Recruitment pack for:

General Manager Oscar Romero School, Liberia

Mary’s Meals International

March 2018

Welcome from the Director of

Programmes

General Manager Oscar Romero

School role outline and

specification

Our vision, mission and values

Recruitment process

information

Recruitment pack contents

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Welcome from our Director of Programmes

Dear Applicant,

Mary’s Meals Liberia from its base in Tubmanburg delivers

school feeding to over 114,000 children in 505 schools in

five counties of Liberia: Grand Cape Mount; Bomi;

Gbarpolu, Bong and Montsearrado. Collaboration between

the Mary’s Meals team in Liberia and the schools and

communities is essential to the success of the programme.

Mary’s Meals Liberia also runs the Oscar Romero School

for the deaf in Tubmanburg, which is an elementary school

with residential facilities.

The General Manager is responsible for developing and

implementing the strategic plan for the Oscar Romero

School (ORS). Reporting to the Country Director, the

General Manager will guide the school through a period of

transition, establishing it as an elementary school for deaf

children, independent from Mary’s Meals

The General Manager is responsible for line managing a

team of academic teaching staff, care workers, peripatetic

and vocational support staff, and directly supervising the

education and well-being of all students in Oscar Romero

School.

It is a challenging, exciting and fulfilling role which will

give you the opportunity to make a tangible difference to

the lives of the deaf children in Liberia.

This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate, who

will not only possess strong technical and leadership skills

and experience, but will also be an individual who

believes strongly in our values. If that is you, and you

hold a deep passion and commitment to supporting the

education of deaf children and supporting their integration

into wider Liberian society I would love to hear from you!

Will you play a central part in shaping the future of the

Oscar Romero School in Liberia and with it, the lives of

the people who both contribute to and benefit from this

incredible work of love, joy and hope?

Robert Donnelly,

Director of Programmes

Mary’s Meals International

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Programmes leadership team structure

Role outline

Role title:

Location:

Contract:

Reports to:

Direct reports:

Key relationships:

General Manager

Oscar Romero School, Liberia

Liberia, with travel to other programme

affiliates and the UK as required

Full-time, two year fixed term

Country Director, Liberia

Principal, Care Manager

MMI: Oscar Romero School Staff, MMI

Senior Leadership Team; other functions

External: MoE, Parents, Other partners

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Director of

Programmes

Head of

Programmes

Country Director

Malawi

Country Director

Liberia

Country

Director Zambia

Country DirectorKenya

Head of Finance & Operations

Liberia

Head of People & Development

Liberia

Head of Programmes

DeliveryLiberia

General Manager ORS

Liberia

Head of Programmes Operations

Role overview

The General Manager is responsible for developing and implementing the strategic plan for the Oscar Romero School (ORS).

Reporting to the Country Director, the General Manager will guide the school through a period of transition, establishing it as an elementary school for deaf children, independent from Mary’s Meals. The General Manager will shape the vision and strategy of the school, ensuring it provides a high quality elementary education, whilst supporting students to continue their education after graduating from ORS in the mainstream education sector and take up and maintain their social and economic place in Liberian society.

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Duties and responsibilities

Principal responsibilities

Strategic Direction

• Develop, obtain approval for and implement a strategic plan for

Oscar Romero School to transition into a standalone entity,

independent of Mary’s Meals.

• • Establish and ensure progression options for children throughout

their time at Oscar Romero School, to permit them to re-establish

and take up and maintain their social and economic place in

Liberian society

School Leadership

• Manage all aspects of the Oscar Romero School within agreed

policies and budgets

• Develop and lead on the delivery of annual plans and budgets for

the school

• Manage the educational professional and support staff to ensure

that educational outcomes and standards are maintained at the

highest levels as set out by government departments and to

international standards:

a) Ensure customized educational plans and targets are

implemented for each individual child to enable them to reach

their potential;

b) Ensure that the educational programme is fully in line with

Government of Liberia policy;

c) Research and develop alternative teaching methods and

aids to enhance the learning abilities of the deaf pupils;

• Identify and communicate problems and issues in the delivery of

the programme and respond to these appropriately;

• Provide written monthly reports, and as required, to the Country

Director informing of any risks to the students or the campus

facilities and to assist in resolving these issues in a timely manner;

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• Ensure that Student’s Psycho-Social Well Being is upheld at all

times

• Work closely with the School Principal and other staff members to

ensure that a varied programme of activities on the school campus

is available to students in the afternoon and weekends;

• Develop and implement school entrance criteria and child

assessment for new entrants.

