Deputy regional director programs

Background

Working in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, Plan aims to reach as many children as possible, particularly those who are excluded or marginalized with high quality programs that deliver long lasting benefits. The Deputy Regional Director Programs role is to lead the regional program team and the development and implementation of regional strategies to deliver quality programs to children and communities using Plan's Child Centered Community Development (CCCD) approach. S/he supports Country Management Teams to strengthen program quality, and to provide opportunities for cooperation, networking, alliance-building, learning and knowledge management throughout the region, within the broader organization and with other institutions.

Dimensions of role

• A member of the WARO Regional Management Team consisting of the Regional Director, Deputy Regional Director for Operations, the Regional People and Culture Partner and the Regional Finance Manager.
• Line management of four senior support managers in the areas of strategy, resource mobilization, Monitoring, Evaluation & Research, and Disaster Risk Management; and of senior technical specialists for programme
• Responsible of the development of the regional program support team
• Reporting regularly to the RD on the management of all risks associated with programme delivery including program strategy and effectiveness, resource mobilization, and Disaster Risk Management.
• Technical oversight and support to Country Programmes for designing, implementing, evaluating and resourcing programs and advocacy initiatives
• Has a delegated authority for expenditure up to €2,500 K
• Management of the regional office program team budget of annual app. €450K

Responsibilities

• Strategic planning and delivery of programs A relevant and up-to-date Regional Strategic Plan is developed and delivered region-wide taking into account global and regional priorities for development and humanitarian response. Indicators will include:
• Plan West Africa's regional strategy adds value to country operations and global strategy. It's implementation is monitored and adequately documented
• Plan country offices have sound country strategic plans, program units long term plans (PULTP) that respond to country realities and Plan's global and regional strategy
• Support strategies in the area of communication, advocacy, resource mobilization are being developed, implemented and progress adequately documented
• Plan West Africa has an efficient knowledge management system/approach in place that helps learning, sharing, scaling up, and innovation Region-wide projects are being designed implemented, and monitored for the purpose of complementing country programs with meaningful regional advocacy and program work, fostering innovation, scaling up of best practice, and effectively engaging regional level and Pan African decision makers in Plan's work
• Clear strategies for Disaster risk reduction, mitigation and response are in place at country and regional level
• Plan's emergency response work meets international humanitarian accountability standards

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Measures and systems are in place to improve the quality of Plan's programmes in the region and monitor their effectiveness. Indicators will include:
- A clear plan to improve program quality in the region exists and is implemented to high quality and on a timely manner
- Plan's capacity to monitor and evaluate its program effectiveness is being strengthened and regional and global M&E standards adhered to
- Country and regional staff capacity to deliver CCCD is being enhanced and adequately monitored
• Team management The Regional Programme Support Department is operating as a high performance team respected by the program countries and adding value. Indicators will include:
- A well-managed team of program managers and experts is recognised by countries
- Leadership for providing an excellent service to the Program Countries
• The team's performance objectives are well set, efficiently monitored using Plan's performance management system and other means.
• Team goals are known by countries and relevant entities and progress reported upon to stakeholders
• The team contributes efficiently to global, Pan-African and country initiatives; requests for engagement and support are answered timely and to high quality
• The members of the Regional Program Team are adequately supported in their work and their development needs are identified and met
• The fulfillment of Plan's core policies including Child Protection Policy; health and safety etc by the whole Regional Program Team is effective
• The regional program team budget is developed, implemented and monitored timely and to highest quality
• The program administration requirements and standards are met by the program team
• The Regional Director and the Regional Management Team are effectively supported
• Working in partnership Plan's organizational development and visibility are enhanced by developing and managing partnerships with regional and global institutions with a remit in West Africa. Indicators will include:
- Plan West Africa has engaged in strategic partnerships with civil society, academic, inter-governmental and governmental institutions, which will help to foster the interest of the organization and the well-being of children in the region
- Plan West Africa is engaged in key networks, alliances and movements relevant to the improvement of children's lives in Africa and effectively increasing the reach of our organization
- Clear standards for partnership management are developed and implemented in the region
- The regional program team efficiently and effectively contributes to global, Pan-African and National Organisations (NO) led strategy making processes and initiatives

