Program Manager (Food Security and Nutrition)

ROLE PURPOSE:

The post holder will be responsible for the overall successful management and implementation of the Food and Nutrition Assistance for Conflict-Affected Households programme, implemented in the Kayah, Northern Shan and Urban. The programme aims to ensure food security for conflict affected population (primarily IDPs) and improve nutrition outcomes for PLW and children 0–59 months, contributing to reduced incidences of moderate and severe acute malnutrition and to increase food security for vulnerable populations via targeted and adapted approaches according to the unique needs and possibilities for the target groups/geographies.

The program manager will plan and support the cash/ food and BSFP provision and will provide technical support to the field offices including monitoring, remote teams’ management, and reporting. In addition, the position holder will also manage the performance and develop capacity of relevant project staff. The post holder is expected to dedicate a significant amount of her/his time with the team in the areas of intervention, to support and monitor the daily implementation of the project, in coordination with HAOs, APM and PM of field offices.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Program Management

· Manage the Food Aid Program project, ensuring efficient and effective delivery of program activities of WFP food and BSFP distribution in targeted townships, including supervising proper identification, registration, and monitoring of beneficiary lists to prevent overlap with other humanitarian programmes in the intervention zone.

· Lead on problem resolution while ensuring that team members are involved in the decision making process, in coordination with HoAs , APM and PM/FOM of field offices and together with TL, HoP.

· Lead on the targeting and verification exercises as required to ensure transparency and accountability in the targeting of programme beneficiaries.

· Together with MEAL team, ensure that feedback mechanisms are established, and feedback points are set up including follow up on responding feedback.

· Ensure implementation of and compliance to the SOPs and other operational manuals designed for the implementation of the programme (e.g., cash transfers manuals).

· Coordinate and work with the programme teams, WFP, and WFP’s partners to ensure timely delivery of program activities.

· Prepare the programme’s work plans and monitor monthly variances and unmet targets, then design and apply corrective measures to remain on track.

· Provide support and supervision to the staff to ensure successful implementation of programme, and provide opportunities for staff development.

· Produce timely and quality reports fit to donor requirements that ensure appropriate capturing of programme impact and outcomes as well as programme outputs based on logistical framework and M&E system.

· Ensure proper budget management in line with donor requirements and as per Standard Operation Delegation

· Through monitoring and field visits, provide technical supervision and management guidance to staff to ensure quality and timely implementation of the project, within defined budget.

· Define programme supply needs through the development of Procurement Plans and coordinate with the logistics team and program coordinators to put in place a practically phased procurement plan.

· Identify budget variances and communicate with HOP on major variances and solutions identified.

· Coordinate with HOP to prepare requests for budget revisions, realignment and other grant modifications.

· Coordinate and work closely together with the HAOs, APM and PM in everyday management, detailed work planning, etc.

· Ensure compliance to systems and processes for planning and reporting to member head office and donors.

· Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) team (including the Head of MEAL, MEAL Advisor, MEAL Coordinator, and project Officer (Distribution Management, MEAL and documentation) and MEAL assistant and Child Poverty technical lead to develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation plans and to capture learning opportunities around the effectiveness of the cash transfers.

· Support program assessments, evaluations and other reviews required in the program, in coordination with HoA, APM, PM/FOM and PCs

· Ensure to support PCs for conducting regular monitoring of the market prices and generation of monthly market assessment reports. Ensure market monitoring data is consistently consolidated in a timely manner.

· Undertake additional tasks that are relevant to program management and activity implementations that may be assigned by his / her manager from time to time, including the development of new projects and the response to emergencies, in the area or at country level.

· Comply with Save the Children policies and practices with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities, and other relevant policies and procedures.

Coordination & Communications

· Stand as main representative of cash transfers and food distribution in NSS, Urban, and Kayah, internally and externally, in particular within the food security sector and cash working groups (national and regional level).

