Kopila Valley Sewa Samaj Vacancy for Associate Manager

“A world where every child is safe, educated, loved”; Kopila Valley Sewa Samaj (KVSS) established in 2007, is a non-governmental, apolitical, and not for profit organization. Our mission is to change the world by empowering Nepal’s children. We do this by providing quality education, a safe environment, and through inspiring others while putting the children first, strengthening families and our communities. Most at risk and disadvantaged children are provided with inclusive quality education at Kopila Valley School (KVS), one of the greenest schools in Nepal, made from the earth and nestled on a campus with a commitment to building sustainable programs. Along with lifelong gift education to the disadvantaged children, we support their family members to improve their living standards and make it sustainable through holistic programs ranging from children’s home, health and wellness through women empowerment to career guidance/counseling, and scholarships for further studies. Through community outreach programs like empowerment sessions, community information center and organic farming practices, we are extending our reach. Environmental sustainability is one of the guiding principles and a way of life whatever we do!

Women’s Center is one of the important programs of KVSS targeting to the most disadvantaged guardians of KVS students, along with targeted community. At the women’s center, we provide income generation opportunities through vocational trainings, entrepreneurship development, startup fund alongside empowerment sessions and mental health and wellness support so that women are empowered, could broaden life opportunities, support the continuity of their children’s education and take control of their lives. We do this with our funding partner BlinkNow Foundation and in close ties with the local government and communities.

Position Summary: Associate Manager; Women’s Center

You should have patience and enthusiasm about working with women, girls and targeted community people by expanding opportunities and taking leadership role to develop an engaging and performance driven team.

Under the leadership of Head of Programs, the Associate Manager; Women’s Center is overall responsible for planning and implementation of vocational training, enterprises development, exploring different funding opportunities and providing start up funds for entrepreneurship development, organizing community outreach programs targeting socio-economic development. She is excellent in planning, quality deliverables, monitoring and reporting in line with organizational frameworks and mandates and leading a multi-disciplinary team, supervise and coordinate with KVS and different programs of KVSS to foster interdepartmental collaboration and bring about synergy in program deliverables for women empowerment. The incumbent is excellent at coaching, mentoring, supporting and developing staff using relevant tools and techniques. She will have a coordinating role with an array of stakeholders to promote gender equality and social inclusion through a collaborative approach and establish functional working relationships with stakeholders.

The incumbent ensures a collaborative approach and calendar alignment with Kopila Valley School and integration of program initiatives with other programs including sustainability, health and wellness. She is responsible for documentation, recording, database management, daily/weekly updates and periodic reports to the supervisor. She is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. She also works as a focal point for gender equality, disability and social inclusion within the organization.

Work Location: Birendranagar-4, Surkhet

Reports to: Head of Programs

Direct reports: 5

The Main Responsibilities

• Lead program planning, implementation, monitoring, budgeting, database management and reporting
• Team leadership and management- supervise women empowerment program team by setting goals, priorities, and enhance effective integration amongst programs and KVS
• Capacity building of team in training facilitation, community mobilization, gender equality disability and social inclusion, coaching & mentorship and safety/security having a growth mindset
• Liaise between the KVS team, different programs, including sustainability, health & wellness, and build functional working relationships with stakeholders for improved program quality and foster a culture of learning and sharing

