JOB DESCRIPTION

 Consortium Director-URRI

Country/Region: Uganda

Location: Kampala

Organization: Save the Children International

Join us to lead sustainable change for children:

• Be part of a GLOBAL and DIVERSE technical community
• Get EXPOSURE in many different contexts
• Test and scale up INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
• Influence policies that affect MILLIONS OF CHILDREN

OVERVIEW 

Are you passionate about being an advocate for children? Do you want to use your expertise to bring about lasting change for children and be a part of an inspiring, dynamic global movement?

ROLE PURPOSE:

Save the Children seeks a Consortium Director for the Uganda Refugee Response Initiative (URRI) project, funded by the Royal Danish Embassy (RDE)/DANIDA. The project is being implemented in the districts of Adjumani, Lamwo and Kyegegwa, in partnership with World Vision Uganda (WVU), AVSI Foundation, Youth Social Advocacy Team (YSAT), Kabarole Research Centre (KRC), Uganda Network on Law Ethics and HIV/AIDS (UGANET) and the Uganda Response Innovation Lab (U-RIL).

The URRI project objective is to enhance climate resilience of women, men and youth in refugee and host communities and promote inclusive, cohesive, and environmentally sustainable development in refugee-affected areas in line with local priorities. The project has 3 outcome areas: (i) Enhanced climate adaptation and resilience for women, men and youth in refugee and host communities through inclusive climate-smart agriculture, (ii) Sustainable management of the environment in refugee-affected areas through inclusive interventions leading to enhanced conservation of natural resources, biodiversity, ecosystem services, and productivity, and (iii) Enhanced gender equality and women’s empowerment and rights among refugees and host communities in relation to agriculture, climate change adaptation and sustainable management of the environment.

The role holder will be providing overall leadership to the project and will be responsible for meeting the objectives of the project while providing overall strategic and technical direction, and administrative, operational, and logistical management, with a focus on achieving the results defined in the grant agreement.

The Consortium Director is responsible for developing a strong, integrated and coherent vision for the URRI project, and based on evidence and learning initiating innovative strategies across outcome areas. The Consortium Director will ensure adherence to overall technical and programmatic quality in implementation and the timely submission of all deliverables to RDE/DANIDA, including annual work plans, performance monitoring plans, semi-annual reports and annual reports as may be required.

Sounds interesting? Read more below

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Strategic Relationship, Coordination and Donor Engagement.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with URRI consortium partners, relevant GoU ministries, UN agencies, donors and other key stakeholders.
• Lead on URRI strategic engagement and representation with the Royal Danish Embassy/DANIDA, the Government of Uganda and the URRI Secretariat.
• Position URRI within the broader refugee response and identify opportunities for collaboration and coordination with other donor and government funded initiatives, as well as with private sector actors.
• Ensure the meaningful engagement and involvement of relevant Government of Uganda Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the URRI project.
• Create synergies, share learning, and closely coordinate with other RDE-funded programmes and initiatives with similar objectives to ensure value for money, enhance impact, and promote wider uptake of results.
• Ensure functional governance, programmatic and technical coordination mechanisms and structures for the SCI-led URRI consortium both at Kampala and field levels.
• Maintain streamlined, regular and timely communication and information sharing with consortium partners, Royal Danish Embassy (RDE)/DANIDA and URRI secretariat, the Government of Uganda and other stakeholders
• Facilitate the organization of regular URRI steering committee meeting and ensure the Steering Committee is regularly briefed on implementation progress, compliance related risks and challenges, and provide guidance to ensure that decisions are made in line with donor compliance requirements.
• Participate in regular coordination with the DRC-led URRI consortium, ensure harmonized implementation where relevant and identify opportunities for collaboration and joint learning and innovation.

Project Planning, Management and Execution: 

• Lead the program’s strategic, financial, and operational planning, including the annual work planning and budgeting processes.
• Provide technical and managerial support in reviewing and adapting strategies and project plans, in view of changes in the internal and external operational environment.
• Provide management guidance and support to ensure smooth and timely implementation of project activities as per the approved project plans.
• Oversee the timely submission of all deliverables to RDE.
• Ensure effective planning, monitoring and performance management systems and indicators for tracking program implementation such as PRIME, Right First Time and Projects on Track ( PoT).
• Through regular partner and programme monitoring, ensure that programme and partner challenges and weaknesses are identified and that appropriate PCU members or SCI Uganda team members provide technical and managerial support and capacity strengthening to ensure timely and quality programme delivery.
• Ensure strong strategic guidance and leadership to URRI partners to ensure partners engage and execute the planning and implementation of an agile, coherent, quality and innovative programme.
• Ensure donor compliance, including visibility and procurement regulations.
• Ensure that the programme adapts, documents and facilitates the dissemination of findings, good practices and knowledge gained through implementation of approaches and innovations.
• Ensure opportunities for meaningful participation of refugees and host communities in project planning, implementation and monitoring.
• Guide the PCU with existing SCI tools to ensure   implementation of the project across all consortium partners is regularly monitored; and that evidence, results and lessons are documented and communicated; challenges are tracked, addressed or escalated in a timely manner.
• Oversee timely implementation of the project in full compliance with the contractual commitments to and policies of the donor and with full accountability to the SCI, consortium members, sub-grantees and the donor.
• Ensure the Steering Committee is regularly briefed on implementation progress, compliance related risks and challenges, and provide guidance to ensure that decisions are made in line with donor compliance requirements.
• Ensure supply chain processes of all consortia members are sufficiently harmonised and compliant with SCI and donor polices.
• Ensure collaboration across consortia members in the development and operationalisation of procurement plans.
• Collaborate with technical experts to ensure the high-quality delivery of the project, including alignment with donor and government technical priorities and requirements, and ensure the inclusivity of project delivery and outcomes for persons with disabilities, youth and women.

