Deputy Executive Director

DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ABOUT THERE IS HOPE

There is Hope is a Christian Non-Governmental Organization which was registered under the Malawi Trustees Incorporation Act on 31 December 2007. We are a member of NGO Board and CONGOMA (Council for Non-Governmental Organizations in Malawi).

There is Hope (TIH) is looking for a Deputy Executive Director to be based at its Lilongwe, Area 47 office.

JOB PURPOSE

The Deputy Executive Director (DED), reporting directly to the Executive Director (ED), will play a pivotal role in enhancing program quality and expanding TIH’s comprehensive programmes portfolio. Tasked with supervising all strategic program operations and coordination, the DED will work closely with the ED on strategic planning, securing new projects/program opportunities, and the systematic execution, monitoring, and evaluation of projects. This role involves leading the programmes team, managing grants, overseeing reporting, enhancing communications, and ensuring the highest standards of program management. Furthermore, the DED will serve as an essential conduit between TIH and other stakeholders, bolstering TIH’s capacity for networking, fostering strategic partnerships with consortia, UN Agencies, INGOs, and ensuring robust collaborations with local organizations and communities. Additionally, in the absence of the ED, the DED will assume leadership, supporting both the ED and the country teams.

Position Responsibilities and Duties:

Strategic Program Leadership.

• Work under the ED and coordinate with programme leads to craft and guide the strategic direction and leadership of TIH’s portfolio.
• Spearhead the creation and evaluation of programmes annual plans, ensuring alignment with TIH’s Strategy.
• Actively search for and pinpoint new funding opportunities, leading donor discussions alongside the ED to capitalize on strategic prospects.
• Oversee the program quality assurance and implementation team, guaranteeing the prompt and high-quality execution of programs.
• Manage grants, reporting, and communications, conducting the final checks and quality control before submission of reports, updates, and other materials intended for external audiences.
• Represent TIH as the delegate of the ED, acting as the principal point of contact for program-related matters.
• Forge and sustain productive relationships with local stakeholders, including NGOs, community groups, and UN agencies, ensuring TIH’s representation in sector-level coordination forums.

 

Program Designing and Development.

• Oversee program development processes by scrutinizing concept notes and proposals and contribute directly to enhance their quality before they are submitted.
• Engage with potential new partners to uncover new funding opportunities, in liaison with ED.
• Enhance existing donor relationships and forge new ones to promote diversification of the donor base/portfolio, under the guidance of the ED.
• Organize capacity-building initiatives for TIH’s program managers and technical advisors.
• Guarantee that proposals are grounded in evidence and bolstered by thorough needs assessments. Lead or assist in organizing design workshops for every proposal.
• Ensure that proposals adhere to TIH’s standards, as well as comply with donor policies and regulations.

 

Program Management and Implementation

• Lead the charge, in partnership with technical leads, to ensure a smooth start-up/ mobilization phase for new awards, including the development of spending projections, procurement and recruitment strategies, and initial work plans.
• Continuously maintain, refresh, and review TIH’s comprehensive operational analysis by integrating contributions from both the programs and support departments.
• Coordinate periodic project evaluation meetings (both mid-term and final) after the initial mobilization to monitor and ensure consistent progress.
• Act as the primary liaison during the program modification and budget realignment processes, engaging with support departments/sections.
• Oversee the verification process to ensure that all project expenses are permissible, reasonable, and appropriately allocated, thereby providing oversight and quality control for technical leads.
• Facilitate regular and effective budget monitoring and expenditure reviews in collaboration with the finance and program departments.
• Support both the programs and operations teams in overseeing and managing the expenditure rate to ensure efficient budget management.

 

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

• Ensure TIH has a functional MEAL system that will improve quality of implementation of projects and provide support and oversight to the MEAL team.
• Lead the country program in ensuring consistent reflection of assessment and programmatic data for decision-making, using TIH-required tools such as IPTTs.
• Ensure the country program is complying with TIH-required accountability standards.
• Champion learning across the project cycle, ensuring that regular learning events are conducted and documented.

 

Representation and Networking

• Support in establishing, maintaining, and improving active and regular working relationships with host government authorities, donors and partner agencies, the UN system, and local and international NGOs.
• Maintain regular communications and interactions with the international donor and NGO community to ensure awareness of TIH programmes.
• Others as assigned by the Executive Director.
• Be acting ED in the absence of ED.

 

Fundraising and resource mobilization

• Participate in the conceptualizing and designing of programs in line with TIH priorities;
• Scout for and or respond to/position for funding opportunities to expand programmes/impact.
• Engage with donors to pre-position and prepare for opportunities, and engage in strategic positioning work directly as appropriate
• Play a leading role in designing proposals, including:
• Ensuring high quality, evidence-based designs that draw on needs assessments, learning from past programs and safeguarding principles;
• Ensuring partners are identified and appropriately engaged in program design;
• Ensuring proposal designs and budgets include robust MEAL plans
• Ensuring the project budget will enable the project to be delivered as designed.
• Support the development/evolution of existing programmes;
• Help draft/develop concept papers and proposals;

 

Staff management

• Lead and manage all direct reportees, planning and implementing specific actions to recruit, manage and motivate staff as per TIH policies and procedures;
• Manage, mentor and motivate direct reportees to do their roles and responsibilities effectively;
• Ensure direct reports have clearly defined objectives, understand their responsibilities and receive meaningful feedback on their performance.
• Develop and implement staff development strategies direct reportees to ensure staff are able to perform the duties expected.
• Manage the performance of all direct reportees through:
• Effective use of the performance management system including establishment of measureable objectives, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations;
• Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities;
• Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance;
• Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/ work plans

 

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• Masters degree in Development, Administration, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Project Management, Strategic Management, Agriculture, Business Administration or any relevant field
• 7 years experience in a Non Governmental Organisation, 5 of which should be at Managerial level: Programmes Operations and or Programme Development and Quality
• Experience and knowledge of programme/project management; financial, budget and grants management; and people management
• Experience and knowledge of the thematic priorities of the programmes in TIH: agriculture and livelihoods, health and nutrition, education and TVET skills development
• Experience of working with donors to secure and/or manage funding
• Experience in advocacy, campaigns and change management
• Experience of building networks resulting in securing new opportunities for the organization
• Experience managing, leading, motivating and developing a diverse team of senior staff
• Strategic thinking skills to develop highly ambitious business strategies and the track record of delivery. Ability to analyze information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically.

Apply through this Link: http://tiny.cc/TIH

The deadline for applications is 21st June, 2024.