UK Start Funds Operations Adviser

The job of a Save the Children's UK Start Funds Operations Advisor is interesting and fulfilling.

• Do you have experience working on humanitarian or international development programme operations?
• Do you have proven experience of awards management?
• Are you experienced in financial management, risk management and procurement?
• Are you motivated by our vision of creating a world where every child doesn't just survive, but thrives, and can go on to change the world?

If the answers to these questions are yes, we would love to hear from you!

About Us

Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.

The Start Network is made up of more than 50 aid agencies across five continents, ranging from large international to national NGOs. Together, our aim is to transform humanitarian action through innovation, fast funding, early action, and localisation.

We're tackling what we believe are the biggest systemic problems that the sector faces. Problems including slow and reactive funding, centralised decision-making, and an aversion to change mean that people affected by crises around the world do not receive the best help fast enough, and needless suffering results. Our work focuses on three areas to change the system:

• Localisation: shifting power to those closest to the front line for more effective response
• New forms of financing: providing fast, early, and predictable funding to improve community resilience and preparedness
• Collective innovation: sharing expertise, insights and perspectives to shape a more effective humanitarian system.

Job Purpose

The Start Funds' Operations Advisor will report to the Head of Start Funds and work closely with colleagues across both SCUK and Start Network. The position sits within Save the Children as Grant Custodian to the Start Network.

For more information on the SCUK and Start Network arrangements please refer to the FAQ document on the website.

Job Purpose

The Operations Advisor will provide dedicated support to the Start Funds' portfolio, currently comprising of the Global Start Fund, Start Fund Bangladesh and Start Fund Nepal. The role will ensure that Start Funds' awards are efficiently and effectively managed, provide support to the financial management of the Start Fund programmes ensuring compliance with relevant contracts and policies, develop the fund's approach to and management of risk and compliance, and assist with procurement.

This is a maternity cover contract until September 2022.

As a rights-based organisation, we are committed to anti-racism and actively opposed systemic oppression of any form. The role holder will also support our commitment to celebrate diversity, challenge inequality, and build an inclusive environment for every one of our employees so we can better represent the children we protect.

 Main Accountabilities

The Start Funds Operations Advisor's key duties will include:

Operational and programme management:

• Maintain and uphold effective award management processes, in close coordination with SCUK as Grant Custodian
• Assist with the coordination and development of funding proposals, including production of budgets
• Ensure that Start Funds' programmes are fully compliant with grants and contracts, and managed in-line with relevant SCUK and Start Network policies and practices
• Work with the Head of Start Funds and relevant managers to keep Start Funds' programmes audit-ready. Stay abreast of relevant donor policies.
• In coordination with SCUK and Start Network (particularly the risk and compliance teams), develop the Start Funds' approach to and management of risk and compliance
• Lead on Start Funds' audits, and spot checks – ensuring that approaches, and practices are clearly defined and delivered
• Play a leading role in the financial management of the Start Fund programmes, liaising closely with budget holders, the Finance Business Partner and the Start Network finance team
• Play a supporting role in management of fraud, critical incidents and safeguarding cases concerning Start Funds, and reported by Start Network members
• Contribute to the mobilisation of resources for the Start Funds by supporting team members with the development of fundraising content and supporting materials
• Provide operational advice to colleagues and support in problem solving issues and challenges as they arise
• Lead on the larger procurement processes, ensuring that relevant policies are upheld. Support with contract management.

 Teamwork:

•  Support the development of a strong team identity and culture, developing effective ways of working with colleagues in other teams (Start Programmes, SCUK and Start Network)
• Support team coordination and engagement, ensuring that meetings and events are inclusive and widely accessible, and information is effectively managed and communicated
• Contribute to the development of annual business plan and work-plans, and associated annual and quarterly reporting to stakeholders with SCUK and Start Network
• Assist with Start Fund weekend duty rota (on duty approximately once every two months), to ensure that the global Start Fund is able to function 365 days per year
• Identify and explore capacity development opportunities for the Start Funds' team, that will strengthen programme quality and performance

Network development:

• Critically appraise the Start Funds' operations, identifying opportunities to strengthen or improve ways of working to the benefit of a growing, and diversifying Start Fund membership
• Support the development and implementation of Start Funds' service offer to Start Network hubs and members
• Contribute to the automation work-stream, ensuring that the project is effectively coordinated with SCUK (including coordination with procurement and legal teams for relevant service contracts)
• Act as a data protection focal-point for the Start Funds, ensuring that the programmes have excellent ways of working to ensure GDPR compliance

Person Profile

Experience

• Experience in international development/humanitarian programme operations
• Familiarity with approaches to risk management
• Experience in financial management and budgets.
• Experienced in procurement and the management of contracts
• Proven experience in award management
• Experience in partnership development or networks

Abilities

• Strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills to tackle complex problems
• Able to operate effectively and flexibly within an evolving portfolio of work
• Skilled at managing and building effective partnerships
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to communicate with colleagues in a dispersed, creative and multicultural professional environment.
• An ability to mobilise people in a highly decentralised environment towards a desired outcome.
• Outstanding organisation skills, with a proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to maintain high attention to detail in pressurised environments.
• Ability to work on own initiative with a ‘can do' attitude.

Aptitude 

• A demonstrable commitment to the principles of diversity and inclusion and their practical application and integration in the work environment
• A commitment to Save the Children UK's aims and core values of accountability, ambition, collaboration, creativity, and integrity

Save the Children UK is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of our work both external and internal. We strive to be an inclusive employer and particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups such as returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people who are LGBT+, from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, with a disability, impairment, learning difference or long-term condition, with caring responsibilities, from different nations and regions, and from less advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.

To apply please visit our website: https://jobs.savethechildren.org.uk/vacancy/start-funds-operations-advisor-5560-holborn-london/5586/description/