POSITION PROFILE Project Director Technical Assistance to Nutrition (TAN) Job# PTS033

Transcription

1 POSITION PROFILE Project Director Technical Assistance to Nutrition (TAN) Job# PTS Identification Position Title: Project Director Technical Assistance to Nutrition (TAN) Reports to/position Title: Director Planning and Development Unit Date prepared: 20 November Overall Purpose/Broad Function: The function of the Planning and Development Unit (PDU) is to (a) lead the development of, and deliver required results from, MI s Nutrition-Technical Assistance Mechanism (N-TEAM); (b) prepare donor proposals for new funds for MI activities; (c) coordinate program planning across MI; (d) manage associated databases Within the scope provided in MI s Delegation of Authorities and in line with MI s policies and procedures, the Project Director is responsible for (a) leading and coordinating work across MI on DFID s grant Technical Assistance to Nutrition (TAN) to provide locally prioritized technical assistance to selected SUN countries to help accelerate the scale up of nutrition; (b) delivering and reporting results required by DFID and other key stakeholders; (c) maintaining effective relationships with key stakeholders (SUN Movement Secretariat, SUN country focal points, DFID staff etc); (d) contributing to growing the funding base for N-TEAM from other donors; (e) ensuring effective communication at all times between N-TEAM and other Units/streams of MI work. 3.1 TAN Project Planning and Policy: In consultation with MI Regional Directors and other relevant MI staff and with TAN regional Project Managers: 5 year plan: develop the draft five year strategic plan for the TAN project; finalize it in consultation with key stakeholders (DFID; SUN Movement Secretariat; NIPN project; MQ-SUN; OJEU TA provider etc) Process management plan: design and refine a business process for handling Technical Assistance (TA) requests from start to finish; develop, maintain and apply a framework and decision tree for handling, tracking and prioritization of TA requests from SUN countries; draft policies and procedures as required, including staff guidance, forms and templates, relating to handling and delivering on TA requests under TAN; ensure they are understood and correctly implemented by MI staff Communications plans: design and refine internal communications protocols and plans linked to the TAN process for handling TA requests Quarterly and Annual work plans: develop annual work plans and budgets by quarter for TAN for discussion with and approval by DFID that clearly define activities, resources (time, money, equipment, etc) required for effective implementation and achievement of the deliverables of the TAN project; Plan amendments: Take the lead in responding to changes in the operating environment and

2 changes in the forecasts of TA requests from SUN countries; suggest reallocations of project resources and/or changes in project activities; as directed propose and negotiate amendments to DFID s accountable grant to MI Performance assessment plan: develop and put into effect a plan to collect all the data that will be required to assess and evaluate the performance of the TAN project 3.2 TAN Project Implementation: day to day coordination of TAN Project work across MI, including Communication: articulate the scope, goals and deliverables of the project and ensure they are understood by all relevant MI project staff and stakeholders; ensure effective ongoing communication at all times between MI project and MI regional, country and HQ staff and between MI staff and external stakeholders Project Coordination and Steering: schedule and lead regular project team meetings and coordination meetings with internal stakeholders; ensure regular communication with DFID and other stakeholders re steering the project and stewarding donor and key partners interests Identification and screening of TA requests: ensure that the project team and other MI staff take action to secure an adequate flow of appropriate requests for TA from prioritized SUN countries; ensure that TA requests are screened and handled appropriately in line with agreed business processes; Quality Assurance of TA briefs, MOU and consultation process: QA of the following TA Briefs (comprising scope of work; TOR; deliverables; milestones; budget; support needs from client; stakeholder QA checklist; performance review arrangements etc) prepared in response to TA requests MOUs with TA clients consultation processes held with key stakeholders to ensure that they meet the QA metrics established in the DFID TAN grant and that there has been timely and appropriate consultation of MI country and regional staff Approvals to Proceed: ensure all documentation is provided in support of Program Approvals and Funding Approvals of TA requests by Unit Director (and/or by the donor as relevant), and that relevant EMC members (including RD and CD for MI core countries) have been consulted on how to maximize impact / synergies with other MI work; Sourcing and selecting TA resources: ensure that a database of potential TA resources is established and maintained up to date; ensure effective and efficient sourcing and selection of TA by the TAN team that is appropriately experienced and qualified to deliver on the TA brief and meet the expectations of client SUN Focal points, DFID and other stakeholders as relevant; ensure adherence to Value for Money (VfM) and Gender parameters throughout the process National TA: Audit and QA of individuals (and/or institutions) selected for national TA assignments International TA: Approval (after consulting DFID as needed) of the requirement for international TA (i.e. where national TA is shown as not an option); Approval (after consulting DFID and QA of the consultation process with stakeholders including MI staff) of the selection of international individual or institutional TA providers 3.3 Project budget and financial management: Manage all project activities in line with the Delegation of Authorities within the budgets agreed for quarterly and annual work plans and within the limit of the DFID TAN grant so as to achieve

