ThaiNGO

Save the Children International is looking for a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Emergency Specialist

JOB TITLE:  Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Emergency Specialist

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Thailand Country Office (PDQ)     LOCATION: Bangkok, Thailand (with some travel)

Type of Contract: Full-time

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: This position is responsible for providing technical guidance, resource development, and quality control for Save the Children Thailand’s Child Safety for Survival (focused on DRR) and Emergency Programme. This includes developing multi-year thematic strategies and annual plans, designing and building programmes and securing the grants, developing strong external relations, and producing and utilising high quality and well-articulated project evidence and research for learning, for advocacy and for the continued development of the Child Safety for Survival and Emergency portfolio.

The DRR and Emergency Specialist is also responsible for promoting programme quality and supporting operational teams. S/he will ensure cross functionality, coordination, standardization of program implementation in different projects, and that quality of program are of nationally/internationally accepted and recommended standards. He/she represents Save the Children values and principles in interactions with staff and external audiences. These values and principles include commitment to the mission of Save the Children, team orientation, quality management and leadership development, introducing systems and procedures to strengthen staff motivation and productivity. 

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to:  Director for Program Development and Quality

Staff directly reporting to this post: None

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :

In line with Save the Children’s dual mandate, these key areas of accountability apply to work in emergencies and in development settings.

Strategic Programme Development

• Lead the strategic development and quality assurance of the Child Safety for Survival and Emergency programme, including development of strategic plans and the portfolio of projects, research and initiatives required to achieve of strategic objectives and outcomes.
• Provide particular support to the development of the water safety initiative in Thailand. Draft a clear programming strategy and ensure new projects align with that strategy. Link the program activities to national advocacy and awareness-raising campaigns.
• In close coordination with programme operations, identify potential Child Safety for Survival and Emergency partner organizations and make sure that selection of new partners is in accordance to Save the Children’s partnership guidelines.
• Facilitate annual operational planning and regular internal programme planning and review meetings for the Child Safety for Survival and Emergency team, as well as related inputs to annual reports.
• Document and communicate programme achievements against agreed strategic objectives and milestones for a wide range of internal and external audiences.
• Actively communicate and coordinate with other sector specialists and project coordinators to ensure integrated approaches across themes.
• Serve as the Child Safety for Survival and Emergency thematic focal point for regular liaison and communication with relevant Save the Children and member technical advisor staff. Identify technical support requirements, inclusive of field visits, as and when necessary.
• Support all relevant external representation requirements for the Child Safety for Survival and Emergency sector.

Strategic Fundraising

• Oversee strategic fundraising to support implementation of the Child Safety for Survival and Emergency Strategic Plan and related Advocacy Plan. This includes funding for projects, research and advocacy to support policy change objectives.
• Analyze donor priorities and positions on issues related to Child Safety for Survival and Emergency.
• Develop and maintain contacts with current and potential donors, partners and key technical agencies, in coordination with the Child Safety for Survival and Emergency Coordinators. Support donor meetings and visits.
• In collaboration with the PDQ Director and members, identify funding opportunities.
• Build on technical knowledge, research and current/previous programming to lead development of Child Safety for Survival and Emergency proposals in close coordination with the operations team.

Policy Analysis, Policy Engagement and Advocacy for Policy Change

• Develop and implement Save the Children’s Child Safety for Survival and Emergency advocacy work. Direct advocacy efforts (objectives, messages, targets, approaches), and manage the achievement of each specific objective.
• Develop policy briefs and position papers related to the Child Safety for Survival and Emergency Programme. Support networking and articulating SC’s position, policy and strategy in national forums and meetings.
• Ensure that the voices of children guide advocacy and policy change objectives and related activities.
• Keep abreast of national and global debate in Child Safety for Survival and Emergency themes, analyse and share with staff and partners.
• Represent Save the Children in relevant working groups, task forces, seminars and related fora in the thematic area; and among donors, UN agencies, International NGOs, and national and sub-national government counterparts.

Programme Quality and Effectiveness

• Ensure all projects and research is technically managed to a high standard. Provide project coordinators with strategic guidance, technical oversight and support. Work closely with these implementing teams to support projects throughout the project cycle.
• Provide particular management and support to the start-up and expansion of the water safety initiatives in Thailand, ensuring that the project is run effectively and efficiently with limited risk and adherence to donor and international standards.
• Provide training and oversight to ensure proper understanding of cross-cutting issues among coordinators (e.g., gender, child protection and safeguarding) and integration of these in projects.
• Conduct regular field visits to provide supportive supervision to all Child Safety for Survival and Emergency programs.
• Review donor reports and make recommendations on how these reports could be improved.
• With the MEAL (monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning) team, support evidence-based learning for programme development and advocacy. Ensure that lessons learned are properly documented, effectively disseminated and, where appropriate, incorporated into wider advocacy initiatives.
• Work closely with the MEAL team to ensure Child Safety for Survival and Emergency work is contributing to all objectives across these priority quality areas. Contribute to the development of an MEAL framework for the Child Safety for Survival and Emergency programme that monitors the impact of projects and progress towards strategic operational and advocacy objectives.
• Support implementation of strategies to integrate resources and lessons of large stand-alone projects in the thematic area; support cross-fertilization of good practices.

 Emergency Response

• Provide leadership in the overall management of emergency responses.
• Ensure rapid emergency assessments are undertaken and draw up a strategy for emergency intervention.
• Lead, support and motivate assessment team members and take a part in the responsibility for management related issues for an emergency assessment, ensuring that team members have clear objectives and receive meaningful feedback on their performance.

Recommend content and staffing for emergency responses, and for defining and requesting the support needed from the Asia Regional Office.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (SCI 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 

• Degree (post-graduate preferred) in relevant field such as humanitarian response, disaster risk reduction, child safety, and/or international development.
• A minimum of 8 years’ experience in a development environment (4 years’ management level strongly preferred), including significant field experience with both emergency and development programs.
• Experience working across a portfolio of multiple projects, including research.
• Experience in designing and writing proposals for funding and in developing donor relationships.
• Policy analysis and policy engagement experience. Proven representation, influencing and advocacy skills and experience.
• Strong analytical and writing skills with demonstrated ability to write briefing papers (ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner) and targeted advocacy messages.
• Proven ability to lead a networked team, with good communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to motivate staff. Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching.
• Experience in emergency response and disaster risk reduction and/or child safety.
• Experience working with government partners, with partner agencies, including local partners, and in consortia.
• An understanding of child rights programming and commitment to Save the Children values.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets.
• Proven ability to manage a complex and demanding workload.
• Excellent spoken and written English.
• Good computer skills (particularly Excel, Word and database).

Equal Opportunities

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Health and Safety :

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Save the Children offers competitive remuneration package.

Deadline for submission of application is on 28^th February 2017

To apply, please send your application and CV to HR & Admin Manager at email address: hr.thailand@savethechildren.org

Please indicate in the subject as “Apply for a DRR and Emergency Specialist._ (Name of candidate)”

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

“We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.”