Deputy National Director

Who we are

SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia is an International Non-governmental organization and a member of SOS Children’s Villages International Federation. We started our humanitarian work in Ethiopia with the opening of our first Village in Mekelle, Northern part of Ethiopia in 1974. Since then, we have expanded our programs to different regions where there are significant needs for intervention and where we believe we can work in partnership with all relevant actors to bring sustainable positive outcomes for children’s and young people.

Today, we have grown significantly to meet the persistent challenges that confront Ethiopian children who have lost parental care and those that are at risk of losing their parental care. Working in close collaboration with international donors, local government and community based organizations across seven program locations; we aspire that every child grows up with love, respect and security.

Why we need you?

We are looking for a Deputy National Director who is responsible for SOS Children’s Villages Partnership, Fund Development, Advocacy and Communication works, as well as the implementation of programmes across the country. The incumbent is also responsible to ensure implementation of SOS Children’s Villages Safeguarding policies and regulations, the Code of Conduct, the values-based competency frame “Living our Values” and any further international and local regulation that influences safeguarding at SOS Children’s Villages

What we provide?

An amazing work environment that promotes personal growth through providing professional space to grow and advance your career!

Your Role?

While working with us a Deputy National Director you will be in charge of the following,

• Assist in leading the strategic planning processes to ensure sustainability and relevance of the NA’s work;
• Ensure the required resources and budget are allocated to the departments under his/her supervision;
• Builds partnerships with non-governmental organisations who work for the rights of children without parental care or at risk of losing parental care;
• Ensure the operational effectiveness of all programmes by coordinating the departments under his/her supervision;
• Ensure effective and sustainable management of the NA’s financial and other resources;
• Build the human capacity of his/her team to ensure long-term growth and stability;
• Lead the advocacy work for strong partnership and collaborations and impact;
• Promote and manage an appropriate image of the organisation both internally and externally, using SOS Children’s Villages values and standards as the basis for shaping the brand;
• Ensure the implementation of programmes/projects as per SOS Children’s Villages International standards

Portfolio Management

• Ensures implementation portfolio of programs as per the standards, requirements set out in agreements with different stakeholder including donors and local government.
• Motivates, sets goals and provides positive management for portfolio managers through regular meeting, coaching and monitoring

Advocacy and Communications

• Lead the development of national advocacy and communications strategy;
• Ensures that the National Association have clear and measurable goals for the Advocacy and communication that are in line with the initiatives of the international and national strategic plan;
• Establishes sound relationships with relevant government authorities, ensures appropriate representation of the organisation’s views and seeks government recognition and support for SOS Children’s Villages work
• Lead the organization’s effort to position itself as a child rights advocate and driving the process of MA’s brand strengthening and anchoring;
• Ensure application of the internationally agreed brand development concept in national strategy, planning and implementation;
• Live the brand and the mission and make it come alive and lead toward adding value to the core vision of SOS Children’s Villages by building, continuously improving and maintaining an efficient internal and external information and communication networks;
• Ensure coherent messaging and branding, aligned position statements and drive capacity building in the NA in the area of external communication (incl. Crisis Communication)
• Pursues advocacy objectives in child safeguarding forums and in partnership with other NGOs, GOs and other relevant stakeholders joining together to bring our mission for children and young people to life.
• Monitors national activities (of the state and of key NGOs) and planned future developments in the social welfare sector, protection of child’s rights as well as gaps in child rights fulfilment by the state.
• Participates in and/or initiates national initiatives aiming at improving conditions and changing policies and practices that undermine the well-being and rights of children of our target group.

