Job Description
Starting Date: As soon as possible
Duration: 2 years, renewable
January 2025
CONTEXT
IsraAID is an international non-governmental organization that provides humanitarian aid. Our headquarters is in Israel, and we have been helping communities affected by crises in over 60 countries worldwide since our establishment in 2001. Our goal is to support these communities in rebuilding their lives and futures together, both in emergency and long-term development settings. We respond promptly to emergencies, including hurricanes, refugee crises, and global pandemics, and work closely with communities to help them become self-sufficient in preparing for and responding to emergencies and crises. IsraAID started its emergency and development activities in Malawi in March 2023 in response to Cyclone Freddy, with the aim of providing immediate relief and access to basic services. Over time, the program has expanded to focus on long-term development and resilience initiatives.
SUMMARY
The primary role of the Program Manager is to assist the Country Director in overseeing the implementation of programs and providing technical guidance for all projects. As a member of the senior leadership team, the Program Manager actively participates in planning, designing, implementing, developing, and managing the country’s program and strategy under the leadership of the Country Director. The Program Manager is responsible for overseeing all projects from their inception to their phase-out stages, ensuring effective implementation throughout the project life cycle. In alignment with IsraAID’s global strategy, the Program Manager will supervise and support Project Managers in developing concept notes, designing strong proposals, and creating solid implementation plans for each project.
This includes providing budget oversight and ensuring that donor reports are of high quality and submitted promptly. Additionally, the Program Manager will identify programming and relevant human resource needs and will work under the supervision of the Country Director to address those gaps. They will utilize and adapt existing program management tools in collaboration with the MEAL and Programs departments at the country office level and with headquarters.
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Program Management
- Reporting to the Country Director, proactively oversee all projects in the country through all components of the project management cycle providing ongoing managerial support to Program managers
- Ensure that all programs, projects and activities have clear and realistic objectives, identifiable direct/indirect beneficiaries, have concrete, realistic and impact-oriented implementation plans
- Ensure effective monitoring and evaluation processes and procedures are followed for each program for the effective and ethical implementation of programs
- Ensure proper risk assessment and mitigation strategy is developed for each program, project and activity and constantly monitored
- Effectively monitor budget implementation against programmatic targets, with support from HQ and Country Director
- In collaboration with all relevant staff, oversee timely reporting for all programs according to internal IsraAID and donor requirements, ensuring strict compliance with donor contract requirements and reporting deadlines, and that the verification of submission shared with the Country Director and relevant HQ staff
- Lead in organizing projects meetings, covering all aspects of project planning and implementation
- Ensure that all programs, projects and activities are designed and implemented according to IsraAID’s and international programmatic protocols, guidelines and standards, and that program planning and implementation are conducted in accordance with core ethics of intervention.
- Report to IsraAID Malawi Country Director on a weekly basis on activities, achievements, challenges, recommendations for program improvement and program staff development
2. Staff management and Professional Technical Support to Staff
- Maintain regular communication with the Country Director, other Senior Management Team members and field staff
- Manage and support programs team, directly supervise Technical Coordinators and ensure reporting lines are observed
- Manage staffing for programs: design staffing plans for each program in coordination with the Country Director, initiate relevant recruitments while ensuring adherence to approved budgets
- In collaboration with HQ sector leads and specialized technical staff in Malawi, support project managers to ensure quality of content development for each program
- Provide on-going technical support, on-the-job training, and oversight to all program staff
- Determine training needs for program staff and facilitate the participation of these staff in necessary training courses to build capacity
3. Human Resource Management
- Undertake routine performance reviews for the relevant staff under the Program Manager’s supervision
- Support the Human Resource Unit in the recruitment process of relevant program staff
- Orient and induct new and old program staff on program standards and related policies
4. Program Planning, Design and Strategy Execution
- Ensure effective implementation of the yearly strategic planning for all programs (using existing protocols and guidelines, and updating them when necessary)
- Under supervision of the Country Director, the development of concept notes, project proposals, budgets, and communication materials to expand the program portfolio
- Accompanying IsraAID’s national partners in the design and implementation of quality realistic programmatic intervention, considering the needs on the ground, IsraAID’s mandate and capacity of the partner, as well as donors’ requirements
- Identify and collect best practices to contribute to program experience and design
5. Administrative and financial management:
- Ensure all budgeting, administrative and procurement requirements related to the programs are met in a timely and effective fashion
- Provide managerial support to Project Managers to ensure the coordination of timely delivery of program supplies and expenses are within budget
- Ensure finance and procurement procedures are operational, effectively used and followed in all programs
- Constantly coordinate with finance department about budget planning, monitoring and reporting and monitor program spending versus program goals and timeframe
- Work closely with the finance department to support project managers in designing accurate financial projections in accordance with implementation plans, updating them when necessary
6. Coordination with external partners
- Ensure that all program decisions are taken in coordination with partners, donors, relevant government structures and community
- Ensure non-duplication of programs with other partners operating in same locations and in similar sectors of activity
- Attend coordination meetings, other relevant meetings with authorities, donors and other stakeholders as required by the Country Director
Promote and encourage a culture of compliance and ethics in country
As applicable to the position, maintain a clear understanding of donor compliance and ethical standards and adheres to those standards. Conduct work with the highest level of integrity. Communicate these values to staff and to partners and require them to adhere to these values.
Understanding of and commitment to the principles of non-discrimination, local ownership, sustainability, inclusiveness, local partnership, do-no-harm, and apolitical approach; codes of conduct against sexual exploitation and abuse; and against child exploitation and modern slavery.
Commitment to abide by IsraAID’s codes of conducts and ethical code
- Commitment to humanitarian principles
EDUCATION QUALIFICATION AND EXPEERIENCE
- Higher education in international development, social sciences/economics, psychology, social work or other relevant fields. BA – a MUST, MA- preferred.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience of working in Global international development, humanitarian response, or with Global non-profit organizations, with proven experience implementing programs in developing countries or emergency settings -a MUST
- Experience as a Program Officer Handling Multi-sectoral programming with solid background in Protection at international level – a MUST.
- Experience in managing projects funded by Global institutional donors, UN agencies.
- Proven experience in at least one of the following sectors: Protection, Health, WASH, Education or Livelihoods. Priority will be given to candidates with multi-sector experience.
- An excellent understanding and practical experience with Program design tools, MEAL, program management tools and ethics in programming
- Experience in directly managing and supervising diverse, multinational and multi-cultural teams
- Ability to motivate staff effectively
- Experience in staff capacity building.
- Able to consistently meet tight deadlines and work in a stressful environment.
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment and make decisions independently following consultative processes.
- Creativity and ability to work with limited resources
- Proficiency in English, written and spoken- A MUST
ETHICAL STANDARDS
IsraAID has a zero-tolerance policy towards any acts of misconduct and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. The recruitment process will include all candidates’ declaration and reference checks focused on misconduct and SEA.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
IsraAID is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability status