PROGRAM MANAGER Full Time

Job Summary

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Program Director, the Area Program Manager (APM) is responsible for leading the planning, coordination, and execution of project activities within the Area Program working closely with the area program team. This includes oversight of personnel, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and financial management to ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget. The APM serves as the primary representative of the program to local government authorities and community structures, fostering strong partnerships and promoting the organization’s Heartbeat its Values, Vision, and Purpose. Aligned with the organizational vision of championing catalytic solutions and innovation, the APM will take a strategic lead in advancing social venutures aimed at driving systems change ultimately building agency and resources for communities to be resilient and flourish.

Principal Responsibilities

Program Planning and Management

• Ensure timely and appropriate engagement with community members to analyze local systems, identify patterns, and recognize areas where interventions can create the most significant impact.
• In collaboration with the Systems Practice focal points and the technical leads, facilitate the co-creation of solutions that are community-led and contextually appropriate.
• Use insights from systems mapping to inform strategic decisions and program adjustments.
• Lead the yearly, quarterly and monthly planning process for all projects in the area programs.
• Supervise program implementation on a daily basis, ensuring that projects stay on time, scope, and budget.
• Promote collaborative working relationships between stakeholders and the operational projects to ensure synergy within the program area for maximum impact.
• Plan and conduct regular field visits to assess the implementation of activities.
• Supervise implementation of sponsorship activities in the Area Program, including supervision of the Value Exchange Relationships Coordinator.

Strengthen Social Innovation

• Working alongside communities champion the co-design/scaling of social ventures aimed at sustainably driving systems health informed by systems maps.
• Lead in designing, refining, or developing of new business models that deliver social ventures.
• Participate in resource mobilization efforts
• Identify, support, and scale community-led ventures and micro-enterprises that address local needs and expand economic opportunities.
• Build strategic partnerships with private sector actors, financial institutions, and development agencies to unlock investment and market linkages.

Strategic partnerships and business development

• Represent FH at the relevant county and national government authorities at program level, helping to ensure constructive working relationships are maintained to allow expansion, alignment and growth of FH’s programs within the area.
• Represent FH ensuring coordination and attendance at relevant interagency technical and security coordination networks at the program area level.
• In coordination with other FH teams, develop and strengthen new and existing relationships with public and private sector donors, positioning FH as a preferred partner in the area.
• Provide input into project proposals that will be implemented in the area.
• Oversee new initiatives and new partnerships across the AP.

Program Documentation, Reporting and M&E

• In partnership with the area program teams, ensure that periodic progress reports (quarterly, bi-annual, and annual) for all projects are prepared and submitted within agreed timelines and in accordance with donor and organizational standards.
• In close collaboration with the M&E Manager, ensure that M&E processes are effectively implemented and that feedback informs ongoing program adjustments.
• Oversee data quality assurance and validation of performance indicators across projects.
• Facilitate integration of M&E findings into planning, decision-making, and adaptive management.
• Strengthen the capacity of program teams in data use and learning through mentorship and regular reflection sessions.
• Track implementation of evaluation recommendations in collaboration with the M&E Manager.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning through after-action reviews and learning events at AP level.
• Work with the Communications Team to document and share impact stories, case studies, and visual content from the Area Program.
• Ensure adherence to visibility and branding standards in all community and partner engagements

Financial, Procurement and Risk Management

• Ensure financial management across project budgets in line with FH financial management policies and donor regulations.
• Review monthly Budget Variance Analysis (BVAs), providing appropriate feedback.
• In collaboration with Procurement Officers, develop procurement plans with appropriate lead times to ensure timely acquisition of goods and services, track procurements in line with the plan.
• Develop risk registers and strategies to manage risks across the projects.
• Lead compliance to all FH, Donor and Government policies and procedures. Disseminate and guide staff in use of Procurement, Purchasing, IT, Security, Safeguarding and other work facilitation manuals/policies/SOPs.
• Promote FH’s Community-System for Accountability and Feedback (C-SAFE) to provide an opportunity for program participants to provide feedback about FH’s work. Close feedback loops and provide opportunities for adaptive programming across communities.

Leadership, culture and talent development

• Lead and manage staff ensuring clarity of strategy, plans and priorities, providing supervision, coaching and mentoring, encouraging effective teamwork and inclusiveness and building a team spirit through regular meetings and events.
• Lead and contribute to developing and modeling a team culture characterized by a shared vision, commitment and mutual accountability that reflects FH’s Heartbeat
• Conduct performance management processes including refining of JDs, setting of performance goals, periodic appraisals for direct reports.
• Other duties as assigned

Languages: Proficiency in spoken and written English. Ability to speak the local language of the area is an added advantage.

Experience

• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in program management, compliance, and financial management in a similar position.
• Experience in working with social innovation and or MSME development
• Strong expertise in human-centered design, design research, and design thinking methodologies
• Experience in working closely with other development partners and stakeholders including but not limited to, sector working groups, county government, international and local NGOs and private and institutional donors.
• Demonstrable experience supervising multi-functional teams.

Education/Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in development studies/social sciences, business administration, and development agricultural sciences, environment and resilience programing.
• Post graduate qualification in project management, management, development studies, Business innovation or M&E is an added advantage.

Tagged as: Food for the Hungry, Kenya