Ethiopia: Programme Manager, Ethiopia

ABOUT PSA

Pamela Steele Associates (PSA) is a niche management consultancy with a mission to ensure that no patient in developing countries suffers due to lack of essential medicines. Founded in 2013, PSA is headquartered in Oxford, UK and has regional offices in India, Kenya and Nigeria. Working with governments, NGOs and the United Nations, we research, train and provide technical assistance, deploying technical specialists to transform health and humanitarian supply chains in collaboration with client teams.

OUR VALUES

• Humanitarian: we work for the alleviation of suffering;
• Ethical: we work with integrity;
• Service-driven: we use our professional expertise to meet our clients’ needs.
• Pragmatic: we apply general principles and frameworks but listen and adapt to the differing needs of our clients;
• Innovative: we seek to learn and apply new ideas, and embrace new technologies;
• Collaborative: we collaborate with partners, clients and service providers for mutual benefit and support, to create a strong team;
• Respectful: understanding local culture is important for effective change so we work with local partners who are familiar with the context.

OUR TEAM

PSA’s Business Development team forms part of the Supply Chain and Business Development Unit, which consists of the following teams:

• Consultancy and projects team
• Operational research team
• Training and professional development team
• Business development team

CONTEXT

Supply chain management systems for medicine and other health commodities face numerous ongoing challenges across developing countries. Characteristic challenges include inadequate forecasting, insufficient funds, delays in funding disbursements and long lead times. In addition to these complexities, donor-funded programmes typically have their own supply chain systems operating in parallel with the national government health supply chain. Duplication of effort across the health supply chain is thus commonplace, and the resulting inefficiencies impact on health outcomes. Individual national responses have been designed and implemented with varying levels of success, because the underlying roots of these challenges and complexities (human capacity across all health supply chain levels, infrastructure and supporting systems, adequate budgets, etc.) have not been prioritised targets for sustainable development interventions.

At PSA, we work with health supply chains in frontier markets, to remove ongoing barriers and accelerate supply chain maturity and performance. We undertake projects facilitating collaboration between host governments, international NGOs, members of the United Nations, and the greater international development community, to achieve lasting sustainable changes.

With pride we support the Government of Ethiopia to improve health outcomes in Ethiopia through supply chain excellence. We partner with the Pharmaceuticals Fund and Supply Agency (PFSA) to ensure high levels of health product availability across the country while still achieving a financially sustainable approach. To do this well, we seek team members to join the partnership.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

You will have passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

The Programme Manager will:

• Drive project achievements through individual and team efforts;
• Facilitate sustainable changes through proactive network mobilisation and management;
• Lead by example in developing a working environment focused on impact and defined by integrity and fairness;
• Encourage and value input from others, as well as provide clear feedback and reports;
• Communicate strategically and proactively, share information; and
• Demonstrate ethical behavioural all times.

JOB PURPOSE & OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Programme Manager is critical to the success of the PFSA Supply Chain Transformation Programme.

The post-holder will be the architect of a comprehensive project plan, including dependencies and risks, for this three-year, country-wide project. The holder of this role must work across many teams, many organisations, many countries and many time zones to ensure the project plan is executed successfully. S/he will adequately manage all resources allocated to the project (people, funds, equipment) to achieve positive results within the agreed time-frame.

The complexity of the project entails a lot of uncertainty. Therefore, a systemic approach valuing diverse point of views in an inclusive manner will be a key element for success. Innovative approaches will have to be fostered, as previously used good practices may not be relevant in context and could serve only as guidelines.

Project Management

The Programme Manager will be responsible for the operational management and oversight of project delivery.

The Programme Manager is expected to demonstrate progress towards achieving the measures set out in the Project Results Framework. S/he will lead in managing the project and related operations in Ethiopia, and in continuously developing and enhancing them to keep them relevant and effective and also to make them more performant and efficient.

People Management

PSA is seeking a person who will achieve results by empowering the project team and guiding them towards expected achievements.

The Programme Manager will be a team player, seeing her/his own achievements within team and project successes. S/he will provide programmatic and logistical support to the team.

Network Management

The Programme Manager will have the gravitas to convene diverse expertise and personalities in constructive interactions and productive collaboration. The project network of stakeholders in country will be proactively and systematically managed, following clearly communicated and agreed practices.

Representation & Administration

As the most senior PSA representative in Ethiopia, the Programme Manager will also undertake representation activities, and supervise human resources, financial and asset management, resource acquisition, and administrative operations/he will be accountable for PSA’s profile and reputation, ensuring that they are strong and reflect the organisational values, operating principles, and mission to stakeholders.

S/he will identify key business opportunities and discuss them with the Supply Chain Transformation Director.

CORE DETAILS

• Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with regular national travel to project locations and some international travel
• Our package: Attractive depending on skills and experience
• Contract type: Fixed term – 3 years (with possibility of extension)
• Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week: this is a full - time role
• This role reports to: Supply Chain Transformation Director (UK-based)
• Staff reporting to this post: Project teams
• Annual budget for the post: TBD

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Programme Manager will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the Supply Chain Transformation Director. The incumbent will facilitate the implementation (through the project teams and project partners) of the PFSA Supply Chain Transformation programme in Ethiopia.

