Programmes Manager

Job Description & Person Specification

Programmes Manager

Salary: £36,000 – £40,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Contract: Permanent Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week

Location: Manchester, M14

Reports to: Head of Programmes/Deputy CEO

Closing Date: Rolling (Interviews to be conducted on a rolling basis)

About READ Foundation

READ Foundation is a UK based registered charity working to create school places for children living in poverty in the developing world.

We create opportunities for orphan and needy children to go to school to gain an education and build a better life for themselves. We currently focus on constructing new schools, providing quality sponsorship for orphans and are now expanding our educational portfolio to reflect the large humanitarian and development needs ongoing throughout the world.

We created our first school in 1994 with a single classroom of 25 children, while as of this academic year we are now running almost 400 schools, in which over 100,000 children study, almost 10% of whom are orphaned by father or both parents. However, with a global shortage of classrooms in the millions, there is still much to do to achieve universal education.

Purpose of Job

The Programmes Manager is responsible for efficient delivery of READ Foundation’s portfolio of projects and programmes. The person will ensure effective and efficient programmatic and financial delivery of projects ensuring they are in line with the strategic direction of READ Foundation’s educational projects globally.

The Programmes Manager will be expected to drive the development and institutionalisation of best programme management practices. In addition, the role holder will contribute and develop other areas of the programme department including programme design, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL).

The person will also work closely as a Programmes representative with other departments e.g. Donor Care, Marketing and Communications for campaign management. This would include but not be limited to ensuring that campaigns run smoothly with interdepartmental cohesion.

The Programmes Manager will provide full support to the Head of Programmes and Deputy CEO in day-to-day activities whilst collaborating with and supporting our country offices, including Head of Programmes, Programme Managers, MEAL Department etc. in the field offices.

Main Responsibilities

Included but not limited to;

Programme management

• Create and influence the International programmes strategy in line with READ Foundation’s vision, mission and core values.
• Spearheading READ Foundation’s project portfolio within the education sector, ensuring quality programming for education-based initiatives e.g. school construction, education in emergencies (disaster risk management), psycho-social support, teacher training etc.
• Leading on development and the successful implementation of Project Cycle Management. Take initiative in improving and strengthening the department in terms of good practice including effective, efficient, and impactful programmes delivery.
• Facilitate all aspects of project management for assigned proposal efforts, including initial research, review/analysis, template creation, task management, kick-off/status calls, scheduling, input review/consolidation and delivery
• Maintaining and developing strong relationships between internal stakeholders
• Ensure policies, procedures and systems are in place and appropriate to manage our grants and contracts efficiently and effectively.
• Critically review concept notes and proposals from partner organisations and vet according to key requirements such as implementation, quality, value for money, impact etc.
• Maintain highly effective working relationships with our project funders and strategic partners
• Facilitate cross teams planning and coordination to ensure organisational synergy, projects success especially during campaigns.
• Support and oversight of the READ orphan sponsorship programme

Administration and reporting

• Responsible for periodic budget setting and ensuring optimal annual spend.
• Ensure efficient document management with appropriate taxonomies.
• Effective communication between field offices/partners and the HQ to ensure up to date information is available on the status of READ projects.
• Ensure effective communication of project outcomes and deliverables to the communications department through case studies, videos etc.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Develop and strengthen the MEAL element of the Programmes department. This will include MEAL policy, manual and supporting annexures and documents followed by roll out to country office and partners. Ensure periodic monitoring of project progress through field trips, close communication with project staff, monitoring of expenditure, communication with donors and problem solving.
• Provide support to monitoring and evaluation teams, assisting in capacity building where appropriate.
• Roll out READ’s M&E policy and procedures and assist in further developing the M&E Handbook.
• Coordinate and undertake monitoring and assessment field visits to field offices and partners to ensure programmes are implemented as proposed and contracted. Ensure donor guidelines and standards have been met.
• Develop an accountability and impact assessment strategy.

Contract Management

• Overall responsible for programmatic and financial delivery of Read’s key contract and grants, and their internal and external (including donor) reporting
• Ensure policies, procedures and systems are in place and appropriate to manage our grants and contracts efficiently and effectively.
• Leading on donor reporting and donor quality assurance.
• Raising the profile of the charity in the sector through networking and representing it on the appropriate platforms
• Maintaining files for all grants, in line with established systems.
• Building and managing strategic partnerships and alliances with like-minded organisations globally on delivery and sector-wide issues.

Risk management

• Overall responsibility for Programme Compliance, including managing READ Foundation’s Risk framework through robust risk policies and procedures.
• Establish an effective culture of risk management across the organisation (both at HQ and field office level).
• Work closely with the finance team to ensure effective governance across the whole project lifecycle.
• Lead on developing new and enhancing existing policies, procedures, and systems for the implementation of best practice and management across the organisation
• Monitoring compliance with procedures or policies and flagging breaches and serious incidents to the Head of Programmes and CEO.
• Lead on and regularly carry out internal/external audits to ensure full documentation compliance and implementation of corrective measures if needed.

Company benefits

The position also comes with the following benefits:

• 32 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays and company-wide holidays)
• Awards for employee of the year
• Paid time off for bereavement, sick days and medical appointments
• Investment in training, professional growth and development
• Occupational Pension Scheme
• Hybrid working options available (some days working remotely can be discussed at time of interview)

READ Foundation is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of our work, along with encouraging a healthy work life balance.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Knowledge of project management principles and their application.
• Knowledge of education focused projects (desirable).
• A proven track record of success in working in an organisation of complexity, to deliver high quality results to deadlines.
• Experience of evaluating concept notes and project proposals to assess project quality and VFM.
• Experience and excellent contracts performance management skills and experience
• Demonstrable experience of applying effective problem-solving techniques.
• Effective communicator who is able to develop strong relationships with the fundraising team, key people within the charity and external stakeholders.

Experience & Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience within a charity or in a similar environment.
• Educated in a development or humanitarian discipline such as International development, International Relations, Project Management in developing environment, NGO management etc. Ideally to postgraduate level.
• Experience in developing or managing Education based projects (desirable).
• Experience of successfully fundraising and dealing with institutional donors and international donors.
• Proven experience and knowledge of effective budgetary control and grant management.
• Strong and well developed analytical skills coupled with experience of writing quality proposals and reports.
• Efficient with MS Office Suite; Project management systems.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritise a complicated workload.

Skills

• Ability to work under pressure, manage time, workload and prioritise work to deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Self-motivated with an ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Good independent judgement and ability to challenge constructively.
• Excellent organisational, planning and time management skills.