Strategic Initiatives Manager - World Vision - Vientiane, Laos

Position Title:	Strategic Initiatives Manager	Application Deadline Date:	06 Jan 2013
Position Location:	Vientiane	Position Start Date:	01 Feb 2013
Region:	East Asia	Position End Date:	31 Jan 2015
Requisition Category:	International	Recruitment Priority:	Need Immediately
Country Name:	Laos	Program/Office Name:	Lao PDR
City/Province:	Vientiane	Employee Type:	Contract
Job Grade Level:	15/160	Recruitment Status:	SS Interviews in Progress
Is this a family post?	Family - Spouse with Children
		Requisition Num:	2012EASEMUA-92QAJ6

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

The purpose of this position is to support the strategy planning and implementation of World Vision Laos (WVL). This includes coordinating the development of a simpler, more integrated planning system, which incorporates both bottom up and top-down processes. The Strategy Initiatives Manager (SIM) is responsible for the development of a co-owned National Annual Business Plan (ABP) and ensuring that annual plans are developed in all departments and programs that reflect the National goals and priorities. The SIM is responsible for developing a performance monitoring process and using this for monitoring progress against plans and for organizational learning, communicating the progress and issues, and liaising with senior management and appropriate departments to ensure contingency action is undertaken as needed and applicable.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• At the mid-point of the country strategy period, the SIM will design and facilitate a strategy review process, working with senior management to define actions needed to achieve agreed goals by the end of the strategy cycle. In the final year of the 3 year strategy cycle, this position would design and help facilitate the process for reviewing and revising the country strategy.
• This position will ensure alignment of WVL's country strategy with the regional strategy, ministry strategic guidance (MSG) for all ministries and sectors, and global partnership and regional requirements. The SIM will support the SMT to filter and prioritize relevant partnership initiatives, negotiating reasonable targets and taking context - sensitive steps to incorporate and institutionalize global priorities.
• This position will also be responsible for managing agreed corporate strategic initiatives (CSIs) and confirming organization change is managed in keeping with agreed objectives and timelines. Key strategic outcomes include:
  • Optimize our policies to fit our context (3.2.1)
  • Establish a basic service platform (3.2.2)
  • Establish a simpler, more integrated annual planning system (3.2.3)
  • % of programs aligned to WVL’s basic program parameters (3.3.1.b) (Support-role)
• The Strategic Initiatives Manager will have a small team and will be expected to demonstrate Christ-centered servant leadership.

Strategy Management:
• • Optimize our policies to fit our context (3.2.1)
  • Establish a basic service platform (3.2.2)
  • Establish a simpler, more integrated annual planning system (3.2.3)
  • % of programs aligned to WVL’s basic program parameters (3.3.1.b) (Support-role)
  • The Strategic Initiatives Manager will have a small team and will be expected to demonstrate Christ-centered servant leadership.
  • Develop and implement a strategy management communication plan that will increase WVL’s ownership for strategic goals. Liaise with relevant stakeholders to support internal and external communications about the WVL country strategy.
  • Develop or adapt from partnership models the tools and mechanisms for strategic resource allocations to link with regional and partnership strategy: strategic mandates and priorities, strategy guidance for ministries / sectors, growth targets and funding models.
  • Prepare briefings and advice for National Director and senior leadership on national strategic issues and business advice as they arise, for example: priority geographic areas for growth, key strategic partnerships, etc. Develop materials and recommendations and serve as a sounding board on key decisions.
  • Continuously identify strategic milestones and emerging risks which could become obstructions to the achievement of strategic outcomes.
  • At the mid point of the country strategy cycle, design a process to review the strategy implementation progress, reflect on required actions, changes, interventions needed in order to achieve the 3 year objectives.
  • At the end of the country strategy cycle, design a national strategy management process that is consistent with the WV partnership strategy framework and EAS ROSM requirements.
  • Provide leadership to the NOSM team members and relevant working groups.
  • Coordinate strategic planning processes and ensure that key stakeholders are appropriately engaged in regional strategy formulation and management.
  
  Annual Business Plan:
  • Develop a simpler, more integrated planning system, which incorporates both bottom-up and top-down processes, based on Annual Business Plan(ABP) and Child Welbeing (CWB) data and is guided by National Strategy.
  • Lead the SMT in the Mid Year Planning and Budgeting Process (MYPB) using a participatory approach which reflects child well being goals.
  • Facilitate the completion and shared-ownership for the National Annual Business Plan according to the agreed schedule, ensuring that annual plans are developed in all departments and programs that reflect the National goals and priorities.
  • Support National Director and Government Relations to communicate the ABP to relevant Government Counterparts (National Committee for Rural Development and Poverty Eradication, Line Ministries)
  
  Organizational Performance Management:
  • Develop and implement an appropriate strategy monitoring system to track the progress and performance of WVL against the objectives in the annual business plan, contributing to the achievement of the 3 year strategy objectives in the country strategy, using the framework and principles of the Multi Year Planning & Budgeting (MYPB) process.
  • Coordinate with the relevant departments to determine contingency actions where needed.
  • Communicate the status of the progress against the business plan to senior management and other stakeholders including the East Asia Regional Office (EA RO).
  • Analyze and identify potential for improvements to organizational effectiveness, synergy and alignment, resulting in greater efficiencies and a higher quality of service to internal and external stakeholders.
  