3 deliverables and objectives agreed with DFID; Develop quarterly cash flow projections, monitor actual cash flows and variances; generate variance analyses and associated action plans for Director and DFID as required Ensure that any implementing partners or consultants who manage TAN funds have set up appropriate financial procedures to be able to meet MI financial requirements and standards Ensure that the contracts database is regularly updated, and regular relevant reports are generated As needed, prepare costed revisions to work plans for discussion with DFID; prepare amendments to the TAN agreement as needed in liaison with DFID, Director, and Corporate Services 3.4 Project Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation Ensure that the technical and financial reporting required from MI is clear and is communicated to all MI stakeholders; ensure that a detailed project monitoring plan that is in line with the TAN Project Logical Framework and agreed schedule of deliverables is developed in collaboration with relevant stakeholders during project inception, is well understood and is implemented in a timely way; Develop forms and records to document project activities; ensure that a system is set up and maintained to ensure that all project information is appropriately documented, secured and shared. Identify capacity building needs for MI staff to ensure that program monitoring is undertaken as envisaged. Ensure that TAN project implementation and progress are regularly monitored and reviewed with MI staff and key stakeholders and corrective actions are undertaken in a timely way Review and as needed revised costed TAN work plans on a monthly basis in consultation with regional TAN project managers, relevant MI staff in regions, countries and finance; Where variances are forecast to go beyond the scope of the work plan and budget agreed with DFID, draft the justification / business case for amendments to be considered; manage expenditures within given limits until and unless amendments are approved by DFID and MI management Ensure that financial reporting is coordinated with technical reporting and delivered on time to DFID; routine stewardship of and informal information provision to DFID re TAN; Establish a communication schedule to update stakeholders including appropriate staff in the project on the progress of the project; Collate all relevant project information and generate regular report as required on the TAN project. Ensure that all information required by DFID for annual reviews is gathered and provided in a timely way; participate in and contribute to TAN annual reviews and evaluations as required by DFID. 3.5 Human Resource Management In consultation with Regional Directors (for the regional positions), recruit, interview and select staff with appropriate skills for TAN project positions. Ensure that all TAN project team members and all relevant MI staff understand the TAN project objectives, components and proposed activities; and receive appropriate orientation to the project Supervise and manage the performance of TAN project team members and consultants in line with the established MI HR policies and procedures, including performance appraisal of project staff and ensuring that learning needs required to improve performance are identified and supported. 3.6 Knowledge Management and Learning from TA assignments: In close liaison with the SUN Movement Secretariat, Emergency Nutrition Network and DFID,

4 develop and manage processes for documenting and sharing knowledge/lessons for internal and external communications purposes Ensure an effective relationship between MI and ENN with respect to MI s contribution to TAN project KM and to the synergies, roles and functions of regional ENN staff working in MI regions or countries 3.7 External Relations Build and strengthen relationships with DFID, SUN Movement Secretariat, ENN, the NIPN project and other key TAN project stakeholders to ensure that the project is harmonized with other donor funded programs and also that it facilitates government leadership and ownership in line with the Paris and SUN Principles. Ensure that positive communication and positive relationships are built with donors and SUN country government agencies and key stakeholders at national, regional and local level. Ensure timely responses to donors and key stakeholders inquiries and concerns. Represent MI at external meetings as required by the project or at the request of MI senior managers. Provide input to and participate in other meetings related to DFID relations led by ER and/or EXO As required (a) identify and follow up of new opportunities for donor support for TAN/N-TEAM; (b) join meetings with donors and partners re new opportunities; (c) contribute to the development of concept notes and proposals for donors. Any other related duties as assigned by supervisor. 4. Supervisory Responsibilities: This position will be supported by a database officer in Ottawa and by two Program Managers based in MI s two regional offices The regional based staff will have dotted line (2 nd line) supervision from the Regional Director. Indirect supervision of two regional project officers. Indirect oversight of consultants retained by MI under the TAN project. 5. Education/Professional Designations/Experience: Postgraduate level degree in management and/or a discipline relevant to international development work in social sectors. A qualification in public health, nutrition, or a health-related discipline is preferred but not essential. Ten years of experience in the specification and management of the provision of technical assistance to support social sector international development programs in developing countries, with 5 years experience in a line management role. Successful completion of substantive work assignments in one or more developing countries Substantive and successful experience in working with DFID will be a significant advantage

5 6. Language Skills Superior communications skills (verbal and written). Fluency in English - both reading and writing is essential. Knowledge of other languages spoken in countries supported by MI is an asset (e.g. French). 7. Travel Requirements International travel may be required to Europe, the Americas, sub-saharan Africa and South/South East Asia. Duty travel is typically for 1-3 weeks and usually for not more than 40 days per year. 8. Other Specific Skill Requirements: Financial management. Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills. Ability to work in cross disciplinary and cross cultural teams. Effective management of people. Ability to communicate methods and research results into publishable manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals. Strong skills in fostering collaboration among academic, public, private and other organizations. Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with colleagues to achieve team goals. Must currently be eligible to work in Canada. This job description can and will be amended as required from time to time. HOW TO APPLY: Please forward your resume and cover letter to hr@micronutrient.org quoting Job#: PTS033 in the subject line. Competition closes December 21, Please note that this position is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Selected candidates must currently be entitled to work in Canada. Telephone inquiries WILL NOT be accepted. We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those chosen to participate in the interview process will be contacted.