Programme Manager (Livelihoods) at VSO

Duration: 3 years (Renewable)
Type of Role: Advocacy policy and research
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Full Time: 35 hours per week
Start Date: 15th June, 2020

Job Purpose

• To be responsible for the development and implementation of Country office’s Livelihood Programs in line with the VSON strategic direction and priority
• Work with project team to lead VSON’s engagement in programmatic areas related to livelihoods interventions.

Responsibilities
Programme Development, Planning & Budgeting:

• To ensure proper annual planning and budgeting of VSO Nigeria Livelihoods programme is undertaken in a timely and cost effective manner and the process is aligned with the defined overall priorities set by the donor as well as VSO.
• Ensure that the plan and the budget proposed to the donor are agreed with the partners and is also in accordance with VSO guidelines and country strategic priorities.
• To be responsible for proper dissemination of the approved plan and agreed budget amongst relevant staff, volunteers and partners.
• Take lead in the formulation of secure livelihoods focused donor proposals.

Programme Implementation:

• Ensure that detailed annual, quarterly, monthly and weekly implementation plans are prepared, approved and followed through.
• Mechanisms for monitoring and reporting on programme activities, including volunteer reporting, are developed and implemented.
• Accurate Budget Monitoring Reports and variance reports are submitted within deadline.
• Staff/Volunteer Recruitment, Placement, Management and Support:
• Work closely with the recruitment team to ensure timely recruitment of both staff and Volunteers and as well ensure their placement.
• Extend all required support and guidance to volunteers in the discharge of their duties.
• Clear annual, work plans are agreed with staff and roles and responsibilities clarified.
• Hold monthly face-to-face programme review and planning meetings with all staff and international volunteers in the backdrop of M&E data regularly collected.
• Be responsible for identifying staff professional development needs
• and ensure that they are met.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning:

• Timely and accurate collection and joint team analysis of quantitative and qualitative data at all levels in accordance with the MEL Framework.
• Joint programme progress review with all staff and partners at least on a monthly basis.
• Lead on the Annual Partnership Review (APR) exercise preferably during the November-December period every year.

Fundraising:

• Proactively lead program development and support fund raising initiatives of country office around livelihoods (including on- farm and off-farm livelihoods opportunities) and agriculture based value chains in order to expand VSON’s footprint and scale up our existing interventions in Nigeria.

Key Performance Indicators

• The required annual programme review and planning exercise is undertaken in consultation with staff, volunteers and partners.
• The annual Livelihoods programme budget is discussed and finalized in consultation with the Country Director/SMT and submitted to the donor.
• A debrief meeting is held with all staff, volunteers and partners to ensure a shared understanding on the approved plan and budget.
• Number of high value successful donor proposals.
• Minimum variance in the utilization of budgets as per the agreed plans.
• Reports are accurately and timely prepared for review along with detailed explanations on budget utilization variance.
• Reports are submitted to the donor in accordance with the agreed deadlines.

Qualification and Experience

• A holder of a Master's Degree in Agronomy / social Sciences / Rural Development or related fields
• A Minimum of 6 years relevant experience.

Skills and Knowledge
Essential:

• Experience of working in Nigeria in cross cultural setting, including an ability to identify and facilitate cross-cultural working and learning amongst staff and volunteers.
• Good understanding of development challenges and working norms in Nigeria with particular focus on livelihoods programming.
• Practical experience gained within an NGO context and of managing a livelihoods programme.
• Experience of matrix and distance managing staff and providing high- quality supervision and support
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with ability to negotiate, persuade and vary communication content and style to suit audiences to inform, motivate and inspire.
• Experience in budgeting and financial management, particularly in the context of project planning.
• Experience and skills in facilitating learning in a non-formal environment, ideally including facilitation experience with diverse groups.
• Good Knowledge of programme level M&E including theory of change development and donor reporting
• Excellent planning and organizational skills, including experience of project or programme management.

Desirable:

• Practical experience gained within a volunteering/NGO context and of managing a volunteer programme.
• Experience of managing change in an international environment.
• Experience of initiating, developing and maintaining transparent, equitable partnerships.

Competencies:

• Working together - Strength Successfully leads teams and develops others’ team-working skills.
• Communications and influencing - Strength
• Inspires others by: advocating plans and ideas within and outside VSO; maintaining a wide, influential network; coaching.
• Managing Knowledge - Strength Leads initiatives that improve knowledge management; develops others’ knowledge management skills.
• Striving for excellence - Strength Leads initiatives to improve monitoring, evaluation and learning; is a role model for continuous learning and improvement.
• Managing Resources - Strength Leads others to pursue significant or innovative funding opportunities; finds creative ways to allocate funds and people on complex projects effectively.
• Managing People - Strength Builds a high performing team that meets challenging objectives linked to corporate objectives; ensures own team works efficiently with other teams.
• Developing People - Strength
• Is a role model for coaching, mentoring and developing others, and for effective use of VSO’s staff development processes and opportunities?
• Leading for the Future – Strength Builds confidence and excitement in VSO’s work and vision, both internally and externally; leads innovative projects.
• Thinking Strategically - Strength Leads strategic projects, coaching others to consider global and long- term impact, and to consult within and beyond VSO.
• Delivering Results - Strength Effectively leads large teams or complex projects, generating a goal-oriented, problem-solving team mentality and ensuring timely, high quality results.

Salary

• Very competitive Package.

Interview Date
11th May, 2020.