Job Vacancy

National Family Strengthening Programme (FSP) and Child Safeguarding (CS) Advisor

SOS Children’s Villages takes action for children as an independent non-governmental social development organization. We build families for children in need, we help them shape the development of their communities, we respect varying religions and cultures, and we work in countries and communities where our mission can contribute to development.

Position: National FSP & CS Advisor

Line Manager: National Programme Development Director

Status: Full Time

Location: Bethlehem with Frequent Visits to Gaza Strip.

Child Safeguarding Commitment:

SOS Children’s Villages works with children’s and youth. Any applicant he/she should act in a way that safeguardschildren and youth from all forms of discrimination, abuse, mistreatment and neglect, and will keep data about the children and youth in SOS Children’s Villages programmes confidential. He/she will report all concerns regarding actual or potential child abuse, mistreatment or any other violation of the Child Protection Policy according to our reporting and responding system. For sure, He/she would be protected and supported by the organization.

Position Summary:

Under the leadership of the National Programme Development Director (NPDD), the National Family Strengthening Programme (FSP) Advisor drives programme development in the field of programme quality assurance system for the FSP in line with the “Vision, Mission, Values”, the Brand and approved strategies, policies and plans of the organisation and national legislation.  As a member of the national programme development department, she/he contributes to setting and reaching the strategic objectives and targets of the MA in the area of improving the FSP programme quality and a develop to the existing structure of the programme in both locations, the Southern West Bank Programme and the Rafah Programme. The NFSPA monitors and evaluates progress towards achieving set targets.. She/he provides technical expertise and content-wise leads SOS Children’s Village Programme Directors and Programme Coordinators in planning, implementing and the monitoring of the FSP interventions in the area of accessibility of the programme participants to essential services for children, ability of child caregivers to provide care, the sufficiency of resources among the families within the programme. The NFSPA will also be responsible for implementation and monitoring of quality standards in the area of Child Safeguarding (CSG), ensuring full compliance with SOS Children’s Villages child safeguarding standards and procedures and adapting them within the country context. Content wise, the NFSPA receives guidance from the regional FSPA Unit Head and the CSG Advisor. As a member of the regional EUCM network the NFSPA shares good practices and experiences with colleagues from other MAs

Main Clients

• SOS Children’s Village Programme Directors and Programme Unit Managers/leaders in the area of Family Strengthening and Child Safeguarding
• National and location CS teams
• National Programme Development Director.
• Regional FSP Unit Head and the CSG Advisors

Key performance areas and main responsibilities:

Programme development

• Develops detailed programme concepts for new types of interventions in the country jointly with programme staff in the locations for approval by the team in International Regional Office (IOR).
• Under the leadership of the NPDD, contributes to annual and strategic planning and monitoring of progress towards targets;
• Under the leadership of NPDD and in cooperation with other Programme Advisors, actively contributes to putting the SOS Children’s Villages Programme Policy and related policies into practice taking into consideration national legislation and context;
• Supports NPDD in carrying out CRSAs and feasibility studies and participates in the development of concept notes and programme proposals for approval by GSC;
• Develops holistic, statistical, qualitative and quantitative reporting on the existing programmes, potential key stakeholders, the level of engagement form the community, the partners, the MoSD and any other area as relevant;
• Provides technical expertise to the NPDD and CVPD when setting up new programme services and interventions in a location;
• Supports NPDD, CVPD, Programme unit managers in locations in applying for public funds;
• Provides content wise guidance to programme unit managers in the locations in planning, budgeting, and reporting of programme interventions;
• Leads specific programme development projects as assigned by the NPDD;
• Regularly reports on developments in the specific programme area to the NPDD and the responsible regional FSPA

Quality Management, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Jointly with other PD Advisors, supports NPDD in the development and establishment of a national association quality management system.
• Supports CVPD and Programme unit managers in location in implementing quality standards.
• Monitors and evaluates the quality and progress of programme interventions and projects, including through project visits, internal audits, and review of and feedback to project reports, statistics, and self-evaluation results to ensure that interventions are in line with organisational plans, standards, and policies, and with national legislation.
• Supports regional quality audits and external evaluations. Advises and supports the implementation of recommendations.

Human Resources Development

• Supports CVPD in the effective implementation of the HR cycle related to programme unit managers. Participates in the recruitment and on-boarding of the FSP managers and programme staff in the location, as well as provides input into annual performance appraisals, and proposed staff development measures for the FSP units’ managers;
• Organises or provides joint training for staff from different locations working. Ensures knowledge exchange between staff working in different locations, including through meetings;
• Advises and monitors implementation of appropriate staffing standards and structures in line with quality standards in close cooperation with National HR Director.

Research and Knowledge Management

• Documents and distributes lessons learned and good practices to support organisational learning on national, regional and international level.
• Participates on behalf of MA in the regional network and contributes to regional projects.
• Participates on behalf of the MA in international/national studies and research projects.

Partnership building and Advocacy

• Supports NPDD, CVPD and Programme units’ managers in the location in building strong links and cooperation with national government and local authorities, as well as other stakeholders to enhance programme development.
• Joins relevant networks, platforms, campaigns, working groups and advocates on behalf of the organisation for the promotion and protection of children’s rights, especially on issues linked to children at risk of losing the care of their families or children without parental care.
• Participates in relevant national/international conferences.

Child Safeguarding (CS)

• Acts as an advisor to the National Programme Development Director on the CS implementation;
• Coordinates the implementation of the Child Protection Policy and related child safeguarding policy support documents in the member association;
• Ensures that the minimum requirements of the policy support document on child safeguarding reporting and responding procedures in member associations and the policy support document on child safeguarding investigations are met by the member association and all its programmes, provide support to programme child safeguarding teams;
• Coordinates the development of national CS actions during the annual planning process
• Conducts child safeguarding audit in all programmes of the member association.
• Ensures that relevant child safeguarding documents and tools are available to child safeguarding team members at national and programme level;
• Identifies capacity building needs on child safeguarding at national level and in programmes and in coordination with HR supports development and implementation of necessary training tools and processes;
• Facilitates internal and external knowledge sharing on child safeguarding with a strong focus on prevention and capacity building;
• Responsible to raise awareness of the SOS Child Protection Policy principles and to protect children from all forms of abuse, abandonment, exploitation, violence and discrimination;
• Supports NPDD, CVPD and Programme units’ managers in organising relevant preventive actions addressing existing and possible CS risks as identified by the CS risk assessment;
• Responsible to deliver trainings and empowerment sessions on CSG to key stakeholders, partners and staff;

Qualifications and Competencies for the position:

• University degree in social, pedagogical or psychological sciences, development studies, community development, law or public administration.
• Minimum 5 years working experience in implementing of social programme/s.
• Experiences in working with the target group, i.e. vulnerable children and families.
• Good command of English, written and spoken.
• Experience in project management, planning, monitoring and evaluation.
• Good knowledge and understanding of children’s rights and rights-based approaches in the development of programmes.
• Awareness and understanding of social development issues including gender, education, health, HIV/AIDS, etc.
• Understanding of human resource development.
• Experience in budget development and knowledge in financial management.
• High level of communication skills.
• Ability to work under high pressure.
•  Positive and professional approach: highly organised, results oriented, using initiative and keeping commitments.
• Computer literacy (MS Office).

Interested candidates must send their Cover Letter including related job achievements, CV, and three traceable references to:

jobs@sos-palestine.org by Sunday 25/04/2021.

Indicating in the subject line: FSP & CS Advisor

Only short listed candidates will be contacted Applications after deadline will be excluded. Applications not conforming to the conditions will not be considered.