Senior Programmes Manager (Kenya Office)

Job Description

Position: Senior Programme Manager

Contract: Permanent and full-time

Reporting to: Head of Kenya Office

Location of Work: Based in the Development Pathways’ offices in Nairobi, Kenya, with international travel of up to 3 months per year.

Salary: Competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus benefits

Summary of Job

Are you an experienced international development programme manager? Do you want to apply your skills and experience in the management of cutting-edge social policy initiatives? With Development Pathways, you can make a real contribution to transforming people’s lives and the changing the global social policy landscape.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Programme Manager to join our growing team in Kenya.

Purpose

We are growing rapidly and now need to further strengthen our project delivery capacity in our Nairobi office by recruiting a Senior Programme Manager.

The Senior Programme Manager will work with Head of Programmes and the Senior Management Team to shape the design of functional programme delivery systems. S/he will also be required to work closely with the Head of MIS and our dedicated MIS team, to ensure effective and efficient management of our MIS projects worldwide, and maintain the high-quality standards Development Pathways is known for.

This position will also have line management responsibilities.

Responsibilities

1. Management Information Systems Unit (MIS) Management

• Coordinate the development of team objectives and the annual plan for the Management Information Systems Unit, and oversee monitoring and reporting against the annual plan;
• Ensure regular team meetings, and fluid communication within the MIS team, and across other technical and management units;
• Ensure that company policies and procedures are effectively implemented;
• Ensure high quality management and oversight of the MIS Unit budget allocations and spending, in line with the annual plan.

1. Project and Financial Management

• Ensure the delivery of all projects within the Management Information Systems Team are within their agreed timeline, budget, scope and to high quality, under the leadership of the Head of MIS;
• Ensure all project management procedures and systems are functioning and effective e.g. contracting and invoicing, and travel and security policies;
• Oversee the financial management of projects within the MIS unit including forecasting, and regular reporting on variances;
• Support the Head of Unit to ensure that systems for the quality assurance of deliverables are functioning and effective;
• Ensure the filing and archiving of project documentation and support the reporting on all projects, ensuring that the Head of Programmes and Head of MIS are adequately informed of progress;
• Help build strong and productive relations with clients and partner organisations, supporting contract negotiation and effective communications on behalf of the Head of Programmes and Head of MIS;
• Ensure that consultants are given effective support and develop a strong allegiance to Development Pathways;
• Ensure that the MIS team undertakes regular and accurate monthly financial forecasts and expenditure, supervising programme officers and passing information on to the Head of Programmes;
• Oversee risk management processes for the Management Information Systems Unit;
• Provide oversight and support to field operations teams across all projects.

1. People Management

• Provide effective line management, advice, support, professional development and mentorship to Programme Officers and Programme Assistants working in the Management Information Systems Unit;
• Lead the recruitment and training of new Programme Officers and Administrative Assistants within the MIS Team;
• Undertake other activities as required.

Person Specification

The Senior Programme Manager must have the following qualifications, skills and competencies:

Essential Qualifications and Skills:

• Undergraduate degree in Management, Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Management or other relevant discipline;
• Seven (7) years of experience in project management, including in different countries or regions, and, preferably for social development programmes or IT systems;
• 5 years of experience in managing individuals and teams with multiple disciplines and levels of competency, and from varied cultural backgrounds;
• Demonstrable understanding of project cycle management processes;
• Experience in leading and implementing due diligence processes;
• Demonstrable experience in contributing to strategy development and planning;
• Willingness to travel, sometimes at short notice;
• Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Excellent time management skills;
• Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office);
• Excellent communicator and networker;
• Ability to identify, and understand risks;
• Ability to take initiative;
• Capable of managing completing tasks and working calmly under pressure;
• Capable of working independently.

Desirable:

• PRINCE2, PMP or another project management qualification desirable;
• Masters degree.

About the Organization

Development Pathways is an international advisory organisation with a strong focus on the development of innovative and effective IT solutions that enhance governments’ capacities to deliver core public services. Since our foundation in 2010, we have worked across Africa and Asia in support of governments seeking to improve their IT systems, by designing and implementing software solutions, initially in social security but increasingly we are also engaging in supporting education and health service provision.

While the office in Nairobi is a subsidiary of the United Kingdom office, it is where our in-house software development capacity resides. Our particular strength is in the development of electronic management information systems (MISs) that enable governments to manage their public services efficiently and effectively. We have, for example, developed MISs for social security schemes in Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Uganda, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola and Uzbekistan and provided high-level advisory services on social security IT in many other countries, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Pakistan, the Seychelles, China, Zambia, Nepal and Tajikistan. Our Principal MIS Specialist – Richard Chirchir – is regarded as a thought leader internationally and in very high demand both in the design of IT systems and as a trainer and speaker.

The Nairobi office is also the base for supporting Africa operations across all our business functions (social policy and social and economic analysis) and a springboard for implementing and enforcing business development strategies within the region.

As an organisation, we are committed to innovative, progressive and evidence-based social policy and our IT work is firmly embedded within this vision. Across our work, we ensure that we support policies and programmes that are robust, strengthen human rights, promote gender equality, women’s economic empowerment and benefit all members of society, including the most vulnerable.

We are an equal opportunities employer that is strongly committed to diversity and would welcome applications from both women and men, as well as people with disabilities.

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