ActionAid Bangladesh is looking for suitable candidates for the following position:

Head – Programme, Policy and Campaigns 

Job Summary: 

The Head - Programme, Policy and Campaigns provides overall programme development, implementation and monitoring of all ActionAid Bangladesh (AAB) programmes, projects and advocacy initiatives to ensure the delivery of programme objectives as per Country Strategy Paper V and subsequent CSPs.  S/he also ensures effective management, coordination, inter-linkage and full implementation of cross-cutting themes of women rights and gender, youth, resilience and climate justice across the programme pillars of ActionAid Bangladesh with focus on Gender Equity, women’s rights, youth empowerment, participatory governance, resilience and climate justice.

Key responsibilities include (not limited to):

Organisational Representation 

• Effectively lead, manage, coordinate and monitor ActionAid Bangladesh CSP V to achieve overall organisational goals through strategic guidance and leadership focusing on effective program and partnership management, strategic objective as envisioned in CSP V program priorities.
• Work closely with CD/ED and Programme Team.
• Develop Programme, Policy Advocacy and Campaign(s)  
• Will be responsible for reporting on PPC including preparing quarterly reports to AAIBS Board.
• Will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and contribute to the strategic direction, delivery and decision making.
• Represent ActionAid Bangladesh at various network and alliance meetings, knowledge sharing and learning forums.
• Be the first contact point of AAB for ActionAid International, Fedration members, and other Country Programmes on issues related to Programme, Policy Advocacy and Campaigns.
• Provide inputs to ActionAid International in regards to Strategic implementation of programme and campaign-related initiatives based on AAB experience and learning

Strategic Development

• Participate in the development of AAB strategy, annual plans and budget.
• Lead and actively contribute to ensuring the quality of programme, policy advocacy and campaign initiatives in Bangladesh.
• Develop and ensure the implementation of AAB program and policy advocacy strategy to achieve programme objectives as per Country Strategy Paper V.
• Ensure all programme activities are grounded, strongly inter-linked and responsive to changes in the political, social, and economic environments.
• Review and ensure alignment of programme priorities, strategies and plans to the Country Strategic Plan and the broader ActionAid International strategies.

Partnerships Development Management 

• Be responsible for implementation and monitoring of the AAB Partnership strategy and plans along with Partnership Development Team and the Local Rights Programme team in tandem with the Partnership strategy and guidelines. Conduct capacity assessment for partners, identify their training needs and develop capacity building programme for partners where relevant.
• Initiate and maintain networks and alliances with civil society organisations, academic and research institutions relevant to the focus and priority of ActionAid programmes.
• Collaborate and exchange information with networks and other organisations in areas of common interest and report on performance periodically.  
• Coordinate and report on the ActionAid Bangladesh collaboration with government agencies in order to share information, experiences, influence them and/or build capacity.  
• Ensure effective information flow and communication with key stakeholders, including partners, donors, government and ActionAid international teams.
• Support Manager/lead/Head of strategic priorities to strengthen networks that ActionAid Bangladesh is in partnership with and collaborating with.

Programme and Project Management 

• Ensure AAB has a high quality, well documented and cost-effective programme in the country.
• Design and develop gender and justice programmes to ensure that the program is focused on those most vulnerable and marginalised.
• Track trends in contemporary development programming and programme management practices, document and provide advice/ recommendations on key developments to Senior Leadership Team
• Manage complex programmes across Bangladesh and ensure constant reviews of existing programmes.

Policy and Advocacy 

• Guide team or assigned advocacy coordinator/advisor in the identification of key issues, potential key collaborators for advocacy priorities.
• Lead consultation with grassroots level programme participants to inform our national-level advocacy strategy and policy.
• Encourage the development of appropriate research to improve the quality of community-level work and influence change in policy.  
• Oversee the development, implementation, monitoring and documentation of the outcome of periodic advocacy plans.
• Contribute to providing a forum through which civil society and the general public can engage in parliamentary policy-making processes.
• Contribute to policy briefs and media strategies that inform stakeholders of the policy positions of ActionAid and partners.
• Identify risk and mitigation strategies involved in programme and advocacy activities in Bangladesh.
• Ensure very strong inter linkages of Policy Advocacy work with Programmes and Projects of ActionAid Bangladesh.

Proposal Development

• Ensure that programme teams are engaged in developing concept notes and proposals as per the plan coordinated by the Partnership and fundraising team.
• Review and sign of program/project-related part in the concept notes and proposal.

Budgeting and Planning 

• Provide inputs to the development of the country annual budget and resources allocation as a member of the SLT.
• Coordinate and ensure the development of quarterly, half-year and annual programme work plans and budgets by all programme units.
• Develop, monitor, review and update the Programme department activity, work plan to ensure that it attains its objectives as cost-effectively and efficiently as possible.
• Develop, monitor, and update annual budget for program and policy with the team to ensure the sound management budget to acquire resources required to meet its objectives within agreed financial parameters.

