Programme Development and Quality Manager (Sierra Leone)

General Description of the Programme/GOAL

GOAL is currently seeking an individual to act as the next Programme Director of the Sierra Leone Programme. GOAL has been in SL since 1999 with its head office in Freetown. GOAL implements an integrated programme that aims to build long-term resilience amongst communities in Freetown, Kenema, Kambia and Bombali, implementing programmes in 9 districts: W. Area Urban, Kambia, Kenema, Bombali, Koinadugu, Falba, Kerene, Tonkolili and Moyamba. This is a wonderful opportunity to work with a dynamic international NGO that helps to transform lives every day. If you are a someone who is a strong leader with experience in the humanitarian or development sector, then this role is right for you.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Programme Director the Programme Development and Quality Manager (PDQM) will ensure collaborative and consultative proposal development processes, submission of timely and high-quality donor proposals and reporting, sharing of accurate and up to date grant tracking information and contribute to the evaluation and review of programme progress and adaptation. The position also provides broader programme support as needed, including project work around accountability, communications, and advocacy, and working to encourage an environment of continuous learning and improvement within the GOAL team

Duties and responsibilities

Proposal Development:

• Actively identify and track funding opportunities, key donor priorities and approaches; liaise directly with donors and consortia partner on the same as appropriate.
• Arrange and facilitate proposal design/programme development meetings, ensuring participation of PD and relevant colleagues such as technical coordinators, SD, Finance, AC from across the different sub-teams, and consortia partners as necessary.
• Work with programme and finance teams to develop cohesive, quality concept notes and proposals, ensuring internal and external deadlines met and technical expertise/knowledge incorporated.
• Maintain updated file of key organisational information required for proposals, and of all prior proposals submitted, for staff induction, learning and future reference purposes (with support).
• Maintain a funding tracker to monitor donor pipeline opportunities and, in support of PC/PMs, proactively identify funding gaps to be filled.
• Support PD, PCs and PMs to effectively mainstream cross-cutting issues such as gender equity and social inclusion and quality standards.

Report writing:

• Keep updated grants and proposal tracking records to ensure all responsible staff are aware of deadlines and reporting requirements
• Coordinate, collate and assist programme staff with writing donor grant reports to ensure timely delivery of quality reporting, highlighting progress and achievement against plans.
• Coordinate Grant Management Meetings, disseminating grants/proposal documents, and responding to information requests from the field and other partners.
• In collaboration with the MEAL and programme coordinators, update programme briefing packs to be used for external audiences.

Programme Quality:

• Ensure familiarity with GOAL’s strategic objectives and with compliance issues for GOAL and current and potential donors.
• Meet with Programme Coordinators and Managers on a regular basis to keep abreast of progress against implementation plan and identify areas where support is required.
• From these identified areas, conduct specific pieces of work focussing on programme evaluation, review, learning and assessment as agreed with the PD and M&E Coordinator.
• Coordinate the information flow between programmes and senior management, facilitate learning meetings and reviews.
• Provide training/support to programme staff/teams on identified areas for improvement as pertains to grant management, reporting, proposal writing or evaluation of programmes as and when needed.
• Support GOAL’s work towards adherence to the Core Humanitarian Standards, including in country milestones in the membership and accreditation process.

Representation:

• Represent GOAL to external stakeholders as agreed with the PD.

Communication and Information Management.

• Take a lead on ensuring clear and complete documentation of grants and programme documents accessible to colleagues in all GOAL SL offices, including oversight of the SharePoint site.
• Coordinate with PCs, PMs and M&E Unit to ensure collection and proactive use of beneficiary case studies, photos, field reports and other information to demonstrate effectively to different audiences the achievements (and challenges) of programmes implemented.
• Review materials to ensure quality and adherence to Code of Conduct and other guidelines, and liaise with CD, ACDP and ACDS for correct level sign off.
• Develop a communications plan in line with the ACP, GOAL Global communications policy and GOAL SL country strategy.
• Ensure production of quarterly Programme Updates, Newsletters, Briefing Papers, and information Pack etc as established in the Communications Plan, for distribution to donors, clusters, working groups, supporters etc.
• Compile and edit country programme Annual Report and internal updates/reports for PD and CD.

Other:

• With the support of the PD, continually adapt and improve the PDQ and reporting process.
• At the request of the PD, take responsibility for other duties in line with the responsibilities outlined in this job description.

Key Performance Objectives

• To ensure collaborative and consultative proposal development processes, submission of timely and high-quality donor proposals.
• Ensure collaborative and quality donor report writing and timely submission.
• Contribute to the evaluation and review of programme progress and adaptation as part of the programme quality.
• Ensure accountability and better communications both internally and externally and information management in GOAL SL programme.

Behaviours (Values in practice)

• Act as a representative of GOAL and demonstrate the highest standards of behaviour towards children and vulnerable adults both in your private and professional lives.

Requirements

• A minimum of three (3) years’ working experience in a managerial capacity particularly grants management, communication, and accountability.
• Experience working with large donors e.g., FCDO, USAID, Irish Aid, CW or similar.
• Strong and good coordination with donors and other stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of and demonstrated practical experience in Comms and MEAL methodology to ensure programme quality and data analysis and report writing.
• Demonstrated skills in analysing, interpreting, and communicating information to various stakeholders
• Advanced skills with MS Office (particularly Excel) and experience designing applications/forms with ODK-based digital data collection software (e.g. CommCare, SurveyCTO, ODK, iFormBuilder, Kobo, etc.) Experience working with Power BI preferred.
• Good communication, interpersonal and motivational skills, and a proven ability to collaborate with a team under challenging field conditions
• Experience in capacity strengthening and partnership building, with the ability to empower staff through opportunities for growth & development.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, ability to work well with people, good judgment and commitment to GOAL’s objectives and policies.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken)

Desirable

• Formal qualifications at graduate or postgraduate level in relevant field, ICT, International Development, or other relevant subjects.
• Knowledge of statistical software packages, such as SPSS, Stata and/or R preferred.
• Previous experience with leading and managing grants and proposal development
• Experience in Sierra Leone or West Africa
• Female candidates are encouraged to apply

Safeguarding

Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with GOAL as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

Accountability within GOAL

Alongside our safeguarding policy, GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has a set of integrity policies. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability:

• Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner.

General Terms and Conditions

This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOAL reserves the right to change this document.

GOAL has a Staff Code of Conduct and a Child Protection Policy, which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants and children from exploitation. GOAL also has a confidentiality policy ensuring the non-disclosure of any information whatsoever relating to the practices and business of GOAL, acquired in the course of duty, to any other person or organisation without authority, except in the normal execution of duty. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to these policies any job offer made is also subject to police clearance. GOAL is an equal opportunities employer.

This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOAL reserves the right to change this document. Any published closing dates are estimated. Due to the nature of GOAL’s work we aim to fill vacancies as quickly as possible. This means that we will close adverts as soon as we have found the right candidate and this may be before the published closing date. We would therefore advise interested applicants to submit an application as early as possible.