Portfolio Manager

CR310

Our client aims to deliver large-scale, long-term transformational advances for children.

Founded in 2003, our client aims to demonstrably improve the lives of children living in poverty in developing countries through large-scale and sustainable impact.

The key role of the Portfolio Manager is to maximise the impact for children from each investment that is made. They have accountability for the programmes within a designated geography or for a key organisational relationship. These senior roles will be responsible for multi-million dollar portfolios, developing and coordinating the approach and driving the performance of investments to achieve the most for children.

•        Represent the organisation at a high level with NGOs, partners, investors, Government and UN officials and other key stakeholders. Build the reputation and networks in country.
•        Provide oversight and management of the allocated portfolio elements to ensure the effectiveness of all funded initiatives. Formulate achievable execution plans by developing program change frameworks that identify key levers of impact and programmatic elements that provide the greatest marginal benefit. For programs that are not delivering impact, work with portfolio managers to strengthen, scale down or modify their activities.
•        Develop aligned investment, policy agenda and program implementation plans for allocated portfolio, ensuring all programs deliver on strategic goals.
•        Work within the country and with other Programme Managers to ensure that each investment realizes all potential opportunities to galvanize further support, ensure sustainable results and expand impact.
•        Ensure that the learning and best practices of grantees extend beyond the direct impact of programs. Identify and connect programs to best practice organizations and approaches.         Work with grantees to develop advocacy and policy change strategies, such as adopting best practices or improving legal frameworks. Work with Strategy Implementation staff to devise information dissemination strategies.
•        Keep Executive Management informed of major issues, achievements and developments in the portfolio. Report on overall portfolio performance on a periodic basis (annual, monthly, ad hoc) generating narrative and financial reports on the portfolio and ensuring compliance with grant contract terms (with support from portfolio analyst).
•        Working with the Monitoring and Evaluation Programme Management staff, develop monitoring processes and provide capacity-building of grantee organizations to ensure an effective system of impact assessment.

Competitive

Nairobi

•        A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (required); advanced degree strongly preferred.
•        Senior project or business management experience on a global or regional scale within the private sector and/or the development sectors; a blend of both is preferred.
•        Significant experience working within developing countries, expecially with government, and an excellent network of international contacts in both private and NGO sectors.
•        Demonstrable experience of developing and leading successful private/public partnerships at a global or regional level.
•        Proven senior level managerial, operations, financial, problem solving, networking and organisational development experience.
•        Expertise in nutrition, food security or production or social marketing a distinct advantage.
•        Proven business planning and implementation skills or programme management experience.
•        Ability to analyse an organisation’s strength of management, vision and adaptive capacity.
•        Ability to set priorities and to lead planning processes; ability to think critically, objectively and strategically.
•        Strong interpersonal skills, and excellent communication skills in English. Relevant retional languages an advantage

Knowledge of Sub-Saharan Africa is highly valued.

Salary dependent on experience and includes a performance-based bonus

To apply, please send an updated CV and covering letter to: applications@skillsforcauses.com quoting reference CR310

Closing date: 19 August 2009