Regional Programme Operations Director at Save the Children

As a key member of the Regional senior leadership team, Regional Programme Operations Director – East Africa s/he will take shared responsibility for transformation of the East Africa region to a new full spectrum operating model whilst delivering Save the Children’s strategy within the region.

S/he will lead operations support aimed at ensuring that Save the Children delivers quality operations and meets its mandate of humanitarian and development programming in all East Africa countries. S/he will ensure that high quality support is given to Country & Regional offices and member staff in order to optimise the operational delivery of humanitarian and development programs in the East Africa region. S/he is responsible for supporting operational and humanitarian aspects of Country Offices programming and ensuring adequate systems are in place to enable and facilitate quality program delivery in the field.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

Save the Children works in 12 countries in East and Southern Africa (Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi) with a current staff complement of approximately 3500 staff and current expenditure of approximately $300 million each year

In order to be successful you will bring/have:

Essential

• Post-graduate qualifications or equivalent experience in international development, humanitarian response and preparedness or a related discipline
• Significant (ten years or more) senior level leadership and management experience in a large and complex international NGO or organization
• Significant experience in managing most or all of the key elements of Operations and Humanitarian systems and areas: proposal development, planning, quality assurance, award management, logistics, emergency response, preparedness and capacity building
• Substantial knowledge of international development systems, institutions and donors, and of procedures, accountability frameworks and best practices
• Robust experience in developing and implementing organisational vision and strategies
• The highest level of expertise in representation and negotiation with governments/donors and international agencies
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a matrix management environment. Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching. 
• Solid project management skills related to organisational development projects and international, cross-functional teams with a proven history of delivering results.
• Excellent facilitation and team building skills.
• Experience of building personal networks at senior levels, resulting in securing significant new opportunities for the organisation.
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in.
• Models international development best practices, and the leadership behaviours outlined in Save the Children’s strategy.
• Ability and willingness to change work practices and hours in the event of major responses including travelling at short notice
• Commitment to Save the Children values. 

Contract duration: 2 years, with possibility of extension

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard. 

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.  We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.