Senior Program Manager

Major Responsibilities

Strategy and Planning

• Develop deep understanding of Amref’s Global strategic plan https://strategy.amref.org/our-strategy/ and identify areas most applicable to Canada’s priorities.
• Contribute to the strategic planning and execution processes for Amref Canada overall, sharing insights related to program and partnership development.
• Participate in and contribute to the annual partnership development strategy with the program team, confirming operational areas of focus based on the strategic plan andprogram strategy.
• Support budget development for the program team based on annual priorities identified within the strategy, based on committed program initiatives.

Program and Proposal Development

• Identify and review opportunities for funding from major institutional grantors aligned with Amref’s strategic focus (eg. Government – Global Affairs Canada, and largescale foundations).
• Lead the process (identify ideal focus, critical path and timelines) for proposal submissions based on the global and Canada strategic plan priorities, including facilitating meetings with colleagues at HQ Business Development, the global BD and Programs Team, in-country technical leads and international and local partners.
• Draft content for proposals and gather input from other program team members and technical leads and partners to fulfil the overall submission content.
• Liaise with Director of Finance to develop and review program budgets for grant submissions, at both the concept note and full proposal stages.
• Submit proposals through the appropriate internal channels in HQ Business Development (ie. PPMC).
• Support the philanthropy team within Amref Canada who lead Foundation and major donor acquisition by participating in proposal development for Foundations and major donors, based on confirmed priorities.
• Steward submitted proposals through the review process. Obtain feedback from funders regarding proposal decision (approval or declined). Lead the communication process with application partners, internal and external, regarding funder response and next steps.
• Lead debrief process on approved/declined proposals, ensuring lessons learned are captured and action steps identified and tracked.
• Ensure relationship management for all players involved in the proposal process and establish follow-up pathways for funded initiatives.
• Capture all documents involved in these processes in the SharePoint/designated CRM filing system.

Partnership Development and Stakeholder Relations

• Contribute to development and evolution of the partnership strategy and guidelines, reviewing and updating as needed based on insights from debriefing processes.
• Explore partnership opportunities with identified prospects, based on program team confirmed priorities, noting where Amref Canada is well positioned to be a lead or a sub-partner to another lead organization.
• Support the positioning of Amref Canada to be considered as a preferred project partner.
• Lead the coordination of partnership negotiation, ensuring necessary teams are engaged to help further Amref Canada priorities.
• Serve as a relationship manager with partners as confirmed with the team, maintaining relationships and accountabilities with existing and new partners.
• Develop and implement strategy for partnership meetings, including ensuring creation of partnership presentation decks, plans for meeting attendance and roles of team members, meeting notes and follow-up actions including tracking partner activity in the CRM and Sharepoint.
• Represent Amref Canada at identified partner events and conferences.
• Facilitate relationships with Canadian organizations and Amref HQ, other Amref country offices, and Amref entities based on program team recommendations.

Program Management – Funded programs

• Provide staff leadership, management, and coordination on all aspects of program management cycle for funded programs, as identified within signed agreements, and in collaboration with country offices and Amref enterprises.
• With senior leadership collaboration, facilitate the transition from application stage to funded program, including stewarding all aspects of final negotiations and contracts with funder and internal and external partners; ensuring program implementation processes are launched effectively; establishing appropriate guidelines and cadence of meetings for all internal and external partners related to the grant’s deliverables; and leading the documentation process for Amref Canada.
• Identify issues/risks and propose solutions where situations arise constraining programmatic or operational success, donor compliance and impacts to stakeholder safeguarding Problem-solve with the program team and provide leadership, participating in navigating proposed solutions, bringing forward elements that require senior leadership support and escalation
• Ensure project partner input is gathered and integrated for all key program documents and milestones.
• Lead in the preparation of high-quality program deliverables and reports, including all aspects of providing templates to project partners, writing, reviewing, editing and synthesizing the content received, and ensuring review and approval by the Director prior to final submission to the funder and key stakeholders.
• For funded projects, provide senior project management support to country offices as defined within agreements, to plan and execute workplans and to build on best practices in program management.
• Ensure good program governance design and execution, particularly for Amref Canada-led partnership programs/projects; Moreover, represent Amref Canada and contribute appropriately at relevant advisory, steering and/or implementation committees and working groups.
• Ensure financial progress reports received from country offices are reviewed by the Director of Finance and when necessary, conduct review of the financial reports, evaluating expenditures against the project requirements, and taking appropriate action to address any issues identified.
• Within approved grant travel budgets, conduct field monitoring visits as required to assess progress in program implementation.
• Ensure grant compliance and document details of program success and achievements.
• Serve as a lead contact with the funder representatives, as agreed with Director of Programs and Partnerships.
• Prepare stewardship reports as required, contributing content to funded program reporting as requested by the Philanthropy team.
• Maintain an organized database of files relating to the Programs Department on the network drive (i.e. filing and version management of reports, deliverables, proposals, pertinent correspondence, administrative documents, etc.).
• Support the Director of Programs and Partnerships with necessary information related to these portfolio areas.

