ability to think strategically
- ? Strong analytical/problem solving skills.
- ? Multi-tasking skills
- ? Negotiation skills
- ? Excellent financial skills
- ? Excellent skills in programme information management
- ? Demonstrable versatility in use of IT (MS Word, Excel, Access, Power-point, e-mail, DTP packages)
Personal Qualities
- ? Demonstrable commitment to supportive team working
- ? Creative and takes initiative.
- ? Able to work effectively in a diverse team environment
- ? Willing to work additional hours at crucial times.
- ? Self-motivated person able to work without supervision
- ? Effectively promote AAIL’s mission values, and objectives
How to apply:
(Please read submission instructions carefully. Applications not in compliance with submission instructions will be disqualified)
All interested candidates should submit an application, including cover letter and CV, addressed to the Country Director, ActionAid Liberia Country Program, via email to vacancy.liberia@actionaid.org, copy korto.williams@actionaid.org. Email subject line should read "Head of Program & Policy Application 04302014”. Deadline for submission of applications is April 30th, 2014. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
