Gaza Area Office Manager

***Due to the urgency to fill this role, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Kindly note that the position might be filled before the vacancy announcement is closed; therefore, early applications are encouraged.***

The Opportunity – Gaza Area Office Manager.

Post location: Gaza Area Office, Deir El Balah with frequent travel to Khan Younis, Gaza city.

Contract Duration and Level of Effort: 1 year (with possibility of extension).

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Gaza Area Office Manager will be responsible for overseeing Save the Children's operations in the designated areas, ensuring the effective implementation of humanitarian and development programs across multiple sectors, including Health& Nutrition, WASH, Child Protection, Education, and Livelihoods. The Area Manager will lead and coordinate program delivery through direct implementation and partnerships, ensuring efficient financial, human resource, supply chain, and operational systems are in place to support program objectives. The role includes strengthening representation and coordination with key external stakeholders, including local authorities, humanitarian actors, and community leaders.

The Area Manager will play a pivotal role in field level capacity building, ensuring high-quality program implementation to maximize impact for children and their families. The post holder will assess needs, mobilize resources, and develop program recommendations aligned with Save the Children’s national and global priorities, while also contributing to contingency planning and emergency response in the evolving Gaza context. S/he is accountable for ensuring the development of annual programme plans and the effective implementation of all core business processes at area level. The Area Manager will provide high quality leadership to ensure compliance with all SCI policies and procedures, as well as the delivery of high quality programmes in line with the CSP and Humanitarian strategy. Additionally, the Area Manager is accountable for ensuring effective collaboration between teams within the area, as well as with teams and colleagues in the Country Office,

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.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Head of Gaza Operations.

Staff reporting to this post: Awards Manager, Supply Chain Coordinator, Partnership Manager, Sector Leads for Education, CP, WASH, FSL/CVA.

Budget Responsibilities: N/A

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

1. Leadership and Strategy

• Ensure that the area programme has a high performing Gaza Management Team (HMT) and that weekly GMT meetings effectively support the sharing of key information and focus on critical issues that require resolution.
• Ensure the full compliance with SCI policies and guidelines across the programme, including the maintenance of robust risk management and mitigation strategies and plans.
• Establish consistent and coherent ways of working that strengthen programme and operational management and drive quality improvements.
• Ensure the implementation of country wide change management and continuous improvement initiatives in the programme area.
• Ensure that all teams and staff in the Area Programme collaborate effectively with teams in the CO and that professional relationships are of the highest standard.
• Collaborating with the CO PDQ and programme implementation teams, develop an area strategic programme plan, that includes humanitarian and development activities and establish mechanisms to monitor progress and quality against the plan.

2. Program Improvement, Implementation and Delivery

• Ensure that management support and oversight is provided to Program Managers within the Area, to drive timely and on budget project implementation, programme quality and continuous improvement.
• Ensure that the Area programme is contributing positively to SCI KPIs and develop and implement robust plans to improve KPI performance.
• Ensure that all field offices within the area deliver high quality operational management and that core business process are implemented in line with SCI standards and compliance expectations.
• Ensure that all projects have feasible DIPs, precise budgets that are accurately phased and realistic procurement plans.
• In close coordination with the Programme Development, Quality (PDQ) and the NBD teams, ensure that the Program Managers and their teams are fully involved in proposal development.
• Collaborate with the PDQ team to ensure quality program implementation and utilization of evidence-based solutions, applicable to varying contexts through the application/adaptation of SCI systems, guidelines, Common Approaches, standards including Humanitarian Minimum Standards and tools.
• Ensure coordination and integration across programs and projects to ensure cost-effectiveness.
• Ensure that the progress and quality of program implementation are continually tracked and timely corrective measures taken through maintenance and roll out of effective MEAL system.
• Ensure that high quality monthly Budget Variance Analysis(BVA) meetings are conducted, that all projects are implemented in line with award agreements and are completed on time and on budget with an emphasis on adaptation, cost effectiveness and high-quality programming.
• Maintain oversight of the overall implementation and budgets in each field office and ensure that area and field offices are planning effectively to cover all operational and staff costs.
• Ensure programs are implemented in ways responsive to the communities and children in line with Save the Children principles, values and strategic plan, and following Save the Children compliance procedures. This includes working with government, local administrations and national NGO-partners to strengthen national capacity.
• Work with colleagues in the PDQ department to ensure the preparation of timely and high-quality progress reports, program reports, and donor reports; and providing the required technical assistance for any given program.
• Ensure that effective mechanisms are in place to listen to, act upon and address children’s and communities’ concerns/recommendations through active participation by children and communities in project design, monitoring, evaluations and accountability systems.
• In collaboration with the PDQ team, ensure that staff capacity in quality project management is improved and strengthened through training, coaching and mentoring.

3. People Management and Development

• Ensure that the area programme has up to date and finically viable staffing plans in place to support programme and managerial quality and continuity.
• Work closely with HR to ensure that all HR policies and guidelines for national staff and international are in place, are understood by all staff and are adhered to.
• Ensure recruitment process are transparent and in line with SCI policy and procedures and support senior area staff in the recruitment, induction, placement, training/development and separation/termination of staff.
• Ensure that program implementation managers and teams possess the required competencies during recruitment or thereafter – including the revision and/or inclusion into their JDs and performance objectives.
• Enhance staff performance through mutually agreed performance management plans, clarity of individual and collective roles and responsibilities; ensure a robust process of performance monitoring, learning & development initiatives and timely management actions.
• Ensure that disputes and grievances are managed appropriately and escalate issues as required.
• Present staff concerns that cannot be dealt with locally, in a timely manner to the DPO and HR Director.
• Promote an inspiring and motivating working environment through teamwork, delegation and the team building initiatives.
• Promote and ensure a culture that respects and promotes collaboration, diversity, inclusion and staff recognition.
• Ensure gender balance and inclusion across all teams in the programme area.
• Ensure the implementation of SCI safeguarding policies and procedures and that all staff understand their responsibilities in terms of awareness raising, prevention, reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns and incidents.

