Programme Manager – Sierra Leone and Liberia

Contract: 2 Years Fixed

Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone

Job Profile

To lead the programmatic and partnership aspects of CAFOD’s involvement in Sierra Leone and Liberia, in line with the agreed programme strategy. CAFOD’s programme work is underpinned by an Integral Ecology Programme Model, where Programme Strategies are developed with partners to focus on addressing the causes and symptoms of poverty, inequality and environmental degradation.

The scope of the post falls into the following functions:

• Lead and manage the programme[1] portfolio
• Overseeing effective relationships with partners
• Financial and funding management
• Internal and external representation
• Systems and compliance
• Security management

The post-holder will be responsible for building effective working relationships with peers in the International Programmes Group. This role will also need to work closely with other teams across CAFOD, including; Programme Quality and Capacity Strengthening Team, Emergency Response and Support Team, Advocacy, Communications & Education Group, and Finance teams.

The post holder will be expected to undertake frequent travel (up to 12 weeks per year) connected with the management of the programme portfolio and the achievement of strategic objectives, sometimes at short notice and to areas of potential risk. The post holder could also be expected to deputise for the Country Representative in the event of absence.

Key Responsibilities

Lead, manage and review the programme portfolio:

• In line with the overall direction set by the Sierra Leone and Liberia programme strategy and the Country Representative, cocreate CAFOD-supported programmes and projects with partners; supporting them in their design and creation, ensuring that they meet agreed programme quality standards and donor/contractual obligations and ensuring monitoring, evaluation and learning;
• Take the lead in the design and the implementation of integrated projects in line with the Sierra Leone and Liberia programme strategy prioritising resilient livelihoods, environmental stewardship, social and financial inclusion, governance and emergency preparedness, prevention and response
• Take a lead in supporting innovation, new concepts, thematic areas and approaches in line with Sierra Leone and Liberia programme strategy
• Responsible for sign off, management and successful delivery of assigned programme portfolio
• Ensure integration across the programmes portfolio, ensuring that learning is captured and shared across the wider organisation and between partners, and informs current and future decision making;
• Co-ordinate the development of new thematic areas of work in line with Sierra Leone and Liberia programme strategy and agreed quality standards (including programme cycle management) and donor contract guidelines and obligations;
• Ensure that cross-cutting themes (safety, access, dignity, inclusion, gender, downwards accountability, safeguarding, etc.) are effectively managed across the programme, working with relevant staff across CAFOD and partners to achieve this.
• Ensure regular monitoring of projects in both Sierra Leone and Liberia and prioritise trips to provide support to programmes in Liberia

Overseeing effective relationships with partners:

• Provide guidance and support to Programme Officers and other members of the Programmes team, to develop, nurture, manage and maintain effective relationships with partners in line with CAFOD partnership policy and standards. In some cases (e.g. strategic partners), the post-holder can take a more active role in developing those relationships.

Financial and funding management:

• Manage the programme and costs budget and cash flow (implementing manager responsibility), monitoring income and expenditure, and ensuring that the latter is done in compliance with agreed parameters and policy;
• Identify opportunities for co-financing from institutional donors, and provide leadership in securing and managing such funds, working closely with the Country Representative and the Business Development Lead and Major Gifts teams;
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting on programme work;
• Ensure that programmes/projects comply with CAFOD’s financial management standards, including managing financial risks.

Internal and external representation:

• In co-ordination with the Country Representative and the Programmes team develop, nurture and sustain relationships and effective communications with relevant stakeholders, seeking opportunities for funding where appropriate.
• Effectively communicate with other teams within CAFOD to ensure that the programmes are well understood, and that information is available for fundraising and other communications, including publications, media briefings, development education, etc. This may involve participating in communities of practice, working groups, supporter events, etc. as agreed with the Country Representative.

Systems and compliance:

• Overseeing the effective use of CAFOD’s systems to share programme knowledge and inform decision making. This includes overseeing compliance with agreements, regulations and requirements attached to our work.
• Ensuring that all projects are compliant with CAFOD systems including WebPromise project management requirements such as reviews and closures
• Working with Programme Officers to ensure that partners’ profiles are up to date

Security management:

• Supporting the Country Representative in delivering effective security management. This includes among others, acting as security manager when delegatd by the Country Representative;
• Support the development of security risk mappings, country security plans; standard operating procedures; contingency plans (e.g. medical evacuation, relocation/evacuation and hibernation), etc.

People Management:

• The Programme Manager will lead, manage and support direct reports by championing our purpose and values through building a strong and safe working relationship, setting SMART objectives and conducting performance reviews, nurturing staff career development
• Ensure newly recruited staff under their direct line management are successfully inducted
• Encourage collaborative ways of working and aiding staff to be adaptable to change whilst engaging with the external and internal context.

Accountability

The post holder will be responsible for the line management of:

• Programme Officer- Financial Inclusion (Sierra Leone)
• Programme Officer- Resilient Livelihoods and Governance (Sierra Leone)
• Programme officer- Youth Livelihoods (Liberia)
• Any other programme staff as the programme needs may dictate

Safeguarding

All CAFOD staff share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.

Your role is responsible for ensuring that both you and your staff understand and implement minimums on programme quality into your work (related to safety, accessibility, dignity and inclusion) and that all safeguarding standards are upheld and reported on effectively.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Understanding our context

A Understanding Catholic identity;

B Understanding CAFOD: Understand CAFOD ethos and ways of working (the partnership) model

C Understanding international development: Understanding and experience of international development and programme management and quality standards.

Working together

D Managing ourselves

E Working with others: Be a team player

F Communicating: Be an effective communicator

G Looking outwards; Understanding and first-hand experience of effective and values-based partnership work between northern and southern organisations and communities;

Making change happen

H Managing resources; Makes effective use of ICT, particularly for distance communication

I Achieving results: Must be motivated to achieve results within the set objectives and budgets

J Managing our performance; Able to manage competing work demands; Able to manage a team of staff including staff at a distance

K Taking the lead; Sets an example of what can be achieved

Job-specific competencies

• Understanding and first-hand experience of institutional funding work/projects, priorities, trends, proposal development and working with donor conditions
• Experience using programme cycle management tools effectively to deliver work within an agreed programme framework, including programme integration;
• Able and committed to facilitate or support the development of partners’ capacities.
• Financial management understanding and experience;
• Languages (Fluency in spoken and written English is a must).
• Previous work experience in Sierra Leone and/or Liberia.

Desirable Criteria

• Understanding of key Sierra Leone, Liberia and sub-regional humanitarian trends
• Previous experience on humanitarian work, preferably with an international organisation.
• Skills in local Sierra Leone or Liberia languages beneficial.

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect. CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse. CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount. If offered the position, you will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Behaviour as an appendix to your contract of employment and agree to conduct yourself in accordance with the provisions of these documents. This post has responsibility for people who during the exercise of their duties might be in contact with young people and vulnerable adults, you therefore be subject to specific checks related to safeguarding issues in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, and appropriate screening checks can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. CAFOD also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By applying, the job applicant confirms their understanding of, and consent to, these recruitment procedures.

Please click here for a full list of CAFOD’s Staff Benefits

Come and join us and help make a real difference in the lives of the world’s poorest communities.

CAFOD is an equal opportunities employer. Recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.