Program Manager at Center For Reproductive Rights

The Role: Reporting to the Head of Program Operations, the Program Manager will support the programmatic and operational functions for Africa program’s evolving portfolio. This role will manage the full range of processes related to program and grant management including project cycle management, annual planning and budgeting, sub grant management and donor compliance, evaluations, and knowledge management. The role will work closely with other members of the Africa team and GLP and will be based in Nairobi.

Primary Responsibilities:

Planning, Evaluation and Learning

Support the Head of Programs Operations (HPO) with annual planning and evaluation processes: Specifically,

• Preparation and review of project plans and budgets
• Supporting Head of Program Operations, Finance Manager, and project teams with quarterly GLP Africa financial reprojection exercise.
• Assist project leads in tracking partner workplans
• Support the Head of Program Operations in monitoring and evaluation processes including institutional monitoring and evaluation initiatives and information management.

Grant Management

• Preparation of partnership agreements, sub grants and consultancy agreements
• Processing invoices and payments to partners and consultants
• Preparation and / or review of quarterly sub-grant reports
• Support the development of high-quality reports through planning and coordination with project leads, finance, development, and other relevant teams.
• Liaise with regional partners to facilitate consultancies, partnership agreements and sub-grants; monitoring and tracking payments; and ensuring timely reporting and contract compliance.
• Support the Head of Program Operations in monitoring program budgets and spending and tracking grant-specific spending, reporting and compliance
• Coordinate project close out process and work with other stakeholders and members to ensure awards are closed out on time.

Coordination and Communication

• Support the coordination and facilitation of award inception meetings with project teams and partners at the start of each award.
• Support regular project and award review processes.
• Support internal communication including through designing and maintaining Africa SharePoint site/page and maintaining and updating team’s databases and mailing lists.
• Ensure proper maintenance of all project related documentation including proposals, budgets, contracts, and reports.
• Work closely with the Senior Operations and Office Manager and Finance team to ensure that project documentation related to procurement and payments are compiled.
• Collaborate with Head of Program Operations and GLP operations team on building new and/or maintaining existing templates, tools and tracking systems for ensuring smooth operations between program, operations and finance teams.
• Support and contribute to the implementation of activities geared towards improvement of operation management in Africa.
• Participate in key cross-departmental and cross-functional teams as representative of the Africa region, as needed.

Qualifications:

• First degree in social sciences or any other relevant degree in relevant field preferred. 
• At least 8+ years of relevant professional experience
• Proven experience in program management specifically; design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience working with a diverse range of donors including government funders and foundations.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to manage project budgets and deadlines.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• Ability to work well independently and within a multi-disciplinary team environment, manage multiple projects and priorities, and working cooperatively to meet internal and external requests.
• Familiar with budgeting and financial planning protocols required in program managements.
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, presentation, and written and verbal communications skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly and simply, coupled with a strong creative sensibility and ability to think strategically.
• Proficiency in use of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook) and other e-based communication channels and tools.
• Live the values of The Centre for Reproductive Rights.
• Good written and verbal communication skills: interpersonal, especially the ability to articulate project guidelines to technical staff and specific audiences and purpose.
• Tenacity and Drive with ability to work with deadlines and adopt to a fast-paced dynamic work environment.
• Individual leadership skills: Able to provide guidance to Technical Managers and project teams; to work independently and interdependently in cross functional work areas.
• Is proactive and has great analytical skills.

Critical Competencies:

• Strategic thinking: Applies big-picture thinking while also focusing on the details of implementation.
• Decisiveness: Consistently makes sound decisions in a timely manner supportive of the Center’s mission, core values, and strategic objectives. Blends vision and judgment.
• Collaboration: Brings a track record of working effectively with various and diverse individuals and groups, and a willingness to actively listen and invite different views and opinions across all levels of the institution to build alignment in support of a common goal.
• Receives and Provides Direct Feedback: Actively gives and requests feedback to and from peers, supervisors and direct reports (if applicable) about work products, behaviors, values, style and approaches with a view on how this impacts self, other individuals and teams.
• Transparency: Consistently applies openness and honesty in communicating decisions and plans to team members.
• Commitment to learn: Applies a growth mentality to their own and their team’s (if applicable) development. Promotes a culture of learning by modeling inquisitiveness and an openness to viewing mistakes as an opportunity to learn and improve.
• Passion for Coaching, and Mentoring Staff: Empowers and motivates employees and creates opportunities for learning, development, and leadership, with a focus on harnessing skills for the future development of team members. (if applicable)
• Accountability: Follows through on each commitment made to individual contributors, teams and partners and proactively informs others of any delays that occur along the way. Holds team members accountable.
• Integrity: Possesses impeccable integrity and personal and professional values that are consistent with the Center’s high standards and mission.
• Empathy: Serves as an empathetic, approachable leader who engenders trust and confidence. (if applicable)
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Demonstrates comfort with ambiguity and calculated risk.