Monitoring, Evaluation Accountability and Learning.

• Ensure a strong and functional MEAL framework that supports continuous monitoring, learning, adaptation and reporting processes in place, and aligned to contractual and internal requirements and deadlines.
• Collaborate with MEAL Specialist, U-RIL and DRC consortium to ensure evidence is produced and used to support advocacy and policy influencing
• Ensure robust monitoring of project delivery, including through regular field visits, and provision of feedback to ensure quality implementation, and continuous learning and adaptation.

Ensure the elevation of learning within the consortium and across the URRI programme, in collaboration with U-RIL.

Oversight of Awards and Finance Management 

• Ensuring technical, financial, and administrative activities, including reporting are carried out according to SCI and donor policies and procedures.
• Assume responsibility for the effective management of the programme’s budget, including internal budgeting processes
• In close coordination with Awards and Finance team, ensure that program implementation, including by partners, is in accordance with awards agreements, completed within time, budget, and quality, and achieves operational and program KPI targets.
• Be accountable for appropriate management of sub-award agreements with consortium partners.
• Communicate regularly with the consortium steering committee on progress against spending, flagging risks and proposing mitigation measures as required.
• Ensure timely fulfilment of all programmatic reporting requirements including donor reports and internal reports such as pipeline analyses and monthly reports.
• Oversee narrative and financial reports for donors, ensuring these are of a high quality and submitted for review in a timely manner.
• Review reports submitted by partners for consistency, accuracy and quality and provide feedback to ensure accuracy and continuous improvement.
• All deliverables must be completed, free of typos or grammatical errors, and be a polished document ready for submission to RDE. This means the document contains no factual errors or inaccuracies.
• Develop a process which contributes to the compilation of high quality, harmonized donor reports based on individual partner submissions, and ensures timely submission in line with member and donor deadlines.

Provide guidance and quality assurance to the PCU team in the preparation of deliverables to SC Denmark, URRI Secretariat and the RDE.

Capacity Strengthening 

• Provide overall coordination of the institutional/organizational and technical capacity building of local partners within the consortium and relevant stakeholders.
• Leverage technical expertise within the PCU and consortium partners to identify capacity strengthening needs of consortium partners and ensure a robust capacity strengthening plan is in place and operationalized.
• Ensure a robust Safeguarding Framework is in place and implemented

Risk Management 

• Proactively identify, mitigate and effectively manage all key risks related to the project, ensuring escalation occurs where required.
• Ensure that Save the Children Senior Leadership Team are fully informed of the project progress, potential and actual risks and updated regularly.

People Management

• Supervise key project staff, both technical and managerial, and oversee the hiring processes and performance of all project personnel.
• Provide support to PCU team to develop skills and competencies required for effective delivery of the project.
• Ensure availability of and support appropriate professional development opportunities for staff in the project.
• Inspire, lead and motivate programme teams to deliver on objectives.
• Create a collaborative team culture to support internal and external coordination.

To be a strong supporter and advocate for children in this role you will need to have

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Master’s degree in development, other social sciences
• A post graduate qualification in project management, monitoring and evaluation, information systems management will be an added advantage.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Minimum 15 years-experience working within international NGOs, including in complex and matrix structures. At least 5 years-experience as either a Chief of Party, Consortia Director or Director of Programmes is required.
• Knowledge of current global and regional debates on quality and employment-oriented program policies and models
• Strong leadership, management and coordination skills, including experience leading a large programme and team
• Experience in working with partners in a consortium, and proven track record in providing capacity strengthening support through training, mentorship and coaching.
• Proven experience of developing and managing high quality, innovative and cost-effective technical projects in complex environments, preferably in Uganda and with International NGOs
• Proven experience and skills in research and advocacy and influencing institutional, private and/or corporate donors and writing up high quality donor reports
• Experience of working with local/national governments and capacity building of systems, partners and staff
• Ability to extensively travel for project monitoring and provide on-site technical support to field teams
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation, steering and coaching
• Experience in management of finance and budget monitoring and risk management.
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in
• Highly numerically articulated with a track record of data manipulation and reporting systems.
• Highly diplomatic with strong oral and written communication skills (English)
• Commitment to Save the Children values.
• Ability to coach and mentor partners.

Desirable

• Substantial experience of working and living in the Uganda
• Cluster coordination training and / or experience
• Demonstrable understanding the donors’ agenda.

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.

Equal Opportunities 

• The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

• We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Health and Safety

• The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Application Information:

Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document not exceeding 5mbs to https://hcri.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Application closes on December 22, 2025, at midnight Uganda time. 

Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ and assign the best qualified talent, persons with disabilities and female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Disclaimer: Save the Children International does not charge any kind of fee at whichever stage of the recruitment process and does not act through recruitment agents.

OUR DIVERSITY BELIEF 

Save the Children International is committed to create a truly inclusive, effective and representative organisational culture, encouraging equity and diversity among its employees and eliminating unlawful discrimination. We want our people to be truly representative of all sections of society. Having a diverse profile of employees, different age groups, backgrounds, cultures, disabilities, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientation etc., including a range of different experiences and capabilities helps us understand, represent and serve our beneficiaries better. We are guided by our values in everything we do, and recognise that being a diverse and inclusive employer helps us fulfil our responsibility to make a difference for children around the world.