Girl Effect is an international non-profit that builds media that girls want, trust and need. From chatbots to chat shows, TV dramas to tech, our content helps adolescent girls in Africa and Asia make choices and changes in their lives. We create safe spaces for girls, sharing facts and answering questions about health, nutrition, education, and relationships, empowering girls with the skills to negotiate and redefine what they are told is possible "for a girl".
Our reach is 20 million and counting, and we use technology to reach girls at scale so every girl can choose to be in control of her body, health, learning and livelihood.
Because when a girl unlocks her power to make different choices that change her life, it inspires others to do so too. She starts a ripple effect that impacts her family, community, and country.
That's the Girl Effect.
Context of the role
Girl Effect is looking for a Programme Lead to lead and support the design and implementation of programs in South Africa. This position is directly responsible for management and overall successful performance of the programmes and management of stakeholder relations especially donors and government in the course of programme implementation. The Programme Lead will also work with the Chief Programming Officer (CPO) to design new programmes and unlock new funding opportunities in South Africa. This role works closely and collaboratively with key personnel for technical, financial and operational activities of the programme and leads in managing partners who are part of the programs.
The Programme Lead will combine significant experience in the programme design and implementation in the Sexual & Reproductive Health (SRH) sector and of forging strategic partnerships with donors, governments, and communities.
What You Will Do
- Programme Planning, Design, Implementation and Monitoring for all programs in South Africa.
- Responsible for overall management, and implementation of all programmes in South Africa.
- Use project, country, and donor data to analyze project progress, update strategies and improve implementation
- Provide programme implementation oversight to ensure delivery of quality outputs on time and within budget
- You will manage a range of teams in different sites and functions and technical experts including but not limited to; creative media, behavioral science, technology, evidence, and marketing
- Lead the programme team and collaborate with implementing partners to undertake effective monitoring and evaluation of the programme from programme design to delivery
- Take overall responsibility for the Programme Function 'core' operational budget and support program managers to manage programme budgets
- Provide progress updates and reports as per contractual donor requirements
- Participate in decision-making and problem-solving with programme senior management team (SMT) to develop annual plans, quarterly plans, monthly workplans
- Assist with compliance with donor requirements, Government relevant regulations, and organizational policies and procedures
- Lead preparation and submission of all new funding proposals
- Provide overall oversight of the project and maintain effective and regular communication with donors, implementing partners, South African government entities, and the private sector
- Work closely with the communication team to ensure that GE programme work gets visibility
- Oversee the development of the programmes' learning agenda, synthesizing and disseminating lessons learned internal and externally
- Build strong and collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders including Governments, Donors, Service delivery partners among others
- Establish meaningful partnerships with supply-side partners in operational Geographies
- Serve as the focal point for engaging in policy dialogue with the Department of Health at central, and county levels in conjunction with donors on key issues relevant to increasing wellbeing of Adolescent Girls and Young Women with a priority on Sexual Reproductive Health, Mental Wellbeing, and Economic Empowerment
Work Experience & Education Required
- Master's degree in International Development, Business Administration, Strategic Management, Communications, Marketing, Public Health or a related field
- At least 10 years of work experience of managing a team and project oversight experience of which 5 should be at senior management level
- Experience in Reproductive Health/ Family Planning implementation in South Africa
- Demonstrated experience developing and managing budgets for international donors (e.g. FCDO, USAID, KfW, Global Fund, CIFF, B&M Gates Foundation etc.).
- Experience and passion in building local technical, management and leadership capacity.
- Significant project management, reporting, compliance, and leadership experience.
- Strong project management skills managing complex, multifaceted projects resulting in measurable successes and program growth
- Strong technical writing skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and exceptional attention to details, fluency in English
- Experience in managing programs that target Adolescent and Young Women and meaningfully involving young people or beneficiaries in the design, delivery and governance of programming is also desirable
- Sound financial literacy and budget management experience
- Demonstrated results in managing through complex systems and proven experience negotiating win-win agreements
- Personal qualities of integrity, results oriented, credibility, and a commitment to and passion for development
- Strategic thinker: we need a strategic thinker that is able to go beyond the obvious to spot and take advantage of immediate and long-term opportunities in a way that positions our organization as a credible partner, innovator and leader;
- Partnership builder: we need someone who is able to identify and create alignments between organizations and with governments, developing mutually beneficial partnerships across the International Development and Social Change sectors;
- Communication skills: you need to be able to collaborate with teams to craft proposals and reports for potential donors and represent the organization at high profile speaking events;
- Mission alignment: we are looking for someone with a commitment to empowering adolescent girls and young women (youth in general); someone who believes in a girl's right to take control of her health and her body, to pursue a livelihood of her own choice, to have a family when she's ready, to make decisions for herself and her children;
- Team Player: we need someone who can effectively navigate working with the wider teams, in and out of country, to ensure that all relevant personnel are actively engaged and consulted through offline and digital channels. You need to be able to work with an array of digital platforms to achieve the same.
As we continue to scale and grow - we are hugely ambitious for our future and we are looking for people who are driven to change the world for girls.
Our teams are a diverse mix across sectors (non-profit and commercial) and specialisms (from Brand and Creative through to Gender and Insight). You'll learn and grow in an environment that will challenge you to think and work with a fresh perspective. In turn, you can expect to work somewhere where you will be stretched and developed in your role, a place where you can build your career and work with talented, engaged people committed to our cause.
Girl Effect is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.
We are committed to building an organization that is increasingly representative of the communities that we serve. To this end, due regard will be paid to recruiting candidates with diverse professional, academic and cultural backgrounds.
This role is being recruited on a 12 month contract basis.
Ability to travel for extended periods of time - up to 40% of the time is essential
Closing date for applications:
