DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

The primary responsibility of this role is to ensure effective development of strategies and plans, project management and operational oversight of initiatives stemming from Plan International’s strategic priorities arising from the new global strategy. The role requires expertise in strategic project management, with a focus on growth and implementing strategic solutions to elevate the organisation’s humanitarian ambitions and ensure long-term impact and financial sustainability.

We are seeking an experienced Project and strategy Management expert, ideally with project management consultancy experience of time bound projects or start-ups to lead and to spearhead transformative humanitarian projects within Plan International. The post holder will be responsible for developing strategic frameworks, driving project initiation (start-up phase); design and implementation,

ensuring alignment with organisation’s strategic objectives, and delivering results within the given timelines. This is a unique opportunity for an individual who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and possesses a track record of excellence in in developing strategies and plans for growth, project management, leadership, strategic stake holder engagement and communication skills.

This role also offers opportunities for experiential learning through real time deployment into crisis settings and one of Plan International’s core humanitarian response areas (Child Protection in Emergencies, Education in Emergencies, or Cash and Vouchers).

As a key member of Plan International’s Global Humanitarian Team, the Humanitarian Strategic Operations and Initiatives Manager is responsible for leading the humanitarian strategic initiatives of Plan International. The position provides leadership in project and information management, operational support, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure the successful implementation of strategic initiatives that drive humanitarian scale-up and readiness.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

· Ensure humanitarian values, principles, global standards and gender equality is core to all emergency operations, positioning Plan International as the “Go To” agency for protecting children’s rights and for promoting equality for girls in crisis settings. Ensure that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant implementation standards and guidelines as applicable to area of responsibility. Including, but not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC); relevance to area of work, and concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

· Lead development of a shared vision and establish Plan International as a global leader in the adherence to and advancement of principled humanitarian action and humanitarian standards. Spearhead the integration and promotion of frameworks such as Sphere, CHS, and sector standards across all emergency response activities (especially some of the new initiatives), ensuring Plan International is at the forefront of shaping and influencing sector-wide best practices.

· Promotes the use of appropriate humanitarian standards in Plan International’s emergency response activities (Sphere, Core Humanitarian Standard et al).

· Strategic visioning and lead and manage time bound strategic humanitarian initiatives: Provide governance and accountability over the design, planning, and execution of high-impact humanitarian initiatives. Develop detailed project plans with milestones, clear ownership, and alignment with organisational goals.

· Strategic Project Management and Oversight: Lead the design, planning, and implementation of humanitarian initiatives. Develop detailed project plans with clear milestones and ownership to ensure alignment with organisational goals.

· Stewardship of Strategic Implementation: Ensure the delivery of humanitarian projects with precision and excellence, meeting objectives on time and within scope. Monitor progress, ensure accountability for outcomes, and work closely with operational support functions (HR, finance, IT, logistics, safety, and security) to strengthen Country Office capacity in key areas.

· Implementation of Strategic Initiatives: Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with key internal and external stakeholders. Act as a trusted partner and practise and thought leader, driving collaboration and fostering innovative solutions to enhance Plan’s global humanitarian impact. Oversee day-to-day management and implementation of humanitarian projects, ensuring that objectives are met on time and within scope. Monitor progress, manage and disseminate updates and ensure accountability for project outcomes. Work closely with operational support functions (HR, finance, IT, Logistics & Procurement, Safety & Security) to strengthen Country Office ability in these key areas.

· Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Building: Establish and nurture relationships with internal teams, external partners, and key stakeholders. Promote collaboration across teams and drive forward innovative solutions that enhance Plan’s humanitarian impact globally.

· Information Management, Communication and Capacity Building: Provide support and guidance across Plan’s humanitarian team and internal networks, focusing on delivery of strategic priorities

and project management best practices. Cultivate a team culture of learning, innovation, and shared commitment to humanitarian goals. Preparation of various internal updates, reports and analysis for various stake holders and external parties.

· Budget and Resource Management: Lead the management of project budgets, ensuring financial stewardship and cost-effectiveness. Collaborate with operational teams to maximise resource utilisation and financial transparency. Work closely with the operations team to manage project budgets, track expenditures, and optimise resources. Ensure financial accountability and cost-effectiveness across all humanitarian initiatives.

· Field Experience Opportunity: This role includes opportunities for deployment to Plan’s core humanitarian response areas (e.g., Child Protection, Education in Emergencies, WASH, Food Security, Cash & Vouchers), contributing to strategic priorities and building expertise in the field. This role offers the opportunity to deploy to one of Plan’s core humanitarian response areas, such as Child Protection in Emergencies, Education in Emergencies, WASH, Food Security, or Cash & Vouchers. This field experience will not only enhance project management expertise but also directly inform strategic priorities for Plan’s humanitarian work.

· Work closely with the proposed Global Education in Humanitarian Action Unit- design, pilot and institutionalisation of the unit.

· Support the development of new operational support systems, ensuring emergency response requirements are considered and addressed.

· Represent Plan International (when necessary, the Global Humanitarian Director) in internal and external global fora and high-level interagency working groups, amplifying Plan’s leadership and voice in humanitarian settings. Represent Plan International in relevant external fora and interagency working groups

· Design and lead the implementation of a strategy to strengthen Plan’s emergency roster and deploy, often at short notice, to emergency responses to support scale up.

· Drive organisational learning by documenting and analysing lessons from emergency responses. Support regional humanitarian leads and leads in priority countries to scan the external environment to identify potential crises or worsening situations and communicating this effectively across the organisation.

· Work closely with the global humanitarian roster team to strengthen the roster and ensure the organisation remains aware of the roster and the support it can provide.

· Document and analyse lessons (on programmatic and technical issues) coming from emergency responses and translate these into changed process or practice and disseminate across the organisation.

· Support the management of Emergency Response Fund, Early Action Fund and other resources for emergency response.

· Line Manage two positions focused on humanitarian information management and administrative operations.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCES AND KNOWLEDGE

· Proven experience in managing complex time bound projects.

· Strong background in strategic planning, implementation, monitoring of special projects.

· Exceptional problem-solving and communication skills.

· Ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders.

· Commitment to humanitarian values, principles and the humanitarian sector

· Creative approach to problem solving is central to the job.

· Proven project management skills, including planning, design, and implementation.

· Exceptional stakeholder management, report preparation and communication skills.

· Experience in budget oversight and resource management.

· Ability to lead teams in fast-paced, challenging environments.

· Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., MS Project,).

· Willingness to travel to remote and conflict-affected areas as needed (approximately 50% of the time).

· Fluency in English required; proficiency in other languages is an asset.

· Flexibility to adapt plans to a changing environment

· Developing and maintaining collaborative relationships; managing self in a pressured and changing environment; motivating and influencing others

· Actively takes steps to uphold Plan International’s vision, values and behaviours and policies, including the Say Yes! To Keeping Children Safe Policy.

· Minimum of intermediate level of expertise while using Microsoft packages

Master’s degree in business management (ideal) or Social Studies, Economics, International Development, or related fields or comparable experience.

Strong experience in project planning, operations, strategic development, or a related field in a business management or project management environment. Equivalent experience in humanitarian or emergency settings is also welcome.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internally:

· Global Humanitarian Team – Global Education in Humanitarian Action Unit and all other global humanitarian capability units.

· Regional Humanitarian Teams.

· National Organisation humanitarian leads / teams.

· Global Hub Operational Support departments- People and Culture, Finance, Supply Chain.

Externally:

· Interagency working groups and coordination fora.