Programmes Manager

Job Description

Job title Programmes Manager

Reporting to Country Director  

Location Freetown with expected  travels 

Welbodi Partnership 

BACKGROUND 

Other  

relationships 

Works closely with Operations,  Finance, M&E, Head of Grants  Resourcing and Compliance,  partners, and donors. 

Welbodi Partnership (WP) is a UK-registered charity working to reduce maternal and child  mortality and morbidity in Sierra Leone. Since 2008, WP has worked in partnership with  hospital management, health facility staff, and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to  improve maternal and child health outcomes in Sierra Leone.  

We do this through a range of partnerships models across health system strengthening  activities, staff training, hospital improvement projects, and community engagement. 

Our vision is that all women and children in Sierra Leone will have access to effective essential  healthcare services characterized by respect and dignity for all. Our mission is to build the  capacity and effectiveness of the health system in Sierra Leone using evidence-based practice  to reduce the number of women and children who are sick, suffer, or die unnecessarily. 

Our programmes are bold, future-facing, and innovative and cut across support to Ola During  Children’s Hospital and the Julius Maada Bio Paediatric centre of excellence – the only national  tertiary referral hospitals for paediatrics, supporting maternal health and research capacity  building across Sierra Leone through implementation of the CRIBS Research Programme,  Saving Lives in Sierra Leone phase 3 and other key health systems and research projects. 

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES 

1. Deliver Lasting Results
2. Working in Partnership
3. Health Systems Approach
4. Valuing People
5. Evidence based approach

For further information, please see: www.welbodipartnership.org 

Main Purpose of the Role. 

Under the direct supervision of the Country Director, the Programmes Manager’s primary  responsibility is to coordinate and support the implementation of all aspects of Welbodi  Partnerships Health and Research programming within Sierra Leone. He/she will be  responsible for planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all projects and  programmes under the direction of the Country Director. This position closely works with the  Operations Manager, M&E Manager, Finance manager and Head of Grants Resourcing and 

Compliance. He/she is required to identify and develop key opportunities for programmes  focused on reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health, including nutrition,  in Sierra Leone. The Programmes Manager will implement positive and effective relationships  with key partners and contacts in the interest of promoting WP mission and vision. 

PROGRAMMES DELIVERY AND PARTNERSHIPS 

▪ Contribute to accurate development of a rolling implementation plan/forecast for  ongoing programmes. 

▪ Overall responsibility for ensuring that all projects such as NIHR CRADLE 5, FCDO  Saving Lives in Sierra Leone 3 (SLiSL3), Fetal Medicine Foundation PAPAYA, World Child  Cancer oncology project, and JICA ASUKA Hospital project are delivered to a high  standard and align with the organisation’s core values. 

▪ Facilitate the Monitoring, Evaluation, Assessment, Learning, and Research pieces with  the MEALR unit manager to collect, analyse, and utilise facility-based data to evaluate  and improve clinical projects and health outcomes. 

▪ Through oversight of District Project Officers (DPOs), maintain close working  relationships with Medical Superintendents, health facility managers, the Ministry of  Health, District Health Management Teams (DHMTs), other key health sector  stakeholders, partners, and donors. 

▪ Maintain overall responsibility for the delivery of timely and high-quality narrative  reports for designated projects meeting donor requirements. 

▪ Support clinical oversight, expertise, and leadership to drive improvements in the  quality of healthcare provided at supported health facilities. 

▪ Identify opportunities to collaborate and develop clinical integration/co-ordination  with other organizational partners working in the supported health facilities.

▪ Actively participate in the development and implementation of organizational and  clinical strategies at the senior management level. 

STRATEGIC EXCELLENCE AND STANDARDS  

∙ Conduct programme performance review sessions with the DHMTs, research  assistants, field implementation teams, DPOs, NIHR KCL, SLISL CCU, MoH. ∙ Conduct continuous real-time performance tracking against Grants’ KPIs. ∙ Under supervision of the Country Director and in collaboration with management  teams, contribute to annual planning processes. 

∙ In collaboration with Operations, Finance and Programs implementation teams carry  out high quality reporting of all institutional funding grants/ contracts in Sierra Leone. ∙ Support overall overarching compliance of all teams to WP’s high standards of  operations. 

RESEARCH PROJECTS ADVOCACY AND SUSTAINABILITY 

▪ Work closely with DHMTs, field teams, KCL team, DPPI, RCH directorate and other  partners to build interest in research implementation.

▪ Support DPPI, RCH directorate, KCL, NIHR to draft roadmaps for institutionalizing  formative research for decision making.  