4. Financial, Budget and Award Management

• Ensure that the area programme office within has an accurate and realistic annual master budget, and that systems are in place to map costs to award budgets and identify funding gaps.
• Serve as overall budget holder for all programming in Area Office and related Field Offices (Khan Younis and Gaza city); appoint, manage and support budget holders for individual projects and grants as appropriate.
• Collaborate with PDQ, NBD and Awards Teams on the coordination and management of awards including, budgeting at design stage, drafting proposals, and managing donor/member relationships.
• Ensure that program budgets are managed through rigorous budget and finance monitoring practices with participation of all key functions.
• Oversee the general application and observance of financial procedures and guidelines set out in Save the Children’s finance manual and donors' requirements.
• Ensure that budgets are spent and charged to their respective budget heads and awards and escalate to the HoO and DPO and finance and awards teams in the CO any major budget concerns.
• Efficiently and successfully manage the award cycle by establishing robust mechanisms to start, implementation and close awards in line with donor and SCI policies.
• Ensure that adequate support to and monitoring of the field finance teams is provided by the Finance and Awards staff in the Area office.
• Ensure that awards are managed as per Save the Children’s and donors’ requirements including the quality and timely submission of reports.

5. Partnership Management, Development and Representation

• With support from the Partnership Manager, establish and grow quality partnerships with local NGOs based on respect and trust, and robust assessments, capacity building, project monitoring, sharing and networking.
• Establish, maintain, and improve active and regular working relationships with: donors, partner agencies including major institutional donors, UN Agencies and local and international NGOs.
• Ensure that partners and SC staff understand and implement Save the Children's policies and procedures including child safeguarding, procurement, fraud and whistle blowing.
• Ensure appropriate representation in all relevant meetings: clusters, working groups, NGO consortium, etc.

6. Emergency Response Management

• Ensure monitoring of the humanitarian context and provide updates to the country office team in relation to changes/deterioration in the humanitarian context.
• Ensure that the Area Office has an up-to-date, context-based and achievable Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) and business continuity plan (BCP).
• With support from the Humanitarian team and under the leadership of the Director of Programme Operations, mount appropriate and timely responses at scale to all emergencies consistent with established benchmarks, plans and organizational policies, and in close cooperation with incoming surge teams.
• Working with Program Manager/their team and country office teams, ensure that all relevant staff across all work sectors are familiar with, adhere to humanitarian principles and deliver humanitarian responses in line with SCI procedures and expectations.

7. Security Management and Context Monitoring

• Ensure the safety and security of all SCI staff and assets under the management of the Area Office.
• In close collaboration with the Program Manager and the Security team in the country office, proactively monitor the political and security situation at both national and local level and ensure that a clear and updated security management plan is in place for all areas of operations.
• Ensure that security related information is shared with relevant team members in the area programme and country office, review guidelines, protocols and develop security plans in line with any changes in the operating environment.
• In close collaboration with the Director of Staff Safety & Security, the Project Managers and Security staff, report and manage any security incidents in the programme area.
• Collaborate with the Head of Operations in Gaza, Director of Programme Operations and the Director of Staff Safety & Security to ensure that all safety and security minimum operating standards and procedures are met by all offices in the programme area.
• Collaborate with the Director of Programme Operations and the Director of Staff Safety & Security to ensure that a culture of security awareness and a shared duty of care exists amongst staff in the programme area.

In order to be successful you will bring/have:

QUALIFICATIONS

University Degree in Development Studies or other Social Sciences.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential:

• Minimum 10 years management experience working in emergency response contexts or development.
• Previous experience of managing a team, and the ability to lead, motivate and develop others.
• Significant experience of project management, including multi sector programmes, from a child rights approach in accordance with the CRC and international humanitarian rights standards.
• Solid experience in award management including significant budget management experience including institutional donors.
• Operational management experience, including logistics management (procurement, supply chain, fleet management, asset management and IT) and Safety and Security management.
• Field level representation with key stakeholders and co-ordination with other NGOs/UN.
• Demonstrable experience of MEAL and beneficiary accountability.
• Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports.
• Strong influencing skills and experience in advocacy.
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy.
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. In particular, a good understanding of the SC mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Ability and willingness to change work practices and hours, and work with incoming teams in the event of major emergencies.
• Willingness to spend up to 60% of time in visiting field sites within the Area Programme .
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights- based approaches.

Desirable

• Familiar with the following donor oragnisations: ECHO, GAC/IHA, NMFA, BMZ, Swedish SIDA, UN organisations, GFFO, EU AID, etc.
• Media trained.

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. This role is offered on the basis of national terms and conditions.

Save the Children promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment, women and people with different abilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Organisation

Save the Children works in development and humanitarian contexts with children and partners to help families, communities, and governments identify and use innovations to ensure all children survive, learn and are protected.

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 realize 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.

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/careers/apply

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.