ABOUT US:                                                                                      

We reach millions of children each year in some of the most difficult places on earth, helping them to stay in school and learn, overcome prejudice, heal from trauma, and develop the skills they need to thrive. We do this by harnessing play, one of the most fundamental forces in a child’s life, to teach children the critical skills they need to dismantle barriers and embrace opportunities, in learning and in life.

Established in 2000, Right To Play reaches children through experiential programming in 14 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. These programs are supported by our global offices in Toronto, Canada; London, UK and seven national offices across Europe and North America.

OUR CULTURE:

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.

ROLE SUMMARY:

The Program Manager (PM) 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).

You will be responsible for program planning, design and development, fundraising, partnerships, representation and program implementation. You will also be 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.

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WHAT YOU’LL DO:

#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 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.

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

• Maintains the existing process of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and reporting system of RTP.
• Supports the MEL team in the development and implementation of monitoring, review, assessment and evaluation plans for improved program development and delivery.
• Ensures adherence to RTP 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.
• Conduct regular monitoring visits to project locations.

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#3: Partnership, Fundraising, Representation and Collaboration (15% of Time):

• Facilitates linkages, collaboration and networking with other civil society organizations and governments and other relevant institutions to enhance RTP visibility and program activities.
• Represents RTP in various platforms and maintains positive relationships with governments and other relevant stakeholders regarding RTP 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 CD in meetings and represents him/her when required.
• Participates in partnership meetings with donors.

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#4: Policy Influence and Stakeholder Engagement (10% of Time):

• Engagement of local networks and thematic coalitions, including those focused 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 RTP 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

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#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 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.

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#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 CD 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 People and Culture function, ensures that all country office staff fully understand their roles and responsibilities as related to RTP’s 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 Safeguarding, Gender Policies and Environment Policies.
• Ensures inclusion of relevant provisions in Contracts and MoUs on RTP 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 RTP activities, ensures compliance with RTP code of conduct, gender and safeguarding policies including timely and appropriate reporting.
• Develops and strengthens the program team’s understanding of project cycle management.

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#7: Perform other duties as assigned (5% of Time)

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Organization:                                               Right To Play Ethiopia

Department/Division:                                  Program Development  

Reports to:                                                    Country Director, Ethiopia

Work Location:                                              Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Authorized to work in:                                 Ethiopia (Eligible to work legally without work visa sponsorship)

Target Hiring Range:                                     Local salary scale applies (Grade 8). Hiring range and benefits will be shared with applicants as part of the recruitment

process.

Please note that this is a national position, and salary will be paid in local currency.

Target Start Date:                                          As soon as possible

Contract Duration:                                       Full-time, one-year contract with possibility of renewal based on performance and availability of funding

Application Closing Date:                            November 30, 2024 23:59 EAT

About You

WHAT YOU’LL BRING (ESSENTIAL):

EDUCATION/TRAINING/CERTIFICATION:

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

EXPERIENCE:

• 5 years’ experience managing international development programs in Education, Psychosocial Support and Gender Equality
• Experience liaising with government officials and donors
• Proven experience in project planning, proposal development, report writing, resource mobilization, networking, partnership-building and working with NGOs

COMPETENCIES/PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• 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 RTP to high level officials
• Strategy planning skills
• People management particularly coaching and influence management

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• 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 community development processes

LANGUAGES:

• Fluency in spoken and written English
• Fluency in spoken and written local language.

BONUS IF YOU’LL BRING (NOT ESSENTIAL): 

• Previous work experience with an I/NGO
• Experience with Impact Evaluation and RCT
• Experience with Implementation and Process Evaluation (IPE)

WHAT YOU’LL GET: 

The opportunity to collaborate with an innovative global team who are passionate about working with children and youth. You will gain experience working for a globally recognized organization with a healthy culture premised on our Culture Code (accept everyone, make things happen, display courage, demonstrate care and be playful). You will be immersed in an environment where learning and development is encouraged and valued, and “play” is appreciated as a core avenue to building community.

• Competitive salary and benefits (e.g. medical and life insurance, transportation allowance)
• 20 paid vacation days per year
• 3 personal days per year
• 5 personal learning and development (L&D) days per year
• Maternity/paternity/parental leave top up and support
• Annual learning week
• Annual staff recognition awards
• Opportunity to connect with employees across our offices (e.g. Facebook Workplace)
• Opportunity to engage in global projects and initiatives
• Wellness programs
• Playful activities and events