· Conduct field monitoring visits with PCs

· Ensure flow of information and coordination between Head of Area, Area Program Manager/ FOM/Project Coordinators in all implementation area in daily operational and program-related matters to foster exchanges and good coordination, with a focus on multisectoral programs managed by the Head of program and supported by Child Poverty Technical Lead.

· Facilitate field visits by donors and Save the Children Member representatives.

· Ensure high quality, accessible information about the project and its achievements are available for internal and external audiences (including current donors, Save the Children Members, potential funders, etc.)

· Represent SC in relevant forums when required by the HoP and Technical Lead.

Project Reporting:

· With the support of the PCs, prepare and submit project reports. As per donor requirements, this will include quarterly progress reports, annual report, final project report, monitoring findings/briefs/reports (baseline, PDM, endline etc.), market monitoring report, ad hoc monthly/biweekly repots (to be confirmed with donor)

· Prepare ad-hoc project briefs, when required by donor

· Participate in monthly award review meetings and provide detailed inputs when needed in regards to monthly project review process

MEAL

· Together with MEAL focal, ensure the program have fully functional accountability mechanism and information is analysed to inform programme adaptation and risk mitigation

· Ensure quality benchmarks are successfully implemented in all project activities and that ongoing analysis informs programme adaptations and quality improvement in coordination with SL, HoP, APM and MEAL team

· Discuss quality (i.e Quality benchmarks) and performance monitoring (i.e IPTT analysis) findings during program coordination/review meetings, regular monitoring visits, review MEAL reports to highlight key project strengths and areas of improvement,

· Supporting MEAL data analysis with coordinate MEAL Officer / IMAs and MEAL Coordinator

· Creation communication channel among Head of MEAL/ Program Leads / MEAL Coordinator and MEAL Officer

Leadership:

· Establish clear and compelling objectives with teams and individuals and monitors progress and performance

· Encourage good initiatives and innovative ideas for her/his staffs and be a supportive and empowering manager.

· Take a flexible and positive leadership style, adapting to a given situation or to the needs of the team.

· Maintain a focus on achieving results and meeting the agreed objectives, and pro-actively solve problems without having to be instructed by line management.

· Identify clear development needs and development plans for the team through regular constructive reviews of the performance

· Manage and support the team under his/her responsibility and assess the performance of personnel under his/her direct supervision following SCI performance management processes

· Ensure adherence to security regulations by personnel under his/her supervision

· Identify learning and training opportunities for Save the Children staff and partners and work as a mentor and role model for less experienced staff.

· Work closely with the HR team to identify staffing needs.

· Identifying capacity building needs (management, language etc.) for the whole team and in conjunction with the HORO or delegated person, devise a plan for personal development of each staff member.

Child Safeguarding Responsibility:

· Ensure that staff provides all beneficiaries of programme with ongoing, age-appropriate verbal or written information in relevant languages about Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Bachelor’s degree (3 years + education post-secondary school). May be undertaking a professional qualification like master’s program
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience implementing projects, preferably on humanitarian response, food/cash provision and nutrition

· Very good written and spoken English.

· Very good people management skills/experience and proven ability to create an environment which encourages team-working and motivates a team across various geographical areas.

· Excellent knowledge of project management cycle.

· Ability to work well in a team, train other staff, and demonstrate experience efficiently managing a team.

· Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.

· Experienced in attending and participating in sector/cluster meetings.

· Experienced at conducting project monitoring and evaluation.

· Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge of community development, working with children and on children’s issues.

· Significant people management skills/experience and proven ability to create an environment which encourages team-working and motivates a team across various geographical areas.

· Ability to make decisions when needed and prepared to account for them.

· Capacity to anticipate change and adapt the plans and priorities accordingly

· Experience working in Rakhine State, with IDPs

· Capacity to work in multicultural environments

· Willingness to frequently travel to IDP camps in Sittwe and villages in Pauktaw Township