Programme Director at Marie Stopes

Department: Programmes

Description

• Millions of the world's poorest and most vulnerable women trust Marie Stopes International to provide them with quality sexual and reproductive health care
• We have been delivering contraception, safe abortion, and mother and baby care for over thirty years and work in 42 countries around the world
• By providing high quality services where they are needed the most, we prevent unnecessary deaths and make a sustainable impact on the lives of millions of people every year.

It is a role requirement that the job holder must fully comply with, promote and live MSION CORE VALUES:

• Mission driven
• Client centered
• Accountable
• Courageous

Key Responsibilities
Leadership and External Relations:

• Create and pursue opportunities to advance the mission and goals of MSION by developing productive mutually beneficial relationships with donors, development partners, the government and other stakeholders working within the Family Planning and Sexual, Reproductive Health (SRH) space.
• Constructive and effective stakeholder relationships developed and maintained.
• Develop opportunities for strategic alliances with the government, and other development partners to create an enabling environment for MSION to expand its reach and advance its mission.
• Support the Country Director and Deputy Country Director in fundraising for the expansion of the country programme including coordinating MSION’s fundraising strategy and annual plan, identifying new fundraising opportunities, and developing concept notes and proposals.
• Active participation in forums and technical working groups to influence policy and other environmental factors.
• Development of high quality and technically robust fundraising plans and proposals.
• Lead the Programme Team by providing strategic guidance, building capacity, managing growth, and ensuring effective communication. As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) actively participate in SMT strategies to provide leadership, guidance and support to the organisation in pursuit of MSION’s mission and strategic objectives.
• Achievement of annual key performance indicators for MSION. Leadership KPIs as assessed through MSION’s performance appraisal system.

Technical Programme Design and Quality Assurance:

• Ensure that projects are approved, implemented, monitored, evaluated and reported on, in line with MSION and donor policies and systems.
• Manage and support programme managers to ensure project targets achieved within budget and timeline. Ensure effective project management and implementation – including project performance tracking against defined indicators, budget tracking and timely financial and narrative reporting.
• All programmes compliant with MSION and relevant donor policies and standards. Project implementation delivered on time and to budget.
• Lead the co-ordination with operational / implementation teams by leading the development and monitoring of mutually agreed costed, time-bound workplans; regularly monitoring project performance in relation to donor agreements. Determine technical support needs for projects and participate in recruitment of consultants and project staff to ensure timely completion of all donor deliverables.
• Ensure clear, timely communication between all departments on all aspects project design, implementation and management. Ensure clear, timely communication with all relevant project related external stakeholders including donors, and implanting partners.
• Ensure that all relevant team members are trained in all aspects of compliance with donor rules and regulations and related MSION standards and policies.
• Workplans in place and regular planning and monitoring meetings held with other relevant departments.
• Required technical skills and resources available.
• MSION team members, and external stakeholders are provided with all relevant information in a timely manner.
• All programme operations are compliant with donor and MSION rules and regulations.

Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Support:

• Oversee the M&E team, providing leadership and guidance to ensure that MSION team members have timely access to high quality data
• Ensure regular tracking of operations to allow MSION to meet all internal and external reporting requirements. Ensure that all data is shared in a timely manner.
• Provide leadership in the technical design and development of all research and monitoring and evaluation activities to support project design and reporting.
• Annual monitoring and evaluation plan developed and implemented. Timely distribution of data.
• Ensure the impact of marketing and other communications activities on service uptake and client satisfaction is consistently and effectively assessed and shared to inform return-on-investment and other strategic decision-making.
• Programme research and M&E effectively disseminated.
• Ensure all appropriate ethical considerations and approvals are secured wherever required. Ensure that all data that is considered sensitive or confidential (such as client data) is properly secured and released in line with MSION policy on such data
• All ethical approval secured as appropriate. Data management policies in place and adhered to.
• Lead the development and upgrade of MSION’s management information system (MIS) and M&E systems to improve the quality and efficiency of data collection and analyses.
• MIS and M&E systems operate efficiently, and regularly reviewed and upgraded

Qualifications

• Postgraduate Degree in Health Science, Social Science, or International Development Management;
• Fluent in both oral and written English

Experience:

• Significant experience in a senior management role of a medium to large organisation, with a proven track record of leading and motivating dynamic teams in developing countries
• Significant experience  in  managing  donor  funded,  health  related  projects,  including  technical  and  financial  management  and compliance (USAID, EC, and DFID experience valued)
• Thorough understanding of health interventions and approaches in developing country setting.
• Proven track record in external relations, fundraising and communication
• Sound knowledge of family planning, reproductive and maternal health an advantage

Skills:

• Excellent leadership skills; with the ability to motivate others to exceed expectations and to up skill other managers to reflect the same behaviours
• Conflict management, negotiation and resolution skills and experience
• Strong management skills; able to manage performance effectively and support others during times of change
• Ability to influence and communicate with stakeholders, both internal and external
• Strong analytical skills - the ability to accurately interpret data both financial and statistical and take relevant actions
• Track record of delivering quality results and impact in previous roles
• Adaptable during times of change and ambiguity and able to quickly gain the cooperation of other departments and external

Attitude/Motivation:

• Demonstrates commitment to MSION’s mission, vision and values and ways of working
• Familiarity with the internal control framework and results-based management tools
• Demonstrates being culturally and sensitively
• Ensures their own continuous development.