MEAL Manager-National-Syria (Readvertisement)

TITLE: MEAL Manager
TEAM/PROGRAMME: MEAL/PDQ LOCATION: Syria (Damascus, Aleppo, Raqqa or Qamishli) with at least 30% field visits to project locations
GRADE: 2 CONTRACT LENGTH: TBD

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:
Level 3: the post 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 country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.
The post holder should report and respond to interventions as determined by position related responsibilities identified in the Child Safeguarding Policy.

ROLE PURPOSE:
The MEAL team is part of Programme Development and Quality (PDQ) at Save the Children and I is a critical and integrated component of the programs team, collaborating to ensure the quality, effectiveness, appropriateness, safety, and accountability of all our programs, providing data to develop and adapt evidence-based programming, and bringing immediate and lasting changes in the lives of children in program areas. Special attention should be paid to the positive and negative impact that interventions have in communities, marginalised and disabled persons.

The MEAL Manager, with support from Head of MEAL (HoM) will lead on MEAL system development and implementation for all projects in the Field Office (FO), with support from the MEAL Coordinators and field teams, and, together with the Head of MEAL, ensure those systems align with SCI MEAL strategies and frameworks, Quality Benchmarks, and programmatic Common Approaches; all through a child-friendly, and Age/Gender/Diversity (AGD) lens.

The MEAL Manager will be responsible for leading on all reviews and evaluations of projects, MEAL budgeting, and recruitment, as well as supporting Head of MEAL and Research on proposal writing, logframe development (including providing targets in collaboration with the Technical Advisors in the programs team), and timely and quality reporting on Syria figures. The role will also ensure that all SCI partners are supported in their MEAL work, with support from the MEAL Coordinators. Another core aspect of the role is to capture local and contextualised lessons learned, ensure alignment with the SCO Learning and Research Agendas, and reflect and communicate this information in various capacities to improve on-going and future programming. It is also expected that the MEAL Manager will take a leading role in the roll out of safe and secure data management systems at field level, with the support of the SCO IM Manager, and will support the PDQ Director and Head of MEAL and Research on improving data reporting processes. They will also be ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance of all SCI data protection and security policies in the MEAL Team.

Central to the MEAL department is the accountability function, and the MEAL Manager will work closely with the Accountability Coordinator in the country office to ensure programs are accountable to affected populations, and participatory. The MEAL Manager will ultimately oversee the implementation of accountability mechanisms in the FOs , acting as a key enabler for the wider system of accountability, investigation, and audit at SCI.

The MEAL Manager will directly manage a MEAL Coordinators and will lead on building capacity of staff across the MEAL team, and partners, on all aspects of MEAL but particularly on accountability and participation, with a specific focus on children.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Head of MEAL and Research
Technical reporting line to N/A
Staff reporting to this post: MEAL Coordinators in the field offices

