Under the overall supervision of the Uganda Country Director (CD), the Head of Programmes (HoP) is key member of the Country Management Team (CMT), along with the Head of Financial Accounting (HoFA). The HoP is responsible for ensuring that Self Help Africa (SHA) Uganda’s programmes contribute to the vision of Self Help Africa of “a thriving and resilient rural Africa”. The HoP shall provide overall leadership at a strategic and operational level for the Country Office (CO) and ensures that SHA’s vision and overall programme goals are met.
The HoP provides managerial, technical, mentoring and administrative support to a high performing programme team of Project Managers, Technical Advisors and Project Officers, leading effective planning and coordination across a growing and exciting project portfolio. He/she is the lead for the design of new and innovative programmes and coordinating the development of funding proposals for new or ongoing projects in line with agreed upon Country Office goals and strategic direction.

Roles and Duties
• Leadership and Strategic Direction
• To lead and engage with the programme team to promote SHA’s values in their day to day work
• Participate in the strategic development of the Uganda programme, as a key member of the CMT

• In liaison with the CD and programme team, design programmes and strategies in line with SHA’s mission, priorities and guidelines
• Assist the CD in programme fundraising, identifying new areas of need and potential areas for project development and donor funding in Uganda
• Programme Management
• Overall responsibility for the management of all SHA projects in Uganda consistent with good practice in project cycle management.
• Ensure adherence to timelines for all proposals and review proposals as necessary; Ensure strict compliance with donor contract requirements and reporting deadlines.
• Coordinate effective implementation of programme activities, including the development of work plans and facilitate their timely implementation, developing annual programme budgets and monitoring budget expenditure.
• Prepare programme reports such as Quarterly and Annual Programme performance indicators reports, Donor Reports, Board reports and other ad-hoc reporting needs.
• Support regular (monthly and quarterly) and highly rigorous approach to monitoring and evaluation, with a focus on outcomes, including systems for monitoring performance toward specific goals and objectives and developing and overseeing the baseline, mid-term, end term and impact evaluation component.
• Ensure SHA complies with all legal and donor requirements in programme areas.
• Ensure good working relationship with all programme stakeholders including government, civil society, private sector and beneficiaries, ensuring they are fully involved in planning and design, implementation, monitoring and reporting of programmes as appropriate.
• Lead the CO efforts to integrate emergency preparedness planning into our programmes and ensure that the CO is ready and able to respond to emergencies when they occur with support from HO emergency response person/unit.
• Ensure the integration of cross-cutting themes into strategy and operational frameworks. Specifically support capacity development and monitor integration of the following: advocacy and policy influencing; inclusion especially youth, gender and disability sensitivity; nutrition; and environmental factors.
• Operations Management
• Ensure expenditure and budget tracking are compliant with programme scope and donor guidelines
• Ensure regular communication is maintained among field sites including between the field, the Uganda Head Office and the programme support staff in HQ and the UK
• Ensure adherence to timelines for all proposals and review proposals as necessary; Ensure strict compliance with donor contract requirements and reporting deadlines;
• Travel to the project sites as and when needed
• Safety and Security
• Ensure field site safety and security guidelines are prepared and reviewed at least biannually
• Ensure all safety or security incidents (fires, vehicle accidents, theft, etc.) are appropriately recorded and reported by project coordinators to relevant parties
• Actively monitor field site safety and security and advise the CD of new developments
• Logistics/Finance/Administration
• Liaise with Desk Officer, Head of Compliance at HQ and Uganda CD in identifying areas for improvement across all support areas.
• Work closely with the HoFA and Project Managers to prepare and review budgets and anticipated results.
• People Management
• Provide direct line management to Programme Coordinators and Project Managers and through them support the management and development of all project staff.
• Maintain good team communication, engender excellent team dynamics and actively manage all direct reports to ensure optimum performance across all programme staff.
• To mentor and coach direct reports as part of people management brief to ensure SHA attracts and retain the best talent within the Uganda programme
• To ensure a Performance Development Review (PDR) is completed for each direct report (to include a training needs analysis) and the follow-up meetings as agreed.
• Ensure compliance with all organisational HR policies and procedures and local labour laws in relation to the selection, recruitment and retention of all programme staff.
• Assist in the recruitment of all new programme staff.
• Representation
• In coordination with the CD and Programme Support Coordinator, represent SHA at national, regional and international levels; to donors, local and national government authorities, other NGOs, and any other parties as required
• Support the CD’s strategic co-operation initiatives with government, private sector and national/international NGOs and CBOs active in the programme areas
• In coordination with the CD, lead on national and regional policy engagements.
• Ensure that relationships and formal agreements with government and partners are maintained and updated as appropriate
• Ensure proper programme documentation and sharing with partners within and external to SHA programme;
• Authority

Aptitude Requirements
• Excellent analytical skills
• Excellent writing and presentation skills
• Ability to work under pressure and on own initiative
• Ability to contribute to a small team environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills

Qualifications/Knowledge and Experience
• A least, five years’ successful experience in a senior position with responsibility for project management and design.
• Masters or similar degree in in Agriculture/Business Management, Rural Development, Project Management, Development Studies or any field related to development work.
• An ability to communicate effectively in English in a variety of settings such as staff meetings, donor negotiations, discussions with government and other partners, and training workshops
• Strong conceptual-level writing skills in English, as well as experience in editing the written work of others
• An ability to lead a large group of diverse and committed individuals and mould them into a coordinated and cohesive team
• A willingness and ability to coach, mentor and otherwise support the development of staff
• An ability to help others to plan and think strategically about their work
• Strong understanding of and practical experience in rural livelihoods, food and nutrition security, agribusiness and related activities.
• Knowledge of the NGO sector in Uganda.
• Excellent English language skills with excellent verbal, analytical, and organizational skills – a good communicator, with proven experience in reporting for international donors.
• Good team-worker; able to live and work closely with a small team with minimum direct supervision.
• Commitment to international and humanitarian NGO codes, standards and practices.
• Driving licence