Program Manager

Core Purpose

Acts in the Role of Programme Specialist in Country Office Pakistan: Is responsible and accountable for developing and managing the effective implementation of the country programme in line with the Country Strategy and Federation strategy and in close collaboration and coordination with relevant Initiatives and Member Associations. Maintains solid relationships with partners, takes responsibility for ensuring that they adhere to programme standards and reporting requirements and that the organisation meets its partnership commitments. Effectively manages a complex country programme portfolio in accordance with the country strategic plan and operational plan, including programme and budget development, monitoring and evaluation. Also responsible for developing communication material, supporting the Member Association in resource mobilisation. Manages country-level alliances and relationships with advocacy partners including DPOs. Fosters a culture of learning. May deputise for the Country Director.

Pre-Requisites

1. Education, Knowledge & Professional Experience
2. Relevant university degree in social sciences, international development or related field.
3. Professional experience of 10 years in a national or international NGO with a minimum of 5 years at senior level, with a track record in successfully designing and managing large inclusive development and/or humanitarian programmes in collaboration with national partners.
4. Experience in developing and managing large scale institutionally funded projects, including consortium led projects. 
5. Proven experience in results-based management and project cycle management, including assessment, monitoring and evaluation, with a sound understanding of budgeting and programme financial management.
6. Demonstrated experience in managing internal and external relationships and partnerships particularly with national/local governments.
7. Experience of working with various government/bi-lateral/major institutional donors.
8. Experience in developing rights-based programmes and working with marginalised and excluded groups.
9. Proven skills in people and team management and coaching, with a focus on capacity development and performance management. 
10. Commitment to the organisation’s mission, vision and values. 

Languages

• English (professional proficiency)
• Local language (professional proficiency in Urdu and one or more local languages)

Tools

• Advanced MS Office
• Knowledge in MS Navision / any other database for programme management and reporting and MS Sharepoint solutions an advantage 

Organisational competencies

1. Quality & performance accountability
2. Teamwork
3. Pro-activity
4. Global mindset

Position Competencies

1. Analytical thinking
2. Persuasive Communication
3. Result orientation
4. Thoroughness
5. Adaptability

Manager Competencies

1. Developing Others
2. Managing Performance
3. Building Collaborative Relationships
4. Personal Credibility
5. Fostering teamwork 

Overall Mission

The Country Programme Manager will contribute to the successful delivery of the Country Strategic Plan by establishing strong capacity in inclusive project design, proposal development, effective project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and learning with partner organisations, DPOs and other relevant INGOs. This role will build the capacity of the Country Office and partners' project staff in delivering effective programmes.

Main Activities

General

1. Provide programmatic leadership in the development and implementation of the Country Plan, aligned with the Federation strategy.
2. Put in place an effective M&E framework to regularly measure progress on implementing the Country Plan, drawing and sharing lessons learned and applying adaptive management.
3. Support the Country Director in analysing external trends, challenges and opportunities relevant to organisations' disability inclusion focus and/or requiring a programmatic response by organization and share with internal stakeholders.
4. Ensure an emergency response preparedness plan is in place especially for the geographical areas where the organisation has its projects.
5. Support partners in documenting good practice cases and promote knowledge sharing among partners and within the organisation.
6. Ensure partner and project data are managed in line with data protection rules, and that updated programme records are kept.

Partnership management

1. Support the Country Director in maintaining strong partnerships and diversifying partnerships by identifying new partners.
2. Organize and conduct initial and regularly updated organisational capacity assessments and/or partnership reviews, jointly develop plans to address capacity gaps, identify solutions, monitor implementation and document learning.
3. Support funding diversification strategies with partners and oversee the phase-out of partnerships were agreed, through jointly prepared exit-plans with the partner
4. Promote, respond to, document and share partner feedback regarding their relationship with the organisation and associated partnership requirements.
5. Immediately report any critical issues and incidents that are in breach of partnership agreements and support the follow-up resolution process.
6. Develop a list of potential partners for emergency response in programme areas prone to disasters.

Programme / Project management

1. Identify project opportunities with partners under the organisation’s Country Strategic Plan and in line with national development plans.
2. Guide and coordinate joint project and/or multi-year planning processes with partners, organisation’s Initiatives/technical teams and Member Associations, ensuring the quality and sustainability of results in line with organisation’s and donor requirements.
3. Ensure high quality of project and programme plans with effective delivery and fulfilment of objectives and utilisation of budgets
4. Ensure partners and own staff are fully informed of donor requirements and are capable to meet them.
5. Promote the inclusion of monitoring, evaluation and learning components in project plans; plan and conduct mid and end-term project evaluations with partners and support the dissemination of learning.
6. Document and support partners to document good practice cases and promote knowledge sharing among partners and within the organisation.
7. Support the reporting of partners in line with standards and donor requirements.;
8. Facilitate input from technical experts into project development and implementation.
9. Develop a country programme performance dashboard and monitors the quality on a regular basis.
10. Jointly with partners, develop and monitor the implementation of exit strategies for projects/programmes.
11. Support the Finance Manager in ensuring that partners and colleagues understand and respect the organisation’s financial framework for project implementation.
12. Closely collaborate with the Finance Manager to ensure that programme and financial aspects of project design, budgeting and implementation go together, and that project monitoring and evaluation are comprehensive.

Advocacy, technical advice and representation

1. With the Country Director, promote the organization and its mission to local partners and authorities.
2. Represent the organisation at relevant in-country meetings, conferences, and workshops.
3. Manage engagement with national alliances, partners and in particular DPOs to define and support national advocacy priorities.
4. Coordinate efforts to strengthen and support DPO organisations and movements.
5. Coordinate the delivery of DID technical advice in Disability Inclusive Development to government and other organizations, in alignment with the DID initiative.
6. Ensure effective vertical integration between community-level project work and national and global advocacy work.

Communication and resource mobilisation

1. Monitor in-country calls for proposals from institutional donors and supports the Country Director in building focused relationships with representatives of such donors and other NGOs with whom the organisation can collaborate.
2. Work with partners to gather and share quality and timely project information and content to support the organisation’s internal and external communication enabling Member Associations to demonstrate impact in their donor communication.
3. Acts as a convincing spokesperson on all programme related matters internally and externally.

Team supervision

1. Manage and coach the country programme staff, which includes: selection, job description updates, performance management, capacity development planning, work plans and follow up delegation and motivation.
2. Model and promote the inclusion of persons with disability in the programme team in the Country Office.

Additional responsibilities

1. Deputise for the Country Director as required.
2. Actively participate as a member of the Senior Management Team in the Country Office.
3. Participate and actively contribute to learning platforms in the region and at the international level within the organisation upon request, and make recommendations for enhancements to relevant policies and procedures to create operational efficiencies.
4. Carry out role-specific responsibility to safeguard children and adults at risk (as guided by the organisation’s respective policies) in programmes and enforce this with any colleagues and partners.
5. Other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Country Director.

Performance Criteria

• Number of approved and funded Multi-Year Plans in line with Country Plan
• Positive partner experience with INGOs.
• Timely receipt of quality partner reports.
• A number of partner site visits by the programme team for monitoring and support.
• Programme quality levels as per the Country Office Performance Dashboard.
• Effectiveness in identifying and promptly managing critical (programme) issues.
• Documentation of good and critical practice cases.
• Engagement with DPOs.
• Management of capable and professional programme team delivering on KPIs (where relevant).