Programme Manager Job in Nairobi, Kenya

Job Title: Country Programme Manager - Kenya

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Department: International

Ref No: 15-ID-020

Description of the unit / department: Trócaire is one of Ireland’s leading agencies working for global justice and promoting human development. 

The International Division is responsible for Trócaire’s development and humanitarian work worldwide.

Background to the Role: The Country Programme Manager is part of the Country Management Team and acts as Assistant Country Director. 

This position is responsible for all aspects of Trócaire’s country programme with a particular emphasis on programme and project quality, and the promotion of a results-based approach.

Reporting to: Country Director

Managing: (Individuals/Team) 3 Programme Officers (POs) & 1 M&E Officer.

Contract Type: Fixed term

Contract Duration: 3 years

Location of Position: Nairobi, Kenya

Purpose of the Role: The Country Programme Manager is responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of a strong country programme, that meets internal and external programme quality demands; that are in line with Trócaire’s policies; that incorporate research and innovation; and that inform policy and advocacy work locally and internationally.

Key Duties & Responsibilities 

Programme Development and Management
  • As part of the Country Management Team contribute to the strategic planning process.
  • Ensure that Trócaire in Kenya has a clearly identified niche in terms of programme interventions and that Trócaire’s added value in terms of what we contribute to partners’ work is clear.
  • Ensure that different thematic areas of work are mutually reinforcing and contribute collectively to the achievement of country-level outcomes.
  • Establish regular discussions with the Programme Team at HQ, the Institutional Funding Unit and the Strategic Impact unit to ensure that they are engaged in, aware of and supporting Programme Development and Management and initiatives in Kenya.
  • Lead POs to identify and develop learning within their programme areas and facilitate the sharing of this learning with partners, across the programme and externally as appropriate.
Programme Design:
  • Provide technical support to POs to ensure that all bodies of work are designed, implemented, monitored and evaluated within the Trócaire Programme Management and Accountability Framework.
  • Lead POs in ensuring that all bodies of work carry out an explicit vulnerability and gender analysis as a core element of programme design and ensure that the issues emerging from this analysis are addressed in the programme strategies and monitoring framework.
Programme Implementation and Monitoring:
  • Ensure that the country programme is being implemented with an M&E framework that clearly articulates the monitoring and evaluation system for the programme.
  • Support M&E Officer to establish a standardised reporting system for all programme partners in Kenya, in line with organisational policy and any institutional funding requirements.
  • Establish a regular programme review process with POs to ensure that the country programme is on track and challenges are dealt with.
  • Assist programme staff to deliver high quality Annual Programme Reviews that provide clear evidence of progress on an annual basis and that can be used for programme management, internal reporting and reporting to donors (e.g. Irish Aid).
  • Ensure the highest possible quality in the preparation of project documentation, including the assessment of project risk, by POs, providing advice and guidance where necessary.
Programme Evaluation:
  • Ensure that all programme work is evaluated according to Trócaire’s evaluation policy and that learning from evaluations is incorporated into new programme design.
  • Promote evaluation methodologies that foster internalisation of learning, and where possible promote elements of peer review and evaluation including with Partners.
  • Together with POs identify relevant thematic working groups, networks and learning forums at national (and possibly international) level in which the POs can participate in order to improve programme and advocacy impact.
Humanitarian Programme Management
  • Support the CD in developing a Humanitarian Preparedness, Management and Response strategy, including preparedness and response plans.
  • Ensure that Kenya has identified Strategic Humanitarian response partners who will lead a response in case of emergency.
  • Ensure that relevant partners have up to date training in Sphere, HAP and the ICRC Code of Conduct, and that all Trócaire Humanitarian responses meet these minimum standards.
Human Resource Management
  • Line Manage 3 POs & 1 M&E Officer, ensuring that all are clear on the change to which they are contributing and on their roles and responsibilities.
  • Support, mentor and coach staff as part of their professional development and to help them to be highly effective in their work.
  • Support the Finance Manager to ensure that the Programmes Finance Officers are supported to work as members of the Programme Team.
  • Establish a team approach to programming, ensuring that POs work together to share learning and to exchange skills.
  • Establish regular team meetings to ensure that Programme staff are familiar with each other’s work and to facilitate rolling out of organisational programme processes and policies within the country team.
Financial and Admin Management
  • As a member of the Country Management Team, carry out regular programme budget reviews.
  • Establish monthly team meetings together with finance and POs to review and monitor expenditure of all programme partners.
  • Establish a system of ongoing communication with the Finance Manager to coordinate the work plan of the Programme Finance Officers and to ensure that the Finance Manager is aware of all relevant issues related to partner and programme finance.
Partner Relationships and Support
  • Ensure that the Partnership Policy guides Trócaire engagement with partners and that all Programme team staff implement the policy.
  • Support the implementation of Partner Capacity Building Programme for all partners using the Trócaire Partner Capacity Building Framework.
  • Develop and implement a country strategy and action plan in relation to the roll out of Trócaire’s Programme Accountability Framework.
Institutional Funding
  • Support the CD (and IFO) to implement and review the Institutional funding Strategy for Kenya.
  • Provide technical support to the RIFO and POs in developing IF proposals and ensure timely reporting for all IF.
  • Ensure that POs provide the necessary support to partners to meet donor reporting and compliance requirements.
  • Ensure effective management of IF, including cost recovery for legitimate core Trócaire costs.
Policy, Advocacy and Communications
  • Support the CD and the POs to pro-actively drive an evidence-based agenda around advocacy at country level (and internationally where appropriate).
  • Support the CD and POs to respond to organisational needs for materials, or to host visits, related to organisational level policy, advocacy, campaigns, development education, fundraising and communications.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
  • Fulfil other reasonable duties and responsibilities, as requested by the Country Director, including deputising for the CD when necessary or appropriate.
The ideal candidate will have:

