Ireland: Desk Officer

General Description of the Role

Plan International Ireland currently implements development grants in two regions, West Africa and Asia, comprising eight[1] priority countries. We are committed to ensuring the delivery of high-quality programmes that are accountable to all stakeholders, and deliver sustainable change.

The Desk Officer will be part of our Programme Implementation Team which is responsible for managing and maintaining our grant portfolio. He/she will be the primary focal point between Plan International Ireland and those Plan Country Offices (COs) in the delivery of our grants. He/she will be expected to cover a Country Portfolio of between three to six countries, depending on the size and scope of our grants.

Key Functions in managing the Country Portfolio:

• Strong co-ordination and liaison function with both Country Offices and National Offices, in order to support the delivery of high-quality programmes.
• Manage, and seek opportunities to maintain a robust pipeline of funding to our priority countries.
• Share learning, and manage knowledge, of country programming, both internally and across country offices to strengthen delivery of programmes.
• Act as focal point and provide technical capacity on a relevant thematic, and/or donor and/or project management area.
• Maintain a strong context analysis, and seek opportunities to profile our work, within the Federation and Ireland.

Key internal links:

The Desk Officer will be expected to link closely with Plan Ireland’s technical experts to strengthen the design and delivery of grants. He/she will link with the business development team to ensure robust pipeline management of grants. He/she will liaise with the fundraising and communications department to profile Plan’s work in the designated country offices.

Key Responsibilities

Country Office Support

• Support and participate in the development and review of Country Strategic Plans (CSPs), and link closely with country office teams to assist in implementation, monitoring and evaluation of CSPs.
• Liaise with other National Offices working in designated countries, to maximise co-ordination, learning, and maximise grant opportunities.
• Ensure country offices are fully aware of Plan International Ireland thematic priorities, and share current thinking and best practices as appropriate.
• Contribute towards staff training and organisational learning in designated countries where appropriate.
• Assist designated countries in lobbing and influencing all relevant stakeholders (including donors) toward children’s rights.

Programme Support

• Continuous mentoring and backstopping support to a designated number of country offices to ensure quality delivery (including start up workshop, etc), timely reporting (internally and to donors), and M&E processes of grants secured by Plan International Ireland.
• Conduct regular monitoring missions, at least four a year, to supported countries to review activity plans, achievement of outputs and outcomes and adherence to Plan International and donors’ policy and compliance rules.
• Support country offices to implement good practices in all aspects of programme/project cycle and budget management liaising with Plan International Ireland finance team.
• Work with country teams to maintain appropriate flows of communication with partners including contracting procedures, dissemination of templates, funding schedules, report deadlines and to build their capacities.
• Manage grant budgets to ensure timely and accurate expenditure and reporting.
• Assist the country team in identifying innovative and successful approaches and scalable solutions in-country.
• Represent Plan International Ireland to donors as required and to deal with their related inquiries.
• Ensure Salesforce is accurately maintained to facilitate reports, particularly programme records and associated files (including project contracts and internal compliance documents) for designated countries.

Resource mobilisation

• Develop funding strategies for designated country offices, in close co-ordination with the Business Development Team;

• Support the Business Development Team in the development high quality proposals related to designated country offices.

Learning, knowledge management, Communications

• Manage programme review and evaluations and share learning, research and best practices, in close co-ordination with Plan International Ireland’s technical advisors.

• Assist country offices to develop stories of change, case studies and briefing papers that can also be shared with the communications, fundraising, programme funding and technical teams as appropriate.

• Maintain watching brief on country context, programmes/projects, and evaluation and/or advocacy initiatives of designated countries, and share with internal teams where appropriate.

• Seek opportunities to develop advocacy, communications and development education material on designated countries, where appropriate.

Other

• Contribute actively to Plan International Ireland’s Development Unit, sharing ideas and experience to ensure the implementation of our Programme strategy and to build Programme Quality.

Essential attributes

1. Minimum 4 years relevant experience in an international development project or programme support/management role (including at least 3 years in overseas development and/or emergency response).
2. Educated to degree level, ideally on a development related field.
3. Knowledge and experience of programme cycle management, RBM and CRBA
4. Strong analytical skills and good financial understanding.
5. Experience in using participatory approaches in project design and implementation.
6. Experience in working with a portfolio of donors.
7. Ability and willingness to travel to country offices and other locations as required.

Desirable attributes

1. Fluency in French
2. Knowledge of working in West Africa and/or Asia.

Competencies & behaviours

1. Strong communications and networking skills: the role requires co-ordination with a diverse number of stakeholders, both internal and external. He/she will need to have strong written and verbal communication skills, and be able to adapt messages to meet diverse audiences.
2. Excellent time management and organisational skills: the role requires an ability to plan well and deliver on objectives in a timely way, particularly in relation to meeting grant management deadlines.
3. Proven learning, creativity and innovation ability: the role requires someone who is willing to seek out, develop and successfully implement new ideas, or adopt proven approaches that support the delivery of quality programmes.
4. Ability to influence, advocate and profile our work: He/she must be willing to engage with others inside and outside the organisation to promote our child rights agenda, and profile the work of Plan International Ireland.
5. A team player who is willing to adapt to change: He/she will be willing to respond positively and constructively to change, and play an active role in Plan International Ireland’s Development Unit.

[1] The number of priority countries we work in may be revised in line with the new strategic plan

Filter Questions

• Current remuneration (salary + benefits)
• Desired salary / remuneration – please advise of minimum salary required and expected benefits
• Notice period (in weeks and/or months)

Please Note:

1. This document is not intended to be an exhaustive job description – it serves only as an overview of the role.
2. Plan International Ireland regrets that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted in relation to their application.
3. Garda/Police checks and clearance are essential prior to job offer as part of Plan International Ireland’s child protection controls.

To Apply

Closing Date: 8th April 2016

Send expression of interest hr@plan.ie

For further information feel free to contact Emanuela Burello | Development Programmes’s Coordinator on +353 (0)1 6599 601