Shifting the Power programme: Senior Programme Officer At Comic Relief

Purpose of job:

This Project Manager post, based in Malawi, will support the ongoing implementation of the Shifting the Power (StP) programme. This long term, transformative, civil society strengthening programme, co-funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Comic Relief, has an overarching aim of shifting greater power to civil society, and is operational in Ghana, Zambia and Malawi. Learning from the programme will influence Comic Relief’s wider funding practice, and intentionally seek to disrupt ways of working in the wider funder ecosystem.

This role will report to the Head: Shifting the Power programme, based in London, and will work alongside a small team to ensure the success of the programme. This team consists of three staff members based in London, including the Head post, and one based in Zambia. This role will work with colleagues in this small team, within wider Comic Relief, and with our local civil society organisation partners (our “Anchor Partners”) in the three programme countries, and will have a focus on planning, contract management, financial management, reporting and event convening.

Key responsibilities:

Planning:

• Tracking and overseeing key deadlines / milestones / actions within the StP programme.
• Work with StP Lead to organize, co-create and enable regular planning meetings with Shifting the Power Anchor Partners (APs) in the three programme countries to strengthen relationships, provide mutual support and enhance collaboration
• Producing and managing work plans and other helpful project management tools for the programme (i.e. risk register, log of issues etc).
• Trouble shooting problems and challenges internally within CR systems as they emerge

Reporting:

• Overseeing, co-ordinating, tracking and ensuring delivery of all formal FCDO reporting including quarterly and annual reports, and responding to any related queries from FCDO.
• Co-ordinating and collating reporting inputs from across the StP team and APs. Facilitate and ensure timely AP reporting, including reviewing, providing feedback and analysing AP narrative and financial reports, escalating any issues with relevant CR internal team members.

Contract management:

• Working on contract management for the team, including collaborating with team members, consultants/suppliers and CR internal teams (i.e. legal and assurance) to draft contracts and related paperwork, following up on the administrative process and tracking consultants and supplier deliverables.
• Working with APs and FCDO with amendments or issues relating to their respective contracts, in collaboration with CR internal teams (i.e. legal and assurance)

Financial management:

• Support Comic Relief’s finance unit, primarily the Senior Financial Business partner (Funding), to ensure:
• Robust review of Anchor Partner financial reports and forecasts and provision of supportive feedback to partners and dialogue to strengthen financial management.
• Proactive processing and tracking of programme expenses, and reforecasting of programme budgets
• Efficient processing of payments to Anchor Partners for both grants and expenses.
• Assistance for any financial compliance checks

Event management and travel:

• Primary responsibility for co-ordinating the convening of key events for the StP programme (i.e. in country convening events) and providing support as required with high level communications and advocacy events.
• Includes co-creation of the event with Anchor Partners, communicating with participants, organising logistics (i.e. hotels / venues), supporting visa applications, completing and managing risk assessments and similar documentation, and managing post event evaluation.
• Co-ordinate travel between programme partner countries (Zambia, Malawi, Ghana and the UK) and other countries as necessary, ensuring compliance with Comic Relief processes and practices in this area.

General

• Support the Shifting the Power Programme Lead to maintain strong relationships with the Anchor Partners, one of which is based in Malawi.
• Work with the Shifting the Power Programme Lead, based in Zambia, and the Head: Shifting the Power Programme, based in London, to maintain the relationship with British High Commissions in programme countries, particularly in Malawi.
• Assist the co-ordination of the Shifting the Power programme sub groups.
• Provide administrative support as and when required to the Comic Relief StP team, including organizing shared drives and documentation.
• Support the Head: Shifting the Power Programme to ensure that shift the power principals are embedded within Comic Relief

Some travel (including some international) will be required in this role.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• An interest in and commitment to creating a more equitable development system and shifting power.
• Exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience and knowledge of project management tools and approaches.
• Experience of working within remote teams with colleagues working in overlapping areas, and building close and collaborative relationships within this context.
• Effective relationship builder with strong emotional intelligence and careful consideration to unequal power dynamics.
• Keen sense of political awareness to proactively persuade, challenge and influence stakeholders and partners.
• Accuracy and attention to detail. An understanding of organizational finance policies and donor compliance.
• Good record keeping and organizational skills.

Desirable Criteria

• Good communication skills, able to build relationships quickly and collaboratively.
• Experience of working in partnership with a bilateral donor, ideally FCDO or other large institutional funders.
• Experience of event organisation

This position is predominantly home-based, so candidates are encouraged to have an appropriate and suitable workspace within their home. Reasonable adjustment can be discussed with Comic Relief directly.

Application Guidance

• Please ensure your covering letter is no more than two pages. Cover letters longer than two pages will not be considered.
• CVs/Resumes should be maximum, two pages.
• In your covering letter please outline your relevant experience and expertise for the position, referring back to the job description.

Benefits

• Health Care via United Healthcare – for employee and immediate family (Spouse and Children where applicable).
• Annual Leave – 25 working days paid leave per year. Paid leave on all gazetted or declared public holidays in the Territory.
• Travel Insurance – fully paid by CR via Mauve Corporate Systems UK Ltd.
• Pension – The Firm shall pay the equivalent of 10% of the Employee’s gross salary towards the Employee’s pension
• Monthly Home Office Allowance – monthly payment of $150
• Quarterly Reconciliations – Quarterly reconciliations to identify any necessary supplementary payments in case of losses due to fluctuating currency exchange
• Interest Free Loans specific for home working set up e.g. solar panels