Program Manager At Trickle Up

Organization Overview:

Trickle Up is a global poverty alleviation nonprofit with a mission to partner with women in extreme poverty to build economic opportunity and drive inclusion. In partnership with governments and local, national, and international organizations, we reach underserved women in remote, rural areas with livelihood programming. Together, we equip women with tools and support as they forge their own resilient pathways out of extreme poverty for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Visit www.trickleup.org for more information.

Position Summary:

The Program Manager (PM) position plays an important role in supporting Trickle Up’s (TU) contributions to Graduating to Resilience (the Activity) in Uganda and furthering the adoption of, and innovations to, the Graduation Approach in the region. This Uganda-based position will serve as a strategic representation of Trickle Up in country with the AVSI team and other partners, as well as other new stakeholders and partners. The PM is responsible for the overall day-to-day management of TU’s relationship with the Activity and related program-based activities and corresponding reporting.

The Graduating to Resilience Activity is a USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA)-funded, Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) led by AVSI Foundation, in partnership with Trickle Up and American Institutes for Research (AIR). The Activity is a 7-year program implemented in Kamwenge District, Uganda, and seeks to test the Graduation Approach’s ability to graduate extremely poor refugee and host community households in South-Western Uganda from conditions of food insecurity and fragile livelihoods to self-reliance and resilience. Conducted across two Cohorts, the Activity will engage 13,200 participants over seven years, with built-in refinement periods. The first 30-month cohort of interventions ended in June 2021 and engaged 6,629 households. Beginning in February 2022, Cohort 2 is engaging 7,238 (3,505 refugees and 3,733 hosts) households over 24 months.

Primary Responsibilities:

Technical Assistance and Strategic Support (35%)

• Lead and identify engagements between the Activity team in Uganda and Trickle Up HQ to effectively address technical support needs and promote TU’s strategic value add to the consortium.
• Lead efforts to disseminate knowledge from and enhance learning for the Activity, and advocate for the Graduation Approach as a viable methodology to reach extremely poor and conflict-affected populations at meetings, events, conferences, and in publications. This will include the development of documentation, including presentations, articles, and other resources.
• Develop and contribute to the development of technical assistance tools and products (assessments, reporting templates, training curriculums/tools, M&E, etc.) that enhance programmatic impact through improved learning mechanisms as well as through influencing program partners and team members for adoption, utilization, and dissemination.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of organization and department-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in Graduation for Refugee programming.
• Support in TU organization-wide contributions to the Activity through appropriate liaison, coordination, contribution in the implementation of key strategic initiatives and activities; and other requirements as agreed with supervisor and HQ.

Program Coordination and Grant Management (35%)

• Collaborate with technical team in Uganda to ensure quality and timely implementation of activities, and ensure that resources (human, financial, material) are available and applied appropriately.
• Coordinate regularly with Trickle Up HQ-based team members (identifying key areas for support and collaboration) to ensure effective technical assistance, strong partnership management, and the smooth implementation of activities.
• Define and oversee the development of annual scopes of work, and operational plans for effective program implementation in line with organizational objectives.
• Lead day-to-day decision-making in relation to activities carried out by Trickle Up for the Activity and communicate clearly and effectively with Trickle Up HQ to resolve issues with significant operational or strategic implications.
• Manage and oversee program operations as it relates to the sub-award, including program reporting, administrative, logistics, procurement, budgeting, and oversight of the grant.

Coordination, Networking, and Relationship Building (30%)

• Cultivate new and existing relationships with key stakeholders to maximize collaboration, impact, and visibility of the Activity and Trickle Up.
• Serve as Trickle Up’s primary liaison and representative with key partners, forums (ex. PAC), and stakeholders in Uganda and the region.
• Actively engage in the relevant sector working groups and networks to stay abreast of the latest developments, innovations, and best practices and share with the Activity and Trickle Up.
• Contribute to business development particularly by identification of potential strategic partners and relationships, supporting and at times leading on concept note and/or research design development.

Experience, Knowledge, and Technical Skills

Required:

• Master’s degree in social sciences, international development, monitoring, and evaluation or related field.
• Minimum 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in international development, including 5 years’ experience in program management and contract grant management for large donors.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic analysis, problem-solving, and team building and management.
• Expertise in social and economic inclusion, livelihoods, social protection, gender, and/or financial inclusion for vulnerable populations.
• Diplomatic, with strong interpersonal skills, and a high degree of cultural sensitivity.
• Proactive leader with excellent communication and relationship skills; demonstrating also the ability to prioritize and effectively manage competing work steams and deliverables.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners.
• Prior experience managing USAID-funded assistance projects of a similar size (US $4M) and scope in developing countries and experience managing multi-sectoral projects.
• Ability to work independently, (self-motivated) with strong time management skills.
• Ability to work in a matrix environment with accountability to HQ and field-based demands.
• Fluent English, Fluent or proficient French highly desired
• Willingness to live in Uganda.
• Travel within Uganda approximately 35% of the time and in locations with limited amenities, with other travel as needed.

Desired:

• Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa, prior experience in Uganda preferred.
• Experience designing and implementing social and economic inclusion programming, such as the Graduation Approach.
• Experience within humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
• Experience supporting business development in proposal/concept note development.

Compensation and Benefits

As a full-time position, we offer a competitive salary and complete benefits program, including comprehensive, affordable health care through medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial security with life and disability insurance; opportunities to save using flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits to help prepare for the future; and work/life benefits to help you maintain a good balance.