GPE Program Director

GPE Program Director- Mogadishu – Somali-National only

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 fulfil 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 1.9 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.

Following a major transition, our international programmes are now delivered through a merged operation with 15,000 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 PURPOSE:

Save the Children is seeking a Program Director for its Global Partnership for Education (GPE) funded education programmes in Southern States of Somalia. The GPE funded education programs focus on the preprimary and primary education subsector and seek to expand equitable access to quality pre/primary education opportunities, improving learning outcomes, ensuring the acquisition of foundational skills at the expected level for each grade, and enhancing system capacity at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education (MOECHE) and the Federal Member States (FMS) Ministries in Galmudug, Hirshabelle, Jubbaland, South West and Benadir.

We are currently seeking a senior-level Program Director to lead the GPE programs. The Program Director’s base of operations is Mogadishu with frequent travel to all Federal Member States of South West, Hirshabelle, Jubbaland, and Galmudug. The Program Director will provide effective leadership, strategic oversight, operational guidance, support monitoring and evaluation, and ensure quality and timely implementation of the GPE programs. He/she will also ensure effective financial and operational management of the programs. The Program Director acts as the key focal point and represents the program to the GPE Secretariat, the Coordinating Agency, Education Sector Committee, Education Donor Group, the Somali Government as well as other key stakeholders in the education sector. SCOPE

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Director of Program Operations

Staff reporting to this post: MCA program manager, Accelerated and COVID-19 program manager

Budget Responsibilities: GPE programs (MCA, Accelerated, COVID19 Response, ESPDG) according to Scheme of Delegation.

Location: Mogadishu with frequent travel across Southern States of Somalia

Dimensions:

Save the Children has been working in Somalia for more than 60 years. The Country Office has over 500 staff across 14 field offices (Boroma, Burao and Hargeisa in Somaliland; Bosasso, Garowe, Galkayo and Gardo in Puntland; Beletweyne, Adaado, Abudwak, Baidoa, Kismayo, Dhobley and Mogadishu in Central South Somalia). Our Country Office coordination and administration base is in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2017, as a result of significant scale up for the countrywide drought response, our annual spend FY2017 was US$117 million and we reached more than 2 million people through our humanitarian and longer-term development work in Health, Nutrition, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), Education, Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL), Child Protection and Child Rights Governance. The Country Office manages 61 active awards totalling US$165 million from a range of governmental/institutional donors, including DFID, ECHO, EU, FFP, OFDA, and DANIDA being some of our largest

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Minimum 7 years of demonstrable professional experience in implementing education programmes and at least of five years’ experience in a leadership role in the implementation of projects in the education sector.
• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in education or related field is required.
• Prior experience of working in close partnership with the Government at Federal and Member States level is critical.
• Strong track record in managing portfolios greater than USD 5 million, with proven experience in project management, including budget management and oversight.
• Prior experience of working in Somalia and specifically in Southern States is a must.
• Familiarity with the political, social, and cultural context of Somalia is a must.
• Flexibility and the ability to effectively adjust expectations to on-the ground realities, while adhering to quality minimum standards.
• Strength in inspiring and enabling others through teamwork, training, and capacity building to realize organizational objectives.

• Fluent oral and written communication skills in both English and Somali.

  Desirable

• Previous Program Director experience.

• Previous experience of direct budget support to Government using the Treasury Single Account.

Please apply in English saving your CV and cover letter as a single document. To see a full a job description, please visit our website at

Application will be close on 9th March, 2021.

We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse. Employment is subject to our Child protection standards including background checks and adherence to our Child Safeguarding Policy

Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ and assign the best qualified talent.

Disclaimer:

Save the Children International does not charge any kind of fee at whichever stage of the recruitment process and does not act through recruitment agents