Portfolio Director, Program Management Unit ESARO at FHI360 NGO

Job Summary:

• As a senior leader within the organization, works collaboratively with the Regional Director and other Portfolio Directors to provide oversight in the development and implementation of the organization’s strategic plan in the East and Southern Africa region. Works across the region to ensure and contributes to the successful implementation of assigned countries and regional portfolios, including operational and financial performance and project results, generating funding to sustain the organization and fulfill its mission, and compliance with appropriate regulations and policies. Provides operations oversight and is a primary company representative across multiple sectors for a specified geography. Liaises as appropriate with government agencies, country missions, local government(s), international organizations, headquarters and other funders and stakeholders.  Contributes to organization’s business and resource development efforts in the specified geography/countries and ensures or leverages landscape scoping and analysis and strategic planning. Provides program and project management services including mentoring, project management best practices, tools, and templates. Organizes cross functional and inter-regional activities ensuring efficacy of the project(s)/programmatic objectives. Partners with Operations Management to resolve issues and ensure cross-functional project process consistency. May function as a Project Director on large complex multi-sector projects; Builds the skills and capabilities of project staff managing projects within the portfolio.
• This position can be based in any country within East or South Africa

Key Responsibilities:

• Provides strategic leadership and oversight for organizational operations in the regional portfolio.
• Ensures quality and oversees the region’s portfolios and provides operational support to all FHI 360 projects in assigned countries.
• Provides operational support for global or regional projects in collaboration with Business Units (BUs).
• Ensures operational oversight and quality assurance for project(s) in which designated as Project Director and/or COP or coordinates with primary technical supervisor within the appropriate sector(s) to ensure technical oversight and support. 
• Serves as the operations supervisor for FHI 360 project leads in countries assigned ensuring projects are cost efficient; liaises with assigned technical supervisors to provide ongoing supervision and performance assessments for project leads. 
• Contributes in developing revenue/business development targets, including entering new market segments and ensuring country/regional plans will achieve them.
• Works with Country Directors/Leads to develop operational/ G&A budgets that support the organizations goals for the region.
• Works with various organizational groups to manage and mitigate organizational risk and ensure compliance with appropriate regulations and policies.
• Provides high level operational support to global or regional projects with systems, skills, and resources to ensure the quality of the region’s portfolio.
• Monitors regional landscape analyses, strategic plans, and oversees the approval of proposals, protocols, reports and budgets to achieve strategic programmatic goals.
• Accountable for hitting assigned organizational approved targets.
• Acts as a communication conduit for portfolio-related project status, actions, decisions, risks and issues and schedules for strategic initiatives.
• Develops and delivers action-oriented portfolio scorecards, metrics, governance, and reporting to support executive decision making.
• Fosters innovation and drives adoption of leading practices and provides expertise to Project Managers, Project Directors, Director, Programs and Functional Managers and/or business partners related to the project management function, processes and/or tools.
• Supports business-oriented project management aiding in execution and decision support.
• Establishes, serves and maintains partnerships with internal and external stakeholder on project matters.
• Serves on various committees and teams both internal and external to the organization.
• Evaluates regional staffing, budgets, training and other programmatic needs and activities and works with team to ensure harmonized enterprise services platform for the regional office.
• Works with Enterprise Services to ensure harmonized enterprise services platforms for the regional and country offices.
• Facilitates project start-up and close-out for projects in the region.
• Provides leadership in emergency situations for countries within the region, as required/requested.
• Provides reporting and governance of the portfolio financial health.
• Supports performance management and professional development of direct reports, including ongoing feedback, coaching, and career support.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong business acumen with the keenness and quickness to understand and deal with a "business situation" (risks and opportunities) that leads to a good outcome designed to improve financial performance and leadership development.
• Comprehensive knowledge of theories, concepts, and practices with project management, process development and execution.
• Knowledge of non-profit funding streams, including government and philanthropic.
• Skilled in managing people, events and diverse cultures and must be proficient in a specific area of expertise.
• Strong time-management, multi- tasking and organizational skills.
• Strong negotiator and collaborator who strengthens business relationships.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong consultative and negotiation skills.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to plan, organize, and manage resources for successful completion of projects.
• Excellent and demonstrated public relations, policy development, project management and diplomacy skills required.
• Adaptable to new approaches to doing business.
• Ability to motivate, influence and collaborate with others across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to build positive local working relationships with local communities, district
• government officials, and donor representatives.
• Ability to take initiative and focus on results.
• Ability to learn new skills and systems, with an entrepreneurial work ethic.
• Superior policy development and project management skills required.
• Experienced at motivating, influencing and collaborating with others.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity in managing diverse issues.
• Ability to learn new skills and systems, with an entrepreneurial work ethic.

Problem Solving & Impact:

• High-level analytical skills to identify appropriate courses of action.
• Identifies potential risks to portfolio execution and recommends corrective actions.
• Identifies and incorporates constraints into the portfolio process and recommends solutions.
• Decisions and actions have a significant impact on management and division operations.
• Problems encountered are complex and highly varied.
• Exercises judgment to meet business strategies and develops objectives that align with organizational goals.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree or its International Equivalent in Civil Society, Communication and Social Marketing, Economic Development, Education, the Environment, Gender, Health, Nutrition, Research, Technology and Youth or a Related Fields.
• Typically requires a minimum of 15+ years of relevant experience with project management principles and practices (including 10+ years of corporate strategic leadership, strong business acumen and/or line management experience).
• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing complex projects that are strategic in nature and national/international in scope.
• Proficient with applicable rules, regulations, and policies associated with international development and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
• Demonstrated experience in sector specific multi-sector project management and implementation.
• Experience operating in challenging and insecure environments.
• Ability to communicate in French is an advantage.
• Project Management (PM) Certification preferred.
• Demonstrated strategic planning, staff development and capacity building experience.

Typical Physical Demands:

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift/move up to 5 lbs.

Technology to be Used:

• Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.

Travel Requirements:

• 10% - 25%