Senior Programme Manager – Stabilisation and Gender HEO at British High Commission Nairobi

Main purpose of job:

• This is an exciting opportunity to work on the UK’s flagship Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) Programme in Somalia. The Senior Programme Manager (SPM) will oversee the successful management of programmes in the Stabilisation and GESI (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion) team (part of the Somalia Security, Stability and Justice Team (SSJ)). 
• The SPM will manage the delivery of a portfolio of stabilisation and GESI projects within the Somalia CSSF Programme. The SPM will utilise excellent programme and project management (PPM) skills to manage all aspects of the programme cycle, including financial management (monitoring project expenditure and ensuring VFM), reporting, and support effective monitoring, evaluation and learning to measure impact against outputs/outcomes. 
• The SPM’s role has a strong emphasis on delivery and contract management for the programmes. The role will require excellent communication skills to build effective working relationships with project implementing partners and the wider FCDO Somalia network in Nairobi and Mogadishu. The SPM will liaise with a wide range of external stakeholders including international donor community and international partners. 
• The role will require travel to Mogadishu to engage with implementing partners, British Embassy Mogadishu (BEM) colleagues, and the international and donor community.

Roles and responsibilities:

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

Programme Management:

• Oversee programme delivery of Stabilisation and GESI cluster portfolio (currently Women to Women Security project and the Early Recovery Initiative (ERI). Oversight includes the effective delivery of all programmes, and financial and risk management.
• Programme manage the Women to Women Security Project (W2WS) - work with implementing partners ensure effective implementation. Develop new strands of programme activity in collaboration with policy colleagues on stabilisation and women, peace and security.
• Coordinate robust monitoring, evaluation and learning for all projects delivered under the Stabilisation and GESI team working with the CSSF MEL team and commercial MEL partners.
• Support both the Stabilisation and GESI lead in Nairobi and the Stabilisation Adviser in British Embassy Mogadishu, to ensure programme and project outcomes are aligned with the Somalia Country Plan. Line manage 1 x Programme Manager
• Present financial and narrative reporting to the Local Strategy Board and CSSF system as needed. Ensure financial oversight and value for money of programmes and support the CSSF Finance Officer and Programme Manager to deliver in their roles.
• Lead on procurement for the team, in liaison with commercial procurement group (CPG), implementers, subject matter experts (SMEs) and stakeholders to ensure guidelines are adhered to and contracts/MOUs are set up in a timely manner.
• Ensure a robust schedule of reporting is in place and outputs/outcomes in the results framework are up to date. This includes drafting internal programme progress reports, narratives, board discussion papers and minutes from meetings.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure): 

• The job holder will be responsible for overseeing the management of the ERI project (£3m 2023/24) and the Women to Women project (£1.5m 2023/24).

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

•     Substantial experience of project and/or programme management, with a strong background on manging risk, monitoring results, gender and conflict sensitivity, as well as financial and budget management skills (minimum 5 years experience)
•     Experience of delivering projects and programmes in fragile and conflict settings in East Africa
•     An undergraduate degree in a relevant field (development studies, gender and human rights and conflict/security studies.   
•     Fluent in English

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

•     Policy experience on gender, social, inclusion, conflict and fragility 
•     Experience of working with a range of implementing partners (UN, Commercial Implementing Partners, NGOs).

Required behaviours  

• Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Communicating and Influencing