Program Manager

Oxfam’s vision is a just world without poverty: a world in which people can influence decisions that affect their lives, enjoy their rights, and assume their responsibilities as full citizens of a world in which all human beings are valued and treated equally.

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

                                                                                     Program Manager

Team Purpose

Under the leadership of the “Head of Programs”, the Program team is responsible for the quality conception & design, the timely implementation and the efficient and effective outcome and impact of the Oxfam projects. The team is also charged with ensuring sound and equal partnerships with all parties involved in our work, under the different types of relations and partnerships within the relevant work portfolio.

The “Program Manager (PM)” position falls within Oxfam in North Africa extended structure.

Job Purpose

The Program Manager (PM) is responsible for the overall successful management, implementation and closure of the assigned project, including the successful implementation and closure of the partner organizations’ projects and activities implemented across one or more countries, including regional-level components. The PM leads and works closely with the relevant project team, ensures sufficient project structure in place, sets clear responsibilities and lines of accountability within the team and supports and manages all their related operational affairs. The PM ensures smooth coordination and collaboration of the relevant work with all internal colleagues and departments, as well as externally with all relevant partners, service providers, peers and allies. The PM ensures coherence across the national and sub-reginal interventions, alignment with MENA region and global strategies, and effective coordination with internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

The PM is the lead role within the assigned project team, an important member of the larger Programs’ team, and a key position within the office structure. While time allocation can be approximately set on some key responsibilities, others must be attended to on daily and regular basis, as they arise, and/or per need.

Strategic and Leadership (20-25% approx.) 

• Attend to the sufficient and effective formulation and direct management, monitoring and mentoring of the project team.
• Throughout the lifetime of the project, ensure that its strategies and activities respond to the anticipated needs, identify opportunities, build on and advance the existing assets and resources, suitable for the context and aligned with the Oxfam strategic objectives and direction. Thus, regularly seek with the team and partners, to identify areas of development and craft ideas to achieve the theory of change for the project.
• Identify risks and set and plan and document risk prevention measures as well as appropriate mitigations in advance, including solutions that are accountable and in line with the Oxfam (and donor’s) policies, strategic direction and budget.
• Ensure strategic coherence and complementarities across country-level interventions, fostering a shared regional vision and facilitating cross-country learning and collaboration.
• Work closely and regularly with relevant Oxfam stakeholders linked to the project, taking into account the different roles, levels of responsibility and required interactions, while acting as a key interlocutor with regional and confederation-level counterparts and contributing to donor engagement, strategic reporting, and representation at regional and global levels. Contribute to the further development and implementation of the Oxfam in NA strategy and actively engage in the production of the overall annual plans and reports.
• Foster and contribute to proper and effective flow of information and knowledge and, where relevant, lead and maintain regular communication and interactions, internally and externally.
• Contribute to the advancement of Oxfam in North Africa overall programs’ portfolio through engaging in building connections with new donors, designing and writing proposals and concept notes, as well as project learning documents, case studies, etc.
• Encourage, initiate and coordinate national and regional cross-learning with and between the various project teams and partners as well as with other relevant stakeholders, internal and external. 
• Represent Oxfam in meetings at national, regional and global meetings, with partners, allies, and donors, as required and approved.
• Provide strategic contribution on governance and civic space programming, including adaptive approaches in shifting civic environments, in line with Oxfam’s Safe Programming and feminist principles.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of a regional partnership approach, in line with Oxfam’s partnership principles and informed by country-specific contexts across North Africa, to strengthen coherence, complementarities and the integration of regional and cross-border partnerships

Program and Partnerships Management (75-80% approx.)

