Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) Program Manager Job Vacancy

Voluntary
Service Overseas (VSO), is the world’s leading independent international
development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in
developing countries. Our high impact approach brings people together to share
skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action to
change lives and make the world a fairer place.

We
are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job
Title: Program
Manager – Livelihood
Location: Abuja
Duration: 3 years (Renewable)
Working Hours: 36 hours per week

Job
Purpose

To
be responsible for the development and implementation of Country office’s
Livelihood Programs in line with the VSON strategic direction and
priority.
Work
with project team to lead VSON’s engagement in programmatic areas related
to livelihoods interventions.

Role
Overview

VSO
Nigeria is seeking a dynamic, experienced, and competent Program Manager –
Livelihood to guide the overall Country Livelihood Programme strategy and
implementation.
Work
with project team to lead VSON’s engagement in programmatic areas related
to livelihoods interventions. The job holder will report to the Head of
Programs and will be located in Abuja, Nigeria (with frequent travel to
project locations).

Responsibilities
Programme Development, Planning & Budgeting:

To
ensure proper annual planning and budgeting of VSO Nigeria Livelihoods
programme is undertaken in a timely and cost effective manner and the
process is aligned with the defined overall priorities set by the donor as
well as VSO.
Ensure
that the plan and the budget proposed to the donor are agreed with the
partners and is also in accordance with VSO guidelines and country
strategic priorities.
To
be responsible for proper dissemination of the approved plan and agreed
budget amongst relevant staff, volunteers and partners.
Take
lead in the formulation of secure livelihoods focused donor proposals.

Programme
Implementation:

Ensure
that detailed annual, quarterly, monthly and weekly implementation plans
are prepared, approved and followed through.
Mechanisms
for monitoring and reporting on programme activities, including volunteer
reporting, are developed and implemented.
Accurate
Budget Monitoring Reports and variance reports are submitted within
deadline.

Staff/Volunteer
Recruitment, Placement, Management and Support:

Work
closely with the recruitment team to ensure timely recruitment of both
staff and Volunteers and as well ensure their placement.
Hold
monthly face-to-face programme review and planning meetings with all staff
and international volunteers in the backdrop of M&E data regularly
collected.
Be
responsible for identifying staff professional development needs and
ensure that they are met.
Extend
all required support and guidance to volunteers in the discharge of their
duties.
Clear
annual, work plans are agreed with staff and roles and responsibilities
clarified.

Monitoring,
Evaluation & Learning:

Timely
and accurate collection and joint team analysis of quantitative and
qualitative data at all levels in accordance with the MEL Framework.
Joint
programme progress review with all staff and partners at least on a
monthly basis.
Lead
on the Annual Partnership Review (APR) exercise preferably during the
November-December period every year.

Fundraising:

Proactively
lead program development and support fund raising initiatives of country
office around livelihoods (including onfarm and off-farm livelihoods
opportunities) and agriculture based value chains in order to expand
VSON’s footprint and scale up our existing interventions in Nigeria.

Key
Performance Indicators

The
required annual programme review and planning exercise is undertaken in
consultation with staff, volunteers and partners.
Number
of high value successful donor proposals.
Minimum
variance in the utilization of budgets as per the agreed plans.
Reports
are accurately and timely prepared for review along with detailed
explanations on budget utilization variance.
Reports
are submitted to the donor in accordance with the agreed deadlines.
The
annual Livelihoods programme budget is discussed and finalized in
consultation with the Country Director/SMT and submitted to the donor.
A
debrief meeting is held with all staff, volunteers and partners to ensure
a shared understanding on the approved plan and budget.

Competencies:

Working
together – Strength Successfully leads teams and develops others’
team-working skills.
Communications
and influencing – Strength Inspires others by: advocating plans and ideas
within and outside VSO; maintaining a wide, influential network; coaching.
Managing
People – Strength Builds a high performing team that meets challenging
objectives linked to corporate objectives; ensures own team works
efficiently with other teams.
Developing
People – Strength Is a role model for coaching, mentoring and developing
others, and for effective use of VSO’s staff development processes and
opportunities?
Leading
for the Future – Strength Builds confidence and excitement in VSO’s work
and vision, both internally and externally; leads innovative projects.
Thinking
Strategically – Strength Leads strategic projects, coaching others to
consider global and longterm impact, and to consult within and beyond VSO.
Delivering
Results – Strength Effectively leads large teams or complex projects,
generating a goal-oriented, problem-solving team mentality and ensuring
timely, high quality results.
Managing
Knowledge – Strength Leads initiatives that improve knowledge management;
develops others’ knowledge management skills.
Striving
for excellence – Strength Leads initiatives to improve monitoring,
evaluation and learning; is a role model for continuous learning and
improvement.
Managing
Resources – Strength Leads others to pursue significant or innovative
funding opportunities; finds creative ways to allocate funds and people on
complex projects effectively.

Qualification
and Experience

A
holder of Master’s Degree in Agronomy/Social Sciences/Rural Development or
related fields
A
Minimum of 6 years relevant experience.

Skills
and Knowledge
Essential:

Experience
of working in Nigeria in cross cultural setting, including an ability to
identify and facilitate cross-cultural working and learning amongst staff
and volunteers.
Experience
in budgeting and financial management, particularly in the context of
project planning.
Experience
and skills in facilitating learning in a non-formal environment, ideally
including facilitation experience with diverse groups
Good
Knowledge of programme level M&E including theory of change
development and donor reporting
Excellent
planning and organizational skills, including experience of project or
programme management.
Good
understanding of development challenges and working norms in Nigeria with
particular focus on livelihoods programming.
Practical
experience gained within an NGO context and of managing a livelihoods
programme.
Experience
of matrix and distance managing staff and providing highquality
supervision and support
Excellent
oral and written communication skills with ability to negotiate, persuade
and vary communication content and style to suit audiences to inform,
motivate and inspire.

Desirable:

Practical
experience gained within a volunteering/NGO context and of managing a
volunteer programme.
Experience
of managing change in an international environment.
Experience
of initiating, developing and maintaining transparent, equitable
partnerships.

Remuneration
Very Competitive Package.

How
to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Note: VSO reserves the
right to close this job early if we receive a sufficient number of
applications.

Application
Deadline 10th October, 2017.

Interview/Assessment
date(s)
Week of 9th October, 2017.

Start
Date
As soon as possible.