Senior Programs Officer Full-Time

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

The Senior Program Officer will lead all aspects of grants acquisition, helping to secure funding from major institutional donors to support the life-changing work implemented by World Vision in Mozambique. The current World Vision grants portfolio includes significant grant funding from USAID, the Global Fund, the USDA and the World Bank, as well as period humanitarian funding from OFDA, DFID, EFSP and WFP. This funding supports humanitarian and development work in food security, health (mostly HIV and malaria control) and education. Significant potential exists in Mozambique to expand the World Vision funding portfolio to in the areas education, livelihoods, climate change and agricultural

development. A critical part of this role will be to lead the program, donor and partner engagement and represent World Vision in Mozambique with existing and prospective donors, with a view to diversifying the existing income portfolio. Key tasks for the Senior Program Officer will include leading project and programme design, proposal development, information management and reporting. In addition, the Senior Program Officer will support the implementation of our existing and new grants through start-up workshops, donor reporting as well as a range of tasks relating to quality assurance and compliance. This will ensure that the Senior Program Officer develops a deep understanding of the

achievements, capacity and challenges for World Vision in Mozambique, supporting them in their resource acquisition work. The Senior Program Officer will have proven capacity in project design, donor engagement and grants acquisition, as well as have the energy, dedication and attitude to help them achieve in a changing, complex and demanding work environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Grants Acquisition:

• Prepare grant proposals, budgets, reports and other design documents for World Vision’s partnership and major public donors, as well as supervise Program Officers in proposal development.
• Support donor engagement towards unsolicited funding, including donor meetings, preparation of Concept Notes and other donor engagement activities.
• Maintain accurate records of funding acquisition activities to ensure reliable income forecasts can be prepared and funding is available for strategic priorities.
• Provide timely updates to Senior Management, key WV support offices and the regional office with regard to funding opportunities for the office.

Grants Quality and Compliance:

• Monitor the progress of a portfolio of grants, and support the Programme Officers in their monitoring, to ensure that projects/programmes are implemented in alignment with donor requirements and regulations, as well as global standards.
• Ensure appropriate documentation, reporting and action on issues as they are identified.
• Lead the preparation of monthly, annual and end-of-project narrative reports, as required for internal and external audiences.
• Ensure that program implementation is in line best practice and relevant WV internal standards and policies.
• Provide program updates to key WV support offices and the regional office.

Relationship Management:

• Develop and maintain strong relationships and information sharing with World Vision Support Office representatives.
• Support the programs team to enhance the World Vision Mozambique partnership approach, including identification and engagement of local partners, as well as partnerships with donors and INGOs.
• Ensure alignment with WV’s established external engagement, GAM, partnering steps, and response strategies.
• Assist the Business Development and Grants Management Director with representation of WV, as needed.

Strategy Development and Support:

• Assist in annual operating plan preparation including: design, needs assessment, proposal writing, marketing, evaluation and reporting.
• Ensure alignment of all proposals and projects with WV Mozambique Strategy.
• Any other tasks as necessary.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, International Development, International Relations or related field.
• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written).
• At least 24 months experience in a similar role, preferably with an INGO similar to World Vision.
• Understanding of project design and proposal writing.
• Proven track record for successful grants acquisition.
• Proven understanding of the workings of major donor budget requirements, strategies and regulations, such as USAID, OFDA, UN agencies, DFID, ECHO, EU, GAC, etc.
• Strong capacity building and facilitation skills.
• High degree of negotiation and facilitation skills.
• Experience coordination with INGO.s and other key stakeholders.
• Ability to complete tasks in a timely manner.
• Ability to pursue thoroughness and appropriate attention to detail.
• Ability to express self clearly in all forms of writing.
• Ability to identify gaps, trends, priorities and key issues.
• Ability to maintain performance expectations in diverse cultural contexts, psychologically stressful environs and physical hardships.
• Ability to facilitate the creation of cross-functional project teams and the development of national strategies.
• Understands grants acquisition and business development from a process point of view and uses measurement and accountability systems effectively.
• Excellent time-management and prioritisation.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships.
• Ability to interpret and present information with influence and impact.
• Self-starter who can work independently under pressure.
• Demonstrates openness and transparency.
• Effective in written and verbal communication in English.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• Effective in written and verbal communication in Portuguese.
• Master’s degree in Social Sciences, International Development, International Relations or related field.
• Completed a recognised personal security course in the past 3 years.
• Knowledge of WV’s field operations, either in the relief or development context.
• Cross-cultural sensitivity, flexible world view, emotional maturity and physical stamina.
• Ability to manage work life and work without supervision.
• Ability to work in and contribute to team building environment.
• Ability to maintain performance expectations in psychologically stressful environments and physical hardship conditions with limited resources.
• Ability to maintain strong links with major NGO’s, donors and government agencies.
• Ability to explain WV’s work in relation to issues of poverty, power, justice and peace.
• Ability to travel internationally as needed.
• Ability to work with a reasonably level of comfort in stressful situations.

Work Environment/Travel:

• The position requires ability and willingness to travel domestically up to 20% of the time, with some potential for travel within the region and internationally. Domestic travel may require travel to the field, where access to some facilities will be limited.