Position Title: Programs Manager

Responsible To: President

Appointment Site: Challenging Heights Office, Winneba, Ghana

Mission and job purpose

Our mission is to ensure a secured, protected and dignified future and life for children and youth by promoting their rights, education, and health.

Challenging Heights delivers social justice interventions to children, women, and underserved communities in the coastal and farming communities of Ghana. This includes rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of children who have been trafficked in the fishing industry, as well as organizing communities around issues of child protection in order to prevent trafficking and re-trafficking of children. Challenging Heights also contributes to policy and awareness creation and the public discourse on issues affecting Ghanaian children. Additionally, the organization runs a school for more than 700 children who are survivors of child trafficking or who are at risk of child trafficking.

From the humble beginning of being a one-man unregistered organization in 2003, Challenging Heights has grown to its present status of a formidable child-centered social justice organization that is at the forefront of fighting for the rights of children and underserved populations.

Challenging Heights is poised to scale up operations for the purpose of sustaining its program gains and services and improving upon the quality it offers to both its clients and supporters.

The Programs Manager will work closely with the Programs Team and local communities to design, implement, and monitor activities aimed at preventing child labor and trafficking; identifying and rescuing children who have been trafficked; mobilizing communities to take ownership over child protection issues locally; and liaising with relevant government officials. The Programs Manager will also assist with developing and implementing a strategy for advocacy at the district, national, and international level on issues relevant to the mission of Challenging Heights. This position requires strong written and verbal communication skills, strong leadership, strong self-initiative, critical thinking/strong analytical skills, dedication to social justice/human rights/child rights in Ghana, diplomacy, and flexibility.

For more information on Challenging Heights, please visit our website: www.challengingheights.org.

Job Summary

Programs Manager

•   Manage the design and implementation of rescue and community programs
•   Manage a team of three to five staff working on rescue of trafficked children and community programs
•   Assist community members in more than ten communities to organize themselves around child rights and protection.
•   Provide trainings to community groups on child rights and child protection legislation.
•   Connect survivors to appropriate psychosocial counseling and closely monitor to ensure they receive the needed care, while demonstrating careful sensitivity and support for the children.
•   Liaise with district, municipal, and national governments.
•   Produce high quality, timely reports on projects for donors, the management committee, and the board of directors.
•   Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting for programs, including reports on spending and receipt collection. Work with financial/accounting team to ensure a high level of financial accountability.
•   Maintain proactive communication with donors and partners via email, Skype and other means as necessary
•   Ensure that partnerships continue to be in the best interest of the organization; develop policies to govern effective partnerships.
•   Represent Challenging Heights to local and international governments as well as other non-governmental organizations at meetings and in other forums

Qualification Required & Experience

•   A first degree in program management, public policy, or other relevant field required.
•   Master’s degree preferred.Understanding of child rights and social justice agenda in Ghana. Knowledge of child trafficking, especially in the fishing industry in Ghana, a plus.
•   Knowledge of local and national government structure and relevant laws and acts (Human Trafficking Act, Children’s Act, etc).
•   Knowledge of international bodies and laws a plus.

Experience

•   Demonstrated experience developing and managing successful community development programs.
•   Two years’ experience monitoring and evaluating community programs.
•   Two years’ experience managing staff, overseeing budgeting and expense reporting, and writing program reports.
•   Experience working with children and/or youth.
•   Experience working with government officials, both local and national.
•   Experience providing trainings in rural communities.
•   Experience mobilizing or organizing communities
•   Demonstrated commitment to social justice/human rights/child rights
•   Experience with the Department of Social Welfare, CHRAJ, Police, etc. a plus.
•   Experience working with international visitors, volunteers, or staff a plus.
•   Experience with social research a plus.

Skills

•   Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
•   Highly computer and internet literate. Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint.
•   Strong public speaker.
•   Outgoing, flexible, and a quick learner. Passionate about human rights and justice.
•   High level of personal initiative and resourcefulness.
•   Intercultural relationship-building skills.
•   Ability to work long hours, including some weekends.
•   Ability to work under often tight deadlines
•   Fluent in Fante or Twi required.

Location: Winneba

How To Apply For The Job

To apply for this position, please email the following to infoCHghana@gmail.com (applications not including all of the below will not be considered):

•   A one page Cover Letter, detailing experience that is relevant to the position.
•   A CV/resume, including two professional references.
•   A Writing Sample of your own work which demonstrates effective written communication on a relevant issue.

Female candidates and graduates of UEW highly encouraged to apply. Ghanaian nationals only please.Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, as we hope to fill this position ASAP.

Closing Date: 08 August, 2013