Multisectoral Program Manager (Ukraine Nationals Only)
ROLE PURPOSE:
The Multisectoral Programme Manager provides consolidated managerial leadership for Save the Children’s programme delivery across the Sumy sub-office, and leads sectoral planning, implementation, monitoring/reporting in line with Save the Children’s project management methodology. The post holder is responsible for delivering a high-quality, effective and efficient integrated Child Protection (Case Management and MHPSS), Education, CVA/FSL and Shelter/NFI response in Sumy through strong coordination across sectors and departments, delivered predominantly through national implementing partners alongside selected direct implementation.
The post holder works closely with the Kharkiv-based sector leads and with the Programme Development and Quality team, including relevant Technical Advisors and MEAL, to ensure technical standards are met and interventions are grounded in Save the Children’s common approaches. Reporting to the Senior Field Manager, the post holder is the single operational accountability point for Sumy delivery: they consolidate coordinator-level responsibilities into one managerial function, manage the Sumy programme team, and act as the base’s lead partner focal point. The role owns delivery, quality and compliance.
The Programme Manager acts as a key link between the programme team and support functions, working closely with Finance, Awards, Partnerships, Supply Chain, HR and other departments to ensure risk-based, compliant and timely programming. The post holder facilitates coordination and information flow across teams, promotes integration between sectors and departments, and leads and manages the programme team to deliver against agreed plans.
In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Programme Management
● Overall responsible for the timely implementation of the integrated Child Protection (incl. Case Management and MHPSS), Education, CVA/FSL and Shelter/NFI activities in Sumy, ensuring services are delivered on time, on budget and in compliance with donor regulations.
● Monitor, guide and supervise the Sumy programme team and partners in day-to-day project implementation, informed by conflict sensitivity and following a needs-based approach.
● Ensure the multisectoral programme is implemented in ways responsive to communities, partners and children, in line with SC’s principles, values and strategic plan and compliant with SC’s procedures.
● Lead the kick-off process for all new awards in Sumy to ensure clarity on roles, timelines and compliance requirements, including developing detailed implementation and procurement plans and ensuring HR planning is on track with succession planning and recruitment for new roles.
● Ensure award/grant kick-off and management tools (implementation plans, MEAL plans, procurement plans and distribution schedules aligned with supply chain capacity) are in place, tracked and updated regularly.
● Manage the Sumy programme budget, monthly forecasting and quarterly budget revision for all grants, including partners, supporting the Senior Field Manager.
● Ensure proper and effective use of programme resources, so that all assets are managed in line with SC and donor policies.
● Track and report on programme progress against both programmatic and budgetary targets and collaborate with the Kharkiv sector leads and Technical Advisors to adjust programme design as necessary.
● Prepare timely, high-quality programme and donor reports in compliance with internal SC requirements and relevant external donor requirements.
● Liaise with the Safety & Security function on movement planning and any necessary security assessments or reassessments of Sumy operational areas.
● Promote synergies and ensure the overall coherence and relevance of the multisectoral response through internal referral (CP, Education, CVA/FSL, Shelter linkages), following an area-based approach.
Partnership and Localization (lead partner focal point for Sumy)
● Act as the lead partner focal point for Sumy’s implementing partners across all awards, building strong, accountable and constructive relationships.
● Work with the Partnerships team to identify appropriate partners for implementation of the sector response, including conducting capacity assessments and developing capacity-strengthening plans based on gap assessments.
● Work with partners to develop their programme design and proposals, ensuring they align with SC strategy and award design.
● Be overall responsible for reviewing Annexes and for submitting Partnership Agreements on time to the EAO / CO Awards teams.
● Ensure officers track that partner deliverables, narrative reports, field and monitoring visits, financial reports and PRIME/donor updates, are complete and submitted on time; personally lead the analytical review and quality assurance of these, escalating risks promptly.
● Ensure frequent review of partner progress against the budget and workplan, and support partners to adapt activities/strategies in light of context changes or operational challenges.
● Review partner narrative and financial reporting as well as MEAL data, in line with CO internal deadlines for MEAL, Finance and Awards Review Meetings.
Needs Analysis and Programme Design
● Contribute to situation/response analysis, sector strategy documents and sector response plans, as well as to programme design across CP, Education, CVA/FSL and Shelter/NFI, working with partner teams to ensure design is appropriate and implementable.
● Oversee teams on technical assessments in coordination with sector leads/TAs and other external sector agencies, ensuring findings are documented and that all assessments include a specific analysis of children’s needs.
● Support the sector leads and Technical Advisors in developing project and donor proposals, in close coordination with Supply Chain, Finance and Awards to ensure effective integration at design phase.