• Further develop and advance the overall project’s plan, timeline, etc. and regularly, work with the team and partners, prepare revisions for the workplans, spending plans, monitoring and evaluation plans, risk management plans, and other aspects of quality project management.
• Ensure that program inception and thematic planning are conducted and documented through participatory and transparent processes, informed by context and power analysis across countries, and used to establish solid foundations for program design and theories of change.
• Select national and regional partners, build and advance relationships with existing and new ones in line with Oxfam’s partnership approach and organizational values.
• Oversee and facilitate efficiently all parnters contractual agreements processes, ensuring a strong understanding of country-specific contractual requirements and close coordination with relevant counterparts across the confederation.
• Ensure implementation of Oxfam and donor’s (where relevant) operational policies, procedures and guidelines in all aspects of projects’ work.
• Lead and work closely with the relevant program quality team and colleagues, to develop and enhance the project’s MEAL framework across countries, allowing contextual adaptation, and ensure alignment with the ToC, Oxfam strategic steers and documents, and general policies and guidelines.
• Oversee, support, and work with the team and partners on conducting baseline surveys, progress monitoring events, producing progress reports and final reports.
• Oversee and guide the implementation of all aspects of the project (technical steer and project management) while ensuring coherence, standardized approaches, and program quality – in line with the project’s objectives.
• Together with the relevant finance colleagues, manage and monitor the budget, project spending, assess and foresee potential challenges and delays, and propose solutions and reset plans and budget accordingly.
• Produce substantive of-quality reports and facilitate the production of the financial one; report to the Affiliate and/or donor as per the agreed timeline and requirements.
• Ensure the systematic structuring, archiving and safeguarding of program documentation to preserve institutional memory. This includes maintaining clear, accessible and secure records aligned with internal documentation and archiving standards, enabling effective tracking, knowledge retention and continuity across teams and over time.
• Build capacities of partner organizations to conduct participatory analysis and planning and stimulate the added value of the Partnership.
• Ensure learning generated from the program is shared within the project and with external actors, in close coordination with program team, and that cross-country learning is actively maintained and synthesized to inform cluster-level approaches, highlighting similarities, complementarities and strategic coherence across countries.
• Participate in the different coordination mechanisms with partners and stakeholders to ensure smooth working relations, flow of communication and coordination and synergies at national and regional levels.

All team leads and management roles carry the following key responsibilities:

• Ensure and contribute to the formulation of sufficiently resourced efficient and effective team with clear roles, responsibilities and lines of accountability. Including the drafting of JDs and leading the related recruitment processes.
• Ensure sufficient probation period and assessment and documentation, as well as compliant and efficient end of service and contract closures.
• Ensure all team members have individual annual performance goals and objectives and capacity advancements and support plans.
• Manage, mentor and monitor the behavior, performance, and productivity of the direct project team and peers, in line with Oxfam’s principles, values, policies and obligations.
• Apply Oxfam leadership values, and lead their team by example, to ensure the fulfillment of Oxfam internal and external obligations, on all fronts; leave management, time and priority management, alignment with policies, respect of the leadership steer, contributing to a healthy working environment and relations.
• Seek, maintain and improve synergies, collaboration, and coordination with other project teams, and departments in the office. And maintain and improve respectful professional relationships and communication with all colleagues within the office, and beyond.

Technical Skills, Experience & Knowledge

• A Master’s degree level or equivalent level of work experience in the development field with relevant type of organizations.
• At least, 10 years of work experience with progressive levels of professional responsibilities especially in the area of program design, implementation, management, ME&L; working with learning initiatives.
• Strong thematic experience in governance, civic space, citizen participation and rights-based programming, with a gender justice lens.
• Strong proven experience in working and building partnership and connections with different types of civil society actors, including national, regional and international NGOs and donors, as well as with government institutions and private sector and academic and research institutions.
• Ability to translate complex political and social dynamics into adaptive programmatic and strategic responses.
• Strong capacity for analysis and synthesis of thematic issues applied to the different areas of intervention of country programs, in particular governance, civic space, citizen participation, youth engagement and employment. Strong knowledge of influencing strategies and opportunities, combined with a solid understanding of national and regional contexts across North Africa and the ability to conduct contextually grounded analysis to inform adaptive and alternative influencing pathways.
• Proven experience of leading teams and managing all aspects of their work, operation and capacity advancement.
• Commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles.
• Experience in representing an organization at senior level to civil society organizations, government, donors, etc.
• Financial management skills to monitor the operational budget and the ability to identify relevant investment areas.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure, prioritize, meet deadlines, and hold self and others to account.
• Availability and ability to travel as required, including regular partner visits and the facilitation of multi-day workshops and programmatic engagements across countries.
• Excellent English, French and Arabic skills (reading, speaking, writing).

Desirable:

Good knowledge and understanding of Oxfam vision, work, structure and principles.

Key Attributes:

• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities.
• Understanding and passion on involving youth and marginalized groups in a meaningful way within the planning and implementation of this program.
• Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work.
• Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.

Organizational Values:

• Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions.
• Empowerment – Our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen.
• Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.

This job description may be modified in accordance with the activities or the evolution of operational needs.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization. Therefore, people of all gender identities, sexes, sexual orientations, races, colors, religions, cultures, abilities, etc. are eligible for this position.

Oxfam aims to attract great talent that not only fits the job but also Oxfam’s high standard of values and principles, who shares and demonstrates Oxfam’s commitment to prevent and eradicate any type of misconduct including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, any other type of misuse of power or lack of integrity and financial misconduct. We are committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are required to submit their application exclusively through this following link

Note: All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and may be subject to appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks, or integrity screenings/references relating to misconduct and disciplinary actions in prior employment.