• Develop partnerships with other organisations in country that

provide an extension of activities or service, in terms of educational

health and recreational, for pupils of all ages and especially within

local communities;

• Participate in forums with other providers of services to the deaf in

Liberia

• Ensure that students have the opportunity to report any social or

personal difficulties and/or problems they are experiencing and that

these issues are noted in student’s confidential records and

appropriate responses are provided;

• Ensure that students are enabled to voice any concerns they have

in an open forum on any issues that affect them and if they wish, to

make formal complaints;

• Support and encourage students to be involved in decisions that

affect them through the development of student participation in a re-

defined Parent, Teachers and Students Association;

• Facilitate and support students to maintain regular contact with their

families whilst in the school campus.

• Develop the participation and engagement of parents in the

community, school and with their children’s education.

• Develop and implement individual transition plans for each student

in collaboration with the student and their family to assist them in

decision making on graduation.

Duties and responsibilities

Day to Day school management

• Ensure robust policies, procedures and controls are in

place and are adhered to, for the effective operations of the

school and the proper care and use of school assets and

resources.

• Ensure that adequate medical attention is provided to all

students as and when required:

a) Manage care staff to keep accurate and up to date

health records for all students and that required

medical attention is available within campus and

locally;

b) Ensure that any pupil requiring medical attention is

accompanied to hospital/clinic

c) Liaise with local medical staff when there are

suspected cases of infectious diseases to ensure

containment;

• Manage and support the Care Manager in the development

of the designated team of care assistants and kitchen staff

to ensure they are able to perform their duties to the

highest standards with appropriate controls put in place.

• Ensure that the Student Dormitories and the School Kitchen

are maintained as clean, healthy, safe and orderly

environments at all times;

• Establish and maintain a rota of Care Assistants and

Kitchen Staff to ensure agreed staffing levels at all times;

• Monitor the provision of meals so that all students receive a

varied and sufficient diet of healthy, nutritious food.

• Allow students to follow religious observances, for example,

to be accompanied to a Church or Mosque on a regular

basis;

Human Resources

• Ensure direct advice is provided, training and

encouragement to all staff on

a) child health and well-being; and

b) hygienic dietary practices; and

c) child protection and the rights and responsibilities of

the pupil;

• Ensure that staff supervision and appraisals are carried out

in line with Mary’s Meals policies;

• Keep a training profile on each member of staff and

facilitate the meeting of identified training needs;

• Initiate and carry through staff disciplinary procedures in

conjunction with HR after having sought the advice of the

Country Director;

• Implement staff recruitment as confirmed by the annual

budget;

• Ensure that Health and Safety and Child Protection policies

are implemented at all times;

External Representation

• Ensure the maintenance of excellent relations with all of

Mary’s Meals partners, supporters and visitors.

• Network with other stakeholders in Liberia who can support

the school’s activities

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Qualifications and experience

Essential

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant subject or equivalent experience

Skills/Experience

• Experience leading a residential (Boarding) school, for

children

• with special needs where you have had overall responsibility

for physical, emotional and educational wellbeing of the pupils

• Proven leadership and team building skills and strong

communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to

establish effective working relationships at all levels internally

and externally.

• Experience in driving forward and implementing strategic

objectives.

• Excellent communication skills – ability to communicate

sensitively and appropriately with young people with special

needs, their families/guardians and other teaching/care staff;

• Proven financial management skills, including budget

preparation, reporting and revision as well as managing the

implementation of, and reporting on, multiple grants.

• Excellent writing skills to be able to write proposals, strategic

plans, budgets and management reports.