● Contribute to country and area-level contingency and emergency preparedness plans and, where possible, integrate contingency planning into programme planning and proposal design.
● Support partners and direct teams to respond to new emergencies and spikes in need.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability
● Make input into the development of MEAL tools as necessary to monitor project progress and support MEAL to collect appropriate, timely and accurate data against agreed indicators to enable internal and external reporting.
● Increase use of data from monitoring, sharing with relevant colleagues and informing programme revision and design.
● Ensure tracking of set indicators throughout the implementation cycle and regular reporting on impact, and, in coordination with MEAL, assist partners to develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation strategies.
● Provide feedback on TA/MEAL visit reports and implement actions identified following the observations/recommendations reported.
● Support roll-out of accountability mechanisms so that feedback from children, communities and other stakeholders is considered in programme design throughout the project cycle and identify opportunities to increase child participation.
Staff Management, Mentorship and Development
● Line-manage 3 to 4 programme staff; ensure appropriate staffing within the Sumy programme team and that all reports understand and are able to perform their roles, providing gap-filling at coordinator/officer level where posts are vacant.
● Establish performance management of all line-managed staff through effective use of the performance management system, including clear, measurable objectives, ongoing feedback, quarterly reviews and fair, unbiased evaluations, and support professional growth through mentoring.
Coordination and Representation
● Regularly coordinate and collaborate with the Kharkiv sector leads, support functions and area office to strengthen programmatic synergies, integration and impact for children.
● Ensure external representation and coordination with relevant Sumy-level fora and local authorities, as delegated by the Senior Field Manager.
SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice):
Accountability
● Takes personal responsibility for decisions, effective use of resources, high-quality results, and acting in alignment with Save the Children values.
● Supports colleagues and partners to take ownership of their responsibilities by providing guidance, opportunities for development, and constructive feedback.
● Addresses underperformance proactively and fairly, ensuring accountability for outcomes.
Ambition
● Sets clear, ambitious goals for themselves and contributes to a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth.
● Actively promotes and communicates the vision of Save the Children to inspire, motivate and engage others.
● Thinks creatively and strategically to drive progress and long-term impact for children.
Collaboration
● Builds positive, trusting, and inclusive relationships with staff, partners, and stakeholders.
● Values diversity and different perspectives as strengths that enhance the organization’s collective impact.
● Demonstrates strong communication skills, showing empathy, openness, and willingness to support others.
Creativity
● Proactively seeks and encourages innovative, practical solutions to improve effectiveness and staff experience.
● Confident in proposing new ideas and taking responsible, well-considered risks to enhance results.
Integrity
● Acts with honesty, fairness and professionalism in all interactions.
● Promotes an environment of transparency, trust, and mutual respect, upholding the highest ethical standards.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
● University degree (bachelor level, master’s preferred) in a related academic discipline (social sciences, development, humanitarian studies, management or equivalent).
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
● At least 2 years’ experience working with a humanitarian/development organization at managerial positions.
● Substantial people and programme management experience, with good interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate at all levels.
● Skills and experience in project/programme implementation, monitoring, review and evaluation, preferably from a child-rights approach in line with the CRC and international humanitarian standards.
● Demonstrated experience of managing implementation through national/local partners, including sub-award monitoring and capacity strengthening.
● Solid experience in grant management, including budget management and donor reporting.
● Substantial understanding or proven experience of security management issues.
● Ability to produce high-quality reports; fluency in written and spoken Ukrainian and working proficiency in English (C1); computer literate.
● Representational skills, political awareness, and ability to work with limited supervision from the line manager.
● Commitment to the aims and principles of SC, including a good understanding of the SC mandate and child focus.
Desirable
● Technical familiarity with two or more of Child Protection, MHPSS, Education in Emergencies, CVA/FSL or Shelter/NFI.
● Experience within the Ukraine humanitarian response and familiarity with SCI systems (PRIME, ProSave, Oracle, ECMF, award management).
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Safeguarding:
We need to keep children and communities safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children, adults in the communities and staff from abuse, exploitation, neglect and harm arising from our activities. The role holder shall perform their duties in line with the SCI SAFEGUARDING POLICY, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in both private and professional life.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder needs to perform the duties in accordance with SCI’s equality, timeliness and diversity policies and procedures.
Health and safety
The role holder shall perform the necessary duties in accordance with the SCI health and safety policies and procedures.
Preventing Fraud, Bribery and Corruption
The role holder shall perform the necessary duties in accordance with the COUNTER-FRAUD, BRIBERY & CORRUPTION POLICY and keep any activity during performance of duties free from any instances of fraud, bribery, theft and corruption.