Programme Manager – Humanitarian

Job Title:

Programme Manager – Humanitarian

Effective date

1 April 2023

Department:

Programme

Job Family:

Programme

Reports to:

Head of Programmes

Grade:

E

Location:

Jordan or Lebanon with frequent travel within the region.

Direct Reports:

Projects manager(s), coordinators, and officer(s)

Job Role

Role Overview:

This position is responsible for the overall management and delivery of the ActionAid Arab region (AAAR) humanitarian programme in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, implemented under a Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPAII) with the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) through ActionAid Denmark.

In addition, this role contributes to the strategic development of new programmes within the humanitarian and NEXUS thematic, supports the Head of programmes in building relationships and connecting to major INGOs and donors working in the area and participates in relevant forums and donor meetings.  The role is expected to create cohesion between the AAAR core team of project managers, coordinators, and officers while capitalizing on synergies with other programmes.

Accountabilities

Key Accountabilities / Responsibilities

Key Activities

Grants management

• Responsible for the overall management of the sub-grants related to the humanitarian programme.
• Responsible for the financial management of the sub-grants, including the financial management of partners’ grants.
• Responsible for the draft of the master budget of humanitarian-related projects, and for the follow-up on the spending. 
• Responsible for compliance with donors’ contracts and AAAR policies.
• Responsible, with the Project Manager(s), coordinators, and officer(s), for the review and advice on all partners’ agreements (budget, spending and work plan).
• Responsible for the management of the contractual reports including mid-term and final reports, developing calendars for reporting deadlines, and coordination with key staff of advisors and projects managers to ensure qualitative and timely submission of reports.

Partnership Management

• Organize and facilitate monthly partnership meetings with the team of project manager(s) and/or officer(s).
• Support and guide partner staff in partners’ amendments, elaboration of mitigation plans, and addressing challenges.
• Ensure qualitative and timely implementation of activities.
• Regularly conduct national and regional visits to partners’ centres.
• Review and advise on partners’ plans and support the partners elaborating action plans.
• Lead the organizational development assessment for existing and new partners.
• Support the Regional Director and the Head of the Programme in implementing the localization approach.
• Consistently identify new partners in line with AAAR strategic objectives and mandates.
• Provide technical advice and training to the partners’ staff.

Programme implementation

• Responsible for the overall planning of programme activities in close coordination with local partners, and key staff.
• Responsible for the draft of MOUs and review of contractual agreements with partners reflecting clear roles and responsibilities.
• Ensure, with close coordination with key staff members, and technical advisors qualitative and timely implementation of activities.
• Ensure proper mechanisms, tools and templates are in place and well understood by the partners and programme staff.
• With the support of key staff, and in close coordination with AAAR affiliates, ensure a proper MEAL plan is in place.
• Lead the recruitment of consultants to implement needs assessments and baseline surveys, ….

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Oversee the collection, collation, and analysis of programme performance indicator data.
• Lead the development of programme evaluation scopes of work (baseline, end-line…_) and collaborate with evaluation consultants to implement the exercises.
• Ensure that partners have MEAL plans in place.
• Ensure that lessons learned, and success stories are well documented and shared internally and externally.

Programme Development &

Fundraising

• Lead and actively contribute to the development of concept notes and proposals.
• As advised by the Head of Programmes, engage with donors, and humanitarian bodies.
• Ensure close coordination and linkages with AAAI and AAAR affiliates.
• Contribute to the development of the AAAR strategic framework with a strong focus on humanitarian and NEXUS programmes.
• Ensure that all proposals and new projects are in line with AAAR strategy and mandate.
• Maintain, develop, and nurture new strategic relationships.

Representation

• Represent ActionAid in meetings with Government agencies, humanitarian organizations, and ActionAid humanitarian working groups nationally and internationally.
• Attend/delegate attendance in key niche UN cluster meetings locally and nationally.
•  Strategically engage in important national and international level networks, forums, and meetings. 

Team Leadership

• Directly supervise a team of program coordinators, project manager(s) and/or officer(s).
• Ensure job descriptions are updated according to needs and tasks are well understood by the team.
• Ensure, in coordination with the team, the development of key performance, and work plans. 
• Participate in the recruitment of relevant team members.
• Ensure regular annual and midterm staff appraisals are conducted in line with the AA AAR HROD policy.
• Ensure an enabling and learning experience for all team members, by fostering team spirit, and providing coaching, and mentoring learning experiences.

Communication & Campaigns coordination

• Efficiently coordinate with the Communication team to ensure clear visibility of programmes’ objectives and outcomes, major achievements, including success stories.
• Constantly update the communication lead on relevant project activities, and campaigns, and actively contribute to the update of the communication strategy.  

Others

• Ensure adherence to AAAR values, principles and Human Rights based approach.
• Ensure compliance with AAAR policies and procedures.
• Ensure alignment with AA Humanitarian signature.
• Ensure compliance with humanitarian standards.
• Work closely with consultants and technical advisors.
• Foster and promote enabling working environment.

Typical People Management Responsibility

The approximate number of people managed

Approximately three people.  

Matrix Manager – (projects/dotted line)

No

Team Leader

Yes

What is the global remit?  Operates in:

Own country

No

Geographic Region

Jordan, Lebanon, Syria (remote management currently).

Financial (limits/mandates)

Direct departmental budget

1,660,000 Euro annually

Key Relationships to reach solutions

Internal (to ActionAid or team)

External

• Head of Programme.
•  Technical advisors.
• Finance Department.
•  Communication & Campaign Coordinators.
•   Programme Managers.
• AA affiliates (e.g. ActionAid Denmark team)
• Relevant departments.

• Local partners.
• Humanitarian organizations (UN, INGO, etc)
• Relevant ministries, and local authorities.
• Funding affiliates, and potential donors.

Your Profile

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social science, development studies, political science, humanitarian, or others.

Essential experience and knowledge

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in managing humanitarian and NEXUS programmes.
• Extensive experience in the humanitarian sector, working with NGOs, preferably INGO.
• Extensive experience in managing programs/projects, including grant management.
• Extensive experience in budgeting, and financial management.
• Experience in managing institutional, bilateral and international donor-funded projects.
• Extensive experience in localization, working with partners and community engagement.  
• Solid experience in proposal and report writing.
• Experience with safe programming, including gender and protection mainstreaming.
• Demonstrated understanding of the political and cultural backgrounds of Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria (NES, NWS, GOS).

Essential Skills

• Demonstrated experience in a humanitarian/ recovery context.
• People’s management skills and ability to remotely manage team members.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Result-oriented and a team player.
• Microsoft office skills including but not limited to – Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Language proficiency

 Fluency in Arabic and English, both written and verbal.

This Job Description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively from staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organizational needs.