Quality Services Manager at Lutheran World Federation

Unit Summary

The purpose of this position is to manage the achievement of LWF World Service’s Quality Services Program Area’s key objectives, results and approaches in Dadaab refugee operation. Working closely with education and community services officers, the position will ensure strategic development and alignment to Government of Kenya policies, LWF Country Strategy 2019 -2024 and related thematic guidance notes.

Overall Purpose/Broad Function

The Quality Services Manager will be in charge of all matters related to ensuring a holistic program delivery in Quality Services program area, ensure project development, thematic and technical implementation, coordination, monitoring and reporting, as well as financial budget control and monitoring

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Grant Management: Contributing to fundraising though quality technical and thematic proposal development in line with donor guidelines, adequate budgeting, timely implementation and reporting as well as budget execution and budget tracking, and control ensuring prudent use of financial resources. Working with Finance officer to undertake budget tracking. Holding monthly budget and procurement review meetings with team members. Enhancing   adherence to donor compliance on grant management, including quality planning, timely implementation, visibility and publicity, and reporting. Enforcing LWF policies on procurement, finance management and administration. Advising on re-allocation of funds depending expenditure levels, considering donor guidance and timelines for project reviews.

Strategic Partner: Designing LWF/WS Kenya Program Strategy and demonstrating responsibility for the organization as a whole by taking an active part in the overall leadership and development of the organization. Providing technical project planning design and implementation of Quality Services in education and community services programming. Leading in stakeholder and gender analysis and engagement. Leading and represent LWF in Garissa Host Community interventions. Supporting programme that benefit the community in line with the vision, mission and values of the organization. Sharing information on needs, gaps and trends in approaches to guide development and implementation of ongoing and upcoming project. Advising management on emerging issues on the ground and make recommendations for addressing them. Advising the management on opportunities for program expansion

Functional Leader: Supporting training and building capacity of staff working for Quality Services program area Coordinating needs assessment in units within the program area and in coordination with livelihoods and protection and social cohesion program areas. Holding monthly project review and planning meetings to assess project implementation progress against set targets. Supervising and empowering the team to develop appropriate tools and procedure to delivering quality rehabilitation services with the beneficiary groups in the individual, community and institutional levels. Coordinating compilation of reports for the program area and consolidate progress and final reports in line with donor templates and timelines and LWF deadlines.

Technical Expert: Leading programme team in implementation of government policies and alignment of project activities to LWF guidance notes and Government of Kenya. Providing technical support in the implementation of project activities. Setting key performance indicators and milestones for the sector in line with SPHERE, CHS and government policies, and LWF guidance notes. Coordinating needs assessment in units within the sector and in coordination with other thematic areas.  Leading, participating in and contributing to internal and external training and conferences and other activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building.

Relationship Builder: Ensuring that strong relationships are held as paramount and actively nurtured by promoting a conducive working environment that promotes mutual respect, diversity, tolerance that are requisite for team work and leading in sector specific team building initiatives.

Rights holder advocate: advocating for the rights and needs of rights holders in a strategic manner that seeks systemic change and leverage success and relationships. Advocating for the rights of the vulnerable groups and collaborating with other partners in enhancing the aspects of mainstreaming and advocacy for the vulnerable population, considering gender and age in finding adequate solutions and approaches.

Co-worker: Developing my competencies to achieve individual and shared objectives, conforming to organizational policies and code of conduct, contributing to a safe and welcoming working environment, and acting as a good ambassador for the organization. Actively protecting children in every aspect of work and personal life, by preventing harm and reporting child abuse. Work closely with the other thematic managers ensuring the persons of concern (refugees and host community members) are supported and empowered to be the active agents of their lives. Supports the Area Manager to achieve the objectives of the Area Program. Collaborates with the Country Program head office staff and regional PMER and Fundraising officers to ensure the quality of planning, implementation and reporting.  As the supervisor of the staff within the Quality Services program area, guide, direct and encourage the team members to develop themselves as professionals. Ensure the timely and efficient implementation of Quality Services tasks. Nature partnerships and collaboration with your counterparts from partner and donor organizations and represent the organization in the thematic area of Quality Services towards them.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Supervises the 3 Education Officers, 1 Community Services Officer, 1Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and Reporting (PMER) Officer.

Education/Professional Designations/Experience:

• Minimum of University Degree (Bachelor) in Education/Special Needs Education or University degree in Social Sciences with post graduate studies in Education
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience gained from an International NGO, with a bias to management of education in emergencies; refugee camps, IDP set ups and marginalized areas
• Knowledge of relevant needs assessment guidelines and templates to conduct needs assessments for refugee populations
• Experience in full project Cycle Management
• Experience and commitment to working through system of community participation
• Proven experience to supervise, train and coach staff

Other Specific Skill Requirements

• Knowledge of relevant sectoral humanitarian standards, knowledge of Community Based Psychosocial Support as an approach to programming is an added advantage
• High integrity, self-driven and able to set own work schedule with rigorous deadlines.
• Ability to initiate and complete assignments and to work under demanding circumstances with minimal supervision.
• Strong organization, supervisory, problem-solving, interpersonal, communication as well as team building and negotiation skills.
• Knowledge of one of the local languages

Success Factors

• A clear understanding of the Quality Services functions, ethics, and confidentiality, as well as the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with LWF World Service and donor policies and procedures
• High level of dependability and productivity at the work place
• Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills
• A demonstrated ability to work well as a team player with high degree of initiative, flexibility and tolerance
• High level of motivation, integrity, commitment and professional responsibility.
• Ability to tolerate cultural, educational and religious diversity in the work place.

 Covering responsibilities

• Acting for the Area Manager and other Programme Management Team Members
• Represent the organization in meetings and/or trainings as required by the organization
• Support any other general activities as requested by the supervisor and/or senior management.

Further guidance

• LWF is a rights-based humanitarian and development organization involved in refugee assistance programs. All LWF staff are to be flexible and wiling to assist in LWF operations as and when required.
• This job description is subject to amendment depending upon the ongoing requirements of the Country Program.
• Together with the employment contract and Human Resources Policy and procedure manual, this job description forms an integral part of the employment contract between LWF and the undersigned employee.

LWF Kenya- Somalia Program is an equal opportunity employer, irrespective of gender, race or religious affiliation. LWF/WS is a signatory to the Code of Conduct for humanitarian agencies and child protection policy. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect the organization’s commitment to the prevention of abuse and exploitation of beneficiaries.”