Regional Humanitarian Capacity Building/ Learning Solution Programme Manager

Title: Regional Humanitarian Capacity Building/ Learning Solution Programme Manager – West and Central Africa

• Team/programme: Programme Operations/Humanitarian Function
• Location: Dakar, Senegal (with travels to COs 30% excluding special deployment related to staff’s development )
• Grade: 3
• Contract lenght: 12 Months renewable
• Salary range: XOF 24 million to XOF 25 million annual gross

Child safeguarding

Level 3: The post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

Role purpose

The Regional Humanitarian Capacity Building (HCB) and Learning Solution Programme Manager role is aimed at ensuring that capacity building forms an integral part of complex large-scale responses and consequently remains with Country Office (CO) teams once the response has moved into the recovery phase, and surge teams withdraw. H/She will ensure the design, development and delivery of innovative, quality humanitarian needs–focused learning solutions and services at individual, organisational and sector-wide levels.

The Regional HCB Programme Manager will work with key strategic stakeholders such as local and national NGOs, national and local government, learning providers and humanitarian practitioners who have or would have a role in capacity development during a humanitarian response to build relationships and identify opportunities for collaboration in case of response. Manage the effective design, development, implementation and monitoring of learning projects or programmes such as, but not exclusive to, the preparedness and reactive learning programmes

They will research and support existing capacity development offers where possible and only develop new ones where there is no existing offer. They will be able to build on a number of Save the Children programmes covering a variety of technical and operational topics.

The Regional HCB Programme Manager will represent Save the Children when appropriate with local authorities, partner organisations, and other agencies. This includes identifying and joining relevant networks and possibly, facilitating new ones.

Scope of role

• Reports to Regional Humanitarian Advisor and with a dotted line to SCUK Humanitarian Capacity Building Team.
• Staff reporting to this post:
• Direct: Regional Humanitarian Capacity Building (HCB) Programme Officer
• Indirect: Working closely with the HLA global team and HR focal points at both RO and CO level, Operations Backstops as well as the Humanitarian focal points and or Directors of Operations within COs.
• Budget Responsibilities: N/A

Role Dimensions: The Regional Humanitarian Capacity Building (HCB)/ Learning Solutions Programme Manager sits at the WCA Regional Office in the Regional Operations Program Team under the Humanitarian Function line-managed by the Regional Head of Humanitarian and working closely with CAFU Regional Strategic Analyst. Its role is to support both the regional office and country offices across the region strengthening humanitarian response teams’ capacity and enhancing Save the Children’s preparedness capacity by developing and consolidating the regional surge capacity. They promote collaborative cross-functional dynamics with external (NGOs, UN agencies, donors, private sector and other relevant humanitarian actors) and internal stakeholders at different levels (Country Offices, Regional Office, Centre, Members, Response Backstops and EHU WCA OPS Lead) towards common objectives in order to maximize the impact of our humanitarian response programme delivery and external strategic positioning.

Key areas of accountability 

The main accountabilities of the role are as follows:

Preparedness:

• Work with Regional and Country office teams to ensure humanitarian capacity development is systematically embedded into Emergency Preparedness planning and humanitarian strategies and built into the Annual Master Budget for COs into People Investment, particularly in high-risk countries
• Work with the Regional and Country Offices to ensure they are aware of the importance of the HCB role and to advocate for resources available to invest in capacity development and the focus on working across the sector
• Contextualise existing Save the Children capacity development materials according to key needs in the country
• Ensure the technical and pedagogical quality of learning projects and programmes in close collaboration with other technical specialists, where necessary, and MEAL support
• Manage the process of conducting learning needs analysis, and the development of relevant and innovative learning products and services based on that analysis
• Manage the process of designing content for both face-to-face and online learning, working closely with Digital Learning Specialists and subject matter experts
• Be familiar with existing Save the Children capacity development materials, receive and cascade training of trainers to be able to deliver non-technical materials on short notice for country programmes in the early stages of response/scale-up. Ensure the pre-prepared materials are available in appropriate local languages
• Facilitate, where appropriate, key SCI preparedness and basic humanitarian courses in support of the Regional Humanitarian function.

Response Management

In case of existing active response: ensure that the Country Office (CO) incorporates Capacity Development into its approach by:

• Designing capacity development plans for support
• Incorporating capacity development resource needs into response plans, EPP, and talent development plans
• Overseeing implementation of plans in line with CO priorities
• Support in the consolidation and development of a high-performing Emergency Response Team at CO with existing staff and existing training materials.
• Work with local capacity development providers to design humanitarian capacity development plans for local actors in the response and monitor the implementation of the plan by the local providers where appropriate
• Carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way that reflects Save the Children’s commitment to safeguarding children in accordance with the Child Safeguarding Policy

Behaviours (Values in Practice)

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 regional scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members 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 the highest levels of integrity

Qualifications

• MA / MSc level in International Cooperation/Humanitarian Aid, a relevant subject or equivalent field experience
• Fluency in written and spoken English and French (this will be tested)
• Computer literate in Microsoft Word, Excel etc.
• Excellent training and facilitation skills that come from a deep understanding of adult learning methodologies
• Extensive experience in designing and delivering training and workshops to mixed-ability and mixed-language groups
• Exceptionally high standards of customer service with proven experience in delivering highly professional services to stakeholders
• Experience and skills

Essential

• Minimum 5 years of proven experience in planning, coordination and management, preferably in the INGO sector and/or in an international environment
• Previous experience in humanitarian programme management, preparedness and response in volatile contexts
• Experience working in a regional and/or country office with preference in the WCA region
• Experience in managing multi-donor, multi-site programmes
• Experience in developing and delivering training, as well as mentoring and coaching.
• Excellent communication skills
• Proven ability to communicate ideas clearly and influence change at an operational and strategic level
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Well-organised with a proven ability to build own credibility and authority with others
• Experience in advocacy, networking and relationship building with a wide variety of stakeholders
• Strong communication skills – verbal, written and distance communication – at a standard appropriate for giving feedback or presenting information at a senior level
• Strong interpersonal skills, with an ability to bring out the best in people from a range of backgrounds and cultures
• Problem-solving, negotiation and contracting skills
• Coaching/mentoring skills
• Ability to travel internationally, occasionally at short notice and to remote and insecure locations

Desirable

• Solid networking experience
• Humanitarian leadership experience in conflict zones
• Working knowledge of one or more regional languages
• Relevant academic qualification for example, in the field of humanitarianism/international development, social/political science, or adult learning and development
• Experience working on an accredited learning programme or working with a university or professional standards organisation
• Experience working with local organisations and in partnership with international organisations
• Experience of Distance Learning technology and methodology

Additional job responsibilities

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.

Equal Opportunities

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

PS: Female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.