Job Description

Plan International Sierra Leone

Job Announcement (1 position for nationals only)

11-01-2024 Programme Support Manager – Disaster Risk Management, Youth Engagement and  Innovation

Plan International is an independent non-profit development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion, and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters, and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national, and global levels using our reach, experience, and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

We are currently seeking to recruit:

Title:            Programme Support Manager Disaster Risk Management, Youth Engagement and Innovation

Grade:         Level 16 – Part of the Extended Country Leadership Team

Location:      Country Office

Reports to:   Head of Programmes

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION

The Programme Support Manager leads Plan International Sierra Leone’s Youth Engagement and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and innovation activities in the Country Programme. The purpose of this position is to ensure a quality programme and accountability through supporting and implementing high-quality emergency and youth-related programs and projects and promote innovation and youth participation in all operations of Plan International Sierra Leone in programme designing, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation

DIMENSIONS OF ROLE

The Programme Support Manager is a member of ECLT and manages the Youth and DRM aspects of the Country Strategy 2019 to 2021. This role oversees all DRM and Youth-related components in the application and implementation of the Programme Quality and Influencing Procedures (PQIP). The position is crucial to Plan International’s programme quality and effectiveness.

• Ensures that Plan International’s Global Policy on DRM and Youth Engagement is fully incorporated into our Programmes and operations by principles and requirements of the policies
• Ensures that Plan International Sierra Leone is disaster-aware and responsive and has updated DPPs in place
• Coordinates staff capacity development in DRM, and Youth capacity development to lead in influencing

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

   Strategy Definition & Execution

• • Programme Support Manager – DRM, Youth Engagement and Innovation will lead the development of a youth engagement participation and technical approach and project models for delivering on the Youth thematic pillar of the Country Strategy including the definition of outcomes, strategic objectives, and KPIs
  • Lead the development of a DRM technical approach and project models for delivering on the DRM thematic pillar of the Country Strategy including the definition of outcomes, strategic objectives, and KPIs.
  • Lead innovation approaches and project models for delivering on the DRM thematic pillar of the country Strategy including the definition of outcomes, strategic objectives, and KPIs.
  • Develop tools for monitoring and evaluation of the work with the Youth Advisory Panel -YAP and the broader national Youth engagement and DRM work.

• Contribute to the effective implementation of the country strategy through the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of quality integrated technical programs.

Technical Subject Matter Expertise Support to DRM Programmes, Youth Engagement and Innovation

• Provide the required technical support primarily to all Youth Engagement projects.
• Provide technical expertise to facilitate resource mobilization specifically on programs to promote disaster resilience of children and young people in Sierra Leone.
• Provide technical subject matter expertise to all DRM Programmes, Youth Engagement, and innovation projects in the areas of methodologies and systems.
• Contribute to overall program quality and impact through supporting innovative strategies and partnerships and ensure integration of key cross-cutting themes by working closely with other Plan Sierra Leone specialists.
• Coordinate all global hub and regional DRM Programmes, Youth Engagement, and innovation DRM.

Build Skills and expertise in the country

• Identify key resources to build capability in the Youth Engagement and DRM sector with the relevant knowledge and skills to support quality programming in Youth Engagement and DRM.
• Share learning and provide capacity development for personnel (training, workshops, research, etc.)
• Adapt global/regional standards, develop tools, and provide capacity building for country project teams related to Youth Engagement and DRM

Resources Mobilization

• Contribute to growth in the grant portfolio to adequately resource the interim country strategy by actively inputting into the development of grant proposals and concept notes related to child and programme support, DRM Programmes, Youth Engagement, and Innovation.

Establishment of Linkages and networking

• Establish linkages and networks with relevant communities of practice and experts internally within Plan and externally with both regional and global hub initiatives, leading institutions, governments, and other organizations on DRM Programmes, Youth Engagement, and innovation.

Knowledge Management, Advocacy, and Communication- Thought Leadership and Publications

• Design and deliver operational research and cutting-edge knowledge (knowledge that helps to influence policy, contributes to corporate branding and visibility, improves program quality, and builds capacity).
• Facilitate the establishment of partnerships with leading Universities for research and internship Programmes for youth development.
• Link with Advocacy and communication to promote communication in a youth Internship Scheme with a focus on Girls.

