Group Programmes Director

JOB PURPOSE

Reporting to the Group Chief Executive Officer, the Group Programmes Director (GPD) will be the overall lead of Amref’s global programme portfolio, working closely with Country Directors, Country Managers and Technical Directors to deliver an impact focused portfolio. As a strategic thinker, leader and influencer, it is expected that the GDP will have multi-country, multi-donor experience in programme development and thought leadership, ensuring successful implementation and alignment with Amref’s corporate strategy (new strategy begins in 2023). The ideal candidate will have experience aligning the corporate strategy with the programmatic, research, policy, operational, financial, and technological context of the geographic locations in which Amref operates.

The Group Programmes Director will be responsible for aligning priorities between headquarters, country and field offices, business development, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) departments; coordinating and communicating their activities with stakeholders and ensuring that Amref’s global portfolio is sustainable and well-positioned to achieve its vision. The GPD will collaborate with the Chief of Staff to strengthen the impact of Amref’s work on policy and advocacy, influencing national and global policymakers.

The Group Programme Director will supervise Country Directors, Technical Directors, Corporate Business Development Director and the Corporate Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Director as well as represent Amref globally – internally and externally. To succeed, the GPD must be a strong communicator, intellectually curious and open to new ideas and ways of doing things.

The Group Programme Director will be a member of the Group Leadership (GLT) and Senior Leadership Teams (SLT) and will interact frequently with donors, partners, key stakeholders and the International Board of Amref Health Africa.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership

• Provide strategic programme leadership through setting and maintaining high standards of programming quality and technical excellence.
• Lead the development and implementation of approaches and guidelines to strengthen Country Programmes’ strategies, programs, and operations.
• Oversee strategic project development opportunities to develop and grow Amref’s global presence.
• Facilitate networking and partnership with potential implementing partners, researchers, and donors.
• As a member of the SLT, contribute to identifying and championing organizational priorities; ensuring both that the experience, opportunities, and needs from country and field offices inform and shape the corporate strategy and planning, and that corporate goals are part of the country plans and priorities.
• Lead the annual programme review and performance of Amref’s programme portfolio. Identify needs as well as strategic opportunities to maintain best-in-class programming and innovative approaches to implement Amref’s portfolio.
• Work closely with the Business Development Director and the Director of Partnerships and External Affairs to drive and develop a robust funding strategy, targeting bilateral and multilateral donors as well as foundations.

Management Oversight

• Foster a culture of trust and transparency within the Programmes department.
• Develop performance objectives and indicators for supervised teams to ensure these are linked to the strategic plan and are cascaded across all teams. This responsibility is linked to performance management of direct reports including plans for competency and career development.
• Oversee efficient and effective use of donor and organization resources. Oversee the recruitment, management, development, and succession planning of leadership staff in the Programmes department to ensure a commitment to excellence, growth and a high performing talent pool.
• Emulate Amref’s values and beliefs while providing inspiring leadership and professional support that promotes team spirit.

Thought Leadership and Advocacy

• Contribute to Amref’s advocacy and thought leadership agenda.
• Develop the necessary systems, processes, and tools to better support the facilitation, collection, and sharing of knowledge that is generated by the programs.
• Develop dissemination system to share organizational learning with a broad range of communities.
• Ensure that key project outcomes and/or policy, advocacy, and legislation are evaluated and leveraged for maximum community and organizational impact.
• In partnership with the Communications Unit at HQ, provide communications support in the development of programme communications activities at country, regional and continental level in conjunction with the various country communications teams.

Governance

• Serve as the Secretary to the Health Programme Committee and provide input to various other Board Committees and calls for diverse experience in relationship management.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Professional Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a health-related field and/or in International Development.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Fifteen (15) years of experience in leadership roles in the international development sector.
• At least six (6) years’ experience as a Director or equivalent with complex consortia and with relevant networks.
• Multi-country experience in Africa building strong relationship with all the stakeholders and managing complex programs.
• Extensive experience in Health Systems Strengthening and providing Technical Assistance.
• Experience with an array of donors European Union, USAID, DFID, etc.
• Partial private sector experience is desirable, though not mandatory.
• Experience in financial management and resource mobilization.

Core Competencies

• Highly effective leadership: Demonstrates proven team building ability. Inclined to coach and mentor in order to improve knowledge and ability of others, holding people accountable for results.
• Strategic thinker: Have a global perspective with an in-depth understanding of development issues and current global trends impacting on the work of international NGOs. Brings sector knowledge and an understanding of systems thinking to define problems, structure unique solutions, and develop new multi-stakeholder approaches, with the ability to also implement them.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills: As a voice/advocate of Amref Health Africa, the Group Programmes Director will have strong written and verbal communication skills. S/he will be a persuasive, credible, and polished communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills. This individual must work collaboratively with internal as well as external partners and other organizations, providing exposure for programme impact in a variety of professional journals and other media outlets.
• Decision maker: Ability to consult and seeks consensus but ultimately make timely decisions
• Program leadership and management: This individual will have taken a hands-on approach in leading a variety of initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a track record of effectively leading a performance-based and outcome-based programme and staff. S/he will have developed and operationalized strategies that have taken a program or organization to the next stage of growth.
• Quality assurance: Understands and values quality improvement; applies managerial and technical skills to measure and improve efficiency and effectiveness and ensure compliance with all regulatory and contractual obligations.
• Adaptability: Agile and adaptable in the face of conflict, crisis, or changing priorities.
• Diversity and inclusion: Demonstrate commitment to diversity and inclusion, valuing different perspectives and encouraging contributions by all team members who are geographically dispersed.
• Networking: A strong track record of seeking and building effective relationships with a diverse range of external partners and stakeholders and securing the best outcome for Amref.
• Communication skills: High level of oral and written communication skills in order to effectively communicate with external parties including donors, partners and other stakeholders.
• Computer skills: Proficiency in Information, Communication and Technology

Compensation

• This role attracts internationally competitive benefits including relocation for internationally recruited staff.