Back Bilingual Program Manager

(This position is covered under CUPE Bargaining Unit - Band 5)**

Save the Children Canada is a member of Save the Children International, a federation that works in more than 120 countries worldwide delivering programs focused on health and nutrition, education, child protection, child poverty, humanitarian response, and child rights governance. As the world's leading independent organization for children, Save the Children’s vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. We live our values every day– Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity and Integrity. This position plays a lead role in managing a portfolio of awards unit. The Program Manager works with the Head, Award Management and key stakeholders of this position to ensure the successful delivery and implementation of programs through SCI, Members, and partners, and maintain accountability to donors.

Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

· Responsible for managing a complex portfolio of grants (awards) in the award management cycle once funding is secured, including leading project kickoff meetings, monitoring the progress, managing amendments and facilitating the closeout process with Country offices /Members.

· Responsible for coordinating contractual service agreements and MOUs.

· Follow global and local Award Management guidelines and processes.

· Update Award Management System (AMS), including fund summaries, phased-budget, Reporting tab, Match and all award information on a timely basis to ensure complete audit trail (data and process).

· Proactively liaise with Country Offices, Thematic Advisors, and delivery partners to ensure project quality and resolves issues.

· Monitor progress and change to timelines of deliverables, liaising with the donor when required.**

· Contribute to the development and dissemination of award management tools, techniques and templates.**

· As the primary budget holder for a portfolio of awards, is responsible for project budget oversight and preserving financial health of portfolio.

· Working in collaboration with Country Office and Project Officers, responsible to prepare, upload and maintain a complete and accurate Fund Summary Report / Program Budgets.

· Responsible to actively manage burn rate, indirect cost recovery (ICR), resource allocation/salary recoveries, non-thematic costs (NTC), match performance, and net financial position of assigned projects through variance analysis of budget to actuals to identify financial risks, and ensure fund allocations match signed agreements.

· Lead discussions with Program Financial Analysts and Country Office Finance teams to resolve financial issues and risks.

· Prepare variance explanations and regular financial forecasts for monthly financial reviews, providing frequent updates to Finance, Resource Development, and Portfolio Management teams on issues/risks.**

· Review donor reports, ensuring high quality financial and narrative reports are submitted to Donors on a timely basis.

· Provide feedback on Donor reports to COs and through AMS.

· Review donor guidelines to understand all terms and conditions and develop Donor requirements checklist for each Award.

· Share the donor compliance documents with CO.

· Educate the COs and the Award team in the field on Donor compliance during the kick-off meeting and implementation.

· Ongoing monitoring to ensure compliance to donor requirements and rules.**

· Strengthen local Award Management capabilities through knowledge sharing, skills development, and cross-training.

· Share Canadian donor-specific requirements with Regional and Country Offices, maintaining current donor templates in OneNet Library.

· Collaborate with Thematic Leads, Advocacy, and Resource Development to disseminate project knowledge and communications with key audiences.

· Support Thematic leads and MEAL team to capture project learnings and contribute to thematic strategies**

· Under the guidance of Head, Award Management provide mentoring and coaching, actively supporting the professional development of Program Officers and Program employees and their efforts to build knowledge of relevant program theory and practice.

· Provide performance feedback and developmental feedback to the manager for incorporation into the employee’s performance plans and development plans.

· Assist with the recruitment process for program resource positions (ie. Program Officer) and provide hiring recommendation to the manager.

· Manage new employee onboarding, ensuring employees receive relevant training and tools to be successful in their roles.

· Model behaviours consistent with Save the Children values, actively creating an organizational culture that reflects values.**

Qualifications & Competencies (include but are not limited to):

· Master degree in International Development / Social Sciences or related field.

· 10 years’ experience in international development setting; direct field experience considered an asset.

· Extensive knowledge and experience of project management, in particular managing large projects with partners in consortium setting.

· 10 years of experience in project management/program/grant management in International Programs, managing projects in developing countries and fragile contexts (East and West Africa).

· Certificate in Project Management or project management experience within NGO sector,

· Prior experience with GAC-funded projects; knowledge of GAC policies and procedures; knowledge of Results-Based Management (RBM) approach is required.

· Demonstrate experience in providing mentoring and coaching, professional development of staff

· Demonstrated project financial management experience.

· Superior relationship building and stakeholder engagement. Requires building rapid relationship with donors, partners and key staff in country offices.

· Outspoken and advocacy oriented. Required to demonstrate result of the portfolio with all stakeholders, including donors, SCC staff and others.

· Superior project management skills to monitor project quality, cost, and time; issues/risks.

· Critical thinking and analysis skills to solve problems.

· Superior project financial management and financial analysis skills.

· Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to develop strong working relationships across cultural and organizational boundaries with internal and external stakeholders, and managing through influence.

· Superior English writing skills; proficiency in French is critical.

· Ability to work within tight deadlines and time pressures.

· Detail-oriented to maintain accurate records and financial information within systems.

· Intermediate skills in MS Excel to manipulate, analyze, and reconcile financial data.

· Ability to travel internationally on occasional basis.

· Adhere to Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding policy and protocols.

· Police check vulnerable sector screening.