SAVE THE CHILDREN
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
ROLE PROFILE
TITLE: Project Director
TEAM/PROGRAMMME: Program Operations
LOCATION: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
GRADE: TBC
CONTRACT LENGTH: Fixed Term 1 year with a
possibility of extension
CHILD SAFEGUARDING:
Level 3: the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a
week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in
country programs; or are visiting country programs; ore because they are responsible for implementing the
police checking/vetting process staff.
ROLE PURPOSE:
As a key member of the regional leadership team, the Project Director will provide leadership and direction
for the implementation of the Save the Children integrated project on harmful child labor. This encompasses
the full cycle of program design, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning and supports organizational
planning and reporting requirements, for Save the Children international programs.
The Project Director and other project staff will ensure that the project is implemented in close coordination
with the US Department of Labor (USDOL), Save the Children’s Africa Area Office, partner organizations,
and mandated government sectors.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Deputy Country Director/ Program Operations
Dimensions:
Save the Children works in 9 regions in Ethiopia with a current staff complement of approximately 1,600
staff and current expenditure of approximately $90+ million each year.
Number of direct reports: 4 staff members (TBC)
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Program Strategy, Implementation, Management, and Representation
 Lead the project strategic development and quality implementation, including development of financial
and operational planning, annual work planning and an appropriate sustainability strategy
 Provide management guidance and support to ensure smooth and timely start-up and implementation
of project activities as per the approved project plans.
 In close coordination with Program Operations, the Child Protection technical team and the
partnership team, identify and select potential project partner organizations in accordance to Save the
Children International’s partnership guidelines and identifying necessary development areas for
partners.
 Lead annual project operational planning and regular internal project planning and review meetings.
 Provide technical and managerial support in reviewing and adapting strategies and project plans in
view of changes in the internal and external operating environment.
 Work closely with project staff, partners and Technical Advisors in developing strategies to ensure
that program design incorporates relevant input.
 Initiate and facilitate linkages, coordination and integration with other similar or related
programmes/projects
 Serve as the project focal point for regular liaison and communication with internal stakeholders
including relevant staff. Identify technical support requirements and facilitate their execution.
 Serve as the senior project lead for all relevant external representation requirements.
Budget Management and Donor Compliance
 Prepare annual and quarterly project Operation Plan (POP) based on approved Detailed
Implementation Plan (DIPs)
 Manage budgets, including phasing of budgets as per work plans, monthly review of spend reports,
identification of errors and required actions to address them
 Ensure effective and efficient utilization of project budget and other resources for intended purpose
including assigning resources to partners and for internal Save the Children EtCO use; follow up on
budget utilization and project expenditure as needed
SAVE THE CHILDREN
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
ROLE PROFILE
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Work with other internal stakeholders to ensure appropriate staff and partner training and capacity on
compliance with US Department of Labour regulations
Ensure that partner financial implementation and reporting are in line with the project agreement and
requirements from donors and the Ethiopian Government; support partners as necessary to ensure
proper financial management, utilization, and reporting
Facilitates communication and interaction between partners and the Awards team
Closely work with the Awards Team to efficiently monitor and track burn rates, reporting and financial
compliance issues to proactively identify and address any problems
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning, and Reporting
 Together with Program Development and Quality (PDQ) department staff, lead the development of a
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) system for the project that adheres to
donor requirements and good practices
 Ensure that the MEAL system includes regular participation by project and partners staff
 Lead project related situation analysis of children to establish baseline data for impact monitoring and
to make any necessary adjustments to project implementation
 Together with partner and project staff, carry out regular monitoring of project output and impact
indicators
 Ensure external project evaluation and research work is integrated into project design; designed and
carried out according to standards; overseen by project and partner staff; and used for project
improvement
 Ensures proper understanding of cross-cutting issues among technical managers (gender, child
protection & safeguarding, etc) and integration of these issues into project delivery
 Undertake regular supportive supervision and (joint) monitoring at the field level to ensure proper and
efficient staff and partner management, and project delivery
 Support the conduct of periodic review meetings with all partners to facilitate experience sharing and
cross fertilization of good practices and lessons
 Uses evidence-based learning to support programme development and advocacy. Ensure that
lessons learned are properly documented, effectively disseminated and, where appropriate,
incorporated into wider advocacy initiatives.
 Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team to ensure the
project is contributing to objectives across the child protection sector.
 Submit professional and timely quarterly and annual narrative and financial reports to the donor and
SC including validation of data and consistency of reporting between narrative and financial reports.
Staff Management
 Select, manage, and lead a diverse project team composed of child protection, education, livelihood,
and operations (finance, admin, procurement, etc.) experts.
 Establishes annual objectives and anticipated results from all staff members
 Collaboratively undertakes performance-based management of staff members including regularly
reviewing their performance, identifying areas for development, addressing those areas with capacity
development opportunities, and developing longer-term career goals
 Coaches, mentors and identifies structured training needs of the project team facilitating their
professional development
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
 holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role
modelling Save the Children values
 holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom
to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance
and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
Ambition:
 sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their
own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
 widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
 Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
Collaboration:
SAVE THE CHILDREN
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
ROLE PROFILE
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builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external
partners and supporters
 values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
 Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
Creativity:
 develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
 Willing to take disciplined risks.
Integrity:
 honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
 Post graduate level education in social work, psychology, economic development/economics,
education or related field; with relevant experience on areas of child protection, vocational education
and youth livelihood programs.
 A minimum of 7 years management experience in a development environment leading, managing
and implementing development projects, preferably in the field of harmful child work/labor,
promotion of youth empowerment and livelihood programs, and community development
 Significant field experience working with communities
 Broad knowledge of child protection, harmful child work and social protection, and relevant
socioeconomic, institutional and policy issues that are related to this area of work
 Proven ability to manage a networked, diverse team of professionals, with good communication and
interpersonal skills and an ability to motivate/lead staff.
 Strong results-based management style with the ability to challenge existing mindsets as necessary
 Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and
coaching
 Demonstrated skills in leadership and supervision over complex projects
 Experience working with government partners, with partner agencies, including local partners, in
consortia, and relevant to child protection programming.
 Experience successfully managing projects supported by the US Government or similar donor
agencies.
 Preferably experience with US Department of Labour regulations and policies
 Experience in Ethiopia or countries in a similar context
 An understanding of child rights programming and commitment to Save the Children values.
 Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well with people from diverse backgrounds
and cultures
 Proven ability to manage a complex and demanding workload
 Excellent spoken and written English
 Good computer skills (particularly Excel, Word and database)
 Willingness to travel to field locations
Date of issue: July, 2014
Author: Tsion Tefera/John Lundine