Programme Manager for ‘Our Rights, Our Duties’ – DR Congo Full Time

Job Purpose

To develop, coordinate and deliver the governance-protection program“Haki Na Shurti Zetu” (Our Rights and Our Duties) of Oxfam DRC working with the teams in Bukavu, Mbandaka, Kalemi, Goma and Kinshasa. She/he will be based in Goma with frequent visits to the field sites.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

We are looking to recruit an experienced candidate to lead the implementation of a complex programme tackling governance and protection in fragile and conflict affected context. The programme will engage on governance priorities at several levels: local, provincial and national. The post will be responsible for managing the programme, which will be implemented in three DRC provinces and Kinshasa, and includes a strong learning and monitoring component with the Oxfam team, partners and multiple stakeholders.

Program Management

• Lead the elaboration and implementation of a multi-year operational strategy and yearly annual workplans and budgets for each participating province and for the overall programme. Work with the programme team and partners to adapt the program strategy and approach to the specific needs and circumstances of each province.
• Manage the overall implementation of the programme according to approved workplan and budgets, monitor field activities to ensure implementation adheres to planning and within budget limitations.
• Be responsible for the overall management of the programme’s activities, operations, finances, and logistics. The Programme Manager is the programme’s budget holder and will work in close collaboration with the programme team and Oxfam support services to deliver the programme according to its established workplan and budget.
• Supervise, and provide management support to the programme Team Leaders and the programme team in each province.
• In coordination with the Team Leader in each province, provide management supervision of partners engaged to deliver the programme. Contribute to training, monitoring and guiding partners’ planning, implementation and reporting.
• Contribute to the elaboration of an operational monitoring and evaluation plan. Work with the team, partners and MEAL staff and coordinator to ensure data collection, reporting and documentation of lessons learnt.
• Work closely with the governance and protection programme leads on technical aspects of the programme and assure the implementing team translates them into action through appropriate programme activities.
• Continuously monitor of programme implementation and propose corrective measures as necessary for implementation according to the annual workplan and budget.
• Plan and organise supervision visits to programme sites and conduct spot checks where necessary to ensure on-track programme implementation.
• Be responsible for the timely submission of programme and financial reports, and for the integration of programme and financial data in Oxfam’s information management systems. Consolidate and validate financial and programme reporting submitted by partners. Collaborate with the funding manager to finalize and submit donor reports in adherence with established deadlines and formats.

Technical framework and program quality

• In collaboration with the governance and protection leads, make sure the programme is implemented in accordance with the strategic approach, technical requirements and criteria established within the programme and responds to Oxfam programme quality standards. Collaborate with technical leads to identify and address needs for capacity building of program staff and partners.
• Contribute to planning, organizing meetings of the program’s steering committee. Be responsible for following up on decisions taken by the committee in collaboration with other members of the program team.
• With program technical leads, plan and realize annual program review workshops to document strengths, weaknesses lessons learnt and to adapt the programme to incorporate lessons learnt and correct for shortcomings or delays.
• In collaboration with the Program Managers for East and West, establish relationships and coordination with different governance actors including the government, INGOs, local NGOs and others on governance issues. Identify opportunities for collaboration and synergy between Oxfam’s and other actors’ efforts.
• Contribute to the elaboration and implementation of an influencing strategy for the program. Work with the program team to advocate for solutions to governance priorities signalled by the program.
• Shape program strategies that strengthen women’s participation at different levels.
• Assure the programme and its activities are conflict sensitive; assure program staff’s adherence to Oxfam’s safe-programming and safeguarding policies.
• Provide support for fundraising for governance programmes to complement or expand on the current programme.

Technical Skills, Experience & Knowledge
Essential

• Minimum of seven years of relevant programme management experience of governance, protection, and/or related programmes in fragile and conflict-affected country contexts.
• Strong project management and budget management skills, experience in managing complex multi-year, multi-site programmes.
• Experience in supervising and managing multiple project teams within the context of a multi-site programme.
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking ability and experience of high-level strategic discussions on governance in politically sensitive environments,
• Experience working on development programmes in the region on similar work
• A commitment to, understanding of, and experience with participatory approaches to development; experience in training, coaching and supporting staff, partners and participants.
• Track record of data collection, elaboration and application of M&E frameworks, and documentation of knowledge
• Track record of high performance and ability to deliver within time and resource limitations in high pressure environments
• Understanding of gender aspects of development and in conflict
• Experience of working with others and ability to build coalitions and gain consensus
• Strong interpersonal skills including good team work
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to motivate influence and negotiate both internally and externally, strong French and English skills. Ability to write programme reports and communication in French and English.
• Commitment to Oxfam’s goal to end poverty and suffering.
• Master’s degree in International Development, Public Policy, Human rights or other relevant field.

Desirable

• Experience of capacity building and working effectively with civil society in African contexts
• Experience with or knowledge of advocacy working at local and national levels in politically sensitive environments.
• Knowledge of the context of DR Congo
• Previous experience with SIDA funded projects

Key Behavioural Competencies

Influencing

• We have the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders in a way that leads to increased impact for the organisation We spot opportunities to influence effectively and where there are no opportunities we have the ability to create them in a respectful and impactful manner.

Relationship Building

• We understand the importance of building relationship, within and outside the organization. We have the ability to engage with traditional and non-traditional stakeholders in ways that lead to increased impact for the organisation.

Systems Thinking

• We view problems as parts of an overall system and in their relation to the whole system, rather than reacting to a specific part, outcome or event in isolation. We focus on cyclical rather than linear cause and effect. By consistently practicing systems thinking we are aware of and manage well unintended consequences of organisational decisions and actions.

Vision Setting

• We have the ability to identify and lead visionary initiatives that are beneficial for our organization and we set high-level direction through a visioning process that engages the organization and diverse external stakeholders.

Agility, Complexity, and Ambiguity

• We scan the environment, anticipate changes, are comfortable with lack of clarity and deal with a large number of elements interacting in diverse and unpredictable ways.

Enabling

• We all work to effectively empower and enable others to deliver the organizations goals through creating conditions of success. We passionately invest in others by developing their careers, not only their skills for the job. We provide freedom; demonstrate belief and trust provide appropriate support. We give more freedom and demonstrate belief and trust, underpinned with appropriate support.