Programme Manager

Job title: Programme Manager,

Reporting line: Programme Director

The overall Purpose of the Position

The Programme Manager will be responsible for the coordination, quality assurance and the overall implementation of MECPU programmes in close consultation with the Programme Director and Technical leads. He/She will lead, mentor, and support a high performing, multicultural and multidisciplinary team to coordinate the design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of projects and programmes to ensure that high quality results are delivered on time, on target and on budget. As a member of the Management team, the Programme Manager will work closely with the MECPU Programme Director and AKF to ensure alignment of programmes with the overall mandate, values, and standards of MECPU and its partners.

Duties and Responsibilities

Management

Oversee management of the MECPU programme, ensuring all grant management requirements including work-planning, budgeting and accountability, monitoring and reporting, are met with quality assurance standards.

Learning, Policy Engagement, and Communications:

Support the development of quality learning and communications materials including policy briefs and case studies to inform policies, programs, and practices.

Program Monitoring:

In collaboration with project teams and M&E team develop a Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) for the new programme, operationalise all current PMF, ensure project implementation teams assume ownership of the PMF and enable M&E to be an integrated component of all project activities

Effective team management and mentoring:

Supervise, mentor and manage the performance of direct reports, assist the program directors in performance management and mentoring of indirect reports, identify opportunities for learning and capacity building for project teams.

1. Programme Management

1. Lead all aspects of the project management cycle ensuring high-quality inception, work plans, implementation, and reports that comply with internal and donor requirements.
2. Ensure all project funds are fully accounted for and financial reports and documentation are accurate and in-line with project delivery.
3. Support Programme Director and project leads to write all narrative reports and review these to ensure quality and accuracy.
4. Effectively line manage, hold accountable, and support Programme Director and project leads to deliver impactful projects that are coordinated and aligned to deepen impact and collaboration as a programme portfolio meets the needs of the communities MECP-U serves.
5. Ensure all project operations and interventions adhere to government legal requirements, internal policies, and donor compliance. Manage all operations to maximise efficiencies in management and delivery.
6. Ensure all project management processes comply gender and social inclusion and child and community safeguarding policies.

2. Programme Quality, Learning and Reporting

Coordinate and manage processes and the team to ensure Programme Quality with all projects being delivered on time, on budget, and with quality. This will include but is not limited to.

1. Ensure programme quality processes are in place and conducted (including annual planning and budgeting, site visits, and regular programme reviews);
2. Ensure all programming is aligned to community needs and MECP strategy and contributes to MECP’s mission and values.
3. Conduct project site visits to validate project quality
4. Ensure the data management system has feedback loops to enable all project staff to access and understand project progress and challenges and promote participatory project planning and reviews.
5. In collaboration with the MERLO, lead on ensuring project learning is effectively communicated internally to the project team, AKF U senior leadership, and relevant Regional technical advisors. Ensure this learning is responding to and promotes gender and social equity in AKFs programming and the broader socio-economic and political ecosystem.
6. Collaborate with MECPU Programme Director and AKF, U Senior Leadership and regional technical advisors to establish and manage a gender-responsive programme quality system to assess programme quality and project decisions, interventions, and proposed changes are informed by data and evidence.
7. Work closely with the MERLO to Ensure the M&E team input accurate M&E data into all donor, MECP and AKF reports (quarterly, semi-annual, and annual). This will include the timely data input into MECP-U and AKF’s internal programme management systems.
8. Work closely with MERLO to Ensure the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team has established and operationalise project M&E frameworks and tools within a programmatic strategic framework and deliver high-quality M&E compliant with donor minimum requirements.
9. Work closely with the MERLO to ensure the M&E team effectively establish a high-quality M&E data management system integrating ICT where appropriate. Ensure all data management systems adhere to AKF’s safeguarding and data protection policies.

3. Partnerships and Representation

Ensure MECP develops and maintains high-quality relationships with diverse partners (including sub national, government) and community members as well as represent MECP in sub National fora:

1. Build strong relationships with local government, development partners, and civil society organisations
2. Ensure compliance with all memoranda of understanding signed with Local government or partners.
3. Manage operational partnerships with all implementing partners to ensure the timely and impactful implementation of all interventions and projects
4. Engage and dialogue with local governments and development partners to influence policy and practice

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Programme/Project Management
• Leadership and Strategic thinking
• Creativity and Innovation
• Influence and Negotiation

Required Experience and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in education, International Development, Business Administration, Project Planning and Management, Community Development, or any other related discipline. A Post graduate Diploma or Degree is an added advantage.
• Minimum of five years’ experience working in a reputable development/humanitarian environment.
• Proven experience in managing complex and high-impact projects in partnerships with other organisations, including budgets, staff and partnerships management and capacity building.
• Excellent planning, conceptual and strategic thinking and problem-solving skills are required.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of gender and social inclusion issues and proven experience of delivering programmes that explicitly address these inequalities.
• Knowledge and commitment to child and community safeguarding issues and proven experience in operationalising relevant policies and procedures.
• Excellent in communication, presentation, interpersonal skills and teamwork spirit, with a positive/growth mindset.
• Experience in managing culturally diverse teams and demonstrate non-discriminatory behaviours.
• Ability to operate with discretion and always maintain the confidentiality of information.
• Strong communication skills, written and oral, and fluency in English.
• Strong leadership skills with diverse competencies in organisation, multi-tasking, critical thinking, and M&E.
• Strong ICT skills and experience operating with Microsoft and emerging new software.