Programme Manager at Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative (UHAI)

Role Purpose

• Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative (UHAI)is seeking a Program Manager for its Blue Chip funded program (self-funded), Nigeria to provide support to internally displaced and host community households in Borno State.
• In order to enable people meet their immediate multi-sectoral needs, including survival food, Education in Emergencies (EiE), WASH, and Protection needs, reduce the use of negative coping strategies, and increase access to safe, quality, lifesaving health, WASH, protection, and nutrition services for crisis-affected communities, UHAI will target vulnerable households for food assistance, protection, WASH, and Education support.
• Manager to lead this project in Borno, Nigeria. The Program Manager (PM) will be based in Maiduguri and work under the supervision of the Executive Director to provide technical and operational guidance, support monitoring and evaluation, and ensure quality of the project. He/she will also ensure effective financial and operational management of the project.

Scope of Role 

Working closely with programme team, operations, and Other Sector lead to:

• Administer the development and successful implementation of work plans and oversee the creation of reports and other deliverables to donor in a timely and accurate manner.
• Oversee and support implementation, including the supervision of proper targeting, identification, registration, and monitoring of beneficiary lists to prevent overlap with other humanitarian programs in the intervention zone.
• The purpose of the role is strategic oversight and management of the set-up, and strengthening of program implementation in UHAI Nigeria’s newer operating locations
• Quality technical leadership and advice to the partners around the design, implementation and monitoring of project work at state and community levels.
• Coordinate closely with other humanitarian actors and UN agencies carrying Education, Protection and WASH to ensure program activities are in line with national and humanitarian priorities.
• Ensure that efficient systems are in place to support all aspects of project activity, including financial and grant management, project monitoring and evaluation.
• Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) team to develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation plans and to capture learning opportunities around the effectiveness of UHAI’s programming.
• Work with the logistics team in the identification and selection of vendors to participate in program activities.
• Ensure that all vendors working on the program are abreast with and respect all UHAI’s rules/regulations pertaining to the program as well respect the rights and privileges of beneficiaries.
• Ensure compliance with all grant and government provisions, and timely fulfilment of all project programmatic reporting requirements.
• Oversee timely expenditure of approved budgets, avoiding both under spending and overspending on grant line items.

Other Roles:

Program Management & Delivery:

• Responsible for coordination of program implementation both direct and indirect, and for delivery of high-quality programming on time, on budget, in line with the objectives of the Country Strategic Plan and in accordance with donor requirements.
• Leading on advocacy towards implementing multi-sectoral programs.
• Coordinate adherence to robust project management methodology and standardised ways of working, including through capacity building of Coordinators in work-planning and program management, and holding them accountable for key deliverables.
• Deploy as required within or in support of prioritised humanitarian responses on a temporary basis particularly during start-up periods.
• Schedule periodic field operations support and monitoring visits to the relevant field locations, designed to observe program delivery, ensure accountability to beneficiaries, monitor controls and adherence to systems, spotlight progress and achievements, and inform learning.
• Ensure that key project documents are in place at project kick-off, including procurement plans and HR planning, implementation plans, phased budgets, and ensure the periodic review of the same
• Closely monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and trouble-shoot issues affecting program delivery at field level.

Personnel and Administration:

• Supervise emergency field-based project staff: conduct performance evaluations, identify staff skills development, provide management support to staff as needed, and maintain office policy of respect and communication between supervisors and subordinates.
• See that all staff are aware of and understand UHAI policies and procedures; take appropriate disciplinary measures as needed.
• Promote accountability, communicating expectations and providing constructive feedback through regular performance reviews.
• Responsible for the timely recruitment, orientation, and training of new staff as needed.
• Ensure all administrative procedures are followed, such as those regarding vehicle use and procurement; ensure logistics/administrative staff provides sufficient and timely support to programs and programmatic staff, and that data collection processes are standardized and applied by all field staff.

Representation and Leadership:

• Represent Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative in humanitarian coordination fora within the State as and when required.
• Maintain good working relationships with officials and other humanitarian actors, particularly those within the relevant government agencies (State Emergency Management Agency), IOM, and UN agencies.
• Represent UHAI and maintain good working relationships among the international and local NGO community, among community leadership structures and community-based organizations, and with visiting donor teams and other key contacts. Keep abreast of NGO, government, and donor initiatives relevant to UHAI’s work.
• Maintain focus on UHAI program principles.
• Encourage teamwork, openness, and honesty among staff and between UHAI and its partners.
• Establish a sound MEAL system and Practice.
• Generate leadership support for MEAL and appropriate resourcing of MEAL functions so that all sectors on the program can clearly demonstrate outcomes and impact for project participants.
• Drive effective collaboration between MEAL staff, Member Technical Specialists, Technical Advisors and program implementation teams to develop log frames, indicators, implementation plans, quality benchmarks, monitoring and evaluation frameworks and related tools.
• Provide tools and incentives to ensure that MEAL works with programme and operations teams to collect high-quality data for programme design and decision making, including needs assessments, baselines and human-centred design approaches  Multisector Program Coordination.

Qualifications and Experience Essential:

• Education: MA / MSc level (or equivalent field experience) in Rural Development, Development Studies and other relevant qualifications.
• Extensive experience of working within a senior management role within a complex country programme in an emergency response or fragile state
• Previous experience of managing programme teams in large-scale first phase emergency response is essential
• Experience of M&E and beneficiary accountability systems in large complex programmes.
• Experience of developing and negotiating successful partnerships with institutional donors.
• Proven ability to influence change at an operational and strategic level
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• A high level of written and spoken English.
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.

Skills and Behaviours (Our Values in Practice):  Competencies and Values:

• Respect, integrity, diversity, commitment to excellence, adaptability, able to perform under stress, innovation, building relationships, communicating effectively, coaching and mentoring, facilitating change, developing teams, initiating action, strategic decision making, planning and organizing, leading through vision and mission and a personal commitment to children’s development and protection.

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency