Program and Strategy Manager Job: Plan International

Organization Background

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian non-governmental organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected. Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries. Safeguarding children and young people is key in all that we do.

Working in Zambia since 1996, Plan International Zambia’s development and capacity building programmes focus primarily on Education, Health, Water and Sanitation, Economic Security and Youth Empowerment, including Child Protection and Participation. Plan International Zambia has Programme Areas in; Central, Luapula, and Eastern Provinces including in Lusaka, where the Country Office is located.

Plan International Zambia is looking for experienced, innovative, motivated, self-starter individuals to fill the following position

Program and Strategy Manager – Lusaka – (2 Year Contract)

Position Description

The Program and Strategy Manager will drive Plan International’s programme and influencing work, setting overall direction, leading a high performing team, ensuring accountability for meeting demanding targets and maintaining alignment with the global strategy. The incumbent will lead transformative change, have a demonstrable commitment to gender equality and relish the prospect of representing Plan International to the government and civil society,

S/he understand and drive efforts to deliver positive change for girls through advocating, campaigning and communicating at a national level. Equally, the incumbent will ensure the country-operating model is fit for purpose, have the right funding mix to achieve our ambition, key business processes are in place and organizational values are embedded in everything we do. The Incumbent will lead by example in ensuring gender equality is evident in everything we do from staffing, to programming and influencing, to ways of working and the right culture that ensures we are champions for girls and gender equality.

Key areas of responsibility include:

1. Strategic planning:

• Contribute to the strategic development and management of programmes that are gender transformative in the country by regular reviews and alignment with the Country Strategy.
• Organizational approaches such as mainstreaming gender equality, resilience and partnership are incorporated across the programmes and projects

2. Support to quality programmes;

• Ensure High quality, integrated and innovative programs are designed and delivered that have sustainable, measurable impacts on the lives of the children, particularly girls and their communities in programme implementation areas.
• Clear understanding and experience of gender analysis and gender transformative programming
• Oversees the formation of both Strategic and Sub-granting partnerships through development of clear Partner Management Frameworks and guidelines in line with Plan International’s Building Better Partnership principles.

 3. Advocacy and Influencing

• Knowledge and hands-on experience in designing, implementing and evaluation advocacy initiatives and influencing campaigns.

4. Applications and systems support:

• Oversee the in-country rollout of corporate systems, policies, procedures and applications that contribute to programme quality and efficiency as well as meet compliance standards and donor requirements.

Qualifications: 

• A Master’s Degree in Development, or related degree
• 10-15 years of experience (including international) in managing development programs and preference with disaster response with large and complex budget
• Demonstrable knowledge on key issues in development regarding the Sustainable Development Goals, UNCRC and CEDAW particularly around child rights
• Exceptional conceptual and strategic thinking skills
• Ability to train, mobilize, and manage both international and national staff
• Knowledge of the host country, the geopolitical factors affecting child-poverty in the country as well as the political, social and economic opportunities for development are an advantage

Competencies:

• Flexibility and ability to multi-task under pressure;
• Ability to work well in frequently changing environment
• Ability to communicate and negotiate at different levels and effective interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with colleagues with diverse experiences
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presentation and public speaking
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Leadership analysis/coaching and mentoring skills
• Strong team building and motivational skills

To apply, kindly send through your application letter and CV, clearly stating the job title of interest to [email protected].  Kindly note that only candidates who meet the above specifications and competencies should apply enclosing their CVs, and photocopies of their relevant academic qualifications. Day time telephone and/or mobile contacts should be clearly indicated. Applications should reach the undersigned not later than Friday 15 May 2020. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.          

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

Plan International provides equal employment opportunities to qualified and experienced women and men

Women are especially encouraged to apply.