Monitoring and Learning

• Monitor the implementation of the CSP to ensure that short-term programmes are within the framework of the CSP.
• Develop and lead the implementation of processes to review the CSP (e.g. Mid-term review of CSP and end of strategy reviews) with the Manager  Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL).
• Coordinate program and project reviews and evaluations in line with MEAL’s approach with a focus on the impact.
• Conduct community level visits to programme areas and units to provide support supervision, identify best practices/gaps and guide program implementation.
• Work closely with Manager MEAL to build a culture of knowledge development and knowledge sharing.

Reporting

• Ensure smooth operation and quality, timely submission of quarterly and annual or required Programme and Project Performance Reports as per standards and guidelines.
• Receive and review all project and programme reports and develop guidelines for reporting where required.
• Review project and donor reports for PPC team and support project team(s) as required.
• Review, consolidate and share program reports within and outside the organisation for shared learning.
• Prepare management briefs for ActionAid International Bangladesh Society (AAIBS) Board quarterly.

Financial Management 

• Review and approve programme concepts and budget.
• Manage the expenditure and disbursement of resources allocated to Programme, Policy and Campaigns Directorate with team.
• Review programme expenditures from the programme team line staff to ensure conformity to Financial Policies and Manual.
• Monitor and advise on programme and project spending and variance reports.

Staff Management 

• Ensure an enabling environment for staff performance, recognition and reward of the PPC Directorate
• Will be responsible for staff appraisal and performance development.  
• Assign performance objectives to supervised staff, conduct comprehensive performance appraisal of supervised staff and provide/obtain feedback when necessary.
• Provide induction, training, coaching, mentoring and advice to supervised staff to ensure that they understand and carry out their responsibilities effectively.
• Lead to the Development of Terms of Reference (TOR) to recruit and select Consultants, if required.
• Works 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 Programme, policy advocacy and campaigns.
• Conduct and communicate periodic programme and advocacy risk assessments and proposes mitigation actions to management.

Others

• Implement all necessary policies and procedures to ensure that correct procedure are followed by staff under the supervision.
• Adhere/ Comply with approved  organisational policies and procedures.
• Any tasks as assigned by the line manager.

Relationships

The person holding this position will be directly reportable to the Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh. S/he has to maintain a functional relationship with his/her peers, greater programme team, including project teams under PPC Directorate teams. S/he will be the line manager of the strategic priority managers/leads, Manager – Local Rights Programme and relevant Project Managers.  S/He must be able to communicate with other teams and units both programme and functions.

The Head – Programme, Policy and Campaigns will maintain a strategic relationship with external stakeholders such as relevant Government offices, donor agencies, Local Rights Programme Partners, relevant networks and others. Also, maintain a strategic relationship with ActionAid Federation and other Affiliate and/or Associate Members. Prepare and submit reports and to the AABIS Board, particularly to the AAIBS Programme Committee of the Board.

Required Educational Qualification and Experiences

Education

• Post Graduate/Master Degree on social science or international studies are desirable

Experience

• A minimum of 7 years in leading programmes in development work and rights-based programmes.
• Experience working as Head of Programme Department for similar organisations is an advantage
• In-depth understanding of programming issues and policy work at state, national and international levels
• Understanding of rights based approach and gender issues in the development context and demonstrable commitment to promoting gender equality within the organisation and in programme work
• Experience in fundraising work with institutional/ government and corporate donors
• Experience in leading multiple teams

Required Competencies

• Strategic planning and management skills and experience.
• Analytical skills
• Critical thinking
• Understanding and knowledge public policy formulation, policy research, analysis and policy advocacy
• Background in any one of the strategic priority areas of ActionAid Bangladesh i.e., women’s rights, governance, youth empowerment and resilience
• Understanding of Human Rights-Based Approach to development
• Programme management skills
• Experience of Programme review, monitoring and evaluation
• People management skills and a team player
• Monitoring and evaluation experience
• Budgeting and financial planning and management skills
• Proposal development and fund raising experience
• Good communication skills
• Networking and stakeholder management skills including partnership management

Application instructions

Only those who meet the above requirements are requested to apply following these instructions:

• The last date of application is April 15, 2021. 
• Please Click Here to submit your application. 

ActionAid Bangladesh aims to attract and select a diverse workforce ensuring equal opportunity to everyone, irrespective of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, HIV status, class, ethnicity, disability, location and religion. Any personal persuasion/phone call will result in disqualification of candidature. 

ActionAid Bangladesh has a non-negotiable policy of ZERO TOLERANCE towards Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse (SHEA), Child Protection Policy and other relevant safeguarding policies and expects all employees to abide by the Safeguarding Policies and Code of Conduct of ActionAid Bangladesh. 

N.B: There is no cost involved with applying for positions at ActionAid Bangladesh. Any solicitation of fund / money from job applicant should be regarded as fraudulent.