Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), is the world’s leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. Our high impact approach brings people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action to change lives and make the world a fairer place.
We are recruiting to fill the positions below:
Job Title: Head of Programmes
Location: Abuja
Responsible to: Country Director
Responsible for: Youth Program Manager, Sr Programme Officers
Job Type: Full Time, 36 hours per week
Level: Member of senior management team
Job Purpose/Role Overview
Location: Abuja
Responsible to: Country Director
Responsible for: Youth Program Manager, Sr Programme Officers
Job Type: Full Time, 36 hours per week
Level: Member of senior management team
Job Purpose/Role Overview
- VSO Nigeria is seeking a dynamic, experienced, and competent Head of Programmes to guide the overall Country Programme strategy and implementation of related activities within the country Programme.
- To manage the development, implementation and successful delivery of VSO’s programmes within the agreed Country Strategy; manage programme teams and partnerships; and maximise VOS’s impact in reducing poverty.
- To support the Country Director and Programme Managers in ensuring the development of highest standards of quality programmes for fundraising for new as well as ongoing programmes. This includes articulating strong projects designs, M&E frameworks and rationales for project and VSO’s unique
- The role will report to the Country Director and will be located in Abuja, Nigeria (with frequent travel to project locations).
- The post will have line management responsibility of programme teams.
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership as member of SMT:
Strategic Leadership as member of SMT:
- Support the development of an organisational culture that reflects our values, promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation and empowers employees, volunteers, partners and communities maximize their potential in to achieve significant impact in the lives of youth in Nigeria.
- As a member of Senior Management Team (SMT) contribute towards developing shared vision about our strategy and approach and a strong culture of value for money among all staff and volunteers.
Strategic Planning:
- Ensure up-to-date, relevant programme strategies and operational plans are in place and are appropriately communicated. Ensure programme team are well networked and engaging in appropriate development and volunteering forums in country and with relevant government Ministries where possible;
- Help establish, maintain, and improve active and regular working relationships with key stakeholders -government departments, donors, partner agencies including major institutional donors, and local and international NGOs.
Programme Development and Management:
- Manage successful programme delivery to ensure programmes meet requirements to quality specified, time, within budget and scope, and that project management standards are met.
- Programme Development and Delivery: Develop and design overall programme of delivery. Proactively monitor overall programme progress. Effective co-ordination of the programmes and their inter-dependencies, maintaining overall integrity and coherence of the overall programme.
Partnership Development and Management:
- Ensure partner portfolio are aligned to the new country strategy and are of high quality in delivering lasting changes in the lives of the children, young men and women.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Develop and oversee implementation of the overall programme
- Monitoring & Evaluation Framework with stakeholders, lead measurement and benefits realisation delivered by the projects/programmes.
- Ensure programmes and partnerships are monitored and evaluation regularly in line with VSO good practice guidance.
Programme Quality and Implementation;
- Coordinate the design and delivery of appropriate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and coordinate on the compliance of VSO’s requirements related to APRs, ACR and generation of human interest stories, in close coordination with the Regional M&E Manager and relevant Programme Managers.
Fund Raising Planning and Monitoring:
Programme Development:
Programme Development:
- Lead and the development of new partnerships prioritised by the VSO country strategy. Identify potential project ideas in line with the country strategy and donor opportunities and support proposal bid teams in developing relevant and high quality concept notes and/or proposals to increase revenue.
- This includes researching needs and understanding overall landscape, articulating VSO’s value add, profiling volunteer skills and job placements needed, verifying volunteer supply to meet that demand and ensuring a strong M&E plan is included in the project design – all in conjunction with the rest of the global bid team.
- Support the development and implementation of country funding plan (CFP).
- Quarterly monitoring and review of progress against country funding plans (CFPS) and suggest appropriate changes to the plans based on on-going efforts.
- Keep track of emerging funding opportunities and support in-country donor management led by CD.
Ongoing engagement with key institutional donors:
- Engage and take forward various entry points identified with DFID, USAID, CIDA, EC ECHO and other institutional donors and embassies in line with established country funding plan (CFP).
