We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realize the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.
We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:
• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated
We know that great people make a great organization and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.
SCI - Afghanistan
Save the Children has been working in Afghanistan since 1976. Our way of working close to people and on their own terms has enabled us to deliver lasting change to tens of thousands of children in the country. The UN Convention of the Rights of the Child is the basis of our work.
We are helping children get a better education, we make it possible for more boys and girls to attend school, we help children protect themselves and influence their own conditions. We work with families, communities and health workers in homes, clinics and hospitals to promote basic health in order to save lives of children and mothers
ROLE PURPOSE:
The overall aim of the Employee Safeguarding and Employee Relations Manager is to support and strengthen staff safeguarding management systems and be the lead employee relations advocate within Save the Children Afghanistan Country Office (SCI AFG CO).
The Employee Safeguarding and Employee Relations Manager (ESERM) will lead in the development, management and implementation of practices, systems and procedures relative to staff safeguarding, while ensuring that these are all aligned with the global SCI Safeguarding Framework. S/He shall inspire innovative thinking on the adaptability of safeguarding principles and practices in accordance to relevant context and the realities on the ground. S/He shall creatively craft programs and activities that will enhance the commitment of staff to their safeguarding obligations.
In the management of employee relations, the ESERM shall focus on creating and delivering people practices to develop and maintain positive working relationships between SCI AFG CO and its people. Working closely with stakeholders of the CO, s/he will ensure that practices and systems that will impact the work life of all employees, are fair and transparent. S/He shall also be responsible for ensuring the impartial resolution of employee grievances and complaints, as well as provide support to people managers in the resolution of conflict within their teams.
Under the leadership and guidance of the Human Resources Director, the ESERM shall ensure that a robust and progressive yet pragmatic approach in the management of employee safeguarding and relations are maintained by the country office.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: HR, Admin and IT Director
Staff reporting to this post:
Direct report: Staff Safeguarding Coordinators
Indirect report: Provide guidance and technical supervision to Provincial Staff Safeguarding, Gender Officers and people managers in matters relative to safeguarding and employee relations.
Budget Responsibilities: Manage Staff Safeguarding related Budget.
Travels to the field: Extensive travels required to the provincial offices.
External representation: Interpersonal contact regular and varied, involves negotiation and representation at national level.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
• Be the role model of professionalism, integrity and fairness in demonstrating the values of the SCI Code of Conduct.
Strategic Planning
• Plans and leads the development of an operational design for safeguarding and employee relations initiatives, ensuring that it is achievable and responsibility is shared.
• Ensure that a comprehensive safeguarding framework is in place for SCI AF CO activities which are aligned with SCI’s Safeguarding Framework.
• Provides a steer in identifying, framing and executing the contextualization and adaptation of global policies on safeguarding guidelines with the cultural perspectives of the country office in accordance with the principles and values of SCI as well as the core humanitarian standards.
• Identify and drive SCI values and programs that fosters constructive employee relations and ensure that SCI AFG CO’s approach to its employees is fair, consistent and always respectful.
• Takes a lead role in the development of key performance indicators to measure activity and progress towards safeguarding and employee relations goals.
• Mitigates risks by developing programs, standards and procedures to promote fair safeguarding and employee relations practices.
• Evaluate and improve existing safeguarding and employee relations practices to introduce new perspectives, trends and processes.
Safeguarding & Employee Relations Program Design and Implementation
• Work with the team to ensure robust systems are in place to track calls and reports, manage cases, and ensure effective training delivery, enabling reporting against key performance indicators for both safeguarding and employee relations programs.
• Ensure that the country office’s policy guidelines and procedures are kept up to date, incorporating safeguarding best practices, and in compliance with SCI’s global safeguarding protocol and standards.
• Develop systems and practices to ensure that effective and efficient support is in place for those who are victims of abuse, harassment and bullying and for those against whom allegations are made.
• Establish effective quality assurance systems for case management and investigations, the assessment of risk and the implementation and management of case resolutions and recommendations.
• Support the development of effective casework management systems, ensuring all cases are recorded on DATIX. Manage the casework and investigations workload of the team, ensuring that cases are dispensed of in a timely manner.
• Keep a register of safeguarding incidents and ensure that supporting documentation relating to safeguarding incidents as well as employee relations cases are maintained in line with Data Protection requirements.
• Ensure safeguarding training is relevant to the SCI AFG CO context and the realities on the ground; and that these are of high quality and current in terms policy updates and environmental context; and that it is evaluated in terms of its impact on practice.
• Partner with the program team and L&D to enhance safeguarding awareness-raising across the field offices and within work units in the country office.
