Interim Programme Director at The Health Support Organisation (THESO)

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Programme Development

• Provides vision and guidance in overseeing the development of the Country Programme’s multi-year strategic and annual plans in line with THESO’s vision, mission and strategic priorities, including narrative, action plans and budgets.
• Actively contribute to the national and international organisation’s overall strategic planning processes.
• Leads direct reports in the delivery of annual plans, providing strategic direction through prioritizing and organising actions and resources to achieve programme and organisational objectives, as well as providing technical input and advice.
• Provides oversight to ensure that programme and research activities are implemented in line with organisational standards and best practices, and in accordance with internal and external commitments.
• Ensures that THESO is appropriately accountable to programme beneficiaries, the Ministry of Health, other partners, and complies with all guidelines and laws relevant to its sector work and overall operations.
• Manage THESO’s partnership with the Ministry of Health and relationship with other relevant Government departments.
• Builds strategic partnerships and institutional relationships with like-minded actors and organisations which will further THESO’s organisational mandate.
• Oversees the negotiation and management of formal partnership agreements, to ensure all parties meet their commitments and achieve the intended impacts.
• Oversees the management of donor grants and ensures full compliance with donor agreements including the delivery of committed results, appropriate management of financial resources in line with donor regulations, and timely submission of reports.
• For major programme grants from Kenyan-based donors, act as the official channel of communication for donor contacts and negotiate any agreement amendments/addendums and budget revisions.
• Provides oversight and direction to ensure alignment between programmatic work and the organisational M&E framework, routine collection of M&E data in accordance with internal and external requirements.
• Ensure that M&E data is routinely used to assess and improve programme performance, to report on results, and to contribute to overall organizational learning.

Operations Oversight 

• Provides leadership, management and development of national and international staff. Line manages members of the senior management team (SMT), mentoring key position holders, identifying capacity-building needs.

• Responsible for the overall financial management of the Country Programme

• Ensures financial controls, accountability standards, procedures and records are in place and adhered to as per THESO’s financial policies and procedures.

• Oversee the management of the allocation of resources and assets, ensuring that appropriate monitoring and control mechanisms are in place and that these are maintained at all levels.

• Manage the overall country budget within approved spending levels and oversee monthly cash flow to ensure steady and adequate funds for operational and programme expenditure.

• Maintains an overview of potential/current funding gaps and ensures these are incorporated into HQ and globally-initiated proposals/donor asks.

• Ensures adherence by all Kenyan Country Programme staff to THESO organisational policies and procedures.
  

Advocacy and Representation

• Represents THESO to local and national authorities, donors and relevant partners, and as part of media and external visits. Actively participate in national policy forums and working groups, and other relevant forums in Kenya and internationally, in order to further THESO’s vision and mandate. Ensure programmatic work is informed by, and responsive to, national and international developments in policy and practice, and where appropriate, contributes to developments in and changes to policy/practice.

• Contribute to the ongoing development of THESO’s advocacy strategy and agenda, ensuring programmatic alignment to its global objectives and translating these into appropriate action in the Kenyan context. In collaboration with other actors (civil society, government, donor and/or multi-lateral), identify areas of potential influence and ensure that knowledge and evidence generated by THESO’s Country Programme and organisationally is effectively applied at local, national and international levels in order to realize THESO’s vision and bring positive change to its target groups.

Fund Development

• Explore, assess and present in-country and regional funding opportunities relevant to THESO’s strategic priorities and Country Programme plans. Develop and maintain positive relationships with in-country donor agencies.

• Develop an annual both in-country and global development and humanitarian plan and negotiate annual fundraising and cost-recovery targets. Oversee the implementation of the plan; support and direct related fund development in the head office.

• Contribute to the writing and review process of institutional proposals initiated ensuring alignment to plans and identified funding needs.

Organizational Development

• Assess opportunities for organisational development and growth programme and the resources/systems/capacities required to support these potential areas. Identify areas of current work that requires further support, capacity building and/or resources.

• Participate in strategic organisational discussions, processes and working groups to expand current, or develop new, areas of programmatic work at THESO Headquarters. Contribute to organisational policy development processes, contributing Kenyan experience and perspectives.

 Qualifications

• MPH or equivalent post graduate degree in International Health, Development Studies, International Relations or similar discipline. Medical Doctor with a post graduate master in public health is strongly preferred.

• Experienced leader with at least 5-10 years’ senior management experience in multiple countries; at least 3-5 years as the head of a medium to large country programme of an INGO that focuses on health, preferably in Sub Sahara Africa

• Minimum of 3 years’ international experience working in public health, health systems strengthening and health management programming; strong knowledge and experience of the health and nutrition clusters in developing countries

• Extensive experience in high level representation at policy level, managing government relations and working in partnership with MOH’s and other national level stakeholders, with demonstrated success in bringing about evidence-based policy change at the organisational and local/national government levels

• Demonstrated success in country programme strategic planning, programme design and organisational development

• Track record in building, leading and developing high performance teams with a range of backgrounds and expertise

• Proven track record is building a sustainable funding base for programmes including securing medium to large-scale institutional grants

• Extensive experience in budget control, budget management and donor compliance is highly desirable

• Proven experience in monitoring and evaluation of complex programmes; practical understanding of quantitative and qualitative research data collection in support of programme development

• Sound understanding of practical innovation within the health sector and the ability to foster organisational culture that champions this approach

• Ability to identify and analyze opportunities that contribute to strategic aims, and translate them into practical plans and actions

• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal, relationship-building, negotiating communication and diplomatic skills; excellent verbal and written English skills