Background
Are you cut out to lead a high performing team engaged in creating social and economic development opportunities in isolated areas? In the Arua, Koboko and Yumbe districts of West Nile, Uganda, Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is developing links between community-based savings groups and private commercial banks (Diamond Trust Bank) to promote rural access to banking via digital financial services, strengthening education systems including via ICT, and ECD, child and community health services, and empowering youth socially and economically through local governments and civil society, etc. AKF is looking for a dynamic leader to work as Programme Manager of its multi-sector programmes in West Nile, Uganda. AKF has been operational in Arua, Koboko and Yumbe districts since 2012 with the launch of the Strengthening Education Systems in East Africa (SESEA) project. Reporting to the Country Director in Uganda, the Programme Manager will be leading a team of over 30 staff and a multi-sector programme that has grown significantly in the last 2-3 years and still has room to grow even further. The job comes with an isolated location, much travel, an always-full inbox, and a nagging sense that you could always do more. The job also comes with some of the greatest colleagues on the planet, tangible results from your hard work, and the knowledge that you are contributing to a national and global conversation on sustainable social and economic development.
Duty Station: Arua, Uganda
The incumbent will be responsible for the overall running of the multi-sector programmes on a day-to-day basis, strategically, programmatically and administratively.
Key Responsibilities include:
Lead, manage and mentor a multi-disciplinary team
Ensure that ALL AKF West Nile Programmes are achieving the desired results and impact
Ensure coordination and synergy among various sectors and projects implemented in West Nile by AKF
Manage relationship with local government, NGOs and private sector in the region
Ensure compliance with donor and AKF regulations and policies
Promote and institutionalize monitoring and evaluation, reflection and learning within AKF West Nile programming
Foster a culture of team building and support, integrity, high performance and accountability.
Ensure high quality implementation of ALL AKF West Nile programme activities, including management and oversight of grants
Oversee operations to ensure effective delivery of programme activities
Specifically:
Provide overall leadership and management to ALL AKF programmes in West Nile, including overseeing programme implementation, financial management and monitoring and evaluation.
Lead the development of strategic and annual programmatic plans and ensure coordination and synergy of various programme components to meet the desired outcomes
Ensure compliance with AKF policies and procedures and donor regulations, including financial oversight and grant management
Supervise, mentor, recruit and orient staff directly and indirectly including but not limited to promoting capacity development of staff in accordance with the needs of the programmes
Represent AKF and maintain relationship with relevant government authorities and external organisations and supporting AKF in policy engagement
Contribute to the development of high quality project proposals and budgets for the resource mobilization strategy in the region
Qualifications and Experience:
Minimum of a Master’s degree in education, economics, business administration, international development or a relevant field
Minimum 5 years’ relevant sector experience in development with a similar organisation
Minimum 3 years in a leadership position in the development sector in Uganda, East Africa or other regions of the developing world
Experience with multi-sector programming
Experience with results-based management
Familiarity with grant management, including preparation and monitoring of budgets
Knowledge of the government administration and the legal, fiscal and policy context in Uganda an advantage
Proven skills in project development, proposal writing, implementation and monitoring
Excellent organisational, inter-personal and communication skills
HOW TO APPLY:
Candidates interested in this unique position are requested to submit their CVs (not exceeding 3 pages) including contact details of three professional references and a covering letter to the Country Director – Aga Khan Foundation, Uganda, by e-mail to akf.uganda@akdn.org by COB Friday 4th November, 2016. Please clearly indicate “Application for Programme Manager – AKF West Nile” in your email subject. Please note that due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) has been working in East Africa for thirty years and pursues innovative solutions to the seemingly intractable problems that lead to poverty. AKF is an equal opportunity employer committed to employee well-being. In Uganda, AKF is managing a robust and expanding portfolio of multi-sectorial initiatives that includes programmes in sustainable economic development, education, early childhood development, health, environment and gender/civil society strengthening.
Aga Khan Foundation is an Agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org)