MEAL Manager-North AO

Child Safeguarding:

Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

ROLE PURPOSE:

The MEAL Manager role will provide essential support to Save the Children’s programmes by supporting leadership and management, roll-out of the MEAL system and building capacity at the field level to deliver against SCI’s Minimum Operating Standards in his/her respective field offices. He/She will build systems and staff capacity to ensure that SCI programmes are of high quality to beneficiaries and donors and learning is institutionalized for program improvements. This position will be responsible for a specific geographic location/s under the Area offices, as per the CO structure.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Area Director & Sr. MEAL Advisor(in line management)

Dimensions: Save the Children works in 9 regions in Ethiopia with a current staff complement of approximately - staff and current expenditure of approximately $+ million each year.

Staff directly reporting to this post: Field Office/FO/Project MEAL Managers/coordinatorss

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Management and Leadership

• Provide overall supervision and leadership on the MEAL functions and strategy delivery at Area office level
• Prove supervision, mentorship and professional development to MEAL staffs in Area so that staffs have the required capacity and enthusiasm to undertake their responsibilities
• Provide oversight of MEAL budget and ensure effective and timely utilization for the appropriate MEAL activities
• Be the key link among the MEAL team, Area level operations team and PDQ team at Addis
• Ensure MEAL evidences (IPTT, project performance/action trackers, etc) are used for management decision making and continuous performance improvement and be part of the Area level management team members/

MEAL System Development and Management

• Undertake responsibilities for the roll-out of the MEAL system in specified area offices/geographic locations
• Ensure that MEAL Team, area operations and project staff understand the various steps and tools for the MEAL system and that this is used consistently across projects / areas
• Ensure programmes/projects are using Quality Benchmarks as part of their day to day implementation and quality monitoring practices
• Support on the design and roll-out of standardized monitoring tools and methodologies as required by the MEAL Head and field level teams.
• Ensure every project has at least 30% engagement (level of effort- LoE) by respective MEAL personnel.
• Ensure functional accountability mechanisms are in place as the four pillar of accountability (Information sharing, participation, establishing and implementing Compliant and Feedback Mechanisms (CFM), and staff capacity building.
• Ensure that regular monitoring/MEAL reports are received and communicated effectively to MEAL Senior Advisor and other relevant bodies in the national office
• Ensure periodic report are as per the standard quality, standard template, time frame and communicated accordingly
• Ensure communities and children know their rights and entitlements, have access to project information and participate in decisions that affect them
• Ensure communities and children have access to safe and responsive mechanisms to handle their complaints and feedbacks

Learning and Knowledge Management

• Lead the implementation of LKM framework in the Area and support there is a functional LKM system and capacity in the Hubs, Area Offices and FOs
• Support programmes in the identification of learning objectives and evidence gaps.
• In close collaboration with program team facilitate in generating, storing and sharing knowledge (most significant change story, meta-analysis, research/evaluation summary reports, etc).
• Ensure utilization of learning and knowledge generated in decision making and programme improvement (maintain up to date Hub action tracker and monitor the utilization and application)

Technical Support and Capacity Building

• Undertake continuous staff capacity assessment and develop capacity building plans
• Provide trainings and capacity building for field-level staff as required
• Ensure relevant staffs received proper orientations, inductions, training to help them deliver their MEAL responsibilities

• Sets standard and agreed performance objectives for all direct reports
• Conducts  at least 6 One-to-ones on monitoring meeting in a year and have documents as evidence
• ·Conducts midterm performance review at midyear for direct reports
• Conducts end line performance evaluation for direct reports, documents and submits to HR

Programme design, research, evaluations, assessments and other studies

• Participate in programme designing process and ensure MEAL components (monitoring, evaluation, assessment/baseline, accountability and learning) are appropriately planned for and adequately budgeted in the programme design.
• Ensure projects/programmes have SMART objectives & indicators, MEAL plan and are in consistency to each other
• Follow up FO/Themes periodically assess and update changes in children needs (especially deprived children)
• Ensure evaluations are undertaken as per the threshold and FO/AO maintain up-to-date evaluation trackers to monitor delivery and action planning
• Lead/participate in project/ programme baseline, evaluations, researches and assessment activities in his/her areas of jurisdiction 

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our 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 others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

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

KEY COMPETENCIES (Save the Children competency framework – to Skilled level)

1.      Leading and inspiring others

2.      Delivering Results

3.      Developing Self and Others

4.      Problem Solving and decision making

5.      Innovating and adapting

6.      Applying Technical & Professional Expertise

7.      Working effectively with others

8.      Communicating with Impact

9.      Networking