ECHO Health and Nutrition Programme Manager

TITLE: ECHO Health and Nutrition Programme Manager TEAM/PROGRAMME: Health Programme (Operations).

LOCATION: Abyei

GRADE: 2 CONTRACT LENGTH: 8 months (renewable)

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: (select only one)

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 in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process for staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The primary purpose of the Health and Nutrition Manager position is to provide strategic leadership, programmatic and financial management oversight for the ECHO-funded Health and Nutrition Project in Abyei, ensuring effective implementation, achievement of targets, compliance with donor requirements, and quality reporting. The position reports to the Abyei Field Manager, with technical oversight and support from the Head of Child Survival and the Health and Nutrition Technical Specialist.

The post holder will lead the planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the project, while providing direction and capacity strengthening to health and nutrition teams to ensure quality and integrated service delivery. Key responsibilities include budget management and expenditure control, implementation planning, performance monitoring, service delivery reporting, and timely, high-quality narrative and financial reporting. The Manager will also oversee consortium and partner management, strengthening routine monitoring, joint reviews, coordination, and timely reporting across partners. The role will promote synergies and complementarity with other ECHO-funded interventions, including ECHO Cash, and with the broader SCI health and nutrition portfolio in Abyei.

The position will further contribute to strengthening Save the Children’s health and nutrition portfolio through effective documentation, knowledge management, learning and evidence generation, as well as supporting the development of new funding applications and proposals. The post holder will represent Save the Children in relevant consortium, State and County coordination forums and maintain strong partnerships with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO, WFP and other stakeholders to strengthen coordination, collaboration and programme impact across the Abyei Administrative Area.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Field manager with technical oversight and support from the Head of Child Survival and the Health and Nutrition Technical Specialist

Staff reporting to this post,

Direct: Clinical Coordinator, Health Officer, Nutrition Coordinator, Nutrition Officer, WASH officers, WASH Coordinator, HMIS officer, Pharmacy Officer, RH Coordinator

Indirect: TBC

Budget Responsibilities: all health budget

Role Dimensions: working with ECHO consortium partners, health partners, supply chain manager, HPI/FM Administrative Manager, Nutrition Programmes Manager and other heads of departments.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Project Management; Programme delivery, management and quality assurance

• Manage and coordinate all activities under ECHO Health and Nutrition project including the development, implementation and monitoring of project and budgets according to donor agreements and rules/regulations and SC internal policies.

• Led the development and overall planning for annual and quarterly project plans and the development of monthly scopes of work

• Responsible for ensuring quality and the timely implementation of the project and day-to-day management of the project

• Provide management and technical support to health staff of Save the Children and ECHO consortium partners at County level as appropriate

• Plan and provide oversight to ensureimplementation and monitoring of all technical components of the ECHO Health and Nutrition project in compliance with Save the Children strategies and priorities

• Monitor and promote integrated programming with health, nutrition, WASH, MHPSS and child protection to increase overall project impact

• Oversees and monitor medical and nutrition stock commodities in the field and last mile facilities and initiates timely requests in coordination with the health and nutrition coordinators, Roving Pharmacist, medical logistics officers and supply chain colleagues

• Ensures quality benchmarks, safety audits and health and nutrition assessments are monitored in all health and nutrition facilities and actions from QBMs, audits and assessments are followed and implemented

• Maintain effective program reporting, timely programme implementation and accountability, monitoring and evaluation systems for both internal and external use and ensure monitoring and evaluation tools are systematically implemented and used by the team in cooperation with MEAL staff

• Contribute to programme development with required inputs from the field for new project proposals development

• Produce and develop high quality, timely and regular project reports (monthly/quarterly/annual) and situation reports as required by both donor and SCI management within the agreed reporting schedules in liaison with wards and finance departments

• Develop, lead and coordinate health and nutrition teams and provide technical leadership and supportive supervision to staff and facilities including discussions with beneficiaries

• Ensure the health and nutrition projects are implemented in strict compliance Save the Children’s policies and donor requirements and regulations which include in all aspects and phases of implementation

  Facilitate monthly project performance reviews with project staff, consortium partners and health facility teams to assess progress against agreed indicators and deliverables, identify implementation gaps, and agree on timely corrective actions to strengthen overall project performance.

Management of budget and financial resources

• Prepare operational plans, budgets and human resource plans for the project.
• Work with health project staff, logistics/finance to develop expenditure and procurement plans to guide implementation of approved grants. Support Field teams in implementation and tracking of these plans, and ensure that donor rules and regulations are adhered to.
• Provide recommendations and interventions to rectify any identified deviations that impact budget adherence to Area Managers, and the Finance/ Grants Manager.
• Take full responsibility for the delegated budget holding function on the programmatic aspects of the supervised grants, participate actively in finance meetings, award review meetings, and contribute to financial decision-making.
• Communicate and work closely with Finance & Awards to develop quarterly and annual expenditure forecasts, monitor monthly expenses ensuring to address overspends and underspends, and ensure that expenses are incurred in accordance with annual budgets, quarterly expenditure forecasts, and using correct budget codes.
• Ensure regular monitoring and monthly reporting on all grant’s management aspects; phased budgets and actual expenses analysis (Budget vs. Actual, performance), procurement plans development and implementation, work-plan progress and updating, data collection and analysis and monitoring of indicators with project staff, awards and Finance Team.
• Ensure that staffing levels, management structures, and personnel processes are appropriate and effective to enable the implementation of the programme.
• Accountable for management and monitoring of assigned budget in the capacity of budget holder: authorize expenses, monitor spending and ensure the effective compliance of grant management.
• Ensure proper control and usage of Save the Children assets and funds and ensure the programme provides value for money.

