Head of Programme Operations

Child Safeguarding:

Level 3: the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; ore because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Head of Programme Operations is accountable for ensuring the effective, efficient, and compliant delivery of Save the Children’s programmes across Türkiye. The role provides strategic and operational leadership to field offices and partners to ensure that all programmes — humanitarian and development — achieve quality outcomes for children, in line with the Country Strategic Plan and global standards.

Working closely with the Programme Development and Quality (PDQ) team, and in coordination with support functions (Finance, HR, Supply Chain, Safety & Security), the post holder ensures that systems, processes, and teams are in place to deliver timely, high-quality, and accountable programmes. The Head of Programme Operations also plays a key role in strengthening partnerships with civil society, government, and the private sector, ensuring that Save the Children’s operational footprint contributes effectively to sustainable, child-centred impact across Türkiye.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Country Director

Staff directly reporting to this post: Project Managers, Awards Coordinator, Partnerships Coordinator

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

As a member of Senior Management Team

• Contribute to Country Office leadership as a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), supporting the effective implementation of the Country Strategic Plan.
• Support the Country Director and Senior Management Team in driving operational excellence, accountability, and performance.
• Facilitate effective inter-departmental collaboration and ensure regular coordination for information sharing and joint decision-making.
• Coordinate functions and field operations to ensure coherent, efficient, and accountable delivery of programmes and partner support.
• Promote a positive organizational culture that reflects Save the Children’s values and encourages learning, innovation, and high performance.
• Maintain strong relationships with government counterparts, partners, donors, and peer organizations to strengthen collaboration and impact.
• Support implementation and monitoring of KPI Improvement Plans, audit actions, and risk management processes to ensure operational compliance and continuous improvement.
• Participate in change management initiatives in the country office, and lead change management within the operations team to ensure that staffing and structure is fit for purpose

Oversight and Management of Programme Operations

• Provide operational leadership to ensure high-quality, timely, and compliant delivery of Save the Children’s programmes across all field locations in line with the Country Strategic Plan.
• Work closely with the Country Director and Senior Management Team (SMT) to ensure that programme operations effectively contribute to strategic objectives and operational excellence.
• Oversee day-to-day programme operations, ensuring that delivery systems, processes, and structures support efficiency, accountability, and value for money.
• Ensure that programmes are implemented in ways that are responsive to the needs and feedback of children and communities, uphold Save the Children’s principles and values, and comply with donor requirements and SCI standards.
• Provide management oversight and operational support to Programme/Project Managers and budget holders, ensuring accurate financial planning, forecasting, and expenditure control.
• Coordinate with Programme Development and Quality (PDQ), Finance, Supply Chain, HR, and Safety & Security to ensure coherent and effective implementation across humanitarian and development portfolios.
• Ensure that all ongoing awards are PRIME compliant
• Strengthen partnership management through close collaboration with related departments ensuring partner delivery aligns with SCI standards, compliance requirements, and the country partnership strategy.
• Ensure timely preparation and submission of high-quality progress, donor, and internal reports that reflect programme achievements and challenges.
• Maintain active coordination and engagement with government counterparts, local NGOs, and other key stakeholders to enhance operational effectiveness and strengthen local capacities.
• Support the PDQ Director in developing and implementing funding strategies, operational delivery approaches, and proposal development processes to enable growth and sustainability.
• Lead the operational monitoring of performance indicators (KPIs 1 and 2), ensuring targets are met and corrective actions are implemented where required.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within programme operations teams, ensuring staff are empowered to deliver consistent, high-quality results for children.

Awards Management and Donor Compliance

• Line manage and provide operational guidance to the Awards Coordinator, ensuring effective, efficient, and compliant management of all awards throughout the project cycle.
• Ensure the awards management function operates smoothly and supports the timely and accurate delivery of programmes in line with SCI policies, donor regulations, and Country Office priorities.
• Lead monthly portfolio review meetings, maintaining oversight of high-risk awards and ensuring timely decision-making and follow-up actions.
• Oversee and support project kick-off, implementation monitoring, and award close-out processes to ensure all projects meet donor and SCI compliance requirements.
• Ensure timely submission of high-quality donor and internal reports that accurately capture results, challenges, and lessons learned across the portfolio.

Budget Management

• Ensure expenditure is authorized in accordance with the budget authorization procedures within the scheme of delegation (SoD).
• Monitor for significant variances between budget and actıal expenditure.
• Ensure appropriate action is taken for budget under/overutilization identified working closely with Award team.
• Ensure that direct report budget holders prepare reports on financial performance of their award as required either by donors or by other internal demands.

Partnerships Management

• Line manage and support the Partnership Coordinator to ensure effective and compliant partnership management across all programmes.
• Oversee partner engagement, selection, and capacity strengthening in line with SCI’s Partnership Framework and compliance standards.
• In coordination with PDQ Director, ensure regular partner and stakeholder mapping and transparent partner selection aligned with the Country Strategic Plan.
• Promote strong collaboration with partners, ensuring accountability, mutual learning, and alignment with Save the Children’s values and localization goals.

Humanitarian Response Management

• In coordination with the Country Director and PDQ Director strengthen the Turkiye CO organizational readiness to respond to emergencies in line with global SCI humanitarian goals and benchmarks.
• Ensure that the CO designs, updates and implements a full set of humanitarian preparedness actions, drawing on SC Member input and resources.
In coordination with the Country Director and PDQ Director maintain consistent and coherent engagement in key sector emergency preparedness and response coordination mechanisms

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development

• Ensure appropriate staffing within the programme operations team.
• Ensure that all direct reports understand and able to perform their role and support as needed.
• Manage the programme operations team; define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly.
• Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff and implement the talent review program.
• Recruit and develop a diversified team.

Risk, Safety and Compliance

• Monitor implementation of risk mitigation measures identified in the Country Risk Management Plan.
• Ensure all field operations comply with SCI Safety and Security policies and incident reporting standards.
• Support audits and spot checks in coordination with Finance and Compliance teams.

Representation

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Accountability for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, SCI Members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• At least 8 years of management experience in a humanitarian or development setting
• Master degree in development or other social sciences or experience that could be evaluated as commensurate.
• Strong experience of project/program cycle management in humanitarian or sustainable development programs
• Experience of working within a complex and matrix organization structure
• Demonstrable experience developing and advancing more junior staff
• Experience in international development systems, institutions and donors, and of procedures, accountability frameworks and best practices in emergency management
• Familiar with effective financial and budgetary control
• Solid project management skills
• Ability to analyze information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically
• Previous experience of managing and developing a team and the ability to lead, motivate and develop others
• Good understanding of sectoral programs (i.e. Education, Livelihoods, WASH/Shelter, Child Protection, CVA) and a working knowledge of the program priorities of the Country Office
• Excellent conceptual and analytical skills, effective negotiator, with the ability to positively influence cross departmental and cross sectoral working relationships
• Ability to think creatively to solve problems with effective and efficient ways to accomplish goals
• Ability to make decisions, work under pressure on a number of competing tasks meeting deadlines
• Ability to work successfully in a complex political environment and on sensitive issues
• Flexible and adaptable to dynamic changes and fast-paced work environments
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights-based approaches
• Fluent in Turkish and English
  

Desirable

• Knowledge of Save the Children systems and ways of working