The organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. The organisation believes in the power and potential of every child, while recognizing that this potential is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. Girls are among the most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, Plan International strives for a just world by tackling the root causes of the challenges faced by girls and vulnerable children.

The organisation supports children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and enables children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. Plan International drives changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using its reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, Plan International has rallied determined optimists to transform the lives of children in more than 80 countries.

Plan International will not stop until everyone is equal.

Role purpose

The Programme Implementation Area Manager (PIAM) is responsible and accountable for leading, coordinating and overseeing the delivery of Plan International’s programmes and operations in a designated Programme Implementation Area (PIA).

The role ensures that project objectives are achieved and resources are optimised by strengthening and promoting effective communication between the Country Office and the Programme Implementation Area on all operational support needed for efficient project delivery.

The PIAM will manage multi-functional teams based in the implementation area and oversee multi-sectoral interventions in:

• Protection
• Education and early childhood development
• Health
• Nutrition
• WASH
• Livelihoods
• Skills and works
• Sexual and reproductive health rights
• Humanitarian response

These interventions must be implemented in line with Plan International’s Country Strategy, global frameworks and organisational commitments.

The PIAM will ensure quality programme delivery, operational efficiency, staff wellbeing, risk management, safeguarding compliance and strong partnerships with local government, civil society and communities.

This role reports to the Head of Program Delivery, and the PIAM is part of the Extended Country Management Team.

As a staff member of a child-centred international development and humanitarian organisation, the PIAM is expected to comply with Plan International’s standards and policies related to safeguarding and PSHEA, which refers to Preventing Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse. The role also requires commitment to gender equality, inclusion and diversity.

All Plan International staff are expected to uphold the organisation’s values and behaviours in every aspect of their work.

Dimensions of the role

The Programme Implementation Area Manager will be responsible for the following:

• Representing Plan International Tanzania in regional and zonal forums with stakeholders, ensuring that key strategic messages are conveyed in accordance with the Country Strategy, as well as Plan International principles and policies.
• Being accountable for budget management, including multi-million-dollar portfolios depending on the area.
• Managing zonal-level partnerships and stakeholder relations.
• Supervising multiple direct reports, including:
  • Project Managers
  • Project Coordinators
  • MEAL Officers
  • Finance personnel
  • Administration personnel
• Ensuring that direct reports have the required support, guidance and resources to implement projects according to organisational standards.
• Ensuring effective coordination with Country Office department leads so that organisational procedures and requirements are met by the team.
• Ensuring that project results and Plan International’s commitments to impact the lives of programme participants are fulfilled in line with the respective policies, procedures and systems.
• Ensuring that the approved sponsorship participant plan of the area is met in accordance with business rules and guidelines.
• Ensuring that risks and issues arising from the area are resolved and, when necessary, escalated to the Head of Program Implementation.
• Contributing to the development of the Country Strategy and the annual planning process.
• Contributing to emergency preparedness and response in the area.

Technical expertise, skills, knowledge and behaviour

Qualifications and experience

Applicants should have the following qualifications and experience:

• Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, International Relations, Gender Studies or a similar field.
• At least 10 years of work experience, including 5 years in leadership.
• Demonstrated experience in managing multi-sectoral projects, large teams and multi-million-dollar budgets.
• Proven experience with donor-funded projects, such as:
  • FCDO
  • USAID
  • EU
  • GAC
• Solid understanding of:
  • Child rights
  • Gender equality
  • Youth development
  • Social inclusion
  • Community development
  • Rights-based programming
• Solid experience in implementing programmes in one or more of Plan International’s areas of global distinctiveness, including:
  • Inclusive quality education
  • Sexual and reproductive health and rights
  • Early childhood development
  • Protection from violence
  • Youth economic empowerment and employment
• Knowledge of the national and regional context on factors affecting children and girls, as well as social and environmental opportunities for change, is an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in managing partnerships at different levels, including:
  • Informal community structures
  • Community-based organisations
  • Large international NGOs
  • UN agencies
  • Multilateral donors
• Ability to bridge different national or organisational cultures and work effectively in a multicultural and multi-ethnic environment while respecting diversity.
• Ability to communicate effectively and authoritatively within the area of expertise and influence others to reach common goals.
• Demonstrated experience with operational and programming processes, systems and principles.
• Ability to provide leadership and support to staff working at regional and community level.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic leadership and planning processes.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of different donor compliance requirements and financial management.
• Knowledge and experience with results-based management tools and reporting processes.
• Strong programme management skills with the ability to meet strict reporting deadlines.
• Excellent networking ability, persuasive communication and fundraising experience.

