Christian Aid (CA) was established in 1945 by the British and Irish churches. Currently, CA works in over 40 countries, with over 550 partners, worldwide. Christian Aid has worked in Ethiopia for more than 30 years, initially responding to emergencies, but gradually establishing a long-term development programme, to facilitate thriving, resilient and equitable communities.
Christian Aid in Ethiopia has four strategic focus areas. These are resilient Livelihoods, Climate Change, Market Development and Humanitarian Response. CAE has also other strategic issues such as strengthening the organization, communication and campaigns, fundraising and supporter relations which are being dealt with as cross-cutting issues.
Currently Christian Aid is bidding to run a large markets programme in Ethiopia, working with refugee and host communities in three regions. The purpose of this role is to lead, manage and ensure effective delivery of this large externally funded contract between Christian Aid and the donor. The post holder will lead a multi-skilled team within Christian Aid, and a consortium of high quality partner organizations, in the delivery of a complex and large-scale service contract in Ethiopia.
Role purpose
The post holder is required to ensure programme resources are allocated effectively and in a manner that makes maximum contribution to programme objectives and is compliant with DFID and Christian Aid requirements. They will engage and network with all relevant actors in relation to the programme and the contract between the donor and Christian Aid. The post holder is responsible for ensuring that the key contract functions are carried out in accordance with the contract.
Key outcomes
• Effective programme/contract delivery with impact in line with agreed outcomes of the programme and contract.
• The contract is supervised, managed and delivered successfully.
• Project management conducted within the framework of the contract between Christian Aid and the donor. Ensure funds used for designated purposes. Ensure value added by Christian Aid
• Ensure effective compliance and financial management of the programme
• Staff recruited, inducted and managed to perform to a high standard and meeting their objectives.
• The consortium is effectively led to deliver added-value from each member, and ensuring strong collaboration towards programme objectives.
In order to respond to ever changing demands within the environment, Christian Aid operates within an agile framework (both in workforce and operational) that requires from all employees, a high level of responsiveness and adaptiveness to processes and structures making flexibility and a project based working approach the norm. To sustain this system, managers may/will agree further details of specific tasks and duties as part of the performance agreement. Any reasonable duty may be assigned that is consistent with the nature of the job and its level of responsibility, and employees may be required to change the focus of their role from time to time.
Role context
Christian Aid is bidding to run a large markets programme in Ethiopia, working with refugee and host communities in three regions (Gambella, Dolol Ado, Jijiga). The 39-month programme aims to increase sustainably the net economic returns to refugees and host communities through both increased gains and decreased losses. This will be an adaptive programme that seeks to draw on research and learning to determine the development of programme interventions.
The Team Leader is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and is responsible for leadership of the management team based in Addis Ababa and the three regions.
Role requirements
Relationships
External Holds primary relationship with DFID, senior officials in relevant external agencies, and consortium partners.
Internal Reports to the Ethiopia Country Manager, and matrixed managed by Head of Service Contracts, Africa based in London. Works with teams based regionally or globally supporting service contract delivery, including Finance, Communications and Human Resources.
Decision making
Budgetary/savings responsibility The post holder is required to make decisions relating to the leadership and management of the team, decisions will range from recruitment to day to day line management to ensuring the team is working towards Christian Aid’s strategic focus. Leadership and overall operational management of dedicated programme. Responsibility for overseeing £24 million overall budget including agreed management fee and operational budget, monitoring expenditure and evaluating impact. Responsible for agreeing and overseeing Service Level Agreements and contracts with consortium members and resource organizations.
Analytical skills
Highly complex work involving a number of different factors or facets that relate both to own area of work and is likely to have cross-functional implications. Expected to take account of the wider and longer term consequences of own and others ideas, recommendations and decisions. Risk assessment is an important part of developing the solution. Innovation is fundamental to developing solutions. Expected to develop and champion processes and ways of working to identify changes that will improve organizational performance
Developing self and others
Number of Direct reports : 5
Overall people management responsibility up to 20 involved in programme delivery
Has direct responsibility for developing, coaching and motivating a group of staff, where the skill/location mix is likely to be diverse; undertakes performance reviews and development of action plans to improve the performance of others, whether staff or volunteers.. Required to be a team worker and be pro-active in bringing innovation and solutions.
Applied skills/knowledge and expertise
Essential • MA Degree – or equivalent - in Development Studies, Economics, or in relevant discipline • Track record of programme management and leadership of complex donor funded programmes operating at scale (£15m or more) • Proven track record in developing and maintaining relationships with a variety of stakeholders, with ability to manage political sensitivities effectively and constructively • Excellent understanding of and experience working in Ethiopia • Technical expertise in programme areas, including the ‘Making Markets Work for the Poor’ (M4P) approach and working with refugees. • Experience of working with donors such as DFID, USAID, UN on major programmes • Outstanding leadership skills • Fluent English, spoken and written.
Desirable Post graduate qualification in rural development/project management/leadership/sustainable development and related disciplines
Digital/IT competencies required
Word, Excel, PowerPoint Advanced level
Internet based collaboration tools and video calling - Intermediate
Social Media - Intermediate
Data Visualization- Intermediate