- This includes researching donor interests and funding patterns, attending forums and meetings for further networking and information sharing.
- Support the CD in representing VSO in donor/INGO meetings.
Corporate Partnerships and Employee Volunteering:
- Engage with and develop relationships with private sector companies mapped and identified within CFPs with the view to increasing revenue and to promoting employee volunteering
- Further research and map additional corporates that could partner with VSO and support engagement accordingly, in close coordination with the Corporate Partnerships Manager.
Grants Management and Compliance:
- Work closely with programme and finance teams to ensure timely submission of quality narrative and financial reports as per the standards of the specific donors and in line with the contract.
Visibility & Branding:
- Lead on the efforts to raise the programme profile by coordinating the collection of human interest stories and visuals, production and dissemination of materials highlighting VSO’s unique contribution towards a range of development issues in country.
Financial Management:
Budgeting and Forecasting:
Budgeting and Forecasting:
- Develop and manage overall programme budget, providing accurate and timely information on expenditure, monitoring expenditures and costs against benefits realised as programmes progress.
- Support and participate in annual country budget preparation and Quarterly Business Review process.
People Management:
- Effectively lead and develop a high performing team of programme officers/project managers within the performance management framework, coaching people managers accordingly; act as a mentor and contribute to development of shared vision among key stakeholders.
Other Duties:
- Deputise for the Country Director or other colleagues as required.
- Assist or take leadership in emergencies as required, working closely with the Country Director and other SMT members.
- Fulfill other appropriate level responsibilities as defined by the Country Director from time to time
Key Performance Indicator
- Programme strategies and operational plans in place and employees able to articulate them to external and internal audiences
- Programme team members engaging in appropriate forums and networks.
- Understanding of overall, strategic and coherent programmes which use a range of development interventions and actively seek to engage marginalized groups and plays to VSO’s core competencies of skill and knowledge transfer and capacity building.
- Empowerment of volunteers and staff in their work, to work effectively with local partners and donors.
- Understanding of VSO’s global structure and internal processes – including proposal development, volunteer recruitment, Annual Country Reviews, etc.
- Well-evidenced written concept notes and proposals reflecting VSO’s work in core programmatic areas, suitable for external sharing (estimated 10 significant applications per year submitted to donors).
- Planning and review systems are effectively implemented and joined up overall to ensure a process of continuous learning and improvement and to demonstrate the outcomes of programming work.
- Efficient development of donor reports.
- Programmes meet needs and expectations of the organisation.
- Planned programming activities and volunteer delivery targets are met.
- Programmes delivered on time, to budget, scope and quality standards specified with expected benefits realised.
- Programme development is informed by consultation with partners, volunteers, internal stakeholders and beneficiaries.
- Partners are provided with growing and widening range of support based on VSO’s core competencies.
- High quality placements are developed and documented based on thorough assessment of partner needs.
- Lead & oversee the Monitoring & Evaluation framework effectiveness and efficiency includes Partnership Reviews Baseline Surveys and additional Monitoring & Evaluation initiatives undertaken during this financial year.
- Targets for annual partnership reviews, baseline surveys and other global Monitoring & Evaluation requirements are met.Beneficiaries, partners and volunteers are integral to review of VSO programmes
- Evidence of lessons learnt from evaluation being used to adapt ongoing programmes and inform future programme development. Information on good practice,
- learning and knowledge is sought and shared within country, region and wider organisation.
- Fund raising strategy met includes joint programming with INGO or/and relevant ministry , project design for target proposal writing and proactive relationship building with donors to engage in VSO programme
- Programme team members are performing well as individuals and working effectively together and with others to meet programme objectives.
- Individual performance and satisfaction are maximized through efficient support structures and procedures within the legal framework of the country and within VSO policies and guidelines.
- Each team member has a professional development plan, designed to maximize professional development outcomes and continuous learning, with progress reviewed each quarter.
- Regular team and individual review meetings in place across whole team.