Communication and working relationship

• Builds strong relationships with all stakeholders especially the target communities, local government, other partners, and government stakeholders;
• Effectively represent Plan International in strategic partnership engagements.
• Develop the appropriate internal and external working relationship to support and enhance project delivery.

Staff Management and teamwork

• Ability to work as a team;
• Coaching and mentoring of staff to ensure improvement;
• Continuous commitment to high performance and improvement;
• Have a sense of responsibility and deadlines;
• Conduct staff performance reviews in line with Plan International performance management procedure;
• Good supervision of staff.
• Good interpersonal skills.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal:

• Excellent working relationships with Head of Programmes and colleagues at the Country Office and PIIAs, Regional and Global Specialists.

External:

• Youths, Line Ministries, Partners, Community Stakeholders

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE

Qualification and Experience:

Essential:

• At least a Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, or any related area
• At least four (4) years of demonstrable experience in development work preferably in the INGO sector;
• Strong leadership skills and ability to undertake strategic and programme planning
• Good communication in oral and written English.
• Strong understanding of gender equality programming and meaningful child participation;
• Knowledge of development challenges and contexts in Sierra Leone, particularly child rights, girl’s rights and child protection;
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively and supportively without the need for close supervision;
• Proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications

• international, national, and local NGOs, donor representatives, and local and international staff. Professional expertise in Youth development and emergencies will be a plus.
• Strategic thinking and innovation: Set strong DRM Programmes, Youth Engagement, and innovation strategy for the Country Programme; makes effective contributions to wider strategy, sees own contribution in the Policy and wider Plan team, balances practical delivery with future vision of Plan on DRM Programmes, Youth Engagement and innovation, critically evaluates work effectiveness and searches for better ways of working.
• Striving for high performance: Strongly drives performance forward in DRM Programmes, Youth Engagement, and innovation programming; involves others in setting and achieving goals; creates a strong sense of purpose within own team and with stakeholders.
• Decision-making and risk management: Sound judgment and decision-making in complex situations; alerts others to risks inside and outside the organization; willing to make judgments about managing risks and ready to take responsibility for such judgments
• Influencing and Communications: Effective communicator and facilitator using clear messages drawn from Plan’s work, cross-culturally adept, ready to work to influence leaders in Plan International, in governments, among partners and communities; can reach out and influence young people; effective communicator with children and young people.
• Building effective teams and partnerships: A good team player who develops mutually trusting relationships with complex partnerships to deliver excellent programme/project outcomes in DRM and Youth engagement.
• Developing people: Supports own learning and young people: a sense of mutual purpose in diverse teams; sets a strong learning culture; effective coach for young people, adaptable to high performers and those in difficulty; uses opportunities across Plan to develop especially young people.
• Self-awareness and resilience: Remain calm and positive under pressure and in difficult situations; aware of the impact on others and adjusts own behavior accordingly; has a positive impact on those around him/her;

Desirable

• Understands Plan International’s work, and implements processes and practices that support the achievement of organizational objectives
• Knowledge of Comprehensive Safe Schools Framework, emergency operations Sphere project, INEE, and/or another related field
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, PPT, Excel, and Outlook.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

The incumbent will be based in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Field travel will be required to rural and remote locations

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

High contact with children and youth.

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Ensure staff understands Plan International’s commitment to driving a feminist agenda within the organization, and the ambition for gender equality and gender transformative leadership is embedded in our value-based leadership framework.

PLAN INTERNATIONAL’S VALUES

We are open and accountable:

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organization for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact:

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximize long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together:

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Build constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners, and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
• We respect all people, appreciate differences, and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
• We support children, girls, and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

Applications:

The last date for submission of the Application (CV and cover letter) is: 24 January 2024 by 5:00 pm

Your application should include: 
·         A cover letter
·         A comprehensive CV including details of two referees, one of whom should be your current of most recent supervisor

  Send applications to the below link: Sierra-Leone.Recruitment@plan-international.org

Only short-listed candidates shall be contacted. References will be taken and background and anti-terrorism checks will be carried out in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People’s Policy. 

Plan International follows an equal opportunity policy and actively encourages diversity welcoming applications from all especially women and people living with disability.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early