Program Manager

Right To Play is a global organisation that protects, educates and empowers children to rise above adversity using play. By harnessing play, one of the most powerful and fundamental forces in a child’s life, we helped 2.3 million children last year to stay in school and out of work, to prevent life-threatening diseases like HIV and malaria and to stay safe from exploitation and abuse. We are the only global development organization focused exclusively on using play to transform the lives of children and youth impacted by poverty, war, disease and inequality.

Established in 2000, Right To Play is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has operations in 15 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

 

With a shared passion for our mission, our Culture Code guides how we act and interact based on five core pillars:

• Accept Everyone – Be intentional about inclusion
• Make Things Happen – Seek opportunities to lead and innovate
• Display Courage – Act with integrity
• Demonstrate Care – Look after yourself and one another
• Be Playful – Have fun at work

Please visit our website to learn more about who we are and what we do, and watch this video to find out about the five pillars of our Culture Code.

Visit us at www.righttoplay.com. 

The Program Manager is a leadership position within Right To Play’s country portfolio and is part of the Senior Management Team. This position reports directly to the Country Director (CD)  with an indirect supervision line to the Global Director, Country Offices (GDCO).

The incumbent is responsible for program planning, design and development, fundraising, partnerships, representation and program implementation. He/she is also responsible for effective financial management, reporting, budget monitoring and donor compliance. The PM leads and directly manages a team of professional staff to ensure quality program implementation.

 

Job Responsibility #1: Program Strategic Planning and Development (25% of Time):

• Leads the programmatic management of all in country projects.

 

• Leads the design and development of program strategies and plans with the program team and ensures their alignment with RTP strategies.

 

• Leads in-country tracking of challenges faced by the program and takes actions to mitigate risks and develop opportunities.

 

• Ensures the program teams stay abreast of current program goals and objectives and participates in the program expansion plans.

 

• Ensures the program teams are implementing project activities in line with donor requirements to achieve project outcomes.

 

• Coordinates the preparation of timely and cost-effective operational plans, budgets and strategic plans with the program team.

 

• Works to ensure that the program addresses the local needs of children and their communities, and is appropriate for the respective country.

 

• Promotes evidence-based, play-based approaches as a tool to reach country development plans and works in collaboration with the program team and local stakeholders.

 

• Supports the Country Director in developing project proposals for new projects that are aligned with the organization’s strategic targets.

 

• Support the development and implementation of the emergency response and contingency plans of the country office by working closely with country team members, Global team and external stakeholders.

Job Responsibility #2: Program Quality, and Reporting  (25% of Time):

• Maintains the existing process of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) and reporting system of Right To Play.

 

• Supports the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning team in the development and implementation of monitoring, review, assessment and evaluation plans for improved program development and delivery.

 

• Ensures adherence to Right To Play program standards in program design and implementation

 

• Oversees preparation and submission of quality narrative reports, financial reports, work plans and budgets in line with donor requirements, ensuring that financial budgeting and reporting is aligned with program and project plans.

 

• Facilitates country level conversations around program quality, program accountability, partnerships, gender, and child protection.

 

• Provides quarterly updates of lessons learned and best practices to CD’s and stakeholders ensuring that program lessons are being used to promote improved program delivery.

 

• Conducts regular monitoring visits to project locations.

 

Job Responsibility #3: Partnership, Fundraising, Representation and Collaboration (15%):

• Facilitates linkages, collaboration and networking with other civil society organizations and governments and other relevant institutions to enhance Right To Play’s visibility and program activities.

 

• Represents Right To Play in various platforms and maintains positive relationships with governments and other relevant stakeholders regarding Right To Play activities.

 

• Identifies and develops new partnerships with local NGOs, Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and communities.

 

• Oversees the management of existing partnerships.

 

• Ensures ownership of the program by local partners and stakeholders.

 

• Meets with partners’ staff and community leaders to discuss program improvement as needed.

 

• Joins the Country Director in meetings and represents him/her when required.

 

• Participates in partnership meetings with donors.