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Quality MEAL
• Establish and maintain monitoring and evaluation processes that are aligned with the SCI global MEAL procedures and the SCO MEAL Framework in coordination with the SCO Head of MEAL and Research including compliance with Quality Benchmarks and Common Approaches.
• Support in proposal design, in collaboration with other program staff, the SCO Head of MEAL and Research, and SCO MEAL Coordinator, through contributions to the log-frame (including targeting), MEAL plans, and MEAL budgets
• Support the design, and lead on the project-based development, modification, and oversight of all data collection, collation, storage, analysis, and reporting processes for the FOs, ensuring that data is of a high quality, in coordination with SCO IM Manager.
• Support with Syria move to and rollout of the SCI Project-management platform “PRIME” and ensure that all relevant MEAL requirements are fulfilled in collaboration with the IM team.
• Support the design, and lead on the project-based development, training, and deployment of data collection tools and analysis of the results with the relevant Technical Experts (TEs); including needs assessments and focus group discussions.
• Be the technical lead for all monitoring and evaluation processes in the FO. Support the design, implementation, and management of the entire process for internal and external M&E activities, including needs assessments, IPTT, baselines, midlines, and endlines.
• Maintain, review, and oversee accountability systems and mechanisms, and ensure they are used for regular reporting and continued program quality, transparency, and learning
• Oversee the FRM, ensuring it’s fit for purpose, child-friendly, and culturally appropriate, and that feedback is fed back into programme design in collaboration with the SCO Accountability Coordinator.
• Ensure that staff at all levels, understand and promote accountability to affected populations.
• Actively and effectively plan, practice, and promote learning from routine monitoring, evaluation, and accountability interventions within MEAL and project teams, including full overview of budget and participation in Awards Review Meetings.
• Support in the development of a Research and Assessment agenda for the SCO, with the Head of MEAL and Research and REL Coordinator, and contextualise it to Syria specifically, to ensure the SCO is planning and producing evidence for long term programming strategy and proposals.
• Respond to audit requirements and requests with MEAL inputs and, where needed, provide evidence/ documentation for projects and programs.
Reporting and analysis
• Manage process for the collation of data across field offices and provide oversight on data quality reviews with the field MEAL Coordinators.
• Lead on timely data analysis, report writing, and review for all project reports in the FOs, in close collaboration with other program team staff. Ensure quality and consistency before submission to SCO, members, and donors.
Data protection
• Participate in the design, contextualisation, and review of data protection strategies, policies, procedures, and tools with the Data Protection Focal Point, SCO IM Manager, and Head of MEAL and Research.
• Manage the implementation of data protection and security policies across MEAL activities in the FOs.
Management and coordination
• Effectively lead the MEAL team across field offices, ensuring technical and programmatic support to IM team, MEAL Coordinators, Officers, and Assistants, to achieve team compliance with all MEAL systems.
• Prioritize and promote MEAL support, specifically staffing, budgeting, and resourcing. Enhance investment in technology and digital.
• Assess capacity building needs of the MEAL team, with a focus on building national capacity through face-to-face trainings, remote training, coaching, deployments, and on-the-job support.
• Build capacity of MEAL and associated program teams through mentoring, coaching, and training on required MEAL approaches, standards, and tools.
• Maintain a high-level of coordination with project staff, sector leads, and Ensure MEAL products are widely disseminated and engaged with. Engage with IT, and information management staff on day-to-day project interventions that require MEAL support.
• Manage the coordination with implementing partners to build their internal MEAL capacity, establish their MEAL systems and plans, and ensure data quality.
Integration of values
• Contribute towards the integration of MEAL within SCI, as a core component of the programs team.
• Contribute to safe and ethical MEAL and SCI activities, ensuring compliance with policies on child safeguarding, PSEA, anti-harassment and bullying, health and safety, security, equal opportunities, and non-discrimination.
• Contribute to child-focused programme implementation, promoting child-friendly methodologies across MEAL and SCI activities.
• Contribute to an approach of applied learning and adaptation based on evidence across MEAL and SCI activities.
• Contribute to people centred MEAL and SCI activities, that ensure that we respond to the needs of affected populations, maintain contextual relevance, and Do No Harm.
• Contribute to accountable and participatory MEAL and SCI activities, ensuring that accountability and participation are integral elements of all aspects of SCI's approach to MEAL.
• Contribute to data protection and security by design as a core approach to MEAL, IM, and SCI activities, ensuring that key international and local legislation, SCI policies, and industry best-practices are followed.
Any other tasks
• Any other tasks as requested by your Line Manager.
• Ad hoc requests as approved by your Line Manager.
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:
• 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:
Essential
• 5 years’ experience working MEAL with at least 3 years working in similar position in Coordinator/Manager including in a first phase emergency response
• Bachelor’s degree in economics, development, engineering, public health, or similar field.
• Previous experience of MEAL across multiple locations
• Previous experience in team management
• Previous experience of preparing and managing MEAL tools and reports
• Previous experience on online data collection and management systems
• Budget development and financial management skills around MEAL priorities
• Demonstrated experience in leading assessment activities and of designing, monitoring and evaluating integrated programs and sectors of education, child protection and nutrition programmes in emergencies for international NGOs.
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff in MEAL technical skills and in delivering training to partners
• Very good in written and spoken English
• Excellent communication skills
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• Good influencing skills and experience in leadership
• 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

Desirable
• Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/contexts in Syria
• Experience of working with or engaging children in MEAL processes.
• Arabic/Kurdish language
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:
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.
Safeguarding our Staff:
The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Organization context

The Organization
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 workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.
Application Information:
Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/jobs We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.