JOB PURPOSE:
The Senior Program Manager (SPM) will operationally lead and guide the “Humanitarian System Transformation through Local Humanitarian Leadership” Program.
The SPM technically and strategically manages the implementation of the program with all involved stakeholders and financially coordinates with all stakeholders and the budget holder (including Oxfam Novib as contract holder, countries implementing the bulk of the program etc.).
This 14 million Euro program, which runs for 42 months between 2024 and 2027, is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department for Stability and Humanitarian Aid, under the Strengthening the Humanitarian System Grant Policy Framework.
The main objective of the SPM role is to technically lead the successful delivery of a coherent program in partnership with various parts of the Oxfam confederation, local and national humanitarian actors, the program’s evidence partners, relevant stakeholders in the humanitarian sectors, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others in 6 countries.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership
- Responsible for managing overall program implementation and strategy; the Program; operational account / contract management with donors, including compliance and impact evaluation;
- Act as secretariat for the Program’s Program Steering Committee (PSC);
- Lead the program’s planning and reporting processes (yearly planning, development and revisions of Theories of Change, annual reflections).
- Build partnership and strengthen collaboration with and between consortium partners through regular bilateral communication and consortium meetings (mostly online).
- Prepare reports for the donor and ensure they meet donor requirements.
- Facilitate communication with the donor, other partnerships and other relevant parties;
- Represent the Program at high-level external engagement, in close collaboration with the Program’s various stakeholders.
Program management
- Accomplish the program within budget, conform project plan and donor contract, in a cost-effective and efficient way.
- Oversee and coordinate the activities of the PMU and manage the PMU budget.
- Management of PMU staff.
- Matrix manage, monitor and ensure the coherence and cooperation with 6 implementing countries.
- Keep the overview, analyze progress and in case of gaps, pro-actively propose ways forward; pro-actively mitigate risks.
- Organize the staffing and financial resourcing of the program.
- Ensure learning, linking & knowledge development and production of knowledge materials to contribute to the learning and innovation as well as fundraising efforts of the Program.
EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & COMPETENCIES
- Extensive relevant working experience in a similar position in complex international environments; in a project-based international humanitarian/development organization and / or global network. Experience with leading multi-country and multi-stakeholder programs would be an advantage;
- Sound knowledge of Local Humanitarian Leadership agenda and broader knowledge of how to influence humanitarian sector change at large.
- Experience managing programs/projects of a similar budget size.
- Strong organizational skills and a proven track record in the financial and administrative set-up, contract managing, coordinating and leading of external and internal processes of multi-million, multi-country projects and programs.
- Program Management skills, including Theory of Change methodology, process management, scheduling, project control, documentation development, risk management and quality management, monitoring and evaluation.
- The ability to work in a project-oriented manner in a changing organization, taking all the interests of the involved stakeholders seriously and remaining strongly focused on the end results.
- Ability to work independently, pro-actively and problem-solve; result-driven and customer focused; strong organizational skills and a structured approach.
- Writing and presentation skills for periodic reporting on process, outcome, output and deliverables.
- Strong skills in cooperation, negotiation, and motivation of team members and colleagues.
- Ability to work directly and over distance with colleagues / partners.
- Excellent command of written and spoken English.
- Ideally based in Nairobi, Kenya, but with significant amount of travel to the Program’s countries and other locations relevant to achieve the Program’s objectives.
How to apply
Internal Applicants: https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/internal/vacancy/20963/description
External Applicants: https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/vacancy/20963/description