Programme Manager – Quality and Implementation

Description

• Authorized to work in: Mozambique (Eligible to work legally without requiring sponsorship or work permit)
• Position status: Local
• Target start date: Immediate
• Contract duration: Long Term Engagement with an initial fifteen-month contract
• 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.
• The Programme Manager - Quality and Implementation reports directly to the Country Director (CD).You will be responsible for ensuring quality program planning, design and development, and implementation, including strategic programs partnerships, fundraising and, representation, You are also responsible for effective program financial management, donor reporting, budget monitoring and donor compliance. The Program Manager, Quality & Implementation leads the Country Programs and directly manages a team of professional/technical staff to ensure quality program implementation

Duties

Program strategic planning and development (25% of Time)

• Leads the programmatic management of the country program, including all projects
• Leads the design and development of the country program strategy and operational plans with the program team and ensures their alignment with national priorities
• Supports in the ongoing process of periodic updating and review of progress being made in actualizing the country strategy document
• Leads in-country tracking of the challenges faced by the program and take actions to mitigate risks and develop opportunities by turning any challenge into opportunity and develop initiative and/or project around this challenge
• Ensures the country program team is aligned to national systems and priorities and explore opportunities for program scaling
• Ensures adherence to Right To Play (RTP) program quality standards in program design and implementation
• Ensures donor compliance by the program teams when implementing project activities, to achieve project outcomes
• Coordinates with the program team and ensures the preparation of timely and cost-effective operational plans and budgets, in alignment with the Country Strategic Plan
• Acts as advocacy manager ensuring that the program addresses the needs of the people and is appropriate for the country
• Oversees the development of evidence-based advocacy initiatives around play-based approach as tool to reach country development plans through the collaboration with program team and local stakeholders
• Works with the technical specialists and programme leads to develop project proposals for new projects that aligned with the organization’s strategic targets and country strategic plan

Program quality, innovation, accountability, and reporting (20% of Time)

• Implements and improves upon the existing process of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) and reporting system of RTP
• Supports the Monitoring and Evaluation team on ensuring adaptive learning approach in programs facilitating learning and adapting program design to achieve results
• Oversees timely submission of proper accountabilities of program funds and quality narrative reports in line with donor requirements
• Facilitates country level dialogues, brainstorming and actioning around program quality, innovation, program accountability, partnerships, gender equality, 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 and to create opportunities for scaling
• Conducts regular monitoring visits to project locations

Policy and Advocacy including Child Safeguarding, Gender, and Environment (15% of Time)

• Engagement of networks and coalitions on the countries strategic priorities including Girls Empowerment, Child Rights and Education Campaigns and incorporation of the RTP Child Centred Play
• Based methodology for achievement of outcomes
• Disseminating RTP Safeguarding policy and working with partners on application of safeguarding guidelines in projects including the Gender Policies and Environment Policies
• Participate in technical committees and sector working groups with the view to influence the adoption of the RTP Child Centred Play Based Methodology and identify opportunities for scaling
• Ensures inclusion of relevant provisions in Contracts/MoUs on RTP Safeguarding and Gender Policies

Program financial management (10% of Time)

• Coordinates with finance team to provide financial training for programs staff in effective country program financial management, including procurement, project implementation, compliances, and project financial reporting
• Supports the budget planning processes to ensure that program funds are expended according to procedures and plans
• Collaborates with the program team and develops new initiatives to be integrated into the budget
• Leads in the periodic analyses on program financial performance (BvA), and ensures corrective measures and decisions are made timely to achieve quality program implementation
• Ensures adherence to donor and organizational financial management policies and procedures on program implementation and management

Team management, compliances, and capacity building (10% of Time)

• Communicates the program vision to the program team, leads and directs them toward achieving the program goals and objectives, aligned to the Country Strategic Plan
• Ensures that the program team has a clear understanding of their roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities; supported by clear job descriptions to ensure quality performance
• Conducts program staffing needs assessment, presents recommendations to the CD, and participates in the recruitment of the program team
• Facilitates the capacity building of program team to ensure they have the appropriate skill and capacity levels for their positions and are developing to their full capacity; provides the necessary feedback to the program team and completes their performance appraisals
• Provides direct support to the program team in the form of systems and tools
• Implements policies and procedures that guide and support RTP activities, ensures compliance with RTP code of conduct, gender, and child protection policies
• Develops and strengthens the program team’s understanding of project cycle management

Strategic Programs Partnership, fundraising, representation, and collaboration (15% of Time)

• Facilitates linkages, collaboration, and networking with other INGOs, civil society organizations and government and other relevant institutions to enhance RTP visibility and program activities
• Represents RTP in various platforms and maintains positive relationships with governments and other relevant stakeholders regarding RTP activities
• Identifies and develops new partnerships with other organizations and oversees the management of existing partnerships
• Ensures sustainability and ownership of the program by local, national partners and stakeholders
• Joins the CD in meetings and represents them when required
• Participates in partnership meetings with donors
• Performs other duties as assigned (5% of Time)

Requisites

• Education/Training/Certification:
• Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, development studies or other related disciplines.
• Experience:
• More than 8 years’ experience managing international development programs and liaising with government officials and donors. Proven experience in program cycle management, proposal development, report writing, resource mobilization, networking, partnership-building, and working with NGOs
• Competencies/Personal Attributes:
• Superior organizational skills and ability to multi-task on a constant basis
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• 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
• Conflict management skills and ability to promote a conducive and positive working environment
• Demonstrated professionalism and diplomacy
• Ability to confidently represent oneself and RTP to high level officials
• Strategic planning skills
• People management particularly coaching and influence management
• Knowledge/Skills:
• Strong Microsoft Office and program management tools and procedures
• Budgetary control and financial management, including ability to read and understand financial data and use it to make important decisions
• Project cycle management skills
• Languages:
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Portuguese
• Bonus If You’ll Bring (Not Essential):
• Experience in quality improvement
• Fluency in local languages
• Experience working in child protection, education, and health sector
• Sports and play experience
• Experience in strengthening civil societies
• Coaching background
• Gender mainstreaming and governance background

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

• If you are interested in applying for this position, please apply with your resume and cover letter in English via the application link
• 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