JOB POSTING – Program Manager

Organization:                                                    Right To Play Pakistan

Department/Division:                                   Program              

Work Location:                                                 Islamabad,Pakistan

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

Work Arrangement: A combination of in-office and remote-working in accordance with Right To Play’s work arrangement and the operationalneeds of the department

Target Hiring Range:                                      326,960 – 392,352 PKR per month (before taxes)

Target Start Date:                                            January 2024

Contract Duration:                                          Full-time, long-term engagement with an initial one-year contract

Application Closing Date:                            December 17^th, 2023 23:59 PKT

ABOUT US:                                                                                                            

Right To Play is a global organisation that protects, educates, and empowers children to rise above adversity through the power of play. We help millions of children each year to stay in school and out of work, to prevent life-threatening diseases and to stay safe from exploitation and abuse. We are the leading global development organization that uses play to transform the lives of children and youth impacted by poverty, war, disease, and inequality. 

Established in 2000, Right To Play reaches children through experiential programming in 15 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. These programs are supported by our headquarters in Toronto, Canada; London, UK and seven national offices across Europe and North America. 

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.

ROLE SUMMARY:

Program Manager is a leadership position within Right To Play’s country portfolio. The incumbent reports to the Country Director and is part of the Senior Management Team and acts as the deputy to the Country Director.   The incumbent is responsible for all aspects of program management 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.

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WHAT YOU’LL DO:

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.
• Acts as advocacy manager ensuring that the program addresses the needs of the people and is appropriate for the respective country.
• Oversees the development of evidence-based advocacy initiatives around play-based approaches as a tool to reach country development plans through the collaboration with program team and local stakeholders.
• Supports the CD in developing project proposals for new projects that are aligned with the organization’s strategic targets.

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Program Quality, and Reporting (25% of Time)

• Maintains the existing process of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and reporting system of RTP.
• 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 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.  
• Conducts regular monitoring visits to project locations.

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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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Policy and Advocacy (10% of time)

• Engagement of networks and coalitions on Child Rights and Education Campaign Coalitions on the RTP Safeguarding Policy and Child Centred Play methodology for incorporation in their approach.
• Participates in technical committees and sector working groups with the view to influence the adoption of the RTP Child Centred Play Based Methodology.
• 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 following the donors and RTP environmental standards.

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#4. 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 team, 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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#4. Team Management, Compliance and Capacity Building (10% of time)

• 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 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.
• Implements policies and procedures that guide and support RTP activities, ensures compliance with RTP 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.

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#5. Performs other duties as assigned (5% of Time)

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WHAT YOU’LL BRING (ESSENTIAL):

EDUCATION/TRAINING/CERTIFICATION:

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

EXPERIENCE:

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.

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

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:

• 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

LANGUAGES:    

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Urdu (Any other local language, including Punjabi, Sindhi or Pashtu will be a bonus but not required).

BONUS IF YOU’LL BRING (NOT ESSENTIAL):

• Experience in quality improvement.
• Experience working in the education sector.
• Experience and in-depth knowledge of child protection
• Experience taking programs to scale.
• Experience with lobbying and advocacy targeted towards Government.

WHO YOU ARE:

You are highly driven, results-oriented, collaborative, and well-rounded leader with a passion for working with children and youth. You are an exceptional communicator with excellent networking skills.

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.health and life insurance, Employee Old Age Benefit Incentive)
• Flexible work arrangements (e.g. work from home and flex hours)
• 20paid 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

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