The Program Operations Director is a key member of the BLM senior leadership team and is responsible for bringing modern business approaches to the organisation’s operations and programmes in order to move towards financial sustainability, effective management, high productivity and growth.  The role will work collaboratively with other members of the senior leadership team to achieve BLM’s mission and goals.  The position holder will be required to deputise for the Country Director.  The Program Operations Director (POD) will be responsible for three distinct functional areas:

• Program/Project Management including Business and Proposal Development and Fundraising and project cycle management.
• Management of Pillar one; Outreach and Public System Strengthening (PSS) channels including fleet and transportation management under pillar one head
• Monitoring, research and evaluation management

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program/Project and Financial leadership

• Leading the program and project managers, ensure that project performance trackers are in place and donor compliance with project and programmatic requirements are achieved.
• Ensure that all projects are followed up, supported and learning are documented.
• Ensure that donor deliverables and compliance points are well observed and managed for all project operations.
• Ensure narrative and financial reports are completed in accordance with deadlines/compliance requirements and undertake report reviewing where necessary.
• Coordinate with respective donors, government bodies, partners and MSI global and regional support office managers as necessary.
• Coordinate internal forums including grant opening, reviewing and close-out meetings as required to ensure projects and programmes deliver results across all directorates, channels and teams at BLM.
• Support budget setting and monitoring across departments, in line with donor commitments for specific projects.
• Liaise with the finance team to ensure that budget monitoring tools are in place and are being used effectively to manage project budgets at cost centre and project level.

Business and Proposal Development and Fundraising

• In coordination with the country director, mapping potential and existing donors, identify funding opportunities through concept notes and other initiatives in liaison with relevant regional and global functions
• Mobilize key functional leads and technical teams to respond to calls for proposals
• Build capacity of selected staff in proposal development to expand opportunities for BLM
• Participate in new business development in collaboration with other BLM departments, regional and global MSI teams as necessary.
• Maintain productive and visible relationships with existing donors and other stakeholders working in the area of family planning and sexual reproductive health.
• Represent BLM in relevant NGO, donor and government forums focused on advancing family planning and sexual reproductive health agenda at the district, national and regional level as required.

Operations leadership and System Strengthening (OR, PSS and Fleet Management)

• Maximise efficiencies in outreach service delivery and expand geographical coverage with a focus on penetrating rural, under-served areas of high demand and unmet needs.
• Ensure Pillar one sustainability pathway of MSI2030 strategy is adopted and implemented so that outreach services will be sustainably handed over to the local government after ownership and capacity is created. Expand BLM’s Public System Strengthening (PSS) efforts ensuring local service provision and governance capacity is strengthened.
• Ensure effective coordination across all channels of service delivery, particularly with regards to marketing and behaviour change communication.
• Strengthen systems and ensure that the OR and PSS channel lead uses relevant and appropriate information to inform business decisions and ensure project success.
• Manage systems for the prevention and detection of fraud and ensure internal controls are strictly adhered to across all service delivery channels including the commercial services channel
• Ensure the public sector channel is implemented in line with MSI processes and guidelines with robust data validation processes in place.
• Support the Pillar I channel lead to maximise efficiency in fleet, transportation and logistic support, utilising global goods in fleet management, proper tracking of vehicles and fuel consumption.

Research, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ensure research is a priority in project design.
• Ensure an effective monitoring and evaluation system for the country programme is in place to enable attainment of goals set aside in country strategic plans in lien with MSI 2030 strategy
• Ensure that allprojects have M&E frameworks that align with donor requirements and MSI standard M&E systems
• Oversee reporting of expected results in an efficient manner
• Guide evidence-based recommendations and decision making to SLT
• Ensure consistency in annual implementation and reporting on all MSI standard research tools, including client exit interviews and mystery client interviews.
• Oversee implementation of BLM’s MIS system with primary responsibility for the quality of the data.

Policy and Advocacy

• Identify and lead on key policy change and advocacy initiatives in line with BLM and MSI’s strategic objectives.
• Lead and oversee BLM’s work on policy change and advocacy and ensure that this work is fully funded and represents BLM appropriately to all relevant stakeholders and audiences.

Business Planning, forecasting and Implementation

• Participate in national business development and expansion and coordinate the annual business planning process for BLM.Lead in development of strategic initiatives/plans.
• Ensure quarterly forecasts are done based on existing funding and operational realities.
• Oversee project implementation, strengthening systems for monitoring results and ensuring evidence based best practice is adopted across the programme.
• Ensure that reports are used to provide regular updates to the senior leadership team enabling early identification of performance issues and facilitating corrective action as appropriate..

Clinical Standards and Client Focus

• Ensure high clinical quality standards are maintained across all BLM services by working closely with the Clinical Quality team.
• Ensure that the rights and needs of clients are given priority by all BLM staff within the Operations team.

Anti-Fraud, Bribery and Corruption

• Ensure protocols and processes are in place and strictly adhered to across the entire Directorate.
• In collaboration with the Systems Directorate ensure that all finance, procurement and related systems procedures are implemented and evidenced across all operations teams and channels.
• Manage systems for the prevention and detection of fraud and ensure internal controls are strictly adhered to across all service delivery channels.
• Ensure all BLM staff are aligned with BLM and MSI values.
• Ensure that all BLM staff are trained in MSI’s approach to anti-fraud, bribery and corruption.

Leadership and Capacity Building

• Provide leadership and guidance to BLM’s Program Operations Directorate in order to achieve BLM’s mission and strategic objectives.
• Proactively mentor and/or coach the Channel Leads to critically assess opportunities to improve income, reduce costs, maintain excellent quality and increase client flow.
• Ensure that the structure of the Program Operations Directorate is fit for purpose and that all roles and responsibilities are relevant to the needs and demands of BLM and that goals and strategies are clearly communicated to all team members.
• Role model MSI’s core values and demonstrate MSI behaviours at all times.

KEY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Proven experience managing donor funded project cycles at senior level including technical and financial components
• Proven experience in managing advocacy and behavioural change interventions
• Diplomatic and effective communicator at all levels
• Solid organizational skills, including multi-tasking and time-management
• Knowledge and experience in working with diverse donors including governments, bilaterals, foundations and UN agencies.
• Strategic thinker, results-oriented
• Excellent analytical skills
• Supportive personnel management style, with the ability to capacity build
• Experience working in an overseas development programme is essential, ideally within Africa and within the health or family planning sector.
• Experience managing multi-tiered management structures of medical professionals, project managers and marketing agents is required.
• Excellent communication skills are required particularly around negotiation, influencing and conflict management. Advanced analytical and business analysis skills.
• A strong track record in achieving both financial and non-financial targets.

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATION:

The successful candidate will have a post-graduate level qualification in Public Health, Medicine, Health Economics or Health Service Management or and other relevant streams.  Knowledge of public health system, clinical health, family planning and other SRHR services and community outreach services is also required.

 PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Excellent and proven leadership skills.
• Results driven.
• Motivated and energetic.
• Strong commitment to the goals and vision of BLM.
• Pro-choice.

If you are interested and you meet the above requirements, please send your curriculum vitae and cover letter including the names and contact details of at least three traceable referees (at least one reference from your current employer or most recent employer; or any previous employers from the recent past)