Head of Programmes and Partnership Street Child Uganda

Location and Reporting Structure

This role is based in Kampala, Uganda, with frequent travel to field project sites across the country. The Head of Programmes and Partnership will report directly to the Uganda Country Representative and will have two direct reports serving as Programme Officers. This is a full-time, fixed-term contract for one year, with a strong possibility of extension based on performance and funding availability.

Role Overview

The Head of Programmes and Partnership will work closely with the Country Director to develop and deliver the country office strategy. This role carries direct responsibility for programme delivery and oversight of all partnerships. The successful candidate will oversee Street Child's partnership approach, ensuring meaningful and equitable relationships with local, national, and international actors. Street Child believes that supporting local organisations and leveraging their expertise is essential for effective, efficient interventions and achieving sustainable, long-term impact. In Uganda, the majority of Street Child's implementation is conducted in collaboration with local and national organisations. This role will champion local actors, ensuring they have the resources, capacity, and support necessary to implement programmes successfully. The ideal candidate possesses a strong record of programme management and strategy delivery, experience advising senior management, excellent communication skills, and demonstrated leadership abilities. Analytical thinking, the capacity to research innovative intervention methods, creativity, and flexibility are also essential for this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with Street Child's nine local partners to ensure they have the resources required for successful programme implementation. This includes developing and monitoring individual Capacity Strengthening Plans that address specific areas each partner wishes to strengthen.
• Serve as the primary focal point for all local partners, coordinating queries and tasks between Street Child, donors, and partners. This involves filtering donor requests and following up with partners to ensure all deadlines are met.
• Identify challenges and delays faced by local partners and work collaboratively and supportively with them and other stakeholders to develop and implement effective solutions.
• Ensure that technical support areas for implementing local partners are identified and addressed to guarantee quality programme delivery. Identify key areas requiring group capacity strengthening sessions and design and conduct such trainings.
• Assume ultimate responsibility for ensuring all programmes, including those implemented by partners, maintain high quality, demonstrate good value for money, and comply with donor requirements.
• Ensure the Street Child programmes team has the resources needed to support partners in programme implementation, including finalising and reviewing programme and donor documents such as work plans and reports.
• Provide strategic guidance and reporting to local partners, particularly in planning and implementing coherent, quality, and innovative education programmes.
• Ensure the development and application of harmonised approaches for programme implementation, including standards and frameworks for monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning.
• Ensure the production and timely submission of evidence-based, high-quality technical, narrative, and financial reports to donors, and share these reports with local partners.
• Coordinate the design and development of Street Child Uganda proposals to donors, obtaining approval from the Country Representative and Programme and Quality Manager before submission.
• Travel regularly to project sites across Uganda to conduct monitoring visits with the project team, ensuring established quality standards are met across all partners.
• Organise joint review meetings with local partners and stakeholders to ensure programme planning and implementation are informed by review outcomes.
• Coordinate with different partners to share information and updates on relevant programme activities.
• Act as the focal point for partners and stakeholders, channeling queries and questions to the appropriate teams.
• Represent Street Child at coordination meetings and events, advocating for the organisation's work. This includes presenting at multi-stakeholder meetings and hosting learning events.
• Build and maintain key relationships with donors, the Government of Uganda, and other international agencies.
• In conjunction with the Senior Management Team, identify and develop local partnerships or consortia with NGOs, institutions, and companies on technical priorities or important topics.
• Strengthen and maintain links between education and other thematic areas across areas of operation.
• Oversee and lead the programmes team, providing all staff with the support needed to implement programmes successfully. This role manages at least two field-based Programme Officers.
• Hold overall budget responsibility for all programmes, ensuring partners and programmes operate within budget. Work closely with finance to initiate budget realignments when necessary.
• Lead team meetings, including programmes meetings, joint monitoring and evaluation sessions, and monthly budget vs. actual reviews.
• Support the development of the country office strategy and provide guidance on its implementation, leading the execution of the programme strategy.
• Serve as an active member of the Senior Leadership Team in country, offering strategic guidance for the country office.

Core Values

• Accountability: Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, and achieving results while role modelling Street Child values. Holds the team and partners accountable for delivering responsibilities, providing freedom to deliver effectively, offering development to improve performance, and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
• Ambition: Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for personal development, and encourages the team to do the same. Shares their personal vision for Street Child widely, engaging and motivating others. Future-oriented with strategic and global thinking.
• Collaboration: Builds and maintains effective relationships with their team, colleagues, members, and external partners and supporters. Values diversity as a source of competitive strength. Approachable, a good listener, and easy to talk to.
• Creativity: Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions. Willing to take disciplined risks.
• Integrity: Honest, encourages openness and transparency, and demonstrates the highest levels of integrity.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Post-graduate degree in Project Planning and Management or a related field, with additional training in project planning and management techniques.
• A minimum of five years of relevant experience as Head of Programmes or in a similar position.
• Strong leadership, management, and coordination skills, including experience leading large programmes and teams.
• Proven experience working with local partners and managing consortiums.
• Proven experience in developing and managing high-quality, innovative, and cost-effective technical education projects in complex environments, preferably in Uganda and with international NGOs.
• Proven experience and skills in research and advocacy, influencing institutional, private, and corporate donors, and writing high-quality donor reports.
• Experience providing capacity building for other organisations, their systems, partners, and staff.
• Ability to extensively travel for project monitoring and provide on-site technical support to field teams.
• Experience in financial management, budget monitoring, and risk management.
• Experience solving complex issues through analysis, defining a clear way forward, and ensuring buy-in.
• Highly numerically articulate with a track record of data manipulation and reporting systems.
• Highly diplomatic with strong oral and written communication skills in English.

Additional Job Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities outlined above are not exhaustive. The role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within the scope of their skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities

The role holder is required to carry out their duties in accordance with Street Child Uganda's Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding

Street Child is committed to keeping children safe. Our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.