• Very good computer literacy (Microsoft Office / Outlook), with

proficiency in Word and Excel

• Cultural sensitivity and the ability to work effectively with a

wide range of people in different countries and settings.

• Ability to work at both a strategic and operational level

• Understanding of the principles of education and care

standards for children with a disability.

• Demonstrable experience, engaging and motivating a

team of staff.

• Experience of negotiating, challenging and dealing with

issues that arise within the community and within the staff

team.

• Experience of providing support and guidance to

vulnerable young people and children with special needs;

• Experience of initiating and supporting change and high

standards within the organisation;

• Experience of developing, monitoring and reporting

against agreed strategy and providing operational and

financial reports to senior management

• Experience of a flexible approach to managing and

prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast-

paced environment with tight deadlines

Desirable

• Experience of training and coaching staff

• Experience of working in a charity or not for profit

organisation

• Experience of working in Africa and / or a developing

country.

• IOSH Health and Safety qualification or equivalent

• Understanding or willingness to learn sign language

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Mary’s Meals manager competencies

Managers at Mary’s Meals approach their

role in line with our 7S competency model:

1. Self

• I build and demonstrate resilience

• I lead by example

• I’m authentic and true to Mary’s Meals

values

• I develop myself and set stretching goals

2. Service

• I have a vocational attitude to my work

• I inspire hope in others

• I build belief that even difficult challenges

can be solved

• I am committed to serving and enabling all

who want to be part of the global movement

• I work to ensure our future will be even

better than our past

3. Simplicity

• I communicate effectively

• I follow clear decision-making criteria

• I create plans that are easy to follow and

contribute to organisational goals

• I embrace inclusivity and diversity

• I focus on delivering results

4. Stewardship

• I pay attention to the things that matter most; (a) our physical

resources; (b) our people

• I nurture, develop and respect our relationships with external

stakeholders

• I deliver on my promises

• I am happy to be held accountable and to hold others to account

5. Strategy

• I have a point of view about the future

• I know our stakeholders and see our priorities clearly

• I help others to work in ways that have the greatest impact

• I develop strategy and translate it into action

6. Strengthen

• I create a positive work environment

• I increase the capabilities of my team

• I help people manage their careers

• I find and develop next-generation talent

7. Success

• I ensure my team is technically competent and always

developing

• I build high performing teams

• I ensure accountability

• I am a catalyst for change

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Our vision, mission and values

• Our vision is that every child receives

one daily meal in their place of education

and that all those who have more than

they need, share with those who lack

even the most basic things.

• Our mission is to enable people to offer

their money, goods, skills, time, or prayer,

and through this involvement, provide the

most effective help to those suffering the

effects of extreme poverty in the world’s

poorest communities.

• Our values

• We have confidence in the innate

goodness of people.

• We respect the dignity of every

human being and family life.

• We believe in good stewardship of

the resources entrusted to us.

View Mary’s Meals’ full statement of values here:

http://bit.ly/2oRy99Y

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How to apply for this role

To apply for the role of Country Director Liberia at Mary’s

Meals International, please send a tailored CV and

covering letter to: jobs.mmi@marysmeals.org

Your covering letter should make a compelling case for

why you feel motivated to work for Mary’s Meals

International in this role, as well as giving a concise

overview of your most relevant skills and experience, and

should fill no more than two pages of A4.

As part of our commitment to safeguarding children you

will be required to provide an up to date PVG/Barring

statement (UK nationals) of a Police check/certificate of

good conduct (non UK nationals)

Recruitment timescales

Closing date for applications:

15th April 2018 at midnight

Interviews with the recruitment panel:

Week commencing 30th April 2018

Please note: A second interview stage will be required.

Recruitment process information

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Mary's Meals International

Glasgow office

10-13 Claremont Centre

39 Durham Street, Glasgow

G41 1BS

“Together, let’s set out on this journey; one step

at a time, one meal at a time, one child at a time.”– Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, Mary’s Meals founder

Registered at Craig Lodge

Dalmally, Argyll

Scotland, UK PA33 1AR

Charity No. SC045223

Company No. SC488380

Mary’s Meals Liberia Office

Tubmanburg,

Bomi County

Liberia