About us
SPARK develops higher education and entrepreneurship, so that young ambitious people are empowered to lead their post-conflict society into prosperity. SPARK is a dynamic and growing not-for-profit development organization with 80 staff members that helps young entrepreneurs to start or grow their own businesses. Moreover, SPARK assists post-secondary education institutions to reform their curricula to better meet the needs of the labour markets. Based in Amsterdam, SPARK has field offices in among others Belgrade, Mitrovica, Pristina, Bujumbura, Monrovia, Kigali, Juba and Ramallah, Hargeisa, Gaziantep, Sanaa, Amman and Beirut.
SPARK is currently looking to fill the position of: Programme Manager as consortium leader, together with its partners Shaqodoon (Somalia), TAMSS (Tunisia) and IACE (Tunisia), has been selected by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NLMFA) to implement a programme on Local Employment in Africa for Development (LEAD). The SPARK/Shaqodoon/IACE/TAMSS proposal focuses on improving the social-economic position of youth in Libya, Somalia and Tunisia, with a heavy focus on youth job creation through entrepreneurship development and SME growth.
As a Senior Programme Manager in the field, you will be responsible for project delivery in Somali/Somaliland, working collaboratively with the Programme Manager and the local staff & partners in the region.
Key Duties
1. Staff and Program Management:
- Oversight of Somalia/Somaliland-based LEAD team, coordinate and implement activities in line with approved project proposal, budget and within the agreed time frames.
- Ensure compliance to all Spark, Donor and Government of Somaliland/Somalia policies, procedures and guidelines that relate to the implementation of the of the program with limited supervision.
- Make sure that all project deadlines, quality standards and targets are met, redesigning deadlines, quality standards (as needed) in consultation with the LEAD Regional Programme Manager.
- Draft all reports related to the LEAD program both internal and external to the donor and HQ, with a high level of quality with limited need for revision.
- Lead the coordination, management and motivation of program teams by ensuring that they have clear objectives/individual work plans as part of performance management and receive constructive feedback on their performance. Ensure work plans are designed collectively with staff and other key stakeholders.
2. Partnership Management/ External Representation:
- Independently establish, maintain and grow productive working relationships with Local Government officials and line departments, and private sector, soliciting their participation in all activities where appropriate, in close coordination with other programs in the same operating areas.
- Build and strengthen strong partnerships with private sector actors with an incentive to support and mentor SME’s via access to finance and markets with the support of trainers and experts.
- Responsible for monitoring partners based on partnership agreements.
- Identify follow-up funding for leveraging the LEAD programme and coordinate partnership possibilities and business development at country level in coordination with the Country Manager.
3. Program Support Operations:
- Capacity building of staff to ensure operational systems are in place to support field activities.
- Carry out himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring positive recognition to SPARK
Selection requirements
- Fluency in English required.
- University degree in a relevant field and 4-8 years of professional experience in similar environment
- Strong project management skills in the field of SME and/ or private sector development programmes;
- Strong networks with government and relevant stakeholders
- Experience working with business incubators and/or accelerators (desirable)
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills
- Willingness to travel within Somalia
- Strong command of IT Office Tools
Your profile
- Open-minded and adaptable
- Responsible and well-organised, solution oriented
- Capable of managing a team – natural leadership qualities – interest in diversity management
- Good at both listening to others and maintaining confidentiality, intercultural skills
- Excellent ability to work in a team and under pressure in a potentially dangerous environment
HOW TO APPLY:
Previous applicants need not reapply.
Interested candidates to send CV and Cover Letter to vacancy@spark-online.org with the reference ‘Somalia Senior PM’ by Wednesday 3rd August, 2016.
