Programme Operations Manager Job in Nairobi Kenya

Job Title:Programme Operations Manager (POM)
 

Place of Work:Nairobi, Kenya (with 40% travel to field)
 

Reports to: Country Director
 

Line management responsibility:Project Coordinators
 

Duration of contract: Two Years 
 

Budget Authority / Responsibility: None
 

Purpose of the Role:

Projects: The POM is responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient implementation of Farm Africa projects.  The POM line manages all Project Coordinators, manages reporting cycles as per Farm Africa and donor compliance, develops and ensures that annual work plans and annual project appraisals are developed and conducted in a timely manner. 

Monitoring: The POM will be responsible for improving the programme M&E functions (especially demonstration of impact) and the capacity of programme staff to operationalise these functions.  

Operational Strategy: The POM will play a key role in facilitating the implementation of Farm Africa’s new 2012-2015 organisational strategy and the development of the specific Kenya and South Sudan country programme strategy and the subsequent implementation and monitoring of the strategy.  

New Business: The POM will provide support in the design and development of new projects and assist in the marketing and funding of those projects. The POM will assist with donor and government counterpart liaison and s/he will deputise for the CD in his/her absence. 

Key Responsibilities

1. Ensure operational excellence in execution of existing programmes and projects:

• Develop and execute country level multi-project work plans ensuring timely and accurate implementation of all project cycle activities,  reporting, data collection/compilation and learning dissemination
• Ensure timely and accurate donor and government project reporting by Project Coordinators.  This task includes the editing and review of reports in readiness for submission, in close collaboration with other country programmes and relevant departments in London (especially the Head of Programme Funding).
• In conjunction with Project Coordinators, construct accurate project level quarterly work plans and agree on implementation, review achievement of quarterly objectives and produce reports.
• Conduct regular monitoring of programme field activities.
• Provide technical support for all Project Coordinators as needed to meet project targets and develop creative solutions for implementation challenges.
• To organise with PCs, project baseline surveys, mid-term reviews and final evaluations with relevant consultancies.
• Line management of programme staff including problem solving, implementing and reviewing staff development needs, conducting annual staff appraisals, regularly reviewing staff performance, discipline etc.
• Advise Country Director on all project implementation achievements and challenges

2. Ensure proper financial management and reporting of all elements of the Kenya and South Sudan programme in accordance with Farm Africa financial policies and procedures and donor contracts.

• Key responsibility for overall financial management of projects and ensuring that Project Coordinators effectively manage their budgets according to the donor contracts and Farm Africa procedures.
• Working closely with Finance and Administrative Manager ensure financial controls and procedures, and procurement policies and procedures are understood and followed at the project level.
• Advise the Country Director on financial capacities and requirements as they impact project implementation

3. Develop, implement and measure the impact of Farm Africa’s Organisational Strategy, Kenya Country Programme Strategy and South Sudan Country Programme Strategy

• Working with the Country Director, oversee the development, coordination and delivery of agreed programme interventions and strategies based on Farm Africa’s 2012 – 2015 organisational strategy.
• Key role in developing country programme strategic plans both organizational and programmatic.
• Working with the CD, develop new opportunities for Farm Africa to assist our core communities - farmers, herders and forest communities - through supporting the planning and development of new Farm Africa initiatives. This will include preparing proposals for submission to donors, in close collaboration with other country programmes and relevant departments in London (especially the Head of Programme Funding).
• To provide effective leadership and support at programme co-ordination meetings both internal and external.

4. Lead the recruitment, retention and development of project teams that havethe capacity to deliver the organisation’s strategic objectives

• Recruit Project Coordinators and project staff with the relevant skills and experience to deliver projects effectively.
• Carry out appraisal of Project Coordinators using the organisational performance appraisal system and develop project staff retention and development plans.
• Advise and assist in creation and implementation of personnel review systems
• Develop TOR and hire and manage external technical consultants as required.

