Senior Program Manager-DRC & Francophone

The Senior Program Manager is a part of the Program Support Team (PST) and works to advance Ipas’s mission by providing strategic and program management support to selected programs within the global Ipas network. The SPM operates with high levels of autonomy and leverages their strategic leadership, risk management, and collaboration skills to provide support to Ipas consolidated implementing nodes based on agreed upon levels of support. They model shared leadership approaches and play a critical role in supporting Ipas implementing nodes to deliver on their strategic objectives and ensure strong program management, collaboration, communication, as well as successful new business development.
The SPM also supports selected strategic organizational initiatives. At times they directly manage multi-country awards/programs, serving as the main donor/partner liaison for these awards and working collaboratively to deliver on the award scope within schedule, budget, and per donor requirements and Ipas’ quality standards.

Strategic Support

Provide strategic programmatic and operational guidance to select Ipas implementing nodes to deliver on organizational and donor commitments, build institutional strength, and advance Ipas’s mission in assigned geographies, working closely with the node leadership teams.

• Serve as a key counterpart and representative of Ipas US, for assigned Ipas country/regional nodes, closely supporting their needs and priorities with Ipas US and service nodes, Partner with Ipas implementing nodes to respond to key organizational deliverables/requirements, including monitoring and reporting, annual budgeting, financial monitoring, risk management, global reporting, and compliance with network quality standards.
• Provide strategic guidance to internal and donor reporting as needed, to ensure alignment with requirements, validate accuracy/eligibility of results and spending, and promote strategic positioning with donors/partners.
• Provide strategic guidance on capacity strengthening, experience sharing, and training of Ipas staff in country/regional nodes in organizational policies, financial management, program management, and risk management.
• Provide strategic guidance and where needed strategic leadership in oversight and internal controls by supporting audits, response to audit observations, compliance with network quality standards, and other program or organizational strengthening initiatives.
• Provide strategic guidance for learning and sharing across the Ipas Network such as through fostering peer exchanges across nodes, participating in communities of practice, and hosting webinars
• Provide strategic guidance to new implementing node staff orientation and new project start-up as needed.

Program management and award support

• Provides strategic guidance for Ipas implementing nodes with a focus on strengthening program management and compliance across the full project lifecycle for a diverse and complex set of awards/projects ranging in funding value, results commitments, donor requirements, and risk profiles.
• Provide guidance on strategic planning, project implementation, and application of strong monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks to ensure that projects are managed within timeline, scope, and budget.
• Provide strategic guidance and when needed lead on the oversight of risk management and award compliance in line with organizational policies, procedures, and donor terms and conditions.
• Provide strategic support to node leadership with conflict resolution as needed and requested.
• Provide strategic support for implementing nodes program implementation teams to ensure successful achievement of results and financial outcomes.
• Conduct needs-based country visits to support and guide project implementation, program management, problem solving, and/or capacity strengthening of node staff.
• Provide strategic guidance for project negotiations, reporting and responses to requests from donors and partners.
• Provide strategic guidance related to Ipas implementing nodes external relationships and visibility for the network.
• Manage complex multi-country awards/programs as assigned, in collaboration with implementing node staff.
• Streamline multi-node program management, as needed.
• Provide strategic guidance for node start up or close out, as needed.

New business development and external engagement

Support Ipas implementing nodes and the Ipas Network to grow the program portfolio, cultivate and strengthen relationships with external stakeholders, and position Ipas as a leader in strengthening abortion ecosystems.

• Contribute to strategies and materials to support donor/partner identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship and other external engagement initiatives (e.g., node fund raising plans)
• Provide strategic guidance on proposal design teams as requested, adding a program management perspective
• Contribute to preparing project proposals as requested, including the technical design, financial narratives, costing analyses, budget development, resource planning, and risk management
• Support donor and partner intelligence gathering and facilitate sharing across Ipas nodes, as needed.
• Participate in or co-lead in award negotiations (e.g., award renewals) as requested

Other duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements

• Ten or more years’ work experience in project or program management

• Eight or more years of experience in global sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)
• Experience working in Ipas implementation geographies, or similar setting.
• Demonstrated leading and providing strategic guidance to global SRHR programs
• Demonstrated success in building rapport and trust with and among colleagues across various cultural backgrounds.
• Committed to advancing access to comprehensive SRHR, including abortion care
• Fluency in English (written and oral) required.
• Working fluency in French (written and oral) required
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Self-starter with strong time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to travel up to 20% domestically and internationally, including at short notice.

Preferred Skills

• Relevant post-graduate degree (MBA, MIA, MPH, etc.).
• Experience working in a matrixed international NGO and with shared leadership
• Experience working on programs to expand access to SRHR, including abortion care.
• Experience living and working for at least eight years for a local non-profit or international NGO in one of Ipas’ implementing geographies or similar settings.
• Demonstrated skills and experience with training, facilitation, coaching and mentorship

Competencies

• Experienced in program/project management and intuition for business. You have been a manager in a previous role, preferably in a country or regional program. You have worked with a team developing and managing projects and programs and have a proven track-record in strengthening institutions/systems, management, and leadership capacity.
• Decisive risk management and strategic problem solving. You anticipate challenges and find solutions. You seek the necessary inputs, analyze the data at hand, identify potential risks, and make decisions. You can move forward even when information is. You review the impact and consequences and openly learn from mistakes.
• Superb interpersonal communication and collaboration skills. You actively listen, connect easily and work well with staff across the Ipas network to gain their trust and respect. You demonstrate clear and concise information and idea-sharing, helping staff learn, grow, and thrive in their work. You facilitate collaboration and coordination among teams with different priorities.
• Agility. You react with curiosity and enthusiasm to shifting situations, adapt and creatively problem solve with a changing environment.
• Provide critical guidance, coaching and mentorship. You deliver guidance and feedback with care, encourage team members to directly share their concerns, and help develop their skills to make it a productive and valued experience. You face conflict and respond with empathy and facts. You understand the benefits of conflict and support colleagues to embrace different perspectives and learn from others, to understand themselves and co-create new ideas.
• Capacity builder. You are an experienced trainer and facilitator.

Ipas is strongly committed to providing a work environment that is free from all forms of harassment, discrimination, and inequity. We recruit, employ, train, promote, and compensate our personnel without regard to race, age, sex, religion, national origin, color, creed, ancestry, citizenship, caste, ethnicity, regional identity, tribal identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, transgender status, sexual orientation, or any other personal characteristic protected by law or outlined by Ipas policy. Ipas acknowledges that these personal characteristics may differ in different contexts.