Thought Leadership and Knowledge Transfer

• Proactively seek information and knowledge about current trends and issues within the international development and cooperation sector, identifying opportunities for Amref to learn from and participate in key initiatives.
• Support the visibility of the organization by participating in external (sector) forums such as CanWaCH, CCIC and others as required.
• Serve on working groups led by partner organizations (eg. CanWaCH), contributing to Amref’s positioning as a thought leader in the sector, and surfacing knowledge to be shared with the wider team.
• Support the Communications function by providing relevant project related updates to ensure increased visibility of projects being managed by the Canada office, with well-framed impact stories from the field.
• Share knowledge gleaned from the portfolio internally with Amref Canada staff team, building their understanding of program impact and sector trends and issues. Consider a range of formats and channels to ensure topics are shared effectively.
• Develop content regarding Amref Canada to be shared with other Amref offices as appropriate; ensuring Amref country office content is shared with Amref Canada.
• Represent Amref Canada at external conferences, workshops, fora and events to share Amref program findings.

Team development and management

• Assist in the recruitment of team members and interns to support program portfolio.
• Manage team members and interns as required, including developing goals, workflow oversight and providing feedback and support.
• Support and participate in the onboarding of new staff with an overview of program development and related policies.
• Ensure coordination and collaboration with Amref Canada departments (finance, communications, fundraising) by providing the information and support needed to further the goals of other teams.

Other responsibilities

• Contribute to the vision, mission, and values of the organization by fulfilling other responsibilities as may from time to time be required.

Knowledge and experience

• Undergraduate degree in relevant area (e.g. International Development, Global Health). Advance or graduate degree in relevant discipline (e.g relating to Population health, Primary Health Care) is considered an asset.
• Demonstrable program and project management experience in major multi-country and/or consortium-type program delivery initiatives.
• 5-7 years’ progressive management/leadership experience in international development/program delivery and/or direct field experience
• Knowledge of global health issues including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH), Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and gender equality issues in the African context.
• Experience with international funders including knowledge of Global Affairs Canada donor requirements, funding mechanisms, policies and procedures.
• Demonstrable knowledge of Results Based Management (RBM) toolkit. Knowledge of the non-profit, charitable sector and understanding of donor stewardship and impact reporting.

Competencies:

• Outstanding writing skills: ability to review, edit and synthesize field reports, analyze qualitative and quantitative data, articulate results and produce high quality donor reports.
• Experience in proposal development, report writing, and grant and financial management.
• Experience negotiating partnerships and developing agreements and MOUs.
• Conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
• Experience and owned accountabilities in monitoring and reviewing progress, managing risks, and maximizing results.
• Experience managing volunteers/interns an asset.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• General knowledge and comfortable using a customer/donor information database (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics)
• Organized, detail-oriented, resourceful, flexible and able to work independently and meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to plan, implement and priorities tasks, optimize resources and work with others to accomplish organizational goals or priorities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to deliver information and messages in written and verbal formals for designated audiences.
• Proficiency in other languages relevant to work in Africa. French is an asset
• Strong communication skills, interpersonal and cross-cultural effectiveness skills to work effectively in a collegial manner in collaborative contexts.
• Ability to work in a small dynamic office and as part of a team.

Relationship with other positions:

• Works with the Executive Director in support of the Board of Directors and
  Organization-wide deliverables.
• Works with Finance Director to develop, track and review program budgets and
  financial reports.
• Works with the Philanthropy team to support proposal development and prospect
  research for foundations.
• Works with the Communications team on program communications, compliance
  and updates and special initiatives
• Works with global program and business development colleagues in support of
  portfolio areas.
  

Working Conditions:

Amref Health Africa in Canada uses a hybrid work model (currently 2 days per week in office). Beyond standard office hours, the role requires flexible working hours to effectively coordinate with our global colleagues. Domestic and international travel (1-2 trips to Africa or Europe annually) is a part of this role and requires additional flexibility on working hours in line with Amref Health Africa in Canada’s Human Resources policy.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility:

Our organization strives to embed the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in our policies, procedures, programs, projects, initiatives, practices, products and services. These principles centre around the uniqueness and differences among people, the value of multiple identities and attributes of individuals, the intersectionality of human features, the representation of people of different backgrounds, the harmony and unity of people in spite of their variations, the subscription to the ideals of social justice, equality, and fairness, and the centrality of social change for a better workplace, community, and world. How can we make the hiring process accessible for you? Please advise us should you
require any accommodation to participate in the recruitment and/or assessment process.