Senior Programme Manager – Innovation Practice

About the Innovation Practice

Around the world, individuals and institutions are finding new ways to work faster and smarter to address pressing challenges in health, education and nutrition systems. By adapting innovations to different contexts, creating novel approaches and solutions, and anticipating possible futures, these change agents are delivering better outcomes for citizens and challenging systemic inequalities.

In partnership with change agents, we facilitate the scale-up of innovations — addressing supply and demand-side barriers to scaling the impact of individual or cohorts of innovations. We also facilitate the strengthening of innovation ecosystems — addressing specific gaps, weaknesses and inefficiencies in the environment that are constraining innovation and scaling processes. To achieve these goals, we work with a range of innovation ecosystem actors, including social entrepreneurs, governments, civil society organisations and development agencies.

Read more about the practice and some examples of our flagship programmes here.

Opportunity

R4D is seeking a Senior Programme Manager to join our Innovation Practice, based in London. This opportunity represents a chance to work with a highly collaborative team which embraces innovation and learning together, taking ownership over critical components of the team’s portfolio.

The Innovation Practice operates a matrixed resourcing structure, with team members feeding into different programmes and projects in line with their expertise and programme resourcing needs. An integral member of the Innovation Team, the Programme Manager will therefore be responsible for leading the successful implementation of a number of projects within the Innovation portfolio as well as contributing technical expertise in the innovation scaling process, innovation/entrepreneurship ecosystems and/or innovation policy and practice.

The right person for this role will be entrepreneurial, strategic, and highly organised individual. They will have a strong track record of managing multiple projects and programmes involving: detailed workplanning, collaboration across geographically disbursed teams, funder engagement, management of multiple contracts and partnerships (including with innovation and / or public sector actors), risk management, and ensuring the production of high-quality deliverables.

The role will report to the Senior Programme Director, Innovation (based in London). The position may over time adopt management responsibility for other Innovation team members.

Responsibilities

1. Innovation Practice Strategy & Management

○ Lead elements of the Innovation Practice strategy.

○ Contribute to the development of the Innovation Practice, e.g. through production of thought leadership, development/improvement of Practice methods and tools, operational improvement initiatives and recruitment as required.

○ Lead development of funding proposals for business development opportunities.

○ Line manage / supervise small teams of other Innovation Practice team members, providing coaching and direction to set goals, develop their skills, prioritise their work, deliver quality products and complete performance reviews.

○ Represent the Innovation Practice and R4D at other meetings, conferences and events as required.

○ Contribute to R4D internal networks and improvement initiatives.

2. Project / programme management

○ Independently lead significant components of large, complex programmes and/or projects.

○ Develop and execute team workplans.

○ Produce / oversee the production of high-quality deliverables.

○ Proactively identify and manage risks and issues and manage sensitive topics and issues with empathy to achieve preferred outcomes.

○ Manage the development of funder reporting.

○ Oversee operational processes such as procurement, budgeting, resourcing

○ Lead internal evaluation of how work is progressing on programmes / projects.

3. Partner engagement

○ Establish and maintain strong relationships with project partners including funders and implementing partners at country and global levels.

○ Create crisp, impactful content and effectively adapt it for presentation to relevant audiences.

○ Plan and lead engaging and productive meetings and workshops with funders and partners.

4. Technical input

○ Independently lead the production of technical / analytical products such as articles, reports, tools and frameworks including effectively structuring complex analytical problems and high-quality qualitative and quantitative analytics.

○ Manage small teams to produce technical deliverables and provide direction on the content, structure, etc.

○ Provide technical and quality review of project deliverables as required.

○ Significantly contribute to the development of new knowledge and approaches within given project areas, and/or begin work in some new areas.

Potential Salary: GBP £53,000 – 69,000. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

With many of the initiatives within our portfolio at an exciting stage of their development / implementation, we are eager to find someone who is able to start as soon as possible. As a result we will be interviewing candidates on a rolling basis as we receive strong applications.

Qualifications and experience

• MA/MSc with 7+ years of experience. The qualification would ideally be in global development, public health/administration, business/management, or another relevant field. Candidates with other qualifications offering equivalent levels of experience may also be considered.
• Programme and project management experience in global development. A professional qualification in project / programme management is desirable.
• Experience managing complex, multi-country FCDO and/or other large donor funded programmes, including managing multiple sub-contractors / sub-grantees / partners.
• Understanding of the innovation and scaling process and innovation ecosystems. Experience working directly with innovators/entrepreneurs and/or other innovation ecosystem actors is highly desirable.
• Experience with innovation methodologies such as user centered design / agile / adaptive learning is desirable.
• Sectoral experience in R4D’s priority areas of health, education or nutrition is preferred.
• Impeccable writing, communication and presentation skills (e.g. in-person/virtual presentations, meeting facilitation, etc.) for high-level stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience of leading teams and line management of multiple individuals working in a matrixed environment across multiple programmes / projects.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate partnerships with a diversity of different development actors – both country and global levels.
• Strategic and creative problem solver.
• High level of organization and attention to detail.
• Able to work independently in a fast-changing environment, taking initiative and balancing competing demands.
• Highly collaborative and approachable team member who is enthusiastic about supporting the Innovation team and working closely with others at R4D.
• Willingness to travel occasionally based on project needs (max. 3-4 weeks per year).
• All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the UK.