Ongoing Job Recruitment at PEAS Zambia – August 2017

REGIONAL PROGRAMMES MANAGER

Overview of the role

The position holder will champion ‘value for money’ approach, driving efficiencies and effectiveness both at the schools and support (regional) office levels with a strong focus on sustainability and relationship building. She/he will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating all functions for effective delivery of operations and programmatic aspect of PEAS work in the region which is not limited to Finance, Operations, Human Resource management, monitoring and evaluations, community engagement, audit and all technical support to schools.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an inspirational manager with strong people management, programme coordination, sound political/analytical capability, financial accountability and strong commitment to successfully driving organizational strengthening to join a fast growing, value for money focused and mission-driven organization.

Responsibilities of the role: Key areas of responsibilities include:

Regional programme strategy development and implementation

• As a key member of extended PEAS Zambia’s SMT, the post holder will provide critical strategic leadership in the region to ensure the overall delivery of strategic objectives and provide management oversight to key operations and programmatic functions in light of Access, Quality and Sustainability pillars.
• Responsible for effective programme implementation to budget, time and scope
• Ensure effective coordination of school(s) support functions maximizing the resources available at the region as well as the core office in Ndola and beyond as may be appropriate.
• Responsible for developing and implementing annual and quarterly work plans for the region.
• Responsible for general reporting needs for the region in a timely fashion and in accordance with the necessary requirements and standards (internal and external).
• Oversee the coordination of all school(s) support plans including facilitating development of specific school(s) improvement plans and overseeing the monitoring of its implementation.
• Generate strategies to drive improvements based on different M&E data sources.
• Support the development and reviews regional Dashboard and develop/implement strategies for addressing reds indicators as part of monthly work plan, in order to drive improvement among regional schools
• Ensures that high-quality teaching and learning is happening in all schools, and s/he is accountable for performance improvement and results of all schools in the region.
• Oversee and promote institutional learning maximizing opportunities between schools, the regional offices, national and global offices.
• Oversee the continuous development and implementation of PEAS policies in the region while maintaining continuous consultation with relevant colleagues at the national office.
• Represent the organization externally, as necessary, particularly in maintaining partnership with relevant government departments at the district and provincial level.
• Responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the community engagement strategies for specific PEAS schools in the region.
• Responsible for effective delivery of the school management contracts

Effective Finance and Operations Management

• Assumes oversights for all resources in the region including approved budget, human resources, constructions, school finances, audits, logistics and procurements at schools and regional offices, while coordinating and facilitating support from corresponding responsible leads from the national office.
• Act as the budget holder at the region driving and championing value for money in all transactions in accordance with policies and guidelines, ensuring that school leaders reflect and models best financial practices.
• Ensure that finance team is adequately supporting the schools, coordinating closely with the head of finance at the core office to drive school sustainability.
• Oversee and coordinate support to schools to comply with proper procurement practices to ensure value for money and responsible utilization of the resources to drive sustainability.
• Proactive monitor and ensure compliance with statutory obligations by school leaders and as well at the region.
• Oversee the implementation and reporting of all finance and operations dashboard indicators and ensuring strategies and developed and implemented to address all items in amber and red as well as drive improvements in green rated
• Work with the finance department to ensure timely response and support individual schools to action audit recommendations in a comprehensive manner.
• Work with appropriate colleagues to update and report regularly on risk register at the regional level.
• Oversee the smooth running and administration of the regional office including the maintenance of equipment, payments, and logistics
• Ensuring health and safety is a priority in both schools and at the regional office.
  Building motivated the regional team:
• Accountable for organization strengthening through further developing high-quality talent, processes, and culture throughout the regional team.
• Responsible for effective line management of PEAS school leadership and regional staff while enabling them to empower their own units
• Responsible for ensuring coordination with matrix managers and corresponding technical in day-to-day working and to complete staff performance management in accordance with the Performance Management process.
• Oversee the streamlined delivery of effective management reporting to ensure that the critical information is shared efficiently and informs decision making.
• Working closely with HR in Kasama, ensure staff performance improvement plan is developed and actioned for both regional and school levels.
• Proactively work to ensure all staffs in the region and in the school model professional and acceptable behaviour in line with various policies and especially upholding Child Protection and Safety Standards. Ensuring regular monitoring.

Person Specification

Essential

• Qualifications: Degree in Social Sciences, Business Studies, Development Studies, Education with bias to management or equivalent in management.
• Management Experience: Minimum of 3 years middle management and leadership experience in programme and operational capacity – including managing professionals with technical expertise and managing through others to deliver organizational improvements.
• Delivery and prioritization: Able to work well under pressure and deliver work with high levels of accuracy to tight deadlines across a range of internal and external stakeholders while balancing competing demands.
• Policy implementation & compliance: Experience in implementing organization policies across finance, operations, and HR, together with overseeing operational adherence.
• Experience with performance management: Experience in utilizing sound leadership and management skills to ensure key deliverables are achieved on an individual, departmental and organization wide basis.
• Experience in financial management: Experience in budget setting, cash flow management and monthly management accounts reporting, together with overall management of financial systems and processes.
• Values driven: Demonstrates PEAS values of effective, empowering, enduring, genuine & collaborative.
• Great people skills: Able to work effectively with staff of all levels.
• Good judgment and creative problem-solving skills including negotiation and conflict resolution skills

Desirable

• A Master’s degree in relevant field is an added advantage.
• Experience in working with dispersed and diverse team
• Experience of working in a not for profit setting

Application process

Please submit a cover letter (paying particular attention to the person specification) and curriculum vitae.

Please include all portions of your application in one attached document as a PDF document, and use Regional Programme Manager-Northern Province Region as the subject of your email.

Only complete applications will be reviewed and only qualified candidates will be shortlisted and contacted.

PEAS is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its recruitment practices and, in order to build the strongest possible workforce, actively seeks a diverse applicant pool.
Closing date for applications: 25 August 2017

Interviews date will be communicated only to shortlisted candidates. PEAS has a strict Child Protection Policy. All staff are expected to abide by this.