Programme Quality Manager

PLAN INTERNATIONAL  

Founded in 1937, Plan International, Inc. (“PII”) is a development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters, and partners in both humanitarian and development settings.

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian (dual mandate) non-profit organisation that believes in the power and potential of every child, but knows this is often supressed by poverty, violence, exclusion, disasters and discrimination.

Working together with children, girls, young people, supporters, and partners, Plan International strives for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenge’s girls and vulnerable children face. Plan International has been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years and now active in more than 75 countries, delivering humanitarian assistance and driving changes in practice and policy at local, national, and global levels using our reach, experience, and knowledge.

Our global strategy “All girls standing strong creating global change” has a specific focus on girls, as they are often the most marginalised and most often left behind. We have committed ourselves to the ambitious target of reaching 200 million girls over 5 years, to ensure they can learn, lead, decide and thrive. This is our contribution to reaching the sustainable development goals, and in particular the goals on gender equality in both humanitarian and development settings. Our organisation is transforming itself to meet the enormous challenge everywhere we work. We need bold, forward-thinking, and innovative individuals to lead our country operations, driving change and delivering results that will allow us to reach our target of 200 million girls.

PLAN INTERNATIONAL UKRAINE

Plan International responded to the Ukraine Crisis since March 2022, starting in countries hosting Ukrainian refugees (Moldova, Romania, Poland) and thereafter expanding humanitarian operations inside Ukraine since August 2022. Since October 2022, Plan International has been duly registered in Ukraine as a representative office of Plan International Inc.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Programme Quality Manager will lead the coordination of technical specialists for Plan Ukraine, ensuring quality programming and impact. This role will provide support and leadership to ensuring alignments with Plan International’s strategy and commitments to localisation. The postholder will develop strong networks with national Government departments, peer agencies, donors, UN, and interagency working groups. Maintaining profile of Plan International in country will be a responsibility for the role.

· Lead and provide guidance to rapid needs assessments, ensuring a focus on the specific needs of children and in particular girls. Based on the outcome of the needs assessments provide recommendations to the programmes director, Head of Mission and Ukraine Response Director on programming options and priorities.

· Support the partnership coordinator on the selection of local partner organisations, ensuring alignment with Plan International’s approach and programming priorities in humanitarian crises.

· Directly manage programme technical specialists to ensure programmes are of high quality and have direct positive impact on children affected by the crisis.

· Ensure appropriate sector wide programme quality standards are used in the design and implementation of programmes, particularly SPHERE and its companion guides (such as Child Protection Minimum Standards and Minimum Standards for Education Preparedness, Response and Recovery (INEE)) and the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS).

· Ensure appropriate Plan international programme quality standards are used in the design and implementation of programmes, particularly the Areas of Global Distinctiveness (AOGDs) and the M&E framework.

· Support and coordinate with M&E officer to ensure appropriate M&E frameworks, activities and monitoring are in place and used.

· Oversee coordination of proposal design and writing ensuring alignment to strategy

· Co-lead with implementation team for preparation of quality reports and updates for different Plan entities and external actors such as donors.

· Position Plan International with national authorities and cluster groups.

· Co-fostering with the implementation programme manager effective relationships with PIU partnerships.

· Along with Business Development Manager and Programmes Director Identify opportunities to establish strategic partnerships with other actors across the Ukraine response (UN, local NGOs, CSO etc).

· Ensuring Plan International Ukraine activity information is delivered to appropriate coordination bodies (e.g 5Ws, cluster updates)

ACCOUNTABILITIES

· Support quality implementation of programs/projects. Playing a supporting role in periodic reviews within the context of Ukraine integrating the global programme quality and influencing policy framework as well as the localization policy.

· Resolve issues and initiate appropriate a timely corrective action in coordination with Project Implementation team to maintain, and enhance programme quality.

· Supporting, and at times co-leading the drafting of high-quality concept notes and proposals.

· Identifying opportunities for national scale up through documentation and promotion of best practice models.

· Participate in programme management and quality meetings, to ensure alignment of workplans between implementation and programme quality team

· Provide technical quality guidance on project modifications, ensuring that projects can be implemented on time, on scope and on budget.

REPRESENTATION AND NETWORKING

· Supporting the development of collaborative relationships with a range of partners and stakeholders to amplify Plan’s voice and level of influence with key external stakeholders, including within the local and national government.

· Building strong professional relationships with key international and national organizations, donors. government, and multilateral partners.

· Contributing to regional learning and programme development and maintain close working relationships with the support functions of the response hub.

· Undertake field and monitoring visits to build partner relations and ensure project quality implementation.

· On behalf of the Programmes Director, act as Department Officer in Charge when and if required

Capacity Building

· Provide and coordinate relevant training to staff and partners on programme technical areas related issues (e.g. SADD, education in emergencies, CVA)

· Mentor staff in conducting consultations with girls, boys, women and men, as well as any vulnerable groups as part of the programme design and monitoring phases

· Acts as a reference and contact point for Plan International staff and external stakeholders for support in programme priorities – education, child protection, gender, CVA.

PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

· Provide regular supervisory meetings with technical specialist team.

· Develop learning and performance objectives for technical specialist team.

· Support productive working relationship within the programmes department and within the office between different departments, ensuring the well-being of the programme team

OTHER

· Adheres to Plan’s key policies, values and behaviours,

· Contribute and provide regular inputs into policy documents, Sitreps, and other Ukrainian Crisis Response initiatives

· Any other duties.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

· Experience in working in insecure environments, preferred experience in armed conflict settings.

· 3-5 years proven progressive experience in Humanitarian Response in similar role.

· Knowledge of International Humanitarian Law, Red Cross Movement Principles, Core Humanitarian Standards, political and economic issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and their implications for quick scale up or scale down of programming in the countries of operation.

· Proven networking and negotiation skills with governmental and non-governmental actors

· experience in Business Development with key knowledge of Humanitarian donors- such as but not limited to BHA, ECHO, GFFO, and BMZ.

· Ability to provide leadership, communicate effectively and build high performing teams that work together to achieve goals.

· Ability to manage a multi-disciplinary team.

· Proficiency in English and in Ukrainian.

· Ability to communicate efficiently to a variety of audiences

· Ability to remain calm under pressure, volatile & insecure environment.

· Ability to multi-task and quickly respond to changes in the operating environment.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
• We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
• We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives

Please note that the deadline to apply for the position is 08.01.2025