Job description
Job title
Senior Programme Manager
Department
Programme Management
Post holder
Vacant
Reporting to
Assistant Director of Programmes
Responsible for
Programme Manager(s), Assistant Programme Manager(s) and Programme
Assistant(s)
Liaison with
Team Leaders, Programme Managers; Technical, Business Development and
Finance teams and external partners
Hours
35
Type of contract
1 year initially, with scope for extension
Organisation
Options Consultancy Services Limited was established in 1992 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marie
Stopes International. We are a consultancy organisation providing technical and management expertise in the
health and social sectors to governments and international development partners to transform the health of
women and children. We provide information, expertise and influence to governments, health workers, NGOs
and businesses to catalyse change so that health services can be accessed by the people who need them
most.
Main purpose of job
The Senior Programme Manager is a senior member of the Programme Management Team comprising
around 20 staff in Options’ London office. The position has responsibility for the effective and efficient
management of Options’ long-term programmes and short-term assignments that fall within their portfolio.
This includes: ensuring quality of programme implementation of at least one of Options’ major programmes,
oversight of a portfolio of other long term programmes; maintaining and developing relations with programme
funders and consortium partners.
The Senior Programme Manager reports to an Assistant Director of Programmes, and is based in Options’
office in central London, with some overseas travel.
Main duties
1. Programme management supervision
Overseeing a portfolio of projects and ensuring high quality outputs from the Programme Management
Team members who manage them day-to-day, the Senior Programme Manager will:
 Engage at a strategic level on all programmes within their portfolio, driving them forward in
conjunction with Team Leaders, Programme Managers and other Options’ teams
 Provide on-going oversight and leadership to a team of Programme Managers and Assistant
Programme Managers and be first point of contact for risk management and trouble shooting
 Quality assure the financial and management integrity of the portfolio
 Provide oversight of financial management of contracts within the portfolio, ensuring accurate and
timely external and internal reporting and analysis covering reimbursable and milestone contracts
 Provide oversight of relationships with clients on programmes within the portfolio
 Represent the progress of the programmes to Options’ senior management.
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2. Programme management
Directly managing specific long-term programmes and short-term assignments within Options’ portfolio,
with the following responsibilities:
 Work closely with the Team Leaders to strategically plan the programmes and monitor overall
progress, resolving issues and initiating corrective action
 Management and analysis of programme risk and issues
 Track project deliverables, ensuring they meet appropriate levels of quality, are on time and within
budget, in accordance with programme plans and budgets
 Be responsible for the quality assurance and overall integrity of the programmes
 Management of the programme’s budget, monitoring expenditures and costs against planned and
delivered milestones as the programme progresses
 Engage in programme evaluations and assessment of results
 Build and manage relationships with clients
 Manage consortia relationships and third party contributions to programmes
 Report progress of programmes at regular intervals to Options’ senior managers
 Facilitate the definition of programme scope, goals and deliverables
 In conjunction with Team Leaders, define programme tasks and resource requirements
 Develop, and ensure delivery of, full scale programme plans
 Coordinate recruitment and retention of programme staff
 Manage programme finances, including financial reporting both to the client and internally.
3. Line management of members of the programme management team
 Manage a small team of Programme Manager(s), Assistant Programme Manager(s) and Programme
Assistant(s)
 Manage and motivate team members in all aspects of their work and career progression
 Conduct ongoing performance management of team members, including annual appraisals
 Lead and/or support the recruitment process for new team members.
4. Liaison with other Options’ teams
 Collaborate with the Director of Programmes, the Technical, New Business and Partnerships team,
Finance team and other senior staff
 Working with the Finance Team on all aspects of financial management related to overseas
programmes and assignments, and contributing to the monthly management accounts, annual audit
process, and regular budgeting and re-forecasting
 Working with the Business Development team to support the development of bids, including
programme management and commercial inputs.
Note: this job description reflects the present requirements of the post. As duties and responsibilities change
and develop the job description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the job
holder.
Signed by:
Date:
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Person specification
Criteria
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications

Masters in relevant subject area or equivalent
Experience
Significant and proven experience working in international development at a
senior programme management level or above

Extensive experience of the development and implementation of
programmes, especially within the health sector

Excellent record of people management and management of teams, including
distance management experience

Experience of managing large, complex, multi-country, and multi-donor
budgets

Experience of overseeing a portfolio of programmes in multiple locations

Proven experience in strategic planning, budgeting and programme control

Proven experience in risk management


Proven experience in change management
Experience of developing and maintaining close working relationships with
clients, partners and consortia

Experience of contracts and contracting

Experience of networking to build successful relationships with potential
clients, collaborators and consultants

Experience in fundraising/business development

Skills and attributes
Excellent financial management skills

Ability to work on a wide range of projects and other issues simultaneously

Self-starter, able to work independently or as part of a team

Critical thinking and problem solving skills

Planning and organising

Decision-making

Communication skills

Influencing and leading

3

Negotiation
Knowledge of a spread of international donors, including DFID

Knowledge of the health sector in general, especially of reproductive health,
maternal and child health sector strengthening

Other requirements
Commitment to equal opportunities

Applicants must have the right to live and to work in the UK

Ability to travel internationally for up to three weeks at a time

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