- Programme expenditure & quality is reviewed and monitored regularly.
- Programme is delivered within budget.
- Successful and mutually meaningful partnerships with corporate entities.
- Consistent and highest levels of satisfaction by donors and funding partners on the timely and good quality reports submitted by VSO.
- High quality materials developed that can be used both internally and with external audience to enhanced visibility and credibility of VSO which not only helps in further strengthening existing partnerships but also helps develop new ones.
Competencies
- Working together – Strength – Successfully leads teams and develops others’ team-working skills.
- Communication & influencing – Expert – 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 across VSO; develops others’ knowledge management skills.
- Striving for Excellence – Expert – Builds and sustains an organisational culture of continuous performance improvement that helps to set VSO apart as a brand.
- 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 employee 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 – Expert Drives forward VSO’s corporate strategy; helps to set the future direction in response to anticipated changes in the external environment.
- Delivering Results – Expert – Drives commitment across and beyond VSO to equipping, engaging and empowering people to solve problems, make decisions and deliver the best possible results.
Skills, Qualifications and Experience Required
- Expert in programming and fundraising
- Good experience in leading on programme design and management as well as resource mobilization.
- Good experience in ensuring donor reporting requirements, including financial reports, are met.
- A holder of Degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences or related fields. A Minimum of 7 years relevant experience
- Good understanding of development challenges and working norms in Nigeria
Experience, Skills and Behaviours Required
1.) Essential:
Programme Management:
1.) Essential:
Programme Management:
- Experience of planning, designing and managing development programmes with many stakeholders; delivering in challenging contexts to deadline.
- Good knowledge of techniques for planning, monitoring, evaluation and controlling programmes, including risk management.
- Strong and extensive knowledge and experience in project management and result based management approaches.
- Experience and knowledge of major development issues in Africa.
- Practical experience of working on development issues at a project or country programme level in a developing country context.
Leadership:
- Strong leadership and people management skills, managing within large complex global teams in a matrix management environment.
Change Management:
- Experience of leading change programmes in a global environment, engaging and supporting employees.
Fund Raising:
- Analytical thinking, strategic programme development including experience with concept; and project proposal development. strategic representation of VSO programme to institutional donors & government and influencing for funding commitment.
Communication:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with ability to vary communication content and style to suit audience to inform, motivate and inspire.
- Excellent networking, facilitation and interpersonal skills
Relationship Building:
- Ability to build strong working relationships across the organisation at all levels, inspiring confidence and credibility with employees.
- Strong influencer of others, particularly at a senior level.
- Ability to work effectively with globally dispersed teams.
Organisation and Planning:
- Excellent coordination / planning skills to tight deadline.
- Time management skills.
Financial:
- Experience of successfully building and managing large and complex programme budgets.
- Resource allocation experience.
Analysis and Creative Problem-Solving:
- Ability to analyse, grasp fundamentals of an issue, finding innovative ways to solve or pre-empt problems.
Flexibility:
- Ability to manage a large and complex project in a climate of change, recognising and being open to ambiguity and opportunities.
- Able to travel frequently
- Ability to work in fast-paced and diverse work environments with a multi-cultural team.
2.) Desirable:
- Practical experience within a volunteering/Non Government Organisation context.
- Commitment to VSO’s work and values
- Excellent understanding of project cycle management tools to ensure effective planning, resourcing, implementation and review of Programs
- Donor and contract management experience
- Practical experience gained within a volunteering/NGO context.
- Experience and knowledge of the country and region preferred, including ability to communicate in local languages
Job Title: Program Manager – Livelihood
Location: Abuja
Duration: 3 years (Renewable)
Working Hours: 36 hours per week
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.
Role Overview
- VSO Nigeria is seeking a dynamic, experienced, and competent Program Manager – Livelihood to guide the overall Country Livelihood Programme strategy and implementation.
- Work with project team to lead VSON’s engagement in programmatic areas related to livelihoods interventions. The job holder will report to the Head of Programs and will be located in Abuja, Nigeria (with frequent travel to project locations).