The Programme Manager’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Project Management

• Manage project to completion
• Ensure the project is delivered on schedule and within scope and budget
• Supervise and pilot the achievement of project tasks
• Manage the project team’s performance of project tasks
• Secure acceptance and approval of deliverables from the project stakeholders and the donor
• Coordinate engagement of stakeholders across workstreams, facilitate communication and ensure a collaborative working relationship between partners in a highly demanding and frequently changing environment
• Manage project risks and issues
• Raise risks and roadblocks to the SC Transformation Director
• Capture project stakeholder risk and issues
• Drive resolution and mitigation for project risks and gaps
• Align project stakeholders on risk resolution status
• Drive project status awareness
• Develop the project plan with the project team
• Assist in creating communications, including status reporting and risk management
• Provide core team project status updates
• Ensure project reports are provided on time and to the required quality level
• Oversee project quality
• Manage the monitoring and evaluation system
• Ensure that lessons learnt are accounted for in the project enhancement plans
• Integrate gender and diversity in the analysis, conception and monitoring of the project
• Link inputs/activities/outputs/impact to ensure effective and efficient use of project resources
• Ensure quality and timeliness (weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual) of reporting with means for verification
• Manage the Handover Plan and Exit Strategy

Team Management

• Lead team and support them towards the objectives of the project
• Facilitate positive and constructive social interactions within the team
• Ensure clarity over tasks and targets, and review achievements with individuals and teams
• Ensure that PSA people management practices are well respected
• Oversee the recruitment, orientation and performance of senior staff, and the development of middle-management staff, encouraging a culture of collaboration
• Ensure continuity of the human resources allocated to the project, and develop contingency plans
• Manage the work of subject matter experts
• Participate in recruitment of senior staff
• Manage development programmes for direct reports

Network Management

• Mobilise a network of various stakeholders around the project, recognising the diversity of their interests and creating a unified approach towards project objectives
• Maintain strong, positive working relationships with clients and partners, including PFSA, BMGF and other stakeholders
• Coordinate with stakeholders in developing the capacity and capability of health supply chains
• Ensure up-to-date knowledge of similar experiences

Representation and Administration

• Maintain effective communication with the head office, the regional office and other PSA offices and personnel
• Maintain effective communication with the public and private sectors, and other donors and cooperating agencies
• Directly manage cashflow, expenditure forecasts, local procurement, subcontracts and leases
• Ensure financial and legal compliance with donor requirements, PSA corporate policies, employee handbooks, financial manuals, Ethiopian law, etc.
• Ensure compliance with statutory regulations related to for-profit companies in the country
• Demonstrate, through work products and reference feedback, an exceptional ability to articulate PSA’s capabilities and value to internal and external audiences
• Perform other tasks as directed by the Supply Chain Transformation Director.

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated:

• Successful project management skills such as scoping, planning, monitoring and reporting, risk management and budget management for events such as launches and process improvement execution;
• Comfort in navigating ambiguity and maintaining a sense of urgency to help drive components of the project to completion in a complex and uncertain environment;
• Experience developing effective relationships across teams and organisations**, earning the trust of sponsors and key stakeholders from all levels of the organisation, and facilitating collaboration to drive consensus and decision making;
• Strong leadership and management skills in coaching, communication, facilitation, team leadership and business management.

Essential

• At least 10 years’ senior-level work experience in Africa, working at national level over several years
• Extensive project management and project implementation experience
• Proven ability to manage large complex projects using proven approaches
• Collaborative approach, engaging with high energy
• Excellent communication (verbal and written),with excellent interpersonal communication skills
• Fluency in English(speaking, reading and writing)
• Experience in leading organisational change and of complex transformations
• Proven diplomatic and public relations skills, including the ability to build internal/external collaborative relationships with sensitivity to cultural, ethnic, social and political issues
• Demonstrable technical expertise in project, budget and resource management, and strong management skills in complex programmes with numerous staff members
• Strategic and systemic thinking for, and proven leadership experience in, independent planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating of programmes, projects and activities, and making decisions based on the best information available
• Ability to acquire or develop new information, new thinking and analysis
• Ability to develop personal contacts to negotiate significant or controversial issues involving diverse viewpoints, goals or objectives
• Ability to solve problems pragmatically, and plan using analytical, conceptual, strategic and forward-thinking capacities
• Capacity to develop strong personal contacts with senior public servants and global leaders, and experts from various sectors
• Strong leadership skills in fostering teamwork, developing and motivating others, managing change and conflict-resolution
• Ability to develop personal development programmes for counterpart staff
• Excellent client reporting skills
• Ability to operate successfully with minimal or no supervision, setting own milestones and goals
• Capacity to be effective under pressure, remain results-oriented, and multi-task
• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Willingness to undertake up to 25% international and domestic travel

Desirable

• Over five years of experience in the supply chain and logistics field
• Over five years of experience with donor-funded projects, preferably in public health and humanitarian programme management or governance
• Advanced degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Experience with pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, or supply chain management systems in stable and emergency situations
• Business development skills and experience in proposal writing
• Ability to grow and develop business by attracting local and international resources and building alliances
• Experience using recognised agile project management methodologies (Kanban, PRINCE2, etc.)
• Ability to mentor and coach PSA team members by providing direction, input, and feedback, and lead the hiring of new staff
• Ability to make decisions in an evolving environment, and to resolve, or facilitate the resolution of, critical problems by applying leadership and negotiation skills
• Proficiency in using software such as Visio, MS Projector Gantt-related software, mind mapping tools and other project management tools.

At PSA, our job descriptions provide a guide to what might be expected in the role. Along with our strategy, the job description is used to help to shape specific objectives for employees. Employees are supported to deliver these objectives and they are annually assessed against them as part of the PSA performance review process. This job description is not incorporated into the employment contract. _ PSA is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where gender balance and diversity are valued.

For the full job description, and details of how to apply, please visit our website, https://www.pamsteele.co.uk/about-us/jobs

* *Please note, we are reviewing applications as they come in, so please do not wait for the published closing date **