Livelihoods Technical Specialist

Location: Iraq

Contract - Full-Time

Closing date: Tuesday 11 June 2013

All jobs close at midnight UK time on the date specified

Save the Children is the world's leading independent organisation for children. We work in 120 countries. We save children's lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfill their potential.

We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

We have over two million supporters worldwide and raised 1.6 billion dollars last year to reach more children than ever before, through programmes in health, nutrition, education, protection and child rights, also in times of humanitarian crises.

There are 30 national Save the Children organisations around the world. By the end of 2012 all our international programmes will be delivered through a merged operation with 14 000 staff, managed through seven regional hubs and reporting to a relatively small, central office. We're changing to become more efficient, more aligned, a better partner, a stronger advocate, a magnet for world-class people and relevant for the 21st century.

Role:

The Livelihoods Technical Specialist is a member of the SCI Iraq Country Office Program Development and Quality (PDQ) team. S/he is responsible ensure high quality Livelihoods/related, e.g., employment readiness, program results with the aim of improving women's and youth's abilities and possibilities to access their rights, especially their economic rights, e.g., to work in a dignified job for a reasonable wage. The Technical Specialist will work with senior colleagues from the PDQ (design, M&E, reporting) and Operations (delivery) teams to support national staff colleagues in ensuring that project activity design and delivery are consistent with SCI programming principles and approaches, draw on relevant best practices and lessons learned, enable beneficiaries to attain their rights and are compliant with donor regulations. The incumbent will play a lead role in technical design of new youth and women's livelihoods/related projects; s/he will lead in drafting narratives and activity-specific budgets. As per the SCI dual mandate, the PM will participate in emergency preparedness activities and be ready to respond in the event of an emergency. Key areas of accountability:

As a member of the PDQ team, contribute to:

• Livelihoods/related programming technical leadership in line with current knowledge and contextual best practice
• Leading on livelihoods/related project design and proposal development, including narratives and budgets
• Upholding SCI values: accountability, ambition, creativity, integrity and collaboration throughprofessional role modelling and by information-sharing and knowledge- and capacity building with Iraqi colleagues
• Program delivery focused on capacity-building for Iraqi colleagues for (1) excellent program implementation, including timely activity implementation according to plan and routine monitoring against agreed indicators, (2) high quality progress and final reports for external and internal use and (3) strong budget oversight: monthly forecasting and spending according to plan; quarterly revisions, as needed; budget (spending) reporting
• Encouraging a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and empowering colleagues to deliver outstanding results for women and youth, and their families and communities
• Supporting Iraqi colleagues to maintain positive collegial relationships with relevant Government authorities, non-government partners, including UN agencies, communities and SCI Members and their donors
• Creating strong partnerships with local NGO/CBO and government entities; leading the Iraqi program team in partner capacity-building, including thorough follow-up and accountability
• Mentoring Iraqi colleagues for advocacy to Government and Members/donors for greater livelihoods/employment opportunities for youth and women
• Reflecting SCI dual mandate in development and emergency preparedness/response in program design, planning and implementation as appropriate for livelihoods/related programming

Staff Leadership, Mentorship, and Development

• Work with the PDQ and Program Ops Directors to strengthen program quality and delivery teams' (1) technical knowledge and abilities and (2) project work planning and implementation abilities
• Oversee and mentor program delivery team members, especially Managers and Coordinators, ensuring that staff achieves the program's expected results on time and within quality standards.
• Work with teams to develop SMART performance objectives and, as appropriate, professional development plans; be active in supporting positive/helpful performance evaluation against agreed objectives.
• Manage all program-related consultancies ensuring timely delivery of agreed deliverables

Collaboration and Representation

• Regularly coordinate and collaborate with other thematic specialists and program teams to strengthen program synergies and impact for children, youth, women, families and communities
• Specifically coordinate with other program teams on all relations and agreements with Government and NGO and UN partners to ensure that SC is represented as an organization, not a collection of projects/programs

Emergency Preparedness and Response

• Participate in an Country Office emergency preparedness and planning processes
• Where relevant, integrate emergency preparedness (awareness, activities) in all program planning and team meetings to ensure its consideration in all stages of programming
• In case of emergency, be prepared to contribute to the delivery of an appropriate and timely response

The role is for one year and will be based in one of our three hubs; Baghdad, Basra or Sulaymaniyah.

Qualifications and Experience:

• 5-7 years livelihoods development (related) program/project leadership and management experience in an international development context
• In-depth understanding of livelihoods development issues for youth and women, and for their economic empowerment and development, particularly in the Arab / Middle East context
• Understanding of and commitment to SC mission, vision, values and principles, including rights-based approaches
• Leadership qualities, motivational skills, mentoring ability; proven experience overseeing and developing a team
• Experience in organisational development involving multi-national cross-functional teams;
• Experience of program cycle management, and experience in a complex and matrix-managed organisation
• Knowledge of effective financial and budgetary controls; proven ability to manage budgets
• Solid experience writing comprehensive, high quality narrative reports for donors and other external constituencies; experience supporting national staff colleagues to engage in reporting by systematically collecting and compiling correct, meaningful information/data, etc.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
• Master's degree related to livelihoods development or international development in general
• Fluency in written and spoken English required; fluency in Arabic and/or Kurdish language abilities an asset
• Strong understanding of other development program sectors and of emergency response programming and ops
• Experience living and working in a complex, high risk (dangerous) environment; demonstrated ability to live/work and maintain personal wellness and productivity in such an environment
• A team player who is able and willing to learn from others and share experiences - both professionally and personally
• Flexibility and a sense of humour; ability to live, work and thrive in a communal living
• Ability and readiness to work as part of surge team during an emergency (required); commitment to humanitarian response principles and accountability frameworks, especially in working with very vulnerable population

We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Please note that the closing date for applications is on Tuesday, June 11th, 2013.

For further information on this role, please see our website at www.savethechildren.net/jobs

How to apply: Please apply with a covering letter and up-to-date CV to the link provided