Partnership development

• Drive the development and implementation of fundraising strategies in the Member Associations and ensure support in the development and monitoring of fundraising investment applications.
• Promotes long-term stability and financial self-sufficiency by pursuing support from government and private sources with the aim to maximise the fundraising potential
• Supports the development and implementation of sustainable fundraising strategies and grant applications. Supports public relations/marketing activities as necessary and ensures that an appropriate image of the organisation is portrayed;
• Enable support in the area of digital fundraising (e.g. technical setup, expert advice, tools)
• Develops and maintains contacts, exchanges information and develops partnerships with key stakeholders of the child welfare sector (state, NGOs, INGOs and GOs)

Human Resources Development

• Responsible for performance management of the staff in Deputy National Director reporting line.
• Supports and provides coaching in the realisation of the set objectives.
  Monitors objective achievement.
• Ensures support in recruitment and selection process of co-workers in SOS Children’s Village programme through Portfolio Directors, Head of Partnership, Head of Advocacy and Communications.
• Ensures organisation of initial and ongoing trainings for key SOS Children’s Villages staff in the reporting line up to the program locations

Budget and budget management

• Follow up program budget preparation and utilization of the program locations where she/he is in charge.

• Supports program locations in the periodic budget revision.

• Works together with the Head of Finance, to clarify and update donor compliance procedures.

Cooperation and Reporting

• Fosters a professional relationship and maintains close cooperation with the Regional Office as well as with other units in the General Secretariat; receives guidance, support and monitoring with respect to international standards (from Regional Office); provides specified reports and acts on agreements
• Represents the organisation towards government authorities and other external stakeholders

Safeguarding

• Responsible for implementation and management of SOS Child Protection Policy in the National AssociationResponsible for implementation and management of SOS Child Protection Policy in the National Association
• Ensures that co-workers and programmes do no cause harm to children and young people and that they are not exposed to the risk of harm and abuse
• Responsible to report any concerns the organization has about children’s safety in its programmes and within the communities to the appropriate authorities
• Ensures that co-workers act within national law, Child Protection Policy, Code of Conduct and other child safeguarding requirements

Job Requirements

Up for the challenge---

Then check out our criteria’s:

Must Criteria

Education**:** MA Degree in Development studies, Social Work, Sociology, Project Management, or other related field of Study.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience out of which 6 years in senior leadership positions leading cross functional teams. Experiences in working with the target group, i.e. vulnerable children, families and community
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Amharic language.

Competencies – Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Leadership experience that includes coaching staff to high levels of performance & perform effectively as a team & engaging in effective cross-cultural & cross-functional working to achieve shared goals.

• Strong knowledge of Development theory, policy and practice, with a good knowledge of technical sectors, Fundraising, advocacy & communications

• Experienced networker and spokesperson in different fora (DFID, Regional and National Offices, technical programmatic communities of practice, media)

• Linking local level advocacy through to national as a credible voice to national audiences (government and multilaterals).

• Experience of Implementing and monitoring strategic and operational plans within a demanding environmen

• Experience in project management, planning, monitoring and evaluation

• Good knowledge and understanding of children’s rights and rights-based approaches

• Awareness and understanding of social development issues including gender, education, health, etc.

• Computer literacy MS Office applications including MS project and use of cloud based applications.

Lead competency

• Role model: Act as a role model for the organization, living our values and inspiring and learning from others
• Collaboration: Remove barriers to participation, share decision making and build partnerships
• Empowerement: Promote inclusion and equitable sharing of power
• Strategic Thinking : Live the values and mission, setting realistic goals and translating them into actionable plans

Core competency

• Kindness: Act with empathy towards everyone he/she works with.
• Continuous Learning: Make an effort to learn, understand and grow as a person, admitting your own mistakes
• Inclusiveness: In any actions show respect and care for others
• Initiative: speak up when things are not right, do not hesitate to act and adapt to change when necessary
• Results Orientation: prioritize safeguarding, look for solutions and focus on desired results

How to Apply

Excited to take on a new Challenge..

Then send us your application (application letter, detailed CV containing contact detail of there references) electronically through SOS Children Villages Application portal (ICIMS)

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia holds strict child safeguarding principles and a zero-tolerance policy for conducts of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse in the workplace and other places where the organization’s activities are rendered.  Parallel to technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring decisions will give due emphasis to assessing candidates value congruence and thorough background checks, police clearance reference check processes.

SOS Children's Villages Ethiopia provides equal employment opportunities to all co-workers & qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or class.