Job Description

The post holder will support programme planning, implementation, monitoring, capacity strengthening, and documentation of lessons learned, while promoting child-centred, inclusive, risk-informed, and locally led approaches. The role will also work closely with programme, technical, MEAL, Awards, Finance, Supply Chain, Safeguarding, Communications, and other support teams to ensure effective programme delivery and continuous improvement.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Technical Advisor – Disaster Risk Reduction

Staff reporting to this post directly: None

Budget Responsibilities: Not a budget holder. Responsible for monitoring the utilisation of the district-level project budget allocation against approved work plans and supporting budget forecasting in coordination with the Technical Advisor and Finance teams.

Role Dimensions: The Project Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction programmes across designated districts, ensuring activities are delivered on time, within the allocated district budget, and to the required quality standards. The role works closely with sub-national government institutions, implementing partners, communities, schools, consultants, and other stakeholders to strengthen disaster risk reduction initiatives and promote locally led, risk-informed approaches. The post holder collaborates with technical and operational support teams to ensure compliance with Save the Children's policies, donor requirements, safeguarding standards, and quality benchmarks, while contributing to programme planning, monitoring, reporting, documentation, and organisational learning

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Programme Coordination and Implementation (30%)

- Coordinate the day-to-day implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) programme activities in line with approved work plans, budgets, and donor requirements.

- Prepare and regularly update detailed implementation plans, activity schedules, and district work plans to ensure timely delivery of programme outputs.

- Coordinate project implementation across designated districts, ensuring activities are delivered to agreed quality standards and within approved timelines.

- Identify implementation challenges and coordinate timely solutions in consultation with the Technical Advisor and relevant teams.

- Support programme planning, procurement planning, and resource allocation to facilitate effective implementation.

Government and Stakeholder Coordination (20%)

- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with sub-national government institutions, local authorities, technical agencies, implementing partners, and other stakeholders.

- Coordinate with government counterparts and partners to facilitate programme implementation, joint planning, and technical collaboration.

- Represent Save the Children in district-level coordination meetings and technical forums, as delegated.

- Promote collaboration and coordination among stakeholders to strengthen locally led disaster risk reduction initiatives.

Programme Delivery and Quality Assurance (15%)

- Coordinate the implementation of programme activities across key technical areas, including Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR), Comprehensive School Safety (CSS), Disaster Risk-Informed Programming, and other DRR interventions.

- Support the Technical Advisor in ensuring programme activities are implemented in accordance with approved technical standards, guidelines, and methodologies.

- Conduct regular field monitoring visits to assess implementation progress, identify quality improvement opportunities, and provide operational support to partners and field teams.

- Ensure cross-cutting themes, including child safeguarding, gender equality, disability inclusion, accountability, and climate resilience, are effectively integrated into programme implementation.

Partnership and Capacity Strengthening (10%)

- Coordinate the implementation of capacity strengthening initiatives for government counterparts, implementing partners, schools, communities, and other stakeholders.

- Support partners in programme planning, implementation, reporting, and compliance with Save the Children's policies and donor requirements.

- Facilitate workshops, training programmes, simulation exercises, learning events, and coordination meetings.

Monitoring, Reporting and Learning (10%)

- Coordinate programme monitoring in collaboration with the MEAL team to ensure timely collection of quality data and progress against programme indicators.

- Prepare timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, donor, and internal reports.

- Document lessons learned, case studies, and good practices to support organisational learning and programme improvement.

- Contribute to programme reviews, evaluations, and learning events.

Financial and Operational Coordination (5%)

- Monitor the utilisation of district-level budget allocations and support expenditure forecasting in collaboration with the Technical Advisor and Awards/Finance teams.

- Coordinate procurement, logistics, consultant management, and operational planning to ensure timely implementation.

- Ensure activities comply with Save the Children's financial, procurement, and operational procedures.

Safeguarding, Risk Management and Compliance (5%)

- Ensure programme implementation complies with Save the Children's safeguarding, child protection, PSEAH, health and safety, and risk management policies.

- Identify and escalate programme risks and implementation challenges, recommending appropriate mitigation measures.

- Promote accountability to affected populations and ensure community feedback mechanisms are accessible and responsive.

Emergency Response (5%)

- Contribute to Save the Children's emergency preparedness and humanitarian response activities, as required.

- During humanitarian emergencies, undertake additional responsibilities and adjust working hours as necessary to support emergency response operations in accordance with organisational priorities.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, and 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 personal development and encourage others to do the same.
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children and engages and motivates others.
• Future-orientated thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships with their team, colleagues, 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:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor's degree in Disaster Risk Management, Disaster Management, Environmental Management, Climate Change, Geography, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Urban Planning, Natural Resource Management, or another relevant discipline.
• A postgraduate qualification in Disaster Risk Management, Climate Change, Humanitarian Action, Project Management, or a related field will be an added advantage.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• A minimum of 3-5 years progressive experience in coordinating and implementing Disaster Risk Reduction, resilience, humanitarian, or development programmes.
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder programmes involving government institutions, local authorities, implementing partners, and communities.
• Experience in implementing community-based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR), school safety, preparedness, climate resilience, or related programmes.
• Experience in coordinating programme implementation through local partners and supporting partner capacity strengthening.
• Sound understanding of project cycle management, including planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and risk management.
• Experience in coordinating training, workshops, consultations, simulation exercises, and learning events.
• Experience in monitoring programme budgets, expenditure, and implementation against approved work plans.
• Good understanding of safeguarding, accountability to affected populations (AAP), gender equality, disability inclusion, and child rights in humanitarian and development programming.
• Experience in working with donor-funded programmes and ensuring compliance with donor and organisational requirements.
• Strong coordination, communication, facilitation, and relationship management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Sinhala and/or Tamil.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and digital collaboration tools.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.

Desirable

• Experience in emergency preparedness and humanitarian response.
• Experience working with national or sub-national disaster management authorities and coordination mechanisms.
• Knowledge of disaster risk-informed programming, climate adaptation, anticipatory action, or Comprehensive School Safety.
• Experience in documenting lessons learned, case studies, and programme learning.
• Project Management certification (e.g. PMP) or relevant professional training would be an added advantage.

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.