Type of Contract: Fixed Term
Reporting to: Executive Director
Start Date: June 2016
Duration of Contract: One year (renewable)
Salary and Conditions: Negotiable

About Us:

Established in 2001, the Youth Empowerment Synergy (YES-Ghana) is an ECOSOC-accredited NGO which is at the forefront of youth development policy, practice and research in Ghana. At YES-Ghana, we work to realise a vision: a world where every young person has a real chance to benefit from and participate in the development processes at local, national and international levels. Our mission is to promote policies and develop initiatives that help youth succeed in becoming life-long learners, productive members of society, materially sufficient and self-respecting citizens.

Overall Purpose:

The Head of Programmes is a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and is responsible for the sound planning and management of the organisation’s work with the aim of achieving the set mission. He or she will lead, coordinate, support, and manage the work of YES-Ghana; represent, promote and raise the profile of the organisation; take lead on the development and implementation of the organisation’s programme of work; strengthen the resource and financial base; and ensure compliance with policies, procedures and guidelines. The Head of Programmes will work in close collaboration with project managers and other members of the programmes team, and will be required to travel whenever necessary to achieve institutional objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic planning and priority setting

•   Take active part in the preparation of YES-Ghana’s strategic direction and programme of work including the vision, strategies and objectives and priority areas of programming
Representation, advocacy and communications
•   Represent YES-Ghana publicly by writing and speaking on issues related to youth empowerment. In particular, provide YES-Ghana positions and views in public events at local, national and international levels
•   Provide leadership and guidance in the formulation of strategies to raise the visibility of YES-Ghana by communicating its core advocacy messages; demonstrating its contributions; and influencing and eliciting collaboration for its mission
•   Develop and maintain relations and collaboration with officials of government and non-government organisations working on youth empowerment issues at all levels to further enhance YES-Ghana’s influence as a leader in the field.
•   Build partnerships and collaboration with internal and external counterparts to achieve and maximise impact of advocacy, communications and networking initiatives.

Networking, partnerships and alliances

•   Provide leadership and guidance in establishment and maintenance of YES-Ghana’s strategic alliances with national and international institutions including the Africa Union, ECOWAS, ECA, other inter-governmental agencies, United Nations agencies, the donor community, international and local non-governmental organisations, CSOs, Academia, the private sector, and the media to elicit their support and influence action
•   Strengthen YES-Ghana’s direct engagement with young people at local and national levels, and as part of international processes

Team building

•   Ensure appropriate office and staffing structure as considered necessary for the implementation of YES-Ghana’s work programme
•   Lead, manage, supervise, develop and evaluate programme staff and support and motivate all staff to enhance capacity and ensure dedication and positive disposition to address the mission of YES-Ghana within their designated responsibilities
•   Support the process of programme staff recruitment, placement, promotion, organisational development and staff development in line with YES-Ghana’s policies, rules and regulations
•   Garner commitment, enthusiasm and accountability from senior management and staff to realise together the objectives of YES-Ghana through solid knowledge and appreciation of the issues and programme activities
•   Ensure gender sensitive and gender balanced work environment.
•   Apply sound management practices and goal setting, taking into full consideration the working systems and procedures of the organisation

Programme management

•   Oversee and provide programme strategy and direction
•   Lead the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of new projects and organisational strategy
•   Monitor trends and issues that impact YES-Ghana and its mission and goals; communicate their implications and recommendations for action in a timely manner to the Senior Management Team
•   Sustain and build standards and accountability across the work and the activities of the organisation, investing in consistent evaluation of YES-Ghana’s effectiveness and impact through effectiveness of its work
•   Ensure grant compliance programmatically, administratively, financially; ensure high quality and timely reporting to donors

Operational and financial management

•   Oversee and ensure effective management of programme finances, including budgeting processes
•   Guide the review of expenses versus revenue throughout the fiscal year; ensuring expenses are authorised and cash flow monitored in line with set policies, rules and regulations;
•   Ensure that grant management and overall impact of expenditure are undertaken and monitored for cost effectiveness and efficiency
•   Engage actively in the programme operations of YES-Ghana to ensure that the organisation is effectively administered
Resource mobilization
•   Lead and actively guide the development, implementation and on-going refinement of YES-Ghana’s resource mobilisation strategy, ensuring that the organisation secures required resources from public and private sources to carry out its programmes
•   Lead and guide the development of customised approaches to securing resources from specific public and private sources, conceptualising presentation of programme, policy dialogue, research and advocacy work and liaise at high levels with donors, foundations and corporate alliances
•   Maintain awareness of external factors and understand how they can affect fundraising at all levels and develop strategies to be communicated and deployed
•   Lead actively in fundraising solicitation, conceptualising presentation of programme work and liaise with governments, foundations, multilateral, bilateral and private sector donors; meet with and appeal to donors to cultivate support through appropriate presence and communications

Qualification Required & Experience

Education and Experience

•   Advanced university degree in Development Studies, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, or other related Social Science disciplines
•   Experience in programme/project management; building strategic alliances and partnerships and resource mobilisation
•   Demonstrated capacity in leading, managing, motivating and developing a multi-disciplinary and a multi-cultural team

Technical Knowledge

•   Development, social, economic and political issues particularly in regard to young people in Ghana and Africa
•   Rights based and results based programming expertise
•   Programme, project and budget management expertise
•   Demonstrated capacity to build and maintain strategic partnerships and alliances
•   Demonstrated track record in raising funds from bilateral and multilateral organisations, foundations and corporate sector
•   Experience in civil society change movements where activism involves many different players and levels of engagement and/or influence
•   Well-developed business acumen and strategic insight
•   Experience in conducting action research (desired)
•   Computer literacy, including proficiency in most Microsoft Office applications

Personal Attributes

•   High integrity and strong attention to detail
•   Strong financial, analytical and/or evaluative skills
•   Proven ability to establish priorities and to plan, organise, coordinate and monitor own work plan and provide advice and supervision to others
•   Resourcefulness, sound judgment and decision-making skills. Demonstrated sound judgment in resolving issues/problems
•   Excellent and effective communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with staff, project participants and partners, as well as others in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity
•   High level of professional, people management and human relations skills
•   Ability to initiate and complete assignments and to work under demanding circumstances with minimal supervision
•   Professional and independent working style, highly motivated and well-organised with the ability to work manage multiple tasks and projects at a time
•   Professional demeanour. Able to present a professional image of the organisation at all times.

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Please submit a one-page motivation letter and a recent CV bearing your contact details and two references to:-

jobs@yesghana.org

Please indicate the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email. Be sure to highlight in the motivation letter how specifically you meet the criteria for this role. Due to capacity constraints, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Closing Date: 15 April, 2016