Communications, advocacy and campaign

• Effective and evidence based Advocacy strategies and campaigns are being developed, implemented and monitored; and are effectively supported by media and communication work. Indicators will include:
- A vibrant research portfolio exists that supports regional level and global advocacy efforts and campaigning
- Plan's global campaigns are being implemented, monitored and evaluated to high quality standards
- Regional level advocacy strategies and initiatives are being developed and implemented and effectively influence key decision makers with an impact on children's lives
- Effective media and publication plans are developed, implemented and evaluated in support of Plan's global and regional campaign and advocacy work
- Plan West Africa's communication portfolio effectively supports countries, regions, and the global organization
- Plan West Africa has regularly positive media presence in West African and international media
- The integration between PR, communication and programme is fostered, planned and effectively monitored.

Resources Mobilization

• Relevant resources mobilization strategies/plans are in place to support the delivery of the Regional and Country Strategic Plans. Indicators will include:
- Productive relationships with National Organisations and regional level institutions and donors are effectively managed
- Grants compliance of large scale country and regional office grants is ensured
- Plan West Africa's grants pipeline is efficiently monitored
- New resource opportunities are continuously identified and effectively communicated
- New programme bids for funding are supported by a sound technical analysis to ensure success.

Problem solving

• The DRD-P manages a large team and has direct supervisory function of 13 staff spread out in different offices in the region. Excellent (distance) team managing skills and efficient communication are crucial for the job holder to succeed.
• Plan West Africa's program portfolio is steadily growing and besides the necessity to oversee the efficient implementation of global initiatives, s/he has to help manage pressure from donor offices on country operations to pursue grant opportunities, which might occasionally not respond to Plan's priorities in a given country.
• The job holder will require sound strategic and relationship management skills to ensure that Plan's country and regional strategies are adequately funded.
• Overseeing development programming, humanitarian action, resource mobilization, communication, capacity development for program delivery, and advocacy, the job owner will need to be able to multi-task and the ability to maintain efficiently a large activity portfolio, high levels of problem solving skills and creative thinking.
• The job holder should be able to effectively deputize the Regional Director in case of need.
• His/her personal engagement in internal advocacy/policy making processes should be effective so that Plan West Africa is a respected contributor to these processes.
• The job holder will act as Plan's most senior programmatic spokesperson in the region

Knowledge, skills, and behaviours

Knowledge

• Sound understanding of integrated development issues and critical analysis of child poverty
• In-depth knowledge of child-rights programming
• Knowledge of development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and implications to community development
• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic planning processes
• Knowledge of effective participatory Monitoring, Evaluation and Research systems and processes

Skills

• Exceptional conceptual and strategic thinking skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with colleagues at long distances;
• Fluency in English and good working knowledge of French;
• Excellent Written and oral communication skills, including presentation and public speaking
• Strong Analytical and problem solving skills;
• Strong team building and motivational skills;
• Good Negotiation and influencing skills;
• Solid experiences in resource mobilization with a variety of donors;
• Leadership analysis/coaching skills;
• Strong inter-personal skills in a multi-cultural environment;

Behaviours performance

• Creates strong sense of purpose within own part of the business and with stakeholders
• Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behaviour
• Strategic thinking and delivery
• Sees contribution of own part of the organisation in wider Plan and external context
• Balances future vision with practical delivery
• Decision making
• Sound judgement and decision-making in complex situations
• Influencing
• Can reach out and influence large groups of people
• Effective teambuilder
• Creates highly motivated team of unified purpose
• Modifies own view to get best outcome for organisation
• Learning
• Supports learning in diverse teams
• Self Awareness
• Remains calm and positive under pressure and in difficult situations
• Aware of impact on others and adjusting own behaviour accordingly
• Humble and service oriented

Physical environment and demands

Typically office environment with frequent travel 40% within and outside the region.

Languages

Fluency in English and good working knowledge of French