Performance management and capacity building

• Manage, lead and motivate direct reports staff in the area of responsibility, ensuring they have clear objectives and receive meaningful and constructive feedback on their performance regularly including through quarterly, semi-annual and annual staff appraisals of staff reporting to her/him in collaboration with the human resources department.
• Create and maintain a cooperative and positive working environment where staff have clear roles and responsibilities, participate in decision making and are supported in progressing towards their objectives.
• Assess/review the human resource needs when appropriate and participate in staff recruitment and performance review process as needed by the organisation
• Guide and support staff in their development plans, and taking prompt action to address issues of underperformance and any other issues impacting on their professional conduct or implementing their duties and responsibilities.
• Lead in the identification of competency gaps among program staff, develop capacity building plans, and provide capacity building and technical support to health and nutrition project staff, consortium partner staff, and relevant ministry/partners
• Ensure Save the Children Child’s Protection, Fraud and anti-bribery, and Safeguarding policies are understood, adhered to, implemented, monitored, and integrated into all aspects of the project by the project team and consortium partners.

Representation and coordination:

• Engage and coordinate with key and relevant stakeholders such as MOH, UNICEF, WFP, WHO, OCHA, UNISFA focal persons and other stakeholders/implementing partners for the smooth implementation of the health and nutrition programme
• Ensure an integrated and joined-up approach to advocacy and programme work.
• Develop and maintain a detailed understanding of the health programme in South Sudan,; including national policy development, key players in government, INGOs, UN and national/regional and local civil society organisations.
• Represent Save the Children in various health-related forums, meetings and workshops at the county and state level and strengthen and maintain links with relevant co-ordination mechanisms through attendance at meetings and through networking.
• Ensure that regular and effective communications are maintained with the Health Technical Advisor and other sectors within the organization for smooth program operations and implementation.
• Conduct supervisions in collaboration with State and County Health teams and stakeholders.
• Participate in cluster meetings, monthly and quarterly review meetings at county and state levels with partners, MOH, and UN agencies
• Ensure all donor questions, concerns, and information requests are responded to appropriately and in a timely.
• Coordinate and participate in relevant rapid assessments and task force meetings during emergencies and disease outbreaks

Advocacy:

• Work closely with the Health Technical Advisor for identification of advocacy issues, appropriate programming interventions for meeting the needs of children, women, adolescents and beneficiaries based on assessment findings and understanding about advocacy strategy;
• Engage with State Ministry of Health and other stakeholders and duty-bearers at the County levels on health policies including the abolition of health user fees at the point of access and monitoring of implementation of Free Health Care Initiatives;
• Ensure that Save the Children advocacy issues are integrated into all core programming issues and are reflected during programme implementation;
• Identify, influence and mobilize appropriate individuals and organisations, including the local partners and civil society organisations in health advocacy for children at the County levels;
• Strengthen and maintain links with all key task forces and coordination mechanisms within the health sector and other relevant sectors at County level.
• Contribute and participate in the development of new funding applications/concept notes and proposals by providing contextual and technical inputs as required
• Ensure lessons learnt and best practices are incorporated into new strategies and activities within the project

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 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

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 2-3 years’ humanitarian health programme management experience in an international or national NGO.
• Health qualification - MD, Nurse, Clinical officer, MPH with clinical background
• 5 years experience in managing health and nutrition programs

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• At least 5 years of work experience after graduation.
• Knowledge of donor rules/regulations and experience in managing health and nutrition programs particularly ECHO, UNICEF and WFP-funded projects
• Familiarity with the South Sudan Essential Health Services Package, Nutrition Policy and National Health plan.
• Experience in budget management and programme finance packages.
• Experience in HR management. Excellent personnel skills to enable the development and participation of team members.
• Experience in working in insecure areas. Ability and flexibility to understand the cultural and political environment and to work well with national health personnel in Southern Sudan
• Ability to assess evolving needs quickly and calmly work under pressure as required
• Excellent communication and presentation skills. Ability to remain calm and to be diplomatic, both with the local health authorities and with the community as well as fellow staff
• Good spoken and written English. Skill and experience in donor report writing.
• Excellent computer skills to allow reporting and representation
• A South Sudanese national and currently registered with the Medical Council, Nurses Council or Midwifery Council of South Sudan
• Previous experience in emergency response.
• Previous experience working within the region of Southern Sudan
• Knowledge of locally spoken languages will be an added advantage
• Experience in conducting organizational capacity assessment, developing capacity building plans and implementing strategic capacity building activities
• Good knowledge of quality standards, protocols and quality controls related to medical practice and medical services delivery

Desirable

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 the 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.

The Organization
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard. We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

· No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
· All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
· Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:
Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/jobs We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.