Regional Area Manager

Reports to: Deputy Director of Program Operations

Staff reporting to this post:

Direct: Project Manager Baana, Sponsorship Systems Coordinator, Field Sponsorship Operations Coordinator, Project Manager SWAP, Field Finance Manager, Field Supply Chain Coordinator

Indirect: Program Officer Sponsorship in Refuge Setting

Budget Responsibilities: approximately USD 3.5M per year

Role Dimensions: Regional Area Manager oversees one of the 5 regional programming areas of SCI in Uganda. S/he has oversight over a team of approximately 50 staff and engages in strategic relationships with the District, local partners and other stakeholders.

1. Field Office Management

Overall responsible for leadership, coordination, operations, staff, compliance, program management, and performance within the assigned SCI location:

• Provide leadership and management of all field office operations, awards, staff and organizational performance.
• Coordinate management of all awards implemented in the field office operational area ensuring adherence to SCI policies, procedures and donor regulations and agreements.
• Oversee programme planning and implementation to ensure timely delivery of programme activities for example, monitoring against log frames, DIP, phased budget.
• Coordinate and ensure timely and adequate technical support needs to the projects in the assigned location in consultation the Project Managers.
• Implement safety and security standards and procedures for the office location, including reporting and ensure that new programs are built around security considerations.
• Ensure effective partner management for all SCI partners in the location in line with SCI partnership management guidelines and procedures.
• Ensure strategic alignment and contribution of the regions projects to both CO and SCI global strategic priorities and that SMT is kept updated of critical and strategic project engagements and risks.
• Manage SCI relations with District, other agencies, program beneficiaries and other stakeholders in the region.

1. Planning and implementation, budget and finacial managemnt

• Ensure timely submission of quality Annual Plans for Baana project and all the complimentary projects with the respective phased Budget aligned with the DIP, attachments (RIPT, PIT, SIP), and a Procurement Plan.
• Ensure that the Baana project and other projects align with approved annual plans and DIPs and meets the MEAL requirements, CO KPIs, essential standards and policies.
• Ensure risk mitigation actions are implemented. Monitor and address or report any risks to management.
• Ensure excellent financial management and accountability in line with SCI policy guidelines.
• Ensuring that a quality and timely phased budget aligned with the DIP is in place.
• Ensure that the projects meet the monthly financial performance target (98% burn rate) and annual spending against life of award budget not greater than 100%.
• Manage the budget in ways that assure that there are no disallowable costs.
• Ensure that all financial policies and regulations relating to cash flow management, expenditure controls, cash management, accounting information, advances management as put in place for the management and control of funds are followed by the staff and partners in implementing the different project activities.

1. Sponsorship Operations Management

• Ensure that all Sponsorship business operations (including Child Death, Correspondence, Annual child Data update, photo and video updates, child enrollment and reactivation, sponsor visit) meet the required timelines and quality as stipulated in the sponsorship polices and procedure standard guidelines before being submitted to GSO.
• Ensure that all sponsorship operations risks are effectively and efficiently managed in line with both local and international Save the Children policies and procedures. These include timely reporting of child deaths
• Ensure that systems are in place to monitor child eligibility and participation in sponsorship-funded programs.  When standards are not being met, take proper and timely action based on agency policies and procedures.
• Make timely quality responses  to field and CO-Kampala communications (these can be through emails, phone calls, skype)
• Ensure that staff have the adequate capacity and resources to carryout sponsorship operations.
• Ensure that proper parental consent is obtained for all enrolled children.  Oversee annual updating of data and photos for all enrolled children annually through the AFU process.
• Ensure good understanding by staff involved, local community members, parents and sponsored children of sponsorship.
• Coordinate an annual self-assessment of sponsorship according to agency guidelines.  Coordinate sponsorship reviews as appropriate.  Create an Action Plan based on the self-assessment /review and track each item through to closure.  Report quarterly on progress.
• Lead quality improvement efforts to ensure that key areas for improvement are identified each year and progress toward improvement is tracked.

