Program Support Manager Strategy, Burkina Faso

Location: Ouagadougou

Reports To: Country Director

Salary: Level E

US$40 – $55,000 per annum depending on experience plus full expat benefits

Closing Date: 25^th March 2012

This is an accompanied position and a full relocation package will be available.

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter quoting WA028 to

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 by increasing its income, working in partnership with others and operating effectively.

Plan Burkina has an approved Country Strategic Plan(CSP) since December 2009 which represents the outcome of a thorough participatory and transparent process, including a child rights situation analysis, specific thematic studies, and consultations with several partners and stakeholders. This CSP also incorporates the lessons learned from an external evaluation of Plan Burkina’s previous interventions and defines its programme framework together with expected outcome for five years.

Working in close collaboration with the Programme Operation Manager, this job is needed to provide ongoing reflection to the whole programme on strategy, learning and technical quality as it shifts from traditional development approaches to one based more on an analysis of child-rights. Identifying key strengths and opportunities while mitigating the risks of weakness and threats, this post will identify emerging areas of work in line with the CSP.

Dimensions of Role:

• Directly supervises five Technical Advisors and the Research & Evaluation Coordinator
• Has a delegated authority for expenditure up to € 200K
• Member of country Strategic Management Team (SMT)
• Manages and develops the Program Support Department
• Works in partnership with the Program Operational Manager; SMT and Program Units
• Represent the Program on behalf of Plan Burkina Faso in regional or global forums, networks, consultative sessions, or conferences
• Reports monthly to the Country Director on the planned progress of roll out of approved CSP to the team and partners

Typical Responsibilities - Key End Results of Position:

Burkina Faso Program is informed by a relevant and up to date Country Strategic Plan

Activities will include:

• Continually research the context of child poverty in Burkina keeping SMT informed of opportunities for child-rights programming
• Facilitate the revision processes of the existing CSP and the development of the new one
• Ensure technical capacity analysis is relevant for the delivery of the plans
• Design simple evaluation systems for the Country Strategic Plan and Programs that all staff (and beneficiaries) might follow
• Report on progress to the SMT over the duration of the implementation of the CSP
• Roll out approved CSP to the team and partners and provides follow up and support for strategic directions

All programmes and projects have effective M&E systems that generate information enabling learning and adjustment for increased impact

Activities will include:

• Review existing systems and make adjustments as necessary
• Research and instil best practices from field experiences
• Shared within the organization and outside Plan
• Identify best practice from other organization
• Support program directly by ensuring technical support through training and guidance
• Facilitate the establishment and implementation of standards of accountability, effectiveness and efficiency in the achievement of Plan’s program framework

The Programme Support Department is operating as a high performance team respected by the country programme and adding value

Activities will include:

• Recruitment as necessary when vacancies arise
• Individual performance management
• Team building and objective setting
• Support and development needs established and met for improved performance
• Whole team fulfillment of Plan’s core policies including Child Protection Policy; health and safety etc

New programme bids for funding will be supported by a sound technical analysis to ensure success

Activities will include:

• Identification of opportunities
• Agreement with NO Partners
• Identification and partnership with viable delivery partners
• Negotiating with donors
• Bid-writing
• M&E of successful programs

Dealing with Problems:

• Ability to think strategically, recognize program and persuade colleagues of opportunities that Plan should exploit
• Motivating and bring staff to high levels of performance requires a creative and effective management style
• Managing programme change away from traditional delivery programmes to rights-based work
• Using your technical knowledge effectively and knowing when to seek additional support

Communications and Working Relationships:

Internal

• The Programme Operations Manager is a key colleague with this post-holder to ensure the quality and the program effectiveness with assiduous use of funds and meeting all Plan delivery standards
• Country Management Team to make decision on major issues related to program strategy and implementation;
• Program Units / District Offices to provide technical advice to Program staff based in the field and learn from their experience at community level
• Grant & Business Development Manager to provide concepts/ideas to grants management team and ensure that Grants activities are aligned with the CSP;
• Deputy Regional Director Programs, Plan WARO Program Support Manager Network and NOs’ Program Managers to share best practices in program implementation; to collaborate on regional initiatives; and to identify mechanisms to improve program quality through learning from each other.

External

• Partners at national/provincial level: Program Managers at other INGOs and Government representatives to share best practices and to identify/implement opportunities for collaboration e.g. advocacy, research, etc.
• National technical networks

Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

Knowledge

• Understanding of integrated development issues and critical analysis of child poverty
• Knowledge of theories of child-rights programming
• Knowledge of development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and implications to community development
• Knowledge of effective participatory M&E systems
• Knowledge of strategic planning processes
• Knowledge of the context in West Africa an advantage

Skills

• Demonstrated facilitation and active listening skills to review and develop new iterations of the CSP and argue for bids
• Demonstrated experience as a development professional in planning, monitoring, evaluating programs
• Skills in managing impact assessment with the participation of beneficiaries an advantage
• Demonstrated management of effective teams especially in change management
• Able to identify and manage risks to the organisation
• Working experience in community participation in development/Programming
• Demonstrated skills in writing successful project proposals based on excellent analysis and community involvement
• Skills in using networking and advocacy at a local and international level for clear program outcomes
• Experience of developing effective partnerships for program impact
• Good presentation skills
• Demonstrated writing skills (report writing, proposal and concept paper writing)
• Fluency in French and English language command (written, spoken) is essential
• Strong planning and organizational skills
• Computer literate

Behaviours

• Demonstrates clear respect to all and especially children without discrimination
• Strongly drives performance forward in area of the business for which they are responsible
• Involves others in setting and achieving goals
• Creates strong sense of purpose within own part of the business and with stakeholders
• Demonstrates honesty and transparency in holding self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and Plan’s standards of behaviour
• Makes a strong contribution to wider strategy
• Sees contribution of own part of the organisation in wider Plan and external context
• Balances future vision with practical delivery
• Cross culturally adept
• Acts as a team player, willing to get the best outcome overall, adjusting own priorities if necessary
• Creates and delivers outcomes in complex partnerships, keeping key stakeholders on board
• Sets a strong learning culture in their part of the organisation
• Uses opportunities across Plan to develop others
• Remains calm and positive under pressure and in difficult situations
• Leads major change while keeping staff and stakeholders on board

Physical Environment and Demands:

Typically office environment with 33% extensive travel in program areas and abroad

Languages:

• Fluency in French and English language command (written, spoken) is essential

References and background checks will be carried out in conformity with Plan’s Child Protection Policy.

Plan operates an equal opportunity policy which recognises the value of a diverse workforce.