5. Strengthen relationships with partner organisations, including donors, government, the private sector and other NGOs to achieve the strategic outcomes of the organisation.

• To act as a representative for Farm Africa to government, donors and other NGO’s.
• Key role in ensuring good government counterpart relations and assist the CD to maintain good donor relations.  This task will be attained through high standards of programme implementation and timely donor contract management.

6. To be an active member of Farm Africa’s Country leadership

• Key role in contributing to discussion and decision making processes of the Kenyan/South Sudan Senior Management Team (SMT)

7. Carry out any other duties assigned by the Country Director  

Note: This job description reflects the present requirements of the post. As duties and responsibilities change and develop, the job description may be reviewed and be subject to amendments in consultation with the post holder.
 

Authority:
 

To manage the financial, capital and human resources in Farm Africa projects in Kenya

To allocate these resources in an efficient and effective manner in line with the organisation/country strategy and the Farm Africa Business Plan.


Key contacts to establish/maintain:

• Strategic partners and other key donors
• Other NGOs and research organisations that share Farm Africa’s principles and/or complement the organisations work
• Other Farm Africa country programmes
• Other key staff in the London office particularly the Programmes Department and Programme Funding Unit in London Programmes SMT and Programmes Advisory Committee

Position specifications
 

This is a Nairobi, Kenya based position and applicants will need to be in possession of or eligible to receive a Kenyan Work Permit.  

Farm Africa is committed to employing locally and Kenyans will be given first consideration. 

The salary is pegged to the Kenyan National NGO pay scale and Farm Africa will not provide relocation.  

Person specification for Programme Operations Manager
 

Skills and Competencies
 

In addition to the specific skills and experience highlighted below, we seek to employ those who believe, as we do, that farmers can and will play a key role in achieving long-term rural prosperity in Africa and who seek to deliver on those beliefs by

1. being experts in our field, delivering insightful/impactful evidence-based solutions
2. pushing boundaries, being creative with new and old solutions
3. acting for the long-term, building relationships and delivering long-lasting change for farmers
4. working flexibly, taking advantage of the most effective solutions, whether from the communities, private sector or government
5. sharing knowledge with others, reaching more farmers than we do alone, ensuring effective technologies are widely accessed

Required Experience:

• At least 5 years senior management experience, 3 with a developmental NGO.
• A minimum of 7 years project management experience in Kenya and/ or another African Country
• A University degree in a relevant sector
• Fluent in written and spoken English and Kiswahili.
• Programme experience relating to agricultural, environmental natural resource management, sustainable livelihoods, small economic activity development or other relevant technical sectors
• Computer literacy, including proven experience with word processing and spreadsheets.
• Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the goals of Farm Africa.
• Good communication and team building skills with the proven ability to train and mentor staff successfully.
• Ability to undertake unaccompanied travel and operate away from the working base in order to achieve objectives.
• High level of analytical and conceptual thinking.

Desired Experiences:

• Post graduate degree in relevant subject
• Experience of designing and implementing project and programme monitoring systems.
• Experience of managing donor relations and donor contract management.
• Experience of donor budget formulation, management and monitoring.
• Experience of staff management and commitment to staff development and team building.
• Experience of working with participatory approaches to development and capacity building of staff and stakeholders.
• Experience in project design and proposal development
• Experience of organisational and strategic planning processes.
• Experience of working with participatory approaches to development and capacity building of staff and stakeholders.
• Varied experience in East Africa with project and programme management
• East African language capacities

Application Procedures:
 

Please send a cover letter and CV combined to no more than 6 pages to: kenyarecruitment@farm-africa.org by July 13, 2012. Email preferred however hard copies can be brought to Farm Africa, Studio House, 4th Floor ArgwingsKodhek Road, Hurlingham Nairobi.  

Cover letter and CV should respond clearly to list of required and desired experience list under person specification. 

Please do not include certificates, diplomas, letters of award or other documents. Applications that fail to comply with procedures will not be reviewed.