Knowledge

The ideal candidate should have knowledge of the following areas:

• Development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities, and their implications for community and child development.
• Development issues, especially those impacting the realisation of child rights.
• Cross-cutting issues, especially gender, climate change impact and inclusiveness.
• Rights-based approaches in programming.
• National trends in education, youth development and people with disabilities.
• Project management cycle, especially participatory approaches.
• People management and financial management.
• Gender analysis and assessments, including approaches, methods and frameworks.

Skills

The ideal candidate should demonstrate the following skills:

• Excellent communication skills with a high level of fluency in both Kiswahili and English.
• Advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to girls’ development and a values-driven work environment.
• Ability to operate in a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment with professionalism.
• Proficient computer skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment.
• Excellent communication skills, including the demonstrated ability to write technical reports.
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility and integrity.
• Lobbying, negotiation, advocacy and risk management skills.
• Excellent report writing skills, including oral presentation skills.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

Plan International wants to reflect the diversity of the communities it works with by offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage and civil partnership
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race
• Religion or belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and strives to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office and in every country is rich in diverse people, thoughts and ideas.

The organisation fosters a culture that embraces its commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Safeguarding and pre-employment checks

Plan International believes that in a world where children face many threats of harm, it is the organisation’s duty to do everything possible to keep children safe.

This means Plan International has particular responsibilities to children it comes into contact with and must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy.

Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme, the organisation will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or any incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

• Representing Plan International Tanzania in regional and zonal forums with stakeholders, ensuring that key strategic messages are conveyed in accordance with the Country Strategy, as well as Plan International principles and policies.
• Being accountable for budget management, including multi-million-dollar portfolios depending on the area.
• Managing zonal-level partnerships and stakeholder relations.
• Supervising multiple direct reports, including: Project Managers, Project Coordinators, MEAL Officers, Finance personnel, Administration personnel.
• Ensuring that direct reports have the required support, guidance and resources to implement projects according to organisational standards.
• Ensuring effective coordination with Country Office department leads so that organisational procedures and requirements are met by the team.
• Ensuring that project results and Plan International’s commitments to impact the lives of programme participants are fulfilled in line with the respective policies, procedures and systems.
• Ensuring that the approved sponsorship participant plan of the area is met in accordance with business rules and guidelines.
• Ensuring that risks and issues arising from the area are resolved and, when necessary, escalated to the Head of Program Implementation.
• Contributing to the development of the Country Strategy and the annual planning process.
• Contributing to emergency preparedness and response in the area.

• Excellent communication skills with a high level of fluency in both Kiswahili and English.
• Advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to girls’ development and a values-driven work environment.
• Ability to operate in a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment with professionalism.
• Proficient computer skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment.
• Excellent communication skills, including the demonstrated ability to write technical reports.
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility and integrity.
• Lobbying, negotiation, advocacy and risk management skills.
• Excellent report writing skills, including oral presentation skills.

• Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, International Relations, Gender Studies or a similar field.
• At least 10 years of work experience, including 5 years in leadership.
• Demonstrated experience in managing multi-sectoral projects, large teams and multi-million-dollar budgets.
• Proven experience with donor-funded projects, such as: FCDO, USAID, EU, GAC.
• Solid understanding of: Child rights, Gender equality, Youth development, Social inclusion, Community development, Rights-based programming.
• Solid experience in implementing programmes in one or more of Plan International’s areas of global distinctiveness, including: Inclusive quality education, Sexual and reproductive health and rights, Early childhood development, Protection from violence, Youth economic empowerment and employment.
• Knowledge of the national and regional context on factors affecting children and girls, as well as social and environmental opportunities for change, is an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in managing partnerships at different levels, including: Informal community structures, Community-based organisations, Large international NGOs, UN agencies, Multilateral donors.
• Ability to bridge different national or organisational cultures and work effectively in a multicultural and multi-ethnic environment while respecting diversity.
• Ability to communicate effectively and authoritatively within the area of expertise and influence others to reach common goals.
• Demonstrated experience with operational and programming processes, systems and principles.
• Ability to provide leadership and support to staff working at regional and community level.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic leadership and planning processes.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of different donor compliance requirements and financial management.
• Knowledge and experience with results-based management tools and reporting processes.
• Strong programme management skills with the ability to meet strict reporting deadlines.
• Excellent networking ability, persuasive communication and fundraising experience.