▪ Build network with biomedical technicians to conduct regular device performance  surveys.  

▪ Roll out regular lessons’ dissemination events aimed at planting research  implementation as key pillar for improving RMNCAH indices. 

▪ Join in advocacy drives to build usage of CRADLE devices as part of essential devices  and medicines list. 

▪ Build relationships with NEMS, Midwifery, and other institutions with need for  CRADLE utilization. 

GRANTS PROTOCOLS AND FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY 

▪ In support to the Head of grants resourcing and compliance, ensure project spending  against relevant budgets. 

▪ In support to the Finance manager, submit all activity related financial requests and  ensure staff payments are made on time.  

▪ Contribute to reviews of monthly management accounts and internal financial  reporting related to the programme.  

▪ Supports HGROC and FM with the development of timely and high-quality financial  reports for donors, working alongside project teams, the WP’s Finance team.  

STAFF MANAGEMENT 

∙ Responsible for managing the programmes teams including national and international  staff. 

∙ Building the capacity of programme and research teams by developing and designing  regular training sessions.  

∙ Responsible for ensuring that project staff have appropriate objectives, appraisals  (using Objectives, Goals, Strategies, and Measures(OGSMs) and/or Objectives and Key  Results (OKRs)), support and training, and dealing with grievances and disciplinary  issues when necessary. 

∙ Supports international and local recruitment for Welbodi Partnership projects. ∙ In collaboration with HR/Admin, is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of  all programmes staff and participants. 

REPRESENTATION. 

∙ Liaising with local and traditional authorities and represent the programme at district  level 

∙ Represent WP at district level consortium and other meetings 

∙ Represent WP at district level consortium cross cutting activities e.g. Public Health  commemorations. 

∙ As directed by Country Director, attend relevant national level meetings. 

GENERAL POLICIES PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES 

In addition to the key job responsibilities detailed in this job description all employees and  volunteers at WP are expected to comply with the general duties outlined below and detailed  in full in our policies. 

SAFEGUARDING 

Welbodi Partnership is dedicated to safeguarding the welfare of children, young people, and  vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to uphold this commitment. Successful  applicants will be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, or  equivalent in countries other than the UK, in full compliance with the DBS Code of Practice. 

DATA PROTECTION 

Welbodi Partnership complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY 

Welbodi Partnership is committed to a comprehensive policy of Equal Opportunities in  volunteering and employment in which individuals are selected and treated based on their  relevant merits and abilities and are given equal opportunities within the organisation. It is  WP’s policy as an employer to treat all people equally irrespective of race, ethnic origin,  nationality, sex, marital or parental status, gender, sexual orientation, creed, disability, age,  or political belief. 

WORKING CONDITIONS 

Welbodi Partnership operates within tertiary, secondary, and primary healthcare facilities in  Sierra Leone, one of the world’s most resource-limited settings. This role involves navigating  challenging working conditions, where many amenities often taken for granted – consistent  access to running water, electricity, reliable communication, and steady supplies of essential  medicines and equipment – are not guaranteed. Despite these challenges, WP is committed  to fostering a safe and supportive working environment. We place a high priority on staff  health and well-being providing as much support as possible in this demanding context. 

JOB REVISION 

This job description serves as a general guide to the responsibilities of the role and is not  intended to be exhaustive or restrictive. Duties may be adjusted periodically to reflect  evolving needs and circumstances. 

SALARY/BENEFITS 

Based on job competency alignment to internal pay scales. The full remuneration package will  be discussed with shortlisted candidates.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

**We are open to considering exceptional and committed candidates with less  management experience if they possess the energy and skill set to drive our organisation  forward. 

APPLICATION PROCESS: The closing date for applications is the 24th of November 2024 – we  encourage potential applicants to submit as soon as possible as interviews will be conducted  on a rolling basis. 

To apply for this position please send your cover letter, CV and contact details of 3  professional referees (including current employer or most recent if not currently employed)  in one email to jobs@welbodipartnership.org using the following subject title: Application – PROGRAMMES MANAGER 

Please include the following in your cover letter (2 pages maximum): 

∙ Reasons for applying for this position 

∙ Overview of key experience related to this post  

∙ Your country of residence 

∙ Your nationality 

∙ Date you are able to commence and duration of availability 

Please note 

∙ CVs should be no more than 4 pages long. Please do not send any additional  documentation at this stage. 

∙ The selection process may include several tests in addition to interviews 

For any queries relating to the position, please email jobs@welbodipartnership.org and/or  cd@welbodipartnership.org and/or rosaline@welbodipartnership.org. 

WOMEN ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY