View Vacancy - Programme Manager - East Africa Prosperity Fund (14/16 NR)
Main purpose of the job:
To oversee development of a multi-year programme to tackle the constraints to growth in East Africa.
The UK government is setting up a new prosperity fund, £1.3 billion globally to help unlock economic growth. Growth with our African partners is good for the trade relationship and therefore good for the UK. We are setting up a programme to deliver targeted projects across the region to help unlock that economic growth.You will be involved at the start of the programme and so this is an opportunity to shape its initial design and development whilst ensuring that current projects are delivered to time, scope and budget. Once the programme is up and running we expect this role to be constantly evaluating and shaping it to deliver maximum impact. This is a one year renewable contract.
Roles and Responsibility:
- Leading the overarching design, coordination and delivery of the programme. This will include ensuring coherence across the region and working closely with our embassies and high commissions to assess what types of interventions will have the greatest impact in both the polticial and economic spheres.
- Developing specific knowledge to play a key role in the direction and delivery of programmes in sectors that constrain growth locally but are also areas of UK strength.
- Deploying excellent programme management skills, including on risk management, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, financial management, procurement, HR planning, internal and external communications. Work closely with the Prosperity Fund Board and Secretariat to ensure best practice is implemented across all projects.
- Overseeing relationships with implementing partners. This will include pre-empting any risks and ensuring that projects are delivering their stated intentions.
- Liaison with other UK government departments to ensure that the programme achieves the maximum impact for all parts of government. This will include working with UK Trade and Investment to identify potential commercial opportunities arisingas part of the programme.
Resources managed :
- Management of 1 project officer who will be responsible for delivering the projects that make up your programme.
- Financial responsibility for delivery of the overall programme.
What makes this a great job
- This role offers the chance to be involved with a small programme that can make a difference across the region and help East Africa realise some of it’s economic potential. The role will be a stretching one, with the opportunity to take a strategic view across the region with the potential for travel to meet implementers and evaluate programme
What sort of person will be suitable for this role:
You must be a dynamic and competent programme manager. Relevant experience within the development sector is welcomed (ideally three years) but our priority is to find individuals with great skills.
An excellent command of written and spoken English is essential as is the ability to present complex ideas clearly in briefings and meetings. The ability to step back and see the bigger picture is important and you should be proactive and able to identify creative solutions to ensure efficient delivery of projects in a fast moving and challenging environment.The successful candidate should be a team player with strong interpersonal and communications skills with an ability to build a wide range of complex and productive working relationships. The job holder should be willing to work to frequent and tight deadlines while maintaining a high standard of work. The role requires flexibility and a willingness to adapt to new governance structures and operational requirement and a willingness to travel.
Essential on arrival:
- Experience of delivering multi-year programmes and programme management. Any professional qualifications welcomed.
- Ability to present detailed technical information in a way that is accessible; particular to senior members of the organisation
- Budget management experience.
- Project/programme management qualifications (e.g. APMP or PRINCE II)
- Knowledge of either the infrastructure, power or urbanisation sectors within Southern Africa would be an advantage.
- Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation methodologies.
- Excellent IT skills (advanced skills in Excel and experience of accounting software would also be desirable)
- The BHC Nairobi operates and encourages flexible-working. The flexi-system does not alter the number of hours that staff are asked to work but simply puts in place a system for those who wish to work flexibly, to balance their working hours with their private lives
- Members of staff are expected to be available for work between the core hours of 0830hours to 1200hours and 1400hours to 1500hours on Monday to Thursday (both days inclusive) and 0830hours to 1300hours on Friday.
- The cycle for flexible working is four weeks, at the end of which members of staff may carry forward a maximum of 14 hours 30 minutes distributed over two working days on the basis of Seven hours Fifteen minutes (7 hours 15 minutes) for each working day.
- All applicants must be legally able to work in Kenya with the correct visa/status or work permit.
- Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Nairobi are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Kenya.
- Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
- Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted.
- If you have not heard from us 3 weeks after the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.
- Any questions you may have about this position will only be answered during interview, should you be invited.
This opportunity is closed to applications.