Senior Program Manager at Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (Caritas Nigeria)

Job Summary

• The Senior Program Manager, German Food Security Project, manages the project overall activities and budget to provide overall guidance and effective programming of project activities, in accordance with Caritas Nigeria Policy Provisions.
• SPM will Work closely with the Director, Advisors, Technical Assistance Providers, office and partner staff.
• SPM will provide program management support for the implementation and achievement of project results, leading and coordinating HQ support for key program cycle processes (such as annual work planning), contributing to knowledge management efforts for assigned portfolios and ensuring regular communication and strong collaboration.
• SPM will also provide management support to Director and technical leads during proposal development.
• Liaising with relevant stakeholders, particularly the Director and Senior Humanitarian Advisors, FSL, finance, technical staff, and leadership of Caritas Nigeria and other members.
• The holder will report directly to the Senior Humanitarian Advisor.

Roles and Responsibilities
Program Management:

• Leads and coordinates HQ support for key program cycle processes such as inception, annual work planning and results reporting on the project.
• Ensure high quality program management through regular monitoring and oversight of program activities, ensuring efficient and effective program planning and implementation.
• Coordinate program start-up activities as necessary, including start up (operations, human resources, work planning and implementation) as needed. Similarly, ensure completion of all necessary project closeout activities in coordination with the grants management.
• Working with project staff, contribute to the development of internal processes and systems to monitor program implementation and completion of deliverables against approved work plans.
• Work with advisors and contribute to the provision of timely and quality technical assistance (both remote and field visits).
• Work closely with project staff to ensure timely and quality completion and submission of program deliverables, such as work plans, periodic donor reports.
• Provide guidance and technical assistance or training to staff, as needed, to ensure timely, accurate narrative and financial reporting to donors, including reviewing interim and final narrative donor reports generated by field staff and coordinating with relevant internal departments on submission of reports.
• Work with project staff and other departments to support recruitment of project staff and consultants as may be required.
• Work closely with the grants and finance unit to develop budgets, track spending, and ensure timely financial reporting.
• Facilitate regular program review meetings at headquarters and field levels
• Ensure project compliance with donor policies and regulations.

Support Portfolio Growth:

• Support Caritas Nigeria’s efforts to grow public and private collaboration by engaging in strategy development, donor meetings and other fundraising efforts.
• Represent Caritas Nigeria interests to potential partners and donors.
• Support identification and tracking of funding opportunities.
• Support the development of concept notes; provide feedback and incorporate reviewer feedback.
• Manage the process of design, development, reviews and submission of costed proposals in collaboration with relevant colleagues, supervisors and other relevant partners.
• Support Caritas Nigeria specific proposal development as requested.

Coordination and Donor Relationship Management:

• In coordination with Director, Advisor and other staff responsible for donor relationship management, ensure all donor communications, requests, amendments, etc. are communicated effectively and quickly to the relevant offices and recorded/stored for future reference.
• Ensure timely and effective communications to partners and donors as required and delegated.
• Foster relationships between assigned projects and the broader partner team, including coordinating efforts on work in overlapping countries and on complementary technical areas;
• Manage communication with partners, technical teams, and donors on non-financial deliverables and requests (e.g. Memorandum of Understanding, consulting agreements and staff related matters, etc.) as well as develop and maintain relationships with donor counterparts and country office staff.

Knowledge Management:

• Working with the Director and Senior Humanitarian Advisor, lead the development and maintenance of a toolkit with standardized tools and guidance documents that employ best practices for program management for dissemination to program staff and other team members as required.
• Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation unit knowledge management strategies, processes and systems to systematically identify, capture, organize, analyze and share key information to enhance programmatic and organizational learning and performance.
• Help organize events and trainings that promote knowledge sharing across programs, projects, members, departments, and organizations.
• Lead the development of program documentation, such as learning briefs, case studies, capacity statements, past performance references, and presentations for internal and external audiences.
• Work with program teams to identify opportunities to present program results at external events and conferences and support the development of presentations and abstracts.

Job Requirements

• Minimum of a Master’s Degree in Social Sciences or equivalent qualification in related field
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, with at least 5 being in a humanitarian context
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate successfully with individuals and teams at all levels
• Professional proficiency in MS Office suite
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English
• The ability to speak Hausa and any other local language of the region is an added advantage
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering and maintaining an environment of diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Proven experience in project management, donor/relationship management, donor compliance and requirements, budget management, financial analysis, and coordinating processes across stakeholders, ideally supporting donor-funded projects.
• Proven ability to work in a complex environment, managing multiple programs and deadlines simultaneously to deliver results.
• Demonstrated organizational, time management, and analytical skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel (up to 60% of the time).

Physical Demands:

• Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screens and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods.
• Ability to lift 5-50 lbs.