Qualification
  • Third level qualification in Development, Humanitarian or related field of study.
  • Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area, or significant experience beyond that outlined below.
Experience
  • Significant demonstrable experience in the management of development programmes of substantial scale;
  • Demonstrable experience in the management of humanitarian programmes;
  • In-depth understanding of programming in a partnership model, working in a partnership-based NGO;
  • Sound and up to date knowledge of development concepts, methodologies and techniques, including results based management, rights based approach and participatory methodologies;
  • Demonstrable experience of promoting gender equity through programming and within an international organisation;
  • Demonstrable experience of working to attract institutional donor funding and of managing large and complex donor grants;
  • Solid experience of managing teams in a multi-cultural environment and playing a leadership role in ensuring cohesiveness, inclusion and development of staff at all levels;
  • Experience of working in a faith-based organization;
  • Experience of working with management information systems.
Skills 
  • Excellent leadership skills;
  • Ability to motivate staff to align behind a shared vision and objectives;
  • Demonstrated ability to think strategically and to develop and implement a clear country level strategy in the context of organisational strategy;
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multi-cultural teams of national and international staff well, and to implement performance management effectively;
  • Ability to coach and help others develop in their professional lives;
  • Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills and demonstrated ability in using these with internal stakeholders (Trócaire staff in different locations) and external stakeholders (partners, Church, donors, host government etc.);
  • Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and financial systems on a significant scale, in development and humanitarian contexts;
  • Highly organised, with excellent planning, prioritisation and problem-solving skills;
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills
  • Competent in Microsoft packages (Word, Excel);
  • Fluency (written and spoken) in English;
  • A full driving licence.
Qualities
  • Understanding of, an empathy with, the role of the Catholic Church in development
  • A strong commitment to the work of justice and an empathy with the ethos and work of Trócaire.
Other
  • Ability and willingness to travel within country and internationally including travel to HQ in Ireland.

How to apply:

Closing date for applications is Monday 12th October 2015.

Interested applicants can apply through the Trócaire website -www.trocaire.org/jobsTrócaire is an equal opportunities employer.