Regional Manager, Programs (Central & East Africa - CEA) at Search for Common Ground (SFCG)

The Regional Program Team:

• The Programs team oversees the management of restricted grants to drive impact and ensure compliance. It supports in-country Directors and Managers in effectively adhering to Search and donor policies and procedures regarding grant implementation. This function spans from the signing of a grant to its final close-out, encompassing monitoring, reporting, and, when necessary, engagement with donors. The Programs team collaborates closely with other departments, including Finance, Institutional Learning, Strategy Alignment, Program Quality, Communications, and Human Resources. It aims to enhance program implementation capacity within Search and among partner staff in-country.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the regional program team.
• Coordinate start-up and close-out processes.
• Manage the reporting process.
• Manage or support donor communication.
• Monitor and enforce donor compliance.
• Oversee regional projects.

Contributions:

• Manage all internal and external reporting, ensuring high-quality, well-written, timely reports meeting donor and Search requirements. This involves collaborating with program officers and Country Program Managers to provide relevant stakeholders review drafts before submission.
• Liaise with donors and implementing partners regarding program implementation and compliance, serving as a key point of contact for Search.
• Provide technical support and deploy to country offices as needed.
• Orient staff from all departments to donor requirements and ensure compliance across Search departments and country offices.
• Oversee the selection process and due diligence of potential subaward partners.
• Analyze potential risks related to program implementation and propose mitigation strategies.
• Directly oversee compliance of a strategic portfolio of grants, collaborating with regional and country teams.
• Conduct first-level technical reviews of agreements to ensure alignment with internal policies and realistic deliverables.
• Monitor program implementation and budget variance analysis to ensure objectives are met.
• Participate in reflection sessions and facilitate technical assistance as needed.
• Provide program-related capacity building for conflict geography teams.
• Support review of strategic proposals, budgets, and donor agreements.
• Coordinate with DME coordinators and Institutional Learning to incorporate lessons learned into program reports and action plans.
• Support HR in interviewing and evaluating technical aspects of Programs roles.
• Contribute to a community of best practices to standardize tools and inform program implementation.
• Oversee project amendments and budget realignment in collaboration with program managers.
• Support the development of country-specific OKRs and conflict geography strategy iteration.
• Uphold organizational values in all activities.

Competency Behavior Indicators (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities):

• Strategic leadership and vision.
• Relationship building with stakeholders.
• Adaptability and response to changing circumstances.
• Articulation of program objectives.
• Input for global standards and multicultural perspective.
• Ethical decision-making and problem-solving.
• Risk assessment and opportunity identification.
• Quality assurance and integrity checks.
• Proficiency in project management tools and technology.
• Setting and communicating performance standards.
• Anticipation and planning.
• Cost-benefit analysis and decision-making.
• Coaching and mentoring.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree (BS/BA) with a minimum of nine years of experience.