View Vacancy - Programme Manager (UKR494)

The British Embassy in Kyiv is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to recruit an experienced Projects and Programmes Manager, to develop and maintain high quality standards and practices across a wide range of UK-funded programmes. This is a crucial role in the Embassy’s Programme Team and the wider Embassy. The Programme Manager’s initial focus will be to help build a sustainable programme management mechanism and set of standards for implementers in Ukraine, based on the central guidance and requirements of the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) and the Good Governance Fund (GGF is a sub-set of CSSF). This will include developing practical and useable guidance for colleagues, implementers and other stakeholders and providing advice on best practice on an on-going basis. The job requires using judgement, experience and learning lessons, to ensure the programme cycle is managed effectively; and balancing accountability principles and other standards with ensuring administration is proportionate and the focus is on effective project delivery and strategic impact. The programme manager will be a principal source of guidance and quality assurance on programme management for all project implementers, both internal and external.   There will be considerable scope for developing roles and responsibilities further, as outlined below.

This position will support the Head of Programmes in her role of providing strategic oversight of a portfolio of over £26m, consisting of projects of various sizes and covering governance and political development, conflict issues and supporting anti-corruption. These are implemented by NGOs, IFIs, multilateral organisations, consultants and experts, contracting organisations and directly by parts of the UK Government or agencies. The principle funding mechanisms are the UK’s Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) and Good Governance Fund (GGF).

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Programme cycle management – ensuring a wide network of colleagues and implementers are confident in timely planning and reporting.   Developing and applying a detailed understanding of UK government / CSSF guidance (using training and on the job opportunities). Maintaining strong working relationships with stakeholders in London to agree timelines and to pre-empt their questions and requests and to provide appropriate feedback on requirements, processes and systems;
• Building capacity within the team and network in programme management standards, defining and explaining those standards for others as required. Adapting current processes where required e.g. streamlining and simplifying them to maintain the annual programme cycle timeframes and pressures, whilst ensuring principles of transparency and accountability are upheld. Leading change within the programme team/implementer network, to meet requirements set by London. Contributing the Embassy’s experience to the wider regional network and leads in London;
• Lead on Monitoring and Evaluation frameworks, including the Ukraine-wide Results Framework, and impact reporting. Support to the programme’s strategic planning. Leading role on risk management;
• Managing a portfolio of projects and providing quality assurance of project deliverables, including value for money, budgets, impact etc and appropriately escalating risks and challenges as required and in a timely manner;
• Ensuring the programme fulfils its obligations under the UK Gender Act 2015, gender mainstreaming. Building own and colleagues’ capacity as required;
• Supporting thematic leads in the team, or London-based advisers, as required and according to own expertise and background, for example conducting research and assessments or exploring local networks within civil society/government to find relevant contacts;
• Supporting or leading on the organisation of events, roundtables, workshops, hosting visitors (including senior) from London. Providing support to the wider team, including administrative (e.g. translation, arranging meetings and logistics, making bookings), as required;
• Other responsibilities according to need (e.g. ad hoc translations, assisting on visits and functions, administrative support) and the candidate’s experience (e.g. there may be a future requirement for line management of other staff).

• A high standard of English language, both written and oral, is an essential requirement for this role. Ukrainian and Russian are desirable;
• Experience of managing project and programme cycles; expertise in project management, programme management, managing relationships with implementers;
• Understanding of the principles of accountability and ability to adapt and streamline processes appropriately;
• Experience of monitoring and evaluation methodologies;
• A pro-active, continuous learning and improvement approach, both to self-learning and development, and taking a lessons learning approach to programme management; ability to build others’ capacity in project/programme management;
• Ability to manage a wide network of diverse stakeholders effectively to deliver strong programme management;
• Ability to manage workload and to deliver at pace whilst maintaining quality. A sense of responsibility, leadership and role modelling for own area or work;Ability to work with finances and budgets (this position will not entail finance management but may entail some oversight of budgets, particularly of projects);
• Ability to mainstream cross-cutting issues such as gender and human rights;A relevant background e.g. working with international NGOs, organisations, governments or other donors.