 

Job Responsibility #4: Policy Influence & Stakeholder Engagement (10% of Time):

             

• Engagement of local networks and thematic coalitions, including those focussed on child rights, child wellbeing (including psychosocial wellbeing), and education to promote child-centred, play-based approaches to achieve development outcomes Monitor for opportunities (e.g., local events, conferences, regional dialogues) where Right To Play can showcase its evidence of impact in advancing child wellbeing and learning outcomes through the power of play
• Liaise with the Director, Policy & Stakeholder Engagement to coordinate and leverage efforts, in alignment with the Global Policy Influence Strategy

 

 

Job Responsibility #5: Program Financial Management (10% of Time):

           

• Coordinates with the finance team to provide financial training on effective program financial management, including procurement, project implementation, compliance and project financial reporting.

 

• In close coordination with the Finance Officer and/or Manager, oversees the budget planning processes for programs and projects to ensure that program funds are expended according to procedures and plans.

 

• Collaborates with the program team and develops new initiatives to be integrated into the budget.

 

 

Job Responsibility #6: Team Management, Compliance, and Capacity Building (10% of Time):

 

 

• Communicates program vision to the program team, leads and directs them toward achieving the program goals and objectives.

 

• Ensures the program team has a clear understanding of their roles, responsibilities and accountabilities

 

• Conducts program staffing needs assessment, presents recommendations to the Country Director and participates in the recruitment of the program team.

 

• Facilitates the capacity building of program team to ensure they have the appropriate skill levels for their positions and are developing to their full capacity; provides the necessary feedback to the program team and completes their performance appraisals.

 

• In close coordination with the human resources function, ensures that all country office staff fully understand their roles and responsibilities as related to Right To Play’s Child Safeguarding Policy and receive orientation and training concerning the policy on a regular basis.

 

• Provides direct support to the program team in the form of systems and tools.
• Supports the ongoing process of periodic updating of the progress being made in actualizing the country strategy document

 

• Facilitates presentations at consultative workshops and RTP implementing partners’ meetings to discuss the RTP Child Safeguarding, Gender Policies and Environment Policies.

 

• Ensures inclusion of relevant provisions in Contracts and MoUs on RTP Child Safeguarding and Gender Policies.

 

• Acts as the Environment Focal Point and ensures that all RTP rehabilitation projects are in compliance with the donors and RTP environmental standards

 

• Implements policies and procedures that guide and support Right To Play activities, ensures compliance with Right To Play’s code of conduct, gender and child safeguarding policies including timely and appropriate reporting.

 

• Develops and strengthens the program team’s understanding of project cycle management.

 

Job Responsibility #7: Performs other duties as assigned (5% of Time):

 

 

 

Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, development studies or other related disciplines.

 

 

5-7 years’ experience managing international development programs and liaising with government officials and donors. Proven experience in project planning, proposal development, report writing, resource mobilization, networking, partnership-building and working with NGOs.

 

• Superior organizational skills and ability to multi-task on a constant basis
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills to build rapport with staff, partners, government officials, donors and community leaders
• Ability to work under pressure meeting deadlines in a fast paced fluid environment
• Creative and flexible with problem solving skills
• Demonstrated professionalism and diplomacy
• Ability to confidently represent oneself and Right To Play to high level officials
• Strategy planning skills
• People management particularly coaching and influence management

 

• Strong MS Office and program management tools and procedures
• Budgetary control and financial management, including ability to read and understand financial data
• Project management skills
• Understanding of the concept of sport for development
• Understanding of community development processes

 

Fluency in spoken and written English and Arabic.

 

 

Previous work experience with an l/NGO

 

Employment Start Date: 

 

 

 

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package

 

If you are interested in applying for this position, If you are interested in applying for this position, please apply by submitting your documents Here

 

 

While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected for video interviews will be contacted. Right To Play provides equal employment opportunities to employees regardless of their gender, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation or marital status. We offer a family-friendly environment that allows for flexible work arrangements in order to support staff diversity and ensure a healthy work-life balance.

 

We are a child-centered organization. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to the safety and protection of children in our programs. The successful candidate will be required to provide a satisfactory police record check as a condition of employment.

 

To learn more about who we are and what we do, please visit our website at www.righttoplay.com