Programme Manager (East and Southern Africa region) maternity leave cover

Save the Children is the world's leading independent children's organization and child protection professional. We secure every child's right to life, protection, learning and participation in Finland and around the world. We have more than a hundred years of experience in promoting children's rights. We bring children and adults together to build a permanently better future. Because the children's future starts now. Read more about our work https://www.pelastakaalapset.fi/

The goal of Save the Children Finlands (SCF) International Programme (IP) unit is to contribute to the realisation of the rights of a child in its targeted operational areas, and the world at large. This contribution will be made through the implementation of thematic programmes that are based on the detection of local rights violations as identified by child rights situation analyses, extensive in-house experience gained from the management of previous programmes in similar fields of work, and the piloting of new, innovative ideas. The focus areas of the SCF International Programmes are Child Sensitive Social Protection, Child Protection and Food Security and emergency response.

We are now seeking a Programme Manager (East and Southern Africa region) to our International Programme Unit (maternity leave cover 2.12.2024 -31.1.2026)

Job purpose:

The Programme Manager is responsible for the overall relationship and engagement between SCF and the SC country offices assigned as part of their portfolio in East and Southern Africa. This role will work collaboratively with SC country offices in the region and SCF teams (partnership, finance, technical advisors, comms, and advocacy teams) ensuring smooth management of assigned SCF funded development and humanitarian projects. The Programme Manager will provide management oversight and acts as the SCF focal point for coordination, planning, delivery, and monitoring of the assigned portfolio in addition to supporting portfolio growth in line with SCF strategy.

The role includes some travelling in program countries. In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside of the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

This post is within SCF Head Office in Helsinki and will be line managed by Helsinki HQ.

Main responsibilities
- Serves as the overall SCF lead for the engagement between SCF and SC country offices in East and Southern Africa on day-to-day programmatic matters and communication with the country offices, follows up country situation and ensures the country(ies) portfolio remains coherent and aligned with SCF Programme strategy.
- Contributes to identifying new funding opportunities, match planning and leads the proposal development and review processes inc. development of fully costed budgets. Provides advice on donor compliance requirements to ensure high quality proposals.
- Coordinates the processes for donor reporting, supports strategic donor engagement and maintains effective communications with Save the Children country/member offices and donors regarding donor related issues at country level.
- Monitors and analyses project expenditure in line with Save the Children International (SCI) policies, SCF regulations and donor requirements
- Ensures SCI and SCF award management systems and processes are successfully implemented, and key controls are in place to support effective portfolio management and compliance with donor requirements
- Carries out regular project monitoring including deviations from plan and results framework across the assigned projects and tracks project performance that risks and issues are being recognised and action taken.
- Provides support on the design of SCF programming in humanitarian and recovery context, if required
- Contributes to SCF strategies, working groups and plans and reporting for her/his portfolio.
- Other tasks as assigned by the line manager.

Qualifications and experience required
- More than 5 years of experience in designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating development and humanitarian projects, preferably in African context
- Proven skills in project management, proposal development and reporting across major institutional donors, especially of our key accounts preferred (MFA, EU, UNICEF)
- Proven track record in working with international cooperation and civil society, good understanding of issues related global development and working in humanitarian context. Humanitarian field experience preferred.
- Flexible and easily adaptable to new work environments and able to work independently, as well as remotely with colleagues globally
- Good analytical and problem-solving skills with a strong attention to detail
- Networking credibility to lobby, influence and represent Save the Children Finland at all levels
- Previous experience in working with child rights and human rights preferred especially in humanitarian context
- Fluency in written and spoken English and Finnish
- Commitment to and understanding of Save the Childrens aims, values, and principles.

We offer you
- Possibility to work in an international NGO, who is known for its work on enhancing child rights in Finland and globally
- An interesting working environment, with a multicultural team, where you can utilize your experience and further develop your expertise
- Possibility to support the fulfilment of child rights globally and advance our strategic partnerships with key institutional partners

Kindly indicate your salary request in your application. Interviews are expected to take place in October.

Deadline of applications (kindly use the link) 6th October 2024.

More information from Katja Selkimäki-Gray (Head of International portfolio) telephone enquiries +358 40 541 3041 on 1st of October 2024 at 9-10.30 am (Helsinki time).