Regional Program Manager, Program Implementation

Team Summary

The Program Implementation team has oversight for the implementation of Search’s regional program “Advancing Inclusive Peace and Security in the Levant and Yemen”, in accordance with Search and donor policies and procedures. The Program Implementation team is composed of a Regional Program Manager and Country Project Managers and Project Assistants in each country of intervention. It works on the full life-cycle of the project, from the start-up phase to the full close-out. This involves designing work plans, implementing activities, reporting, financial management, and staffing management. The Program Implementation team collaborates with other departments at regional and HQ levels, including Finance, Institutional Learning, Programs, Global Affairs and Partnerships, Human Resources, and Information Technology.

Responsibilities

• Provide oversight for project implementation
• Manages processes associated with project implementation.
• Manages relationships related to the project implementation such as vendors, donors, local authorities and cross team collaborators, and employees.

Contributions

• PMT: Set-up and update the project’s financial monitoring and planning strategy (Project Management Tool) and oversee country-specific PMTs.
• Workplan: improve, finalize and monitor costed-workplans and spend-out plans; support in finalizing and monitoring the logframe and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) plan
• Project activities: design project activities (e.g., objectives and structure of activities); lead and/or deliver project activities; coordinate with trainers in the design and delivery of project activities
• Reporting: review and finalize project documents (e.g., presentations, and agenda); finalize donor reports; review and finalize monthly and activity reports before sharing; review General Ledger (GL) and support country finance team (CFT) in producing financial report
• Compliance: coordinates with the appropriate country management team member in ensuring project, finance, and logistics staff follow donor rules/regulations; ensure donor compliance; lead capacity-building sessions to streamline rules and regulations
• Finalize the procurement plan and coordinate with project vendors (e.g., hotel, catering, transportation, etc.)
• Financial management: ensure project financial health; lead regular Budget versus Actual (BvA) meetings; ensure the BvA is right; ensure budget revisions are done as needed
• Subaward management: Provide technical review of partner documents; lead communication with partner management; provide oversight to partner work plan and key deliverables; lead in partner capacity assessment/plan and partner selection
• Performance management: Interface with staff across all departments on regular basis. Lead in staff capacity-building and identifying learning/growth opportunities; Coordinate with the Country Director (CD) in the development of project staffing plan; Provide guidance for compilation of interview materials, and assessments for recruitment of open positions; Long-list and short-list candidates; Manage staff members accordingly
• External engagement: Maintain regular communication with the donor of the programme in collaboration with the Regional Grant Management Officer (e.g., 4 corner meetings, reporting, etc.); meet with local authorities as needed, facilitate approvals; meet with partner leadership, and conduct regular meetings
• Program management, quality and project design: Coordinate with Design, Monitoring & Evaluation (DM&E), Grants Management System (GMS), and Country Director (CD) in the organization of reflection sessionsNote and record lessons learned via donor reportsEnsure reviews and reflection sessions lead to adaptive work planMake sure that approved Search methodologies are utilizedCoordinate with Global Affairs & Partnerships Program Development team, as neededSupport in attending fundraising and networking meetingsSupport in the identification and decision of opportunities (go/no-go)
• Provide inputs to strategy development and planning related to technical area of work
• Infuses organizational values into all work
• Other duties that are broadly in line with the above key contributions as assigned.

Competency Behavior Indicators (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Manages overall strategy and vision. Provides functional and program/project management. Anticipates and plans for needs and takes action accordingly. Provides guidance to direct reports or matrixed team members.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with vendors, organizations, professional associations, partners, funders, and Search’s network of experts critical to the area of purview.
• Modifies a planned course of action in response to new information or new circumstances.
• Responds to changing circumstances and expectations readily.
• Articulates Search/function program/project goals and objectives within and external to Search. Develops program objectives that reflect broader Search strategies and approaches.
• Provides input for standards across functions globally within Shared Services teams and with a view from a multicultural perspective that reflects consideration of other cultures, other viewpoints, and other ways of doing things.
• Overcomes obstacles using ethical practices; formulates and evaluates morally and ethically justified solutions.
• Assesses risks and opportunities to lead decision makers to a favorable outcome.
• Checks the accuracy of one’s own and others’ work and sets up systematic checks and balances to support content and data integrity.
• Has knowledge of project management tools including technology as resources for efficiency and reduction of stress.
• Works with employees to set and communicate performance standards that are specific and measurable.
• Anticipates the consequences of situations and plans accordingly.
• Analyzes the costs, benefits, risks, and chances for success in making a decision.
• Provides coaching and mentoring to staff.

Type and Nature of Contacts

• Routinely coordinates with colleagues and consultants on-site and in the field and resolves problem situations with tact.
• Represents, as assigned, selected programs or projects and other organizations, including donors, vendors, and international and local partners.
• Interacts with country office and regional staff.

Education and Experience

Typically BS/BA with minimum 9 years’ experience.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

To be based in Amman, Jordan (Regional Office).Usual office environment conditions; ability to travel internationally at least 20%.

Supervisory and Budget Responsibility

Will supervise the Project Officers and Project Assistant in the four countries of intervention.