JOB SUMMARY

The Head of Programmes will be responsible for the design and management of WATAN’s portfolio of programmes with focus on strategic direction. This will be a challenging and highly rewarding leadership and management role. Working closely with the CEO, the Head of Programmes will involve both strategic planning and programmes design to establish an innovative portfolio that will likely include partnerships with NGOs, INGOs and Institutional donors. 

Excellent leadership and programme management skills are required for this role, especially in the areas of planning and team management, budget management and compliance.  The role will also have responsibilities regarding resourcing, coordination and external representation.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Overall responsibility for programmes development, implementation, reporting and programmes risk management in line with WATAN strategy.
• Integrating and ongoing management of effective monitoring and evaluation frameworks into programmes design.
• Exploring and thinking creatively to identify solutions that will maximise WATAN impact on the ground.
• Ensure programmes coordination and coherence across WATAN’s growing portfolio.
• Representing WATAN to support the CEO and Donor Relations Manager with communicating our work, results and advocating for our objectives.
• Overall programmes budget responsibility through ensuring good programmes financial management by developing implementation plans, making budgetary decisions, monitoring implementation of activities versus spend rates, reviewing all field support requirements and costings, and ensuring that donor budget is adhered to, and modified as necessary.
• Provide senior level leadership to the programmes team for an integrated approach to achieve the results as defined in the programme agreements, while maintaining excellence and accountability to beneficiary population and the donors.
• Contribute to WATAN strategic planning and organisational decisions.
• Member of the Senior Management Team.

Responsibility 1 – Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Work with the CEO to articulate the programmes vision.
• Provide strategic leadership and vision to attain programmes’ goals and objectives through the development, implementation, reviews, presentation and management of all aspects of programmes.
• Input, recommend and lead discussion of programmes priorities and explore, evaluate and present new programme/ business opportunities that leverage impact and/ or complement core activities with the SMT.
• Work with the CEO to pursue business development opportunities, nurturing relationships with donors, potential and existing partners as they relate to diversifying WATAN’s funding base.

Responsibility 2 – Team Management

• Conduct regular meetings with the project technical teams at all levels as a vehicle for monitoring progress on, and linking with the Programme Managers/Directors in providing technical leadership and guidance to project staff.
• Work closely with the Grants Manager on donor and internal narrative reporting, ensuring that all reports meet the appropriate standards and are delivered on time and to exceptional quality standards.
• Line manage the MEAL Manager to ensure programmes quality by the development and implementation of appropriate Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL), information system and programme management tools and systems.
• Overall program budget responsibility through ensuring good program financial management by developing implementation plans, making budgetary decisions, monitoring implementation of activities versus spend rates, reviewing all field support requirements and costings, and ensuring that donor budget is adhered to, and modified as necessary.

Responsibility 3 – Representation/Visibility

• Ensure that all communications are in line with the holistic WATAN strategy and reflect the best interests of WATAN in the region - with the overall objective of building and maintaining strong working relations with key internal and external stakeholders, beneficiaries, suppliers and partners. 
• Work closely with the CEO to represent the programmes to the wider humanitarian and development community, ensuring that programme are well understood and well represented.
• Maintain strong and regular contact, and ensure good relations and accountability to the donors, the government counterparts and implementing partners.
• Work closely with other agencies to coordinate humanitarian actions and advocate for a supportive work environment for humanitarian agencies.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Essential:

• Experience working in the Syrian context and/or a strong demonstrated understanding of the country context and the region.
• Leadership experience managing programmes as Head of Programmes or similar role in the relevant humanitarian and development sectors.
• At least 10 years’ experience of programmes management.
• Experience in managing major donor funded programming.
• Setting up new projects and programmes.
• Working with senior officials in both the public and/or private sector.
• Understanding of and working with monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

Desirable:

• Private and/or public sector experience.
• Charities/INGO experience.
• Using technology to address development challenges.
• Proficiency in Turkish and/or Arabic an advantage.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in spoken and written English.