Detailed Responsibilities

• Lead program planning, implementation, monitoring, budgeting, database management and reporting
• Lead participatory planning process and ensure all team members have a detailed implementation plan including timelines aligning with results-based framework, program guide and strategy documents of KVSS and BlinkNow Foundation
• Ensure budget is phased realistically with timelines considering annual milestones and seasonal calendar, review expenditure on a monthly basis and take corrective actions by revising plans and communicating with supervisor on time
• Lead interventions under the Women’s Center such as vocational training, income generation initiatives, life skill sessions that are supported with evidences like inclusivity, profitability and scalability
• Administer various vocational, short-term and empowerment related training and workshops that are conducted aligning with defined curriculum of Center for
• Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) which are well coordinated and communicated with relevant government agencies, including municipality authority
• Provide technical backstopping to team to organize sensitization workshops, training, learning/sharing and exposure visits for women empowerment and entrepreneurship development
• Coordinate with KVS and programs to identify and integrate training opportunities to guardians of KVS, community people and conduct training/workshops in a collaborative way to leverage resources
• Together with Head of Programs and other team members contribute to safety/security plan for staff and beneficiaries reaching directly and indirectly
• Coordinating with supervisor and monitoring and evaluation manager of BlinkNow Foundation, develop database tracking sheet, maintain and update details of beneficiaries supported and community outreach activities.
• Team leadership and management- supervise women empowerment program team by setting goals, priorities, monitoring and enhance effective integration amongst programs and KVS
• Communicate result-based framework, strategic priorities, relevant program guides and policy/procedures with team members so that everyone understands the strategic priorities of the program and motivated to contribute the organizational mandates
• Set annual and quarterly goals of team and ensure everyone is aligning with set goals and priorities and deliverable on time to quality
  Jointly with team and collaborating with different program, develop and share weekly/monthly priorities and updates with the supervisor
• Coordinate with different programs and stakeholders to harmonize program activities and amplify program achievements
• Identify training needs of team members, develop and implement capacity building events for growth and development of team members
• Organize one on one conversation with direct reports and ensure documentation in Asana
• Coordinating with HR and supervisor, organize periodic performance appraisal and reviews of team members
• Capacity building of team Capacity building of team in training facilitation, community mobilization, gender equality disability and social inclusion, coaching & mentorship and safety/security having a growth mindset
• Create a learning and sharing environment to building the capacity of team members in women empowerment, gender-based violence, harmful cultural practices limiting girls and women’s participation in socio-cultural and economic spheres coaching and mentorship so that team members are able to deliver quality program on time
• Review, update and document approved guidelines, standard operating procedures, mental health and counseling, community mobilization, enterprises development and start up fund use, etc.
• Provide opportunities for growth and development to team members through onsite coaching, feedback, peer support, on the job training and recommend relevant training and capacity building needs of team members for personal and professional growth
• Develop roster of stakeholders to provide supervisory support to women empowerment and enterprises development, and organize periodic training and workshops to team members
• Ensure important meeting minutes are taken, documents are maintained and reported
• Liaise between the KVS team, different programs, including sustainability, health & wellness, and build functional working relationships with stakeholders for improved program quality and foster a culture of learning and sharing
• Coordinating with KVS and different program, ensure participatory and collaborative planning and quality program interventions
• Work closely with KVS and other program leads to explore every opportunity to for program calendar alignment, joint initiatives like trainings, days celebration, campaigns and organizing various activities and events
• Keep detailed and updated track records of program and services provided with special consideration of the most disadvantaged, people with disabilities,
• Map stakeholders and develop stakeholders’ engagement plan so as to establish smooth and functional working relationships with relevant government officials, municipality and ward offices, I/NGOs and community-based organizations, etc.
• Coordinating with supervisor, share periodic updates with stakeholders and represent to KVSS at local and provincial level meetings, forums and events
• Lead to organize periodic review and reflection workshops and ensure proper documentation and sharing
• Utilize research and good practices to develop robust and quality programing that consistently meets established goals
• With the guidance and support of Head of Programs, work as a focal point for gender equality and social inclusion and contribute to safety/security related portfolios
• Lead and/or contribute to revision/adaptation of organizational policy/procedures to promote gender equality disability and social inclusion
• Engage actively for emergency preparedness and response related activities as and when required

Additional expectations

• Takes ownership of change and engage and encourage innovation
• Build positive working relationships and environment in the organization by bringing solutions to the discussion table
• Report to the manager on a weekly and real time basis in case of urgent activities
• Acts swiftly to respond emergency circumstances and humanitarian assistance activities of the organization
• Build and maintain a strong relationship with the staff, students, teachers and relevant stakeholders
• Attend weekly staff meetings, and share operational updates

The above list of responsibilities is not comprehensive, and the Associate Manager women’s center may be required to take on additional responsibilities, as determined by her supervisor

Must Have

Education: Masters in Sociology, Rural Development, or any relevant discipline/s
Experience: At least 5 years of proven experience in women empowerment, entrepreneurship and community development field preferably at I/NGOs
Language: A good communicator, and fluent in English and Nepali
Skills and Abilities: Ability to manage, mentor and lead women, youth and their activities
Passionate about and cares for children and vulnerable population; initiator, and competent in managing operations and logistics in the organization.
Works collaboratively and independently with the least supervision required.

Key Characteristics

• You believe that we can change the world, in the blink of an eye
• You believe in making decisions that put children first
• You are self-motivated, organized, and approachable
• You enjoy creating systems, keeping records, and increasing efficiency
• You are always looking for new ways for our team to work smarter instead of harder
• You are detail-oriented and conscientious. You make sure nothing slips through the cracks
• You have a strong work ethic and a willingness to pick up new skills. You are comfortable multi-tasking
• You are positive, patient, and a clear communicator who is comfortable working with both Kopila Valley staff in Nepal and the BlinkNow staff in the United States
• You are an empathetic person, with a knack for putting out fires before they start and soothing conflicts brewing beneath the surface
• You require little supervision and are flexible. You understand that you will be wearing many hats in this role, many of which are not explicitly included in this job description