Myanmar: Director Programmes, Policy and Advocacy

Job Role

Role Overview:

The Director of Programmes, Policy and Advocacy provides overall strategic leadership and guidance in the development, implementation and monitoring of the programme and has an oversight on programme led advocacy initiatives. S/he will ensure high quality programme management and implementation of all ActionAid programmes and projects in Myanmar, as well as effective coordination between programmes and develop an active fundraising strategy with the resource mobilisation team. S/he must ensure that programmes deliver impact, have oversight on policy influencing/advocacy strategies, and fully implement cross-cutting themes of conflict and gender sensitivity across the programme pillars of ActionAid Myanmar which include a focus on women’s rights, youth empowerment, participatory governance and making communities resilient. S/he will play a prominent external role representing ActionAid and must be prepared to spend significant periods of time visiting programmes and partners. The position reports to the Country Director and is a member of the Senior Management Team in Myanmar. The Director of Programmes, Policy and Advocacy will directly manage all Thematic Heads and advocacy advisor(s) and will need to coordinate very closely with other senior colleagues.

Accountabilities

Key Responsibilities

Key Activities

Organisational Representation and Governance Development

· Active and key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and leads the development of three year strategic and operational plans in line with the ten year Country Strategic Plan

· Represents ActionAid to provide and coordinate country level input and participation in the international programme processes including strategy and operational plan development and share programme learning internally

· Represent ActionAid’s local rights programme and maintain external relationships within a diverse range of stakeholders

· Be the first contact point of AAM to Funding Affiliates, AAI, and other CPs for issues related to Programme, Policy and Advocacy

Strategic Development and Delivery

· Oversight on the development of an advocacy strategy and plan to ensure that the advocacy is embedded and connected to programmes

· Review and ensure alignment of programme priorities, strategies and plans to the Country Strategic Plan and the broader ActionAid International strategies

· Provide technical guidance in the development of strategic plans and budgets for programme and advocacy initiatives

· Ensure that the selection of partners adheres to partnership Management Guidelines

Programme Reviews and Learning

· Track trends in contemporary development programming and programme management practices, document and provide advice/ recommendations on key developments to Senior Management Team

· Design and develop gender and conflict sensitive programmes to ensure that the program is focussed on those most vulnerable and marginalised

· Manage complex conflict and gender sensitive programmes across Myanmar and ensure constant reviews of existing programmes

· Ensure AA has a high quality, well documented and cost-effective programme in the country

· Coordinate program and project reviews and evaluations in line with Accountability, Learning and Planning System (ALPS), with a focus on impact

· Work closely with Programme Quality staff to build a culture of knowledge development and knowledge sharing

· In the event of a new emergency, lead the Emergency Management Response Team and support direct humanitarian response

Policy and Advocacy

· Lead and organise the development and planning of high impact alternative development models

· Guide advocacy advisor(s) in the identification of key issues, potential key collaborators for advocacy priorities

· Encourage the development of appropriate research with a view to improving the quality of field work and influencing change in policy

· Conduct and report periodic pro-poor analysis of policies and programmes aimed at political, socio and economic reforms that impact on the lives of the poor and excluded

· Contribute to providing a forum through which civil society and the general public can engage in parliamentary policy making processes

· Support advocacy advisor(s) to co-ordinate activities relating to parliaments or directed at reforms and policies impacting on ActionAid (AA) programme areas

· Lead consultation with grass roots level programme participants to inform our national level advocacy strategy and policy

· Oversight in the development, implementation, monitoring and documentation of the outcome of periodic advocacy plans

· Contribute to policy briefs and media strategies that inform stakeholders of the policy positions of ActionAid and partners

· Ensure linkages with regional and global programme and advocacy initiatives

· Identify risk and mitigation strategies involved in programme and advocacy activities in Myanmar

Partnerships, Relationship management and Networking

· Initiate and maintain networks and alliances with civil society organisations, academic and research institutions relevant to the focus and priority of ActionAid programmes.

· Support the Head of Thematic teams to strengthen networks that the Country Program/ActionAid Program (CP/AP) is collaborating with. Provide support to these networks and their member organisations for capacity building.

· Coordinate and report on the Country Program/ActionAid Program (CP/AP) in collaboration with government agencies in order to share information, experiences, influence them and/or build capacity

· Collaborate and exchange information with networks and other organisations in areas of common interest and report on performance on a periodic basis

· Ensure effective information flow and communication with key stakeholders including partners, donors, government and ActionAid international teams

· Plan and coordinate the annual partners forum and coordinate follow up actions

· Conduct capacity assessment for partners, identify their training needs and develop capacity building programme for partners

Annual budgeting and planning

· Coordinate and ensure the development of quarterly, half year and annual programme work plans and budgets by all programme units

· Receive and review all project and programme reports and develop guidelines for reporting where required

· Ensure that all processes and products (appraisal, three -year planning, programme strategy, reports etc.) are delivered in time and to a high standard

· Provide inputs to the annual budget development

Financial Management

· Review and approve programme concepts and financial requests

· Review programme expenditures from the programme team line staff to ensure conformity to Financial Policies and Procedures Manual (FPPM)

· Monitor and advise on programme and project spending and variance reports

· Review and approve partner financial requests

Staff Management

· Participate in the review of staff job descriptions and setting of performance standards

· Involve in recruitment of staff under supervision

· Assign performance objectives to supervised staff, conduct comprehensive performance appraisal of supervised staff and provide / obtain feedback when necessary

· Ensure that performance records of staff under supervision are submitted to HR on time

· Provide induction, training, coaching, mentoring and advice to supervised staff to ensure that they understand and carry out their responsibilities effectively

· Work with HR Function to identify training needs and development opportunities for supervised staff

Program Risk Management and Legal Issues

· Review and manage risks applicable to the operations of the Country Programme

· Conduct and communicate periodic programme and advocacy risk assessments and proposes mitigation actions to management

http://themimu.info/sites/themimu.info/files/jobs/Director_PPA_Advert-_AAM.pdf

Application Procedure:
If you have the expertise to take on this exciting opportunity, please see Job Description Link for further details. Interested persons should send an application letter along with a current C.V, not later than 5:00 pm, 17th September 2018. Applications can be submitted in hard copy to the following address: #No (1), Win Ga Bar Road, Shwe Gone Daing, Bahan Township, Yangon, or by email to hr.myanmar @actionaid.org, please cc job.actionaid509@gmail.com.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview. In addition, there is no requirement to provide a photocopy of certificates.
Application deadline : 17thth September 2018
Tentative personal interview and written test : 19th - 21st September 2018