Programme Manager – UAE

Location: Abu Dhabi, with frequent travel across United Arab Emirates

Reporting Manager: Middle East Regional Manager

Type: Full-time, Limited Contract

Duration: one year

Start date: Aug 2022, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis

Remuneration: $90,000 – $110,000 annual, depending on level of experience and qualifications, plus benefits.

MAGENTA is a leading Social and Behavioural Change (SBC) agency that specialises in understanding human decision-making processes in order to design communications solutions for positive change in a variety of settings. We implement programmes across the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, using the latest in behavioural science principles and a rigorous approach to research, strategy, campaign design and implementation.

Our client base includes UN agencies, INGOs, governments and the private sector. We aim to amplify the voices of local actors while bringing international expertise and methodological rigour. To do so, we partner with civil society, creative agencies, media and academics to design innovative, relevant and impactful solutions to some of the most challenging problems of our time. Whether we are aiming to shift parenting practices to improve children’s outcomes or to understand how social norms underpin corruption, we always go the extra mile to ensure we can create positive impact for some of the most underserved populations in the world.

MAGENTA’s team operates across the globe, with offices in Jordan, Tunisia Mexico and Pakistan and operates on a range of projects that include research, strategy development, SBC intervention implementation, and evaluation.

In partnership with the Abu Dhabi government, MAGENTA is working on developing a research culture among different categories of stakeholders in the early childhood development (ECD) sector. This includes raising awareness on the importance of collecting data, working with partners to plan for research and disseminating research results in an attractive and useful way. The ultimate goal is to enable ECD actors to design evidence based ECD programs and advocate for informed policy changes on the long run.

MAGENTA will work with stakeholders from the government, private sector and civil society to develop relevant engagement plans around research for each group, produce supportive communications and engagement material and plan for evaluation.

MAGENTA is looking for a programme manager to represent the project and mobilise actors in Abu Dhabi.

Responsibilities

The programme manager will be the face of the project in Abu Dhabi, interacting with a variety of actors at senior levels from the government, private sector and general public.

He/she will lead on all aspects of stakeholder engagement, participating in all meetings with the client and their partners and facilitating workshops and events in Abu Dhabi.

The programme manager will support the programme manager in the production of all deliverables, in particular when it comes to the creation and testing of engagement plans for each specific target groups. Input will also be requested in the creation of all materials supporting engagement plans (such as case studies, production of visuals etc.)

Aside from this specific project, the programme manager will take part in the growth of MAGENTA, attending business development meetings in the UAE and participating in proposal writing for the UAE and the wider region.

Requirements and Competencies

Education:

• Relevant degree required.

Experience:

• 8-10 years of relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating between a variety of stakeholders at senior level in the UAE context.
• Demonstrated experience conducting workshops and organizing various types of events
• Strong experience in the field of advocacy and systems change.
• Solid understanding of research as a tool to drive project design and policy making
• Understanding of early childhood development is a plus.
• Technological and software fluency.

Leadership

• Ability to mobilise and inspire partners and stakeholders towards change
• Ability to adapt to the level of each audience and understand what drives them
• Multi-task and manage competing priorities.

Culture:

• Good sense of humour, personable and demonstrated ability to build networks.
• Ability to work independently with a remote international team

Language:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.

Working Conditions

• Home-based assignment
• Involves visiting client and partners’ offices in Abu Dhabi as well as specific venues for workshops etc.
• May require travel to one of MAGENTA’s regional offices.

MAGENTA is committed to creating a diverse work environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or age.