• Work with L&D to ensure that all new employees (regular and community based), volunteers, and interns attend safeguarding induction training within 30 days from date of joining the organization and that an attendance to an in-depth refresher course is included in the D2P and/or performance plan of every employee.
• Undertake and/or support the development of local safeguarding procedures as well as awareness raising materials, in line with work environment and culture of offices / work units.
• Provide technical assistance to strengthen safeguarding and employee relations practices throughout a project life cycle. This shall include assessment of risks, its mitigation as well as lessons learned.
• Operate as technical partner on safeguarding matters in regards to program design, proposal formulation, donor compliance, etc.
• Collaborate with and provide advice to teams and/or departments within the offices to promote fulfilment of safeguarding risk analysis, including risk identification and management strategies of the country’s processes, procedures and activities and appropriate mitigating actions are developed.
• Design, plan and coordinate an internal safeguarding audit in preparation for external safeguarding audits and assessments.
• Create, support, and nurture a network of safeguarding advocates across the provincial offices of the country office.
• Support program teams in building partner capacity in the areas of safeguarding.
• Participate in handling safeguarding and employee relations cases. With respect to safeguarding investigations, provide technical advice on case assessment, report and recommendations writing, and support fact-gathering as needed, based on consultation with the investigations team.
Leadership
• Lead program level community of practice (COP) for safeguarding and employee relations to coordinate learning about safeguarding and employee relations throughout a project lifecycle.
• Lead in the development of an internal communication plan for safeguarding to maintain high awareness of safeguarding within the organization.
• Lead in the development of safeguarding and employee relations training materials; work with L&D as well as program and work unit teams to identify and address training and awareness gaps.
• Lead in the mainstreaming of safeguarding across the organization, setting up appropriate mechanisms to facilitate this.
• Champion safeguarding policies and accompanying policy guidance support materials, including strong advocacy for safeguarding across all levels of business to promote a culture of safeguarding.
• Provide quality and accessible advice, support and guidance to managers and staff through supporting the effort where adequate safeguarding measures are integrated into office operations, processes and programs.
• Provide guidance, advice and training to people managers in best employee relations practices and strategies for handling people management challenges and employee grievances.
Reporting and Coordination Responsibilities
• Act as a reporting avenue for safeguarding related issues, concerns or experiences and foster an environment where all potential safeguarding and employee relations misconducts are reported.
• Prepare periodic reports of incidents and significant findings; prepare an analysis of findings and statistics and share these with the HR Director, to be used in the determination of policy/procedure change and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate and coordinate with members of the management team and various employee groups to facilitate and expedite investigation and case management processes.
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
• Holds self-accountable 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 their team to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
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 with.
Creativity:
• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.
Integrity:
• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT
Essential
• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, child protection, or other relevant degree.
• Specialized studies in the field of adult and child safeguarding, case management and PSEAH.
• A comprehensive knowledge of and experience with, Safeguarding, PSEAH-CA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, Harassment and Child Abuse) in the international humanitarian and development sector, including relevant international standards and frameworks, standards of best practices, current thinking and trends.
• A working knowledge of the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion and unconscious bias.
• In-depth experience in working with confidential and sensitive information and understand personal/survivor/alleged offender safety and reputation management.
Desired
• At least five (5) years-experience in a leadership or management role in the areas of safeguarding, employee relations or case management and investigations gained from international organizations.
• Outstanding planning and coordination skills, with an ability to handle multiple activities concurrently, work under pressure, and meeting tight deadlines. High level of resilience with the ability to be impartial and remain calm and composed under difficult circumstance. Effective project management skills, guiding staff and coordinating with virtual teams, working groups, communities of practice, and networks. Ability to lead and implement organizational change within a complex structure through engaging colleagues and with flexibility, adaptability and overcoming barriers to change through a solutions-oriented approach. Above average coaching and counselling skills.
• Excellent written, oral communication and facilitation skills. Experience in drafting systems procedures and guidelines, writing briefing documents, and communicating both in writing and verbally. Ability to convey complex ideas and messages clearly using a variety of methods for engaging different audiences. Fluency in oral and written English, Dari and Pashto.
• Strong interpersonal, diplomatic and negotiating skills and ability to build positive relations and cross-organizational teamwork with colleagues. Consultative skills that draw on different perspectives and shares expertise to achieve best results.
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.
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.
Qualified applicants are highly encouraged to apply for the position by filling in the online application form. In addition to the online application form, they can also attach their CV and cover letter in the online system. Please note that only the applications received through the online portal will be considered for this position.
Applicants can login to the online application system by copying and pasting the following link intro their web browser. Returning users will need to enter their username and password, first time users will need to create a user account.
It is recommended that you save your username and password for future job applications through the online system.
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highes... Read More
