Program Operations Manager – Youth Employment – Jobs in Kenya

Industry: NGO
Location: Nairobi
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
Gross Salary: Competitive

Our client is an International NGO headquartered in Washington DC, running Youth Employment programmes across over 30 countries in the world. They are one of the world’s largest, fastest scaling global demand-driven youth employment programs, providing young adults with the opportunity to launch successful careers and change their life trajectories. They seek to hire an efficient Program Operations Manager who will be tasked with managing and supervising education to employment projects by ensuring project objectives are on track and assist in program implementation.

Key Roles and Responsibilities
•    In collaboration with Human Resource function, ensure optimal staffing across all programs.
•    Oversee performance management and staff development across direct reports.
•    Ensure proper communication flows through the operations structure.
•    Foster a culture that embodies the program values of transparency, integrity, solving big problems, helping others, collaboration, teamwork etc
•    Will be instrumental in ensuring that individual and team KPIs are met and maintained across all our programmes.
•    Training/management of center staff – ensuring staff (coaches, teaching assistants) are prepared before program begins, assisting them in solving problems, organizing weekly staff meetings.
•    In collaboration with the Training & Quality Manager, ensuring that staff adhere to all program delivery standards.
•    Ensure proactive communication and coaching of staff on new and existing company polices.
•    Give feedback throughout and hold performance evaluations of direct reports on a regular basis.
•    Conduct daily check-ins and check outs to help regional leads with their operational responsibilities, solve immediate issues on the ground and prioritize where needed.
•    Preparation of training centers by ensuring the readiness of all classroom materials (e.g., computers, chairs, boards), utilities (e.g., electricity, internet, toilets), signage etc. before the start of each program. This also includes identifying new training centers as we scale-up.
•    Planning and execution of mobilization from advertisements (print and social media), to information sessions and literacy/numeracy exams, conducting student interviews, and registering students.
•    Co-ordinating logistics of day-to-day running of program: coordinate, prepare, and distribute program schedule and materials to instructors, mentors and learners.
•    Scheduling and managing employer presentations for candidates, organizing employer interview days, and coordinating with employers once job placements made. This also includes re-placing students with new employers in exceptional circumstances e.g., employer restructuring or lay-offs.
•    Ensure the maintenance of a database with student information and program records.
•    Ensuring timely operational reporting including and not limited to attendance marking, commitment fees collection.
•    Solving for consistent programme and process improvement.
•    Overseeing student’s transition to full time employment with local employment partners.
•    Lead weekly operational meetings & identify areas of risk and take steps to reduce vulnerabilities.
•    Training/management of center staff – ensuring staff (coaches, teaching assistants) are prepared before programme begins, assisting them in solving problems, organising weekly staff meetings.
•    Develop 12-month timeline and budget for overall program implementation and ensure all targets and timelines for operational scale up are met.
•    Continuously look for opportunities where process efficiency gains can be made and implement solutions, including automation / technology solutions.
•    As programme expands, additional responsibilities that become apparent.
•    Identifying and management of new and existing Delivery Partners.
•    Documentation of Delivery Partner standards of operation and holding Delivery Partners accountable to these standards.
•    Setting and reviewing Delivery Partner operational targets/SLA.
•    Ensuring Delivery Partners adhere to the program methodology, practices and standards in their operations.
•    Monthly/quarterly review of delivery partner performance.
•    Review Delivery Partner budgets and ensure its incorporated in the overall budget.
•    Cost & Budget management for delivery centers, with an aim of getting the best value while still maintaining high standards in quality and operations.

Qualifications and Skills Requirement
•    Must have an undergraduate or Post Graduate degree in social sciences, business or a relevant field
•    At least 10 years of relevant professional experience working engaging organizing, youth Development and managing programs/projects.
•    Embody values and understand the future challenges and opportunities for youth empowerment and is passionate about creating an impact in Kenya’s employment ecosystem.
•    Comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft programs (Excel, PowerPoint, MS project, etc.).
•    Excellent oral/presentation skills and good planning skills
•    Excellent written skills in English, especially report writing.
•    Strong teamwork orientation, with an ability to lead and work effectively with a range of partners and colleagues.
•    Strong interpersonal and ability to communicate to people of all walks of life.
•    Strategic and innovative with ability to sell the vision of the Program
•    Ability to explain complex ideas in easily accessible way tailored to different audiences.
•    Commitment to respect and value equality and diversity and understanding of how this applies to own area of work.
•    Demonstrate high levels of integrity.

NB: Ability to travel frequently within Kenya, and potential occasional travel in the region and internationally.

How to Apply
If you are up to the challenge, possess the necessary qualification and experience; please send your CV only quoting the job title on the email subject (Program Operations Manager – Youth Employment) on or before 17th August 2021

N.B: We do not charge any fee for receiving your CV or for interviewing.

Only applicants meeting the strict criteria outlined above will be contacted as part of the shortlisting process.