Program Manager

Description

• Right To Play is a global organisation that protects, educates, and empowers children to rise above adversity through the power of play. We help millions of children each year to stay in school and out of work, to prevent life-threatening diseases and to stay safe from exploitation and abuse. We are the leading global development organization that uses play to transform the lives of children and youth impacted by poverty, war, disease, and inequality
• Established in 2000, Right To Play reaches children through experiential programming in 15 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. These programs are supported by our headquarters in Toronto, Canada; London, UK and seven national offices across Europe and North America
• With a shared passion for our mission, our Culture Code guides how we act and interact based on five core pillars:
• Accept Everyone – Be intentional about inclusion
• Make Things Happen – Seek opportunities to lead and innovate
• Display Courage – Act with integrity
• Demonstrate Care – Look after yourself and one another
• Be Playful – Have fun at work
• Please visit our website to learn more about who we are and what we do, and watch this video to find out about the five pillars of our Culture Code
• Role Summary: The Program Manager is a leadership position within Right To Play’s country portfolio and is part of the Senior Management Team. This position reports directly to the Country Director (CD) with an indirect supervision line to the Global Director, Country Offices (GDCO)
• The incumbent is responsible for program planning, design and development, fundraising, partnerships, representation, and program implementation. He/she is also responsible for effective financial management, reporting, budget monitoring and donor compliance. The PM leads and directly manages a team of professional staff to ensure quality program implementation
• Organization: Right To Play Mozambique
• Work location: Maputo, Mozambique
• Authorized to work in: Mozambique (Eligible to work legally without requiring sponsorship or work permit)
• Position status: Local
• Target start date: As soon as possible
• Contract duration: Long Term Engagement with an initial fifteen-month contract

Duties

Program Strategic Planning and Development (25% of Time)

• Leads the programmatic management of all in country projects
• Leads the design and development of program strategies and plans with the program team and ensures their alignment with RTP strategies
• Leads in-country tracking of challenges faced by the program and takes actions to mitigate risks and develop opportunities
• Ensures the program teams stay abreast of current program goals and objectives and participates in the program expansion plans
• Ensures the program teams are implementing project activities in line with donor requirements to achieve project outcomes
• Coordinates the preparation of timely and cost-effective operational plans, budgets and strategic plans with the program team
• Works to ensure that the program addresses the local needs of children and their communities and is appropriate for the respective country
• Promotes evidence-based, play-based approaches as a tool to reach country development plans and works in collaboration with the program team and local stakeholders
• Supports the Country Director in developing project proposals for new projects that are aligned with the organization’s strategic targets
• Support the development and implementation of the emergency response and contingency plans of the country office by working closely with country team members, Global team and external stakeholders

Program Quality, and Reporting (25% of Time)

• Maintains the existing process of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) and reporting system of Right To Play.Moreover, Incorporate safeguarding components into MEL activities for RTP and partners
• Supports the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning team in the development and implementation of monitoring, review, assessment and evaluation plans for improved program development and delivery
• Ensures adherence to Right To Play program standards in program design and implementation
• Oversees preparation and submission of quality narrative reports, financial reports, work plans and budgets in line with donor requirements, ensuring that financial budgeting and reporting is aligned with program and project plans
• Facilitates country level conversations around program quality, program accountability, partnerships, gender, and child protection
• Provides quarterly updates of lessons learned and best practices to CD’s and stakeholders ensuring that program lessons are being used to promote improved program delivery
• Conducts regular monitoring visits to project locations

Partnership, Fundraising, Representation and Collaboration (15%)

• Facilitates linkages, collaboration and networking with other civil society organizations and governments and other relevant institutions to enhance Right To Play’s visibility and program activities. Support in tailoring safeguarding visibility material such as posters etc., with RTP CO field staff and the partners. Coordinate with the field staff info sessions with the communities and distribution of the visibility material inclusive of reporting channels
• Represents Right To Play in various platforms and maintains positive relationships with governments and other relevant stakeholders regarding Right To Play activities
• Identifies and develops new partnerships with local NGOs, Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and communities
• Oversees the management of existing partnerships, inclusive of safeguarding requirements such as safeguarding due diligence, how to communicate and handle safeguarding responsibilities related with safeguarding disclosures with the partners etc, regular information sharing on safeguarding and potential capacity building of them based on the needs
• Ensures ownership of the program by local partners and stakeholders
• Meets with partners’ staff and community leaders to discuss program improvement as needed
• Joins the Country Director in meetings and represents him/her when required
• Participates in partnership meetings with donors

Policy Influence & Stakeholder Engagement (10% of Time)

• Engagement of local networks and thematic coalitions, including those focussed on child rights, child wellbeing (including psychosocial wellbeing), and education to promote child-centred, play-based approaches to achieve development outcomes Monitor for opportunities (e.g., local events, conferences, regional dialogues) where Right To Play can showcase its evidence of impact in advancing child wellbeing and learning outcomes through the power of play
• Regularly attend the RTP Safeguarding Working Group (SWG) together with other COs programme managers and field staff under the lead of the Global Safeguarding Specialist. Communicate on a regular monthly basis via calls, emails etc, with the Global Safeguarding Specialist as a support to what learned during the SWG
• Liaise with the Director, Policy & Stakeholder Engagement to coordinate and leverage efforts, in alignment with the Global Policy Influence Strategy
• If necessary, be the recipient of safeguarding disclosures either from beneficiaries directly or by field staff and partners etc. Report any safeguarding disclosure received immediately to the Global Safeguarding Specialist or via the digital whistleblowing service Clearview. Collaborate as well with the Global Safeguarding Specialist and P&C Specialist in country in the likelihood of an investigation to take place, only if necessary

