Job Description
Position: Programme Officer
Reporting to: Programme Manager
Location: Greater London (Orpington)
Salary: £19,000-£23,000 plus annual bonuses
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and enthusiastic individual, with an
interest in international development, to help strengthen our Projects department.
You will join a friendly team in our UK head office, which is committed to transforming
social policies to ensure that the world’s most vulnerable people are not forgotten.
Founded in November 2010, Development Pathways has grown rapidly into an
internationally respected consultancy business, providing expert advice to clients in
areas including: social protection, social development, gender, livelihoods, financial
inclusion and management information systems.
In the past five years, we have worked in a range of countries across East and Southern
Africa, Asia and the Pacific; and for a range of clients including Australian Aid, DFID,
UNICEF, UNDP, WFP, KfW, HelpAge International and Save the Children.
Our head office is based in Orpington and home to 8 members of staff who are very
hard working, but also find the time to socialise after work. We recently opened an
office in Kenya, where we have a further 3 fantastic staff members. Our team includes
7 technical specialists who bring together a wealth of experience in social protection.
In addition, we also have an extensive network of external consultants who help us to
strengthen our profile and reputation.
You will be joining us at a very exciting time as we look to expand our thematic scope
of work and strengthen our regional hub in Kenya.
The position will pay a basic salary, alongside other benefits such as pension
contributions and access to private health insurance. Depending on performance,
targets and the overall profitability of the company, you may also be rewarded with
annual bonuses. Shares will also be offered once you have successfully passed your
probation period. Finally, we offer flexible working practices and encourage our staff
to participate in professional learning and development.
Purpose
The Programme Officer will be responsible for providing project management and
administrative support to the Projects departments, as well as additional support
throughout the office. Some international travel may be required. The position will
report directly to the Programme Manager.
Programme Officer Job Description: 18th December 2015
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Programme Officer will cover the following areas, with
responsibilities growing as capacity develops:
1. Project Management (60%)
 Manage specific contracts to ensure their high quality delivery including:
o Coordination of all contractual matters with clients;
o Drafting contracts for consultants;
o Maintaining regular communication with clients;
o Liaison with technical lead on each project;
o Ensure plan for delivery of projects is in place and delivered to schedule;
o Logistical coordination as required on each project;
 Pro-active management of project budgets, invoices to clients and approval of
consultant invoices.
 Support the implementation of project management procedures including;
o Contract authorisation documents;
o Project charter sheets; and
o Completed project reference sheets
 Support with any other project-related tasks as required e.g. formatting of final
reports, coordination of research support activities etc.;
 Ensure project documentation is kept up to date, both electronically and in
hard-copy files;
2. Business Development (30%)
 Provide support to the Business Development Manager when necessary,
including sourcing new bid opportunities and supporting the development of
technical and financial proposals.
3. General (10%)
 Provide support across the company, as required, in areas of general office
administration and logistics etc.;
 Maintain project folders, spread sheets and databases, ensuring that all
relevant information is saved in a clear and accessible manner;
 Work in compliance with Development Pathways’ policies and procedures, and
contribute to improvements on project management processes and systems
with the Programme Manager;
 Build strong relationships with clients and suppliers, including consultants. In
particular, the Programme Officer should ensure that consultants are given
effective support and develop a strong allegiance to Development Pathways;
 Provide support with recruitment of new employees, including finalising job
descriptions and reviewing CVs;
 Undertake other office activities as and when they arise.
Person Specifications
Programme Officer Job Description: 18th December 2015
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Master’s degree in a relevant area e.g. international development or project
management;
Excellent interpersonal skills; confident and able to communicate appropriately
and professionally with people at all levels;
Excellent standard of written English; good editing skills and excellent attention
to detail;
Excellent numeracy skills;
Excellent time management skills and ability to manage own workload
effectively; highly organised and methodical;
Good team player;
Excellent IT skills; proficient in the use of MS Office (particularly Outlook, Word,
Excel and SharePoint);
Commitment to the vision, mission and values of Development Pathways;
How to Apply
Please send your CV along with a covering letter that explains why you are applying
for this position, how your skills and experiences are relevant to the job and why you
would be a good for the position of Programme Officer.
Applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK.
Applications should be sent to recruitment@developmentpathways.co.uk
The closing date is 5pm on Friday 22nd January 2016. Applications will be reviewed on
a rolling basis and a successful candidate may be selected prior to the closing date.
Due to the high number of applications expected, unfortunately only short-listed
candidates will be contacted.
Programme Officer Job Description: 18th December 2015