Responsibilities
Programme Development, Planning & Budgeting:
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 onfarm 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.
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 longterm 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.
Qualification and Experience
- A holder of Master’s Degree in Agronomy/Social Sciences/Rural Development or related fields
- A Minimum of 6 years relevant experience.
Skills and Knowledge
Essential:
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 highquality 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.
Job Title: Programme Manager (Education)
Location: Abuja
Duration: Fixed Term, 3 yrs
Full Time, 36 hours per week
Responsible to: Head of Programs
Job Purpose
Location: Abuja
Duration: Fixed Term, 3 yrs
Full Time, 36 hours per week
Responsible to: Head of Programs
Job Purpose
- The job holder is expected to lead in the strategic design, development and implementation of VSON Education Program in line with the country office strategic plans and priorities.
- Provide comprehensive programming, management and coordination support in the implementation and measurement of VSON Education programs.
Responsibilities
Programme Development, Planning & Budgeting:
Programme Development, Planning & Budgeting:
- To ensure proper annual planning and budgeting of VSO Nigeria education 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 project outcome delivered to quality required by the programme (with specified risks and benefits), to schedule within set budgets and scope. Provide a key co-ordination and implementation role, ensuring project management standards are followed and deadlines met.
- Prepare management products – including project outcome description, benefits review plan, project initiation documentation, exception plans, project controls.
- Establish and manage project procedures – risk and issue management, change control, communications.
- Manage project financial budgets and targets, providing accurate and timely information on expenditure.
Stakeholder Management and Communications:
- Build effective working relationships with project stakeholders, engaging them at each projects stage, ensuring communications have appropriate content and tone.
- Manage information flows between the directing and delivering levels of the project.
- Ensure organisational communications about projects benefits, progress and outcomes suit audience and are timely. Anticipate
- project risks and issues, communicating them to stakeholders, taking action to resolve.
- Inspire enthusiasm, momentum and commitment for outcomes project will deliver.
- Ensure project activity, outcome progress, issues, risks, exception reports are available to Stakeholders and management teams as appropriate.
Project Team Management:
- Establish, lead and motivate the project team, ensuring regular progress review meetings in place and behavioural expectations established. Liaise with external suppliers as necessary.
Resource Mobilisation and Grants Management:
- Ensure appropriate human resource in terms of skills, competencies, capabilities and capacity is made available across VSO globally to facilitate the effective design, implementation and monitoring of the project.
- Effectively manage donor grant allocated to project, ensuring appropriate reporting in place.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: Conduct post-implementation project reviews and initiate improvements to VSO’s project management practices.
- Lead the measurement and realisation of benefits delivered by the project.
Key Performance and indicators
- The required annual programme review and planning exercise is undertaken in consultation with staff, volunteers and partners.
- The annual Education 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.
- Programme development is informed by consultation with partners, volunteers, internal stakeholders and beneficiaries (they are held as integral to programme design, implementation and review).
- Partners are provided with a growing and widening range of support based on VSO’s core competencies
- High quality placements are developed and documented, based on thorough assessment of partner needs.
- Efficient delivery of resources to meet the objectives of the Programme Plan objectives.
- Leadership is displayed at all times.
Competencies
Working together – Strength:
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 longterm 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Essential:
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 Education programming.
- Practical experience gained within an NGO context and of managing Education 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.
Qualification and Experience
- A holder of Master’s Degree in Development studies, Social Sciences or related fields.
- A Minimum of 6 years relevant experience.
Background and Contextual Information:
- VSO have been working in Nigeria since 1958. VSO Nigeria currently has Secure Livelihoods Education and Youth Empowerment as its main programming areas. Further information on VSO’s work in each of the countries we work in can be found on the VSO website.
Remuneration
Very Competitive Package.
Very Competitive Package.
How to Apply
Deadline 13th October, 2017.
Interview/Assessment date(s)
Week of 9th October, 2017.
Week of 9th October, 2017.
Start Date
As soon as possible.
As soon as possible.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply