View Vacancy - Programme Manager – Green Growth Team HEO (04/23 HRE)
The British Embassy in Harare is looking for a dynamic and capable Programme Manager to lead the administration and financial management of programmes / projects across the development portfolio of the Green Growth Team. This team delivers several interventions spanning economic development, humanitarian/resilience, private sector development and climate and nature thematic areas. Currently the team has four programmes with various partners and plans to develop new programming over the coming year.
The Programme Manager will support the management of the team’s portfolio working closely with the Team Leader, Senior Responsible Owners (SROs), and Technical Advisers. The Programme Manager will work with support from a Programme Assistant. The job holder will be expected to comply with the FCDO Programme Operating Framework (PROF) and standards and be able to seek advice/guidance on more complex programme management issues where necessary.
Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:
- Team Portfolio Management: Working with the Team Leader and SROs, the Programme Manager will ensure strong financial management of the team’s programme portfolio ensuring full compliance with key FCDO requirements and standards, including but not limited to: UK legislation; transparency; risk management; audit and performance milestones; Annual Reviews and Project Completion Reviews (PCRs). The programme Manager is expected to develop a strong understanding of PROF rules and stay up to date with latest changes and be able to advise the team on relevant programme delivery issues connected to PROF Rules and Guidelines, including on aid instruments, FCDO’s commercial processes and tools.
- Design Phase: Contributes to the development of business case documents for new programmes, providing leadership in developing the financial, management and commercial cases. The Programme Manager is expected to work closely with the commercial delivery manager and financial experts as required; he/she will liaise with technical advisers to ensure strategic and appraisal cases are developed and lead routine due diligence assessments (DDAs) where required. The Programme Manager contributes to programme risk analysis, leads development of project delivery plans, ensures FCDO programme and financial systems (HERA and AMP) are up to date and have correct project data.
- Mobilisation Phase: The Programme Manager will lead financial, economic, and commercial assessment of programmes to ensure good value for money (VFM). The Programme Manager will work with the SROs to draft programme partner contracts and agreements. He/she will ensure key partner/supplier deliverables are clear and reflected on the project delivery plan. The Programme Manager will ensure asset registers are established and up to date. He/she will ensure programme budgets and in-year forecasts are loaded onto FCDO financial systems.
- Implementation Phase: Specific responsibilities include, but are not restricted to:
- Delivery Plan: Maintain the project delivery plan and use it to prompt project team actions in good time.
- Risk Management: Will contribute to development of programme risk management and ensure risk mitigations are in place and updated in the risk registers. The Programme Manager will ensure programme risk registers are updated, proactively highlighting and escalating concerns and risks with increasing trends to the SRO or senior leadership. He/she will work closely with delivery partners to develop a delivery chain map showing risks at each stage of funds flow. The Programme Manager will lead and follow up on due diligence issues of concern and ensure recommendations are implemented.
- Financial Management: Proactively manage financial forecasts, working closely with spending partners, Advisers and SROs to create realistic and up to date spending forecasts over the financial year, and accurate budget profiling for outer years. The Programme Manager will ensure these are regularly updated in HERA. He/she will provide accurate financial information to teams and business unit as required. The Programme Manager will review partner/supplier financial reports checking for variances and ensure programmes are being delivered at good VFM. He/she will manage audit requirements, ensuring reports and/or annual audited statements are received, reviewed and findings pro-actively followed up. The Programme Manager will ensure all requisitions, purchase orders and receipts/payment of invoices meet FCDO’s financial rules and are linked to agreed project milestones and/or partner or supplier reporting obligations.
- Partner & Supplier Management: Will develop and maintain strong relationships with partners and suppliers, being the recognised first point of contact on programme management issues (financial, commercial, general project management) and refers technical and policy issues to Advisers/SROs appropriately. The Programme Manager will organise partner/supplier meetings or calls as necessary, and review partner/supplier reporting, identifying areas of concern and recommend remedial actions where required.
- Project Monitoring: Will contribute to programme Annual Reviews/Project Completion Reviews including on drafting Terms of Reference (ToRs) and final reports. He/she will organise and participate in field monitoring visits and spot checks and ensure findings are used to update project Delivery Plans and risk registers.
- Closure Phase: In line with FCDO rules the Programme Manager will manage submission of Project Completion Review within the prescribed time, consulting with Advisers and other team members. He/she will ensure that all outstanding payments are made, and closure actions taken within prescribed period set down in FCDO rules.
Other responsibilities could include contributing to drafting programme summaries/briefs, ministerial submissions. The Programme Manager is expected to understand some fundamental technical content of programmes they work on and collaborates effectively with Advisers on technical issues. He/she may have a line management responsibility. The Programme Manager will be expected to support project management learning and development within team, and across business unit. He/she may be assigned additional corporate responsibilities for business unit according to capability and workload considerations.
The above list is not exhaustive. The Programme Manger may be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs.
Resources managed (staff and expenditure):
- As a Programme Manager the individual will be responsible for supporting a number of programmes/projects, working with the Lead Adviser/s, programme assistant and Senior Responsible Owners.
- The individual is expected to take on line management responsibilities during the course of the role. Additionally, they may be assigned additional corporate responsibilities for team and/or business unit according to capability and workload considerations.
Language requirements: Language: English, Level of language required: Fluent
Ways of working:
• Models inclusive and consultative behaviours to promote diversity of views and inclusion
• Communicates confidently and effectively, both orally and in writing
• Strong team player
• Excellent networking skills
• Flexibility to take on new priorities
Skills and experience expected: Will meet, or will demonstrate the potential to meet quickly the programme delivery competence proficiencies identified for a Programme Manager. Can coach and mentor staff towards working level proficiencies in programme financial management; risk management, project management and commercial best practice.
Essential on arrival:
- Demonstrated ability to deliver high quality programme management and oversight of finances, results, risks.
- Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability to changing circumstances.
- Ability to represent and pursue programme and policy objectives by working collaboratively with external partners (government, private sector and other donors).
- Experience working in a complex environment would be an advantage.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Essential qualifications:
- Minimum of a Masters degree in development studies , programme management, business management or similar field.
- At least 5 years' experience in programme management and financial management. Strong Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint skills.
- Ability to represent your organisation professionally. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision but also a great team player.
- Resilience and a commitment to continuous improvement of self and service.
- Line management experience.
Learning and development opportunities:
The successful incumbent will be expected to undertake training related to FCDO’s Programme Operating Framework (PROF) and Government Commercial College – Contract Management Foundation level. Additional training will be provided to support the job holder’s learning and development needs, in discussion with their Line Manager.
- Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
- Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
- The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
- Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Pretoria are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in South Africa.
- All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit.
- The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to:
- Obtain the relevant permit
- Pay fees for the permit
- Make arrangements to relocate
- Meet the costs to relocate
- The British High Commission do not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so.
- Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
- Information about the Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles. Please note: AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
- Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
- Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate”.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