  Manage Assigned Corporate Strategic Initiatives and Special Projects:
  • Coordinate the implementation of Corporate Strategic Initiatives as per Annual Business Plan.
  • Support senior management with the implementation of agreed partnership and regional initiatives by defining what needs to be undertaken in order to meet the relevant requirements, identifying the resources that are needed, developing project plans, agreeing the governance of the projects including roles and responsibilities, approvals, budgets, and coordinating implementation.
  • Assist in managing WVL special projects including change management initiatives, business process improvement projects and other projects as needed. Help to scope the project deliverables, work plans, people, budgets, timelines, etc. Coordinate the implementation, monitor and report on progress and work closely with relevant stakeholders to pro-actively address risks, challenges and issues by assessing the situations, developing and analyzing options and coordinating action.
  • Liaise with relevant stakeholders to develop input for communications with these groups in order to support change management and implementation of special projects.
  
  Capacity Building:
  • Model a culture of action, learning and initiative. Contribute to organizational cultural and behavioral changes away from a fear - based, compliance culture to one that takes action and values learning and initiative. Use participatory learning tools (particularly WVL’s “six*star learning tools) and implement WVL’s learning system in order to amplify and expedite change for children and to simplify policies and systems of accountability.
  • Develop empowering leaders. Build capacity of direct reports so that they model WV’s approach to empowered servant leadership.
  • Strengthen the capacity of SMT and dept heads to understand performance management and organizational learning, particularly Balanced Scorecard concepts, methodology, tools and benefits. Act as internal consultant for SMT and other work units in performance improvements.
  
  Team Engagement:
  • As a member of WVL’s management team, participate and contribute to wider organizational decisions and policies. Attend and contribute to Core and SMT meetings, and represent Core / SMT in other forums and venues in WV Lao PDR.
  • Develop mutually supportive relationships with other departments and staff in WVL and actively work with them in order to facilitate effective strategy, business plans and performance management and in the development of appropriate policies, systems, procedures.
  • Visit ADP projects, communities and operations area offices and teams for the purposes of: regularly interacting with children, women and men within families and communities; confirming that the primary stakeholders of WV’s transformational development ministry are in fact benefiting; understanding the unique and complex elements of culture and society in rural communities of Laos; providing encouragement, support, and building relationships with WVL field staff; and reinforcing WV’s vision, mission and core values.
  
  Team Leadership:
  • Lead the strategic management unit building cooperation, team spirit and a supportive environment which reflects WV’s core value ‘we value people’.
  • Supervise all directly reporting staff, including: staff recruitment, orientation, on-going management support, quarterly coaching, annual performance planning and appraisal. Support the professional and personal development of these staff through on the job coaching, identification of learning and training needs and opportunities.
  • Provide Christ-centered leadership, facilitate a supportive environment for spiritual formation of staff, the internalization of WV’s Vision, Mission and Core Values. Encourage the full and appropriate expression of World Vision’s Christian identity, and monitor the implementation of WV’s policy on witness to Jesus Christ with sensitivity to the realities of working in a restricted country context. Participate in and lead devotional meetings, weekly chapel, and annual staff retreat, day of prayer and other events.
  
  Other:
  • Actively represent the National Office in relevant partnership and regional networks and working groups.
  • Carry out additional responsibilities and tasks including administrative, planning, writing, and data gathering as required.
  • Undertake other duties as reasonably assigned by the National Director.
  • Meet with the National Director regularly for support and updates, and for quarterly coaching and annual performance appraisal reviews. Plan and seek support for continued personal, professional and spiritual development for oneself.
    

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

REQUIRED:

Education/Experience:
• Master's degree preferred, in economics, business administration, public administration, international development and/or related field.
• Broad and deep experience in several functions.

Technical Competencies:
• Strategic Planning knowledge and skills: Demonstrates an ability to perform strategic business planning, including settling organizational objectives, overseeing competitive analysis, strategy communication and opportunity/risk recognition.
• Project Management: Demonstrates seasoned project management skills and is able to explain a core suite of project management tools and processes.
• Workshop design and facilitation experience: Able to facilitate workshops and debates of diverse actors in a participatory and empowering fashion.
• Performance Management: Demonstrates ability to design and implement performance management system, monitor leadership performance, report and document performance, and develop recommendation for strategy development and goal setting.
• International Development: Strong knowledge and understanding of humanitarian industry (relief, development, and advocacy), including how INGOs operate in the global, regional and local contexts. Understanding of WV current ministry and operations will be preferred.
• Finance and funding knowledge: Applies understanding of the broad financial basis of the organization, strategic resource allocation, and is able to apply and develop various funding models.
• Business Know-How: Applies a broad-based understanding of business fundamentals with knowledge of World Vision’s organization, strategic relationships, and the business/political environment. Uses a high-level understanding of finance, operations, marketing, information systems, and human resources to manage across departmental and functional lines.
• Evaluates and manages risks to the organization at all levels.
• Written Communication: Expresses ideas, thoughts, and concepts clearly and effectively in writing, using correct grammar and appropriate language, organization and structure.
• Computer Skills: Demonstrates effective computer skills, including use of Microsoft Office Suite, Lotus Notes, Intranet and Internet, and various software applications and databases used in work efforts.
• English Language Proficiency: The ability to speak, understand and write fluently in English.

PREFERRED:

• Some cross-functional and cross-cultural management experience of 3 - 5 years preferred.

FOR QUESTIONS ONLY CONTACT WORLD VISION HERE



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StrategicInitiatives.pdf