The SARMAAN Programme Manager will lead the strategic and programmatic management of the SARMAAN project, ensuring successful implementation in line with organisational and donor standards. This role involves adherence to internal systems and processes, strategic programme development, stakeholder coordination, and State partner management for greater programme coherence. Additionally, the Programme Manager will collaborate with the Sightsavers NTD Directorate and Programme Delivery Unit.

Responsibilities
Lead strategic planning processes to align with organisational and donor strategies

Manage the implementation of the project to achieve timely and quality delivery

Support the team in using relevant quality assurance tools

Monitor project progress, detect, address, or escalate any issues or obstacles promptly

Identify emerging risks, lead risk analysis, and develop mitigation strategies with support from the CD and other parts of the organisation

Establish and maintain relationships with the partner organisation, the donor, other implementing partners, and key stakeholders

Facilitate clear and timely communication, information sharing, and productive engagement with stakeholders

Attend strategic meetings at the National and Consortium levels and follow up on relevant developments

Supervise budgeting and expenditure to ensure value for money

Verify compliance with grant contractual clauses, including financial requirements and reporting

Guarantee accurate and timely submission of reports to the partner and stakeholders

Promote collaborative practices and cross-learning with other implementing partners in the Consortium

Coordinate finance and programme functions for effective operations, and take corrective actions as appropriate

Ensure budget holders actively monitor and review budgets, addressing issues promptly

Confirm partner expenditure aligns with approved forecasts

Skills and Experience
As the Programme Manager, you will lead the strategic and programmatic management of the SARMAAN project, ensuring its successful implementation in line with organisational and donor standards. You will manage project delivery, support the team in using quality assurance tools, and monitor progress, addressing any issues promptly. Your role involves identifying and mitigating risks, maintaining relationships with partners, donors, and stakeholders, and facilitating clear communication.

Jobholder Requirements

 Essential:

• Medical doctor experience with public health expertise, particularly with the Polio platform

• Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, and effectively function as a team member while respecting diversity
• Strong ability to nurture, mentor, and empower staff at every level
• Proven ability to make effective decisions across a broad range of issues, assess progress, analyse gaps, and implement necessary changes for maximum results
• Ability to identify programmatic issues requiring immediate attention, prioritise, and take timely action
• Result-oriented with a proven track record of delivering impact at scale
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills
• Excellent communication (both verbal and written) and presentation skills
• Demonstrated learning agility, proactiveness, and openness to embrace new technologies at work
• Ability to manage large budgets
• Proficient in MS Office
• Strong analytical skills
• Postgraduate qualification in relevant fields related to Sightsavers’ thematic areas (NTDs, eye health, disability, and social inclusion), or equivalent
• Extensive experience in an INGO/NGO environment with significant background in a senior management/leadership position and a proven track record of complex programme management at the country level
• Knowledge of project management, budget development and monitoring, and resource management

Desirable:

Knowledge of advocacy, research, partnership development, and understanding of the Polio Platform and Nigerian Health System

Skills:
• Demonstrated ability to lead, manage and effectively function as a team
member and respect diversity in a team.
• Strong ability to nurture, mentor and empower staff at every level.
• Demonstrated ability to orchestrate effective decisions across a broad
range of issues, assess progress, analyse gaps and make changes
necessary to ensure maximum results.
• Demonstrated ability to identify programmatic issues that require
immediate attention, prioritize and take appropriate and timely action.
• Result oriented and proven track record of delivering impact at scale
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills
• Excellent communication (both verbal and written) and presentation skills
Demonstrated learning agility, pro-activeness and openness to embrace
new technologies at work
• Ability to manage large budget
• Good MS office skills.
• Add analytical skills
Qualifications and experience:
• Post graduate qualification in relevant fields related to Sightsavers thematic areas
(NTDs, eye health, disability and social inclusion), or equivalent.
• Extensive working experience in an INGO/NGO environment with significant
background in a senior management/leadership position with proven track record
of complex programme management at country level.
• Knowledge of project management, budget development and monitoring, and
resource management.
4
• Knowledge of advocacy, research, partnership development and understanding
of the Polio Platform and Nigerian Health System