1. Program Quality and Reporting.

• Ensure that projects in the location adhere to SCI Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning and Reporting standards; updated Activity and Indicator Tracking Table (A/IPTT), functional feedback mechanism, adhere to Quality Benchmarks, hold regular monitoring review and reflection etc.
• Coordinate and ensure timely and adequate technical support needs to the program/projects in the assigned location in consultation the Project Coordinators.
• In close collaboration with PDQ department, ensure timely and quality Baana project design and study processes which include assessments, baseline, researches and evaluations
• Ensure that the projects adhere to and 100% meets quality bench marks.
• Ensure excellent collection and management of complaints and feedback in close coordination with Regional MEAL staff and PDQ Specialists.
• Ensure regular monitoring of program results, documentation of programme, case studies, lessons learnt, significant changes and best practices and  coordinating  learning   and  reflection meetings/sessions
• Ensure timely submission of high quality monthly Banaa/Sponsorship Project and the complimentary project’s progress and end of fiscal year reports which are in accordance with the Sponsorship reporting schedule and formats/guidelines.
• Ensure that issues raised in the reports are comprehensively addressed in a timely manner

1. Office and team oversight

• Create an enabling and motivating working environment for staff to thrive through intention staff development programs and addressing work challenges or in a timely manner raising them to DPO.
• Ensure staff is oriented and adheres to all Save the Children policies and procedures including  (child) safeguarding, anti-harassment, anti-fraud, code of conduct and others.
• Implement safety and security standards and procedures for the office location, including reporting and ensure that new programs are built around security considerations.
• Manage and oversee Supply Chain processes to procure, store and distribute stock, supplies and services for the timely delivery of project objectives within the field base or area
• Uphold and support Finance policies, processes and procedures within the assigned location
• Hold periodic staff meetings and team building activities in the SCI location
• Ensure all staff have clear monthly and annual work plans, performance objectives and regular performance reviews with their line managers in line with SCI policies and procedures
• Contribute to staff capacity building through coaching, mentorship and linkage to opportunity for capacity development
• Work with the national and regional Safeguarding Focal Points to ensure excellence in keeping children and adults safe in Central Region programming location. Ensure all children files and information are held in confidence as per sponsorship guidelines

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

• Minimum of a Masters degree in Development studies, Social Sciences, Education , Public heath or related discipline.
• Preferred certificate in project management

Essential

• At least 8 years progressing experience in managing development programmes
• Experience with child sponsorship Operations
• Experience of working with local partners and District Local Government inHealth, Education, Child Protection program delivery or  in a related area.
• Demonstrated financial and budget management skills
• Excellent planning, coordination and reporting skills, with ability to organise a substantial workload comprised of complex, divserse tasks and responsibilities.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Good understanding of national strategies, current national and international trends in global development and humanitarian fields
• Analytical  and strategic planning and management skills.
• Experience with child sponsorship operations
• Strong negotiation and effective interpersonal skills.
• Experience of working with  partners and Local Governments.
• Ability to establish and maintain conducive collegial relations and perform effectively as a member of a team.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Computer literacy and excellent documentation skills are a must.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Excellent time management and planning capacity
• Security awareness and experience with organisational safety and security frameworks, guidenlines and SOP
• Commitment to Save the Children values

Desireable

• Thorough understanding of Save the Children working principles and approaches of Child Participation, Child Rights Programming, Partnership, Child Safeguarding, Zero Tolerance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Programme Integration etc.
• Ability to intervene with crisis management or troubleshooting as necessary.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Computer literacy and excellent documentation skills are a must.Experience in M&E and accountability systems.
• Experience managing supply chain, logistics and security operations.
• Experience in managing partnerships
• Experience with and knowledge of key donor regulations.
• Willingness to work and travel in often difficult and insecure environments.
• Familiarity and knowledge of child rights issues
• Availability and willingness to work extra hours during times of humanitarian responses.

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.