Program Financial Management (10% of Time)

• Coordinates with the finance team to provide financial training on effective program financial management, including procurement, project implementation, compliance and project financial reporting
• In close coordination with the Finance Officer and/or Manager, oversees the budget planning processes for programs and projects to ensure that program funds are expended according to procedures and plans. Ensure safeguarding costs are included in the budgeting of each project to be implemented
• Collaborates with the program team and develops new initiatives to be integrated into the budget

Team Management, Compliance, and Capacity Building (10% of Time)

• Communicates program vision to the program team, leads and directs them toward achieving the program goals and objectives. Cascade to the rest of the program team the information shared by the Safeguarding Specialist during every SWG. Please refer to the TOR of the SWG for more details
• Ensures the program team has a clear understanding of their roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities, inclusive of safeguarding ones
• Conducts program staffing needs assessment, presents recommendations to the Country Director, and participates in the recruitment of the program team
• Facilitates the capacity building of program team to ensure they have the appropriate skill levels for their positions and are developing to their full capacity; provides the necessary feedback to the program team and completes their performance appraisals
• In close coordination with the human resources function, ensures that all country office staff fully understand their roles and responsibilities as related to Right To Play’s Child Safeguarding Policy and receive orientation and training concerning the policy on a regular basis
• Provides direct support to the program team in the form of systems and tools, inclusive of safeguarding programmatic templates etc.
• Supports the ongoing process of periodic updating of the progress being made in actualizing the country strategy document
• Facilitates presentations at consultative workshops and RTP implementing partners’ meetings to discuss the RTP Child Safeguarding, Gender Policies and Environment Policies
• Ensures inclusion of relevant provisions in Contracts and MoUs on RTP Child Safeguarding and Gender Policies
• Acts as the Environment Focal Point and ensures that all RTP rehabilitation projects are in compliance with the donors and RTP environmental standards
• Implements policies and procedures that guide and support Right To Play activities, ensures compliance with Right To Play’s code of conduct, gender and child safeguarding policies including timely and appropriate reporting
• Develops and strengthens the program team’s understanding of project cycle management, inclusive of safeguarding standards and measures to be applied in every step of it
• Performs other duties as assigned (5% of Time)

Requisites

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, development studies or other related disciplines
• 5-7 years’ experience managing international development programs and liaising with government officials and donors. Proven experience in project planning, proposal development, report writing, resource mobilization, networking, partnership-building and working with NGOs
• Superior organizational skills and ability to multi-task on a constant basis
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills to build rapport with staff, partners, government officials, donors and community leaders
• Ability to work under pressure meeting deadlines in a fast paced fluid environment
• Creative and flexible with problem solving skills
• Demonstrated professionalism and diplomacy
• Ability to confidently represent oneself and Right To Play to high level officials
• Strategy planning skills
• People management particularly coaching and influence management
• Strong MS Office and program management tools and procedures
• Budgetary control and financial management, including ability to read and understand financial data
• Project management skills
• Understanding of the concept of sport for development
• Understanding of community development processes
• Fluency in spoken and written English is a requirement
• Previous work experience with an l/NGO
• Bonus if you’ll bring (not essential):
• Experience in quality improvement
• Experience in strengthening civil society organisations
• Experience in coaching
• Knowledge/experience in child protection, gender mainstreaming and/or governance
• Knowledge of adult learning
• Knowledge of international donor

Benefits

• What You’ll Get:
• The opportunity to collaborate with an innovative global team who are passionate about working with children and youth. You will gain experience working for a globally recognized organization with a healthy culture premised on our Culture Code (accept everyone, make things happen, display courage, demonstrate care and be playful). You will be immersed in an environment where learning and development is encouraged and valued, and “play” is appreciated as a core avenue to building community
• Competitive salary and benefits (including 13th Month Salary)
• Up to 3 personal days per year
• Up to 5 personal learning and development (L&D) days per year
• Maternity/paternity/parental leave top up and support
• Annual learning week
• Annual staff recognition awards
• Opportunity to connect with employees across our offices (Global Buddy Chat, Facebook Workplace)
• Opportunity to engage in global projects and initiatives
• Wellness programs
• Playful activities and events

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected for interviews will be contacted. Shortlisting of applications will begin immediately, and interviews may be held before the closing date
• Right To Play provides equal employment opportunities to employees regardless of their gender, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, or marital status. As such, we encourage groups who have been historically disadvantaged with respect to employment to apply for positions at Right To Play. We offer a family-friendly environment that allows for flexible work arrangements to support staff diversity and ensure a healthy work-life balance
• We are a child-centered organization. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to the safety and protection of children in our programs. The successful candidate will be required to provide a satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Screening or equivalent criminal check as a condition of employment
• We value and promote a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Should you require any accessibility related accommodations or specific adjustments to ensure fair and equitable access throughout the recruitment and selection process, and thereafter, please reach out to the People & Culture team by email at careers@righttoplay.com. All information provided will be treated as confidential and used only to provide an accessible candidate experience
• To learn more about who we are and what we do, please visit our website at www.righttoplay.com