Senior Programme Manager

Closing Date: 01 December 2024

Ref: 6897

We are looking for a Senior Programme Manager to join our Global Programmes Division to to oversee the quality management of programmes and related awards (grants & contracts) that are part of our Western and Central Africa programmes portfolio.

We are looking for a French speaker with strong experience in project and grant/contract management and of working with institutional donors such as FCDO, UN and multilateral agencies.

About the Team

The Programme Management Team, where the Senior Programme Manager (SPM) role sits, is part of the Programme Partnership department, which objective is to increase the quality of Save the Children's work through the design and delivery of impactful programmes and partnerships, strengthening the Movement, and empowering Country Offices (CO).

The Programme Management Team provides support to Save the Children country programmes in the quality management of programmes funded via Save the Children UK (SCUK). The team provides both a second-line quality assurance function, whilst aiming to strengthen the capacity of in-country teams in the effective management of SCUK's portfolio. The team operates as Save the Children UK's programmatic and geographic experts, providing advice and insight to the wider organisation on country contextual issues and maintaining strong relations with country and regional counterparts as well as our institutional, corporate and philanthropy donors.

About the role

The Senior Programme Manager (SPM) primary focus is to oversee the quality management of programmes and related awards (grants & contracts) that are part of a portfolio covering several COs or donors. The portfolio under the SPM's overall responsibility is a sub-set within our Western and Central Africa team.  

This role involves both direct management of programmes and related awards implemented in specific country programmes or supported by particular corporate & philanthropy donor(s); and providing direction, support and technical advice to Programme Managers (PMs) working in the same portfolio sub-set. The SPM works with wide autonomy and decision-making capacity, both within their directly management portfolio as well as the portfolio sub-set, with regards to portfolio's risks, issues, and workload management.

Being responsible for several COs or corporate & philanthropy donors, the SPM plays a key role, and works very closely with the Programme Management Lead in the effective development and implementation of regional and partnership strategies; in identifying and addressing systemic risks and issues; in improving and creating new internal processes; and in ensuring the capacity building and professional development of PMs

In this role, you will: 

Support to quality & impactful programming in Country Offices

• Develop strong a knowledge of in-country context and current issues, as well as of Save the Children's key programmatic themes and priorities, for the countries or programmes under their directly managed portfolio. Provide input to the Programme Management Lead and influencing SCUK funding strategies for the countries or programmes under their portfolio.
• Act as the point of reference within SCUK for any matter or question regarding the countries or programmes under their responsibility. Liaise with other SCUK teams on relevant areas of concern, particularly fostering close collaboration with staff in P&P, PQI, HD, Media and Communication and PAC.
• Contribute to the growth of COs funding portfolio and facilitate this is in line with their Country Strategic Plans (CSPs), by leading and working closely with the other teams in PP Strengthen and build capacities of CO staff, in coordination with the relevant SCI  teams, particularly around quality programming and funding management and donor compliance.
• Develop a strong knowledge of donor's priorities and interests in the country(ies) under their responsibility. Develop and maintain relevant donor relationships, serving as the focal point for HQ-level donor staff, for the countries or programmes under their directly managed portfolio.

Lead business development, award management and donor compliance assurance

• Monitor and oversight of all SCUK-supported programmes for the countries or programmes under their directly managed portfolio, including identifying related risks and managing issues.
• Grant and contract management, from point of contract negotiation and signature, to quality assurance during implementation, and working with other SCUK departments to support reporting. Ensure awards in the portfolio are compliant with donor requirements and SC quality standards
• Provide support to COs in meeting key programme deliverables, as well as other donor expectations.
• Ensure relevant quality assurance processes are completed so that programmes are running effectively and on time.
• Identify new funding opportunities, as follow-on from existing awards and/or as part of the day-to-day interaction with donors. Provide input in or lead on bid management for SCUK institutional and non-institutional proposals
• Direct representation role with counterparts in SCUK, donor organisations, partner and NGO networks in relation to awards portfolio and pipeline.

Funding portfolio sub-set oversight

• Provide oversight, support and prioritisation for the management of the portfolio sub-set under their responsibility, acting as first point of senior advice and decision-making on complex issues, involving medium to low risk, brought forward by the PMs working in the same portfolio sub-set.
• Monitor risks and issues developments within the portfolio sub-set, making sure that the Programme Management Lead and PP senior management are aware and fully briefed of issues requiring major strategic decisions.
• Approve and sign-off opportunities and documents, as per delegated authority, within the portfolio sub-set.
• Provide input to the Programme Management Lead and ROs in resource mobilisation strategies for COs and donors within the portfolio sub-set, making sure that agreed priorities are implemented by PMs, as well as other teams, working in the portfolio sub-set.
• Monitor KPIs and other data related to programme and funding management, providing analysis to relevant stakeholders.

People management

• Provide effective and timely day-to-day support and manage workload for PMs working in the portfolio sub-set under the SPM's responsibility (‘work management'), as part of matrix management with the Programme Management Lead. Contribute to setting annual objectives and priorities and provide input in annual reviews.

About you

It is important that you have:

• Extensive experience in project and grant/contract management, with knowledge of institutional donor compliance requirements
• Extensive experience working with institutional donors such as FCDO, UN and multilateral agencies (e.g. UNICEF, OCHA, World Bank), particularly on proposal development and report writing.
• Experience in Payment by Result and/or Outcome based contracts an asset.
• Significant experience of working in the international aid sector, including in overseas roles, with practical experience and understanding of related contextual and operational issues. Good working knowledge of one or more countries supported by SCUK
• Strong working knowledge of international development/humanitarian issues.
• Significant financial processes and reporting skills
• Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different organisations, functions, and cultures, often remotely.
• Ability to manage a complex and varied workload, in order to organise and prioritise multiple tasks efficiently, manage reactive and proactive work, and deliver tasks to tight deadlines.
• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills. Ability to identify and implement effective processes for achieving outcomes.
• Proven attention for detail and ability to effectively manage a high volume of data and information.
• Very strong team skills, with the ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships and collaborate both within and outside the team
• Fluent in French & English (Speaking & writing) is essential

Please note: To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.

Ways of Working:

The majority of our roles can be performed remotely in the UK, but there are likely to be times when you will be required to come to your contracted office (up to 2-4 days per month or 6-8 days per quarter).  This will be agreed with your Line Manager and team and is intended to be time spent on collaborating with colleagues and relationship building. 

Please note: travel costs to your contracted office will be at your own expense. 

Flexible Working - We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: 

Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where all employees have a sense of belonging and feel that they can be "Free to Be Me". We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think. 

We are especially interested in people whose childhood experiences - of life on a low income, of migration, of being in a racialised community, of the care system, of being LGBT+ or in an LGBT+ family or living with (or with someone with) a disability - help us to see things we might otherwise miss. Whatever your story is we want to hear it because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world. This is the reason why we are all here.