Programme Manager, Young Lives

Summary
Job title Programme Manager

Division Social Sciences

Department Oxford Department of International Development

Location Queen Elizabeth House, 3 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TB

Grade and salary Grade 8: £45,585-54-395 (with a discretionary range up to £59,421)

Hours Full time

Contract type Fixed term until 31st December 2026, extension subject to funding

Reporting to Director

PLEASE APPLY FOR THE JOB ON THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD WEBSITE AND WE WILL NOT CONSIDER ANY AGENCIES.

The role

The role is a member of the Senior Leadership Team with responsibility for programme management, overseeing all aspects of the governance and operational management of the Young Lives programme, including delivery of the multimillion portfolio of grants including the £9.4m FCDO funded ‘Young Lives at Work’ project in addition to a growing portfolio of complementary research grants. To ensure successful delivery of this complex and high-profile research programme, the post-holder will demonstrate excellent leadership skills and expertise in all aspects of programmatic and operational management, working with significant independent responsibility. They will work closely with the Young Lives Director, Senior Leadership Team and Country Directors (in four study countries) to provide strategic and operational leadership of the programme and will provide support and expert advice on external representation and fundraising, including representing Young Lives to external audiences and funders (notably FCDO).

The post-holder will ensure a cutting-edge approach to monitoring, evaluation and learning across the programme; grip financial management and operational delivery; facilitate the country leads in delivery of their programmes and plans; identify issues and risks and constructively and rapidly problem solve to overcome or mitigate them; and develop and maintain excellent stakeholder relationships with funders and partners.

The post-holder will lead the Programme Management team of staff and multiple consultants, with direct line management responsibility for at least three staff members. As part of the Senior Leadership Team, they will also share responsibility for overseeing the culture and impact of the team and wider partnership, helping to get the best individually and collectively from a variety of partners with diverse personal and professional backgrounds.

As a senior professional in the Oxford Department of International Development, the post-holder will also be expected to operate in line with the overall mission and values and take every opportunity for collaboration with professional services and other research centres. The successful candidate will be educated to graduate level with a mission focused, flexible, can-do approach to work, self-motivation, resilience and will proactively seek to drive improvement and adaptation within the team.

Selection criteria

Essential selection criteria

· First degree, ideally with a professional qualification (e.g. MBA, DMS or Qualified Accountant)

· Proven experience of leading and managing a large team and ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of partner institutions, including in low and middle income countries

· Extensive programme management experience, including large scale funding proposals, financial management and project reporting

· Excellent analytical skills and the ability to assimilate and process information on a wide range of issues as well as the ability to think strategically and solve complex problems

· The ability to influence at all levels both internally and externally with experience of conducting representation and negotiations at a senior level

· Excellent time management and organisational skills; experience of working under pressure to competing deadlines and adapt to challenges quickly

· Excellent written and oral communication skills, in particular explaining technical and financial information to non-technical audiences and ability to produce user friendly financial and narrative reports

· Self-motivated, with an enthusiastic and energetic approach to leading a multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural team and ability to work with minimal supervision; ability to employ tact and discretion in building a strong team.

Desirable selection criteria

· Programme management experience of large FCDO funded programmes, including developing logframes, theories of change and risk registers.

· Knowledge of University of Oxford administration and financial policies and processes

· Willingness to undertake overseas travel

Please apply for the job on the University of Oxford website.