Programme Manager

Job Title

Programme Manager

Company/Organisation

Concern Worldwide

Location

Port Loko

Contract Details

Permanent/Fixed Term

Job Purpose

Concern Worlwide is recruiting for Programme Manager for the Irish Aid funded food systems for food security Project based in Port Loko with regular liaison and travel to field sites in Tonkoli as well as Concern Head Office in Freetown. The Programme Manager will work under the oversight of the Livelihoods Programme Coordinator.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• As the budget holder for the Concern Worldwide Yoti budget, responsible to track budget expenditure and ensure spending is meeting projections and donor requirements; timely escalate to Line Manager and finance any anticipated variances. Participate in budget revision and annual budgeting exercises throughout the project period.
• Ensure the District PMs complete, accurate and realistic feedback and review forecast in monthly Donor Management Accounts.
• Ensure annual Detailed Implementation Plans (DIP) are in place, monitored, managed and updated at least quarterly. Support District PMs to plan work schedules and ensure the DIP for the project is harmonised across districts.
• Develop activities-based budgets for each of the districts and support District PMs to utilise these for day to day management of district specific implementation.
• Ensure effective and inclusive (partners, line ministries etc.) start-up of the Yoti Yoti project
• Manage, lead and support the project team to ensure agreed project objectives are met in an efficient and timely manner according to Concern and donor policies and procedures. Coordinate activities with project partners to meet the wider objectives of the project.
• Ensure annual procurement plan is in place, monitored and updated.
• Ensure that project related documentation is continuously input and updated in Concern’s grants management system.
• Be flexible and use negotiation skills in dealing with problems in the field and Concern Worldwide office levels.
• Directly line manage, coach and mentor the 2 District PMs and ensure they are appropriately managing their district teams. Conduct performance reviews as per Concern processes.
• With Line Manager, and HR lead in recruitment processes of project team.
• With Line Manager and Partnership Coordinator ensure respectful and strong relationships are developed and maintained with project partners; support in identifying new implementing partners over project life as needed; conducting partner assessments and capacity building in areas of expertise.
• Ensure partners are engaged equally in project planning and review processes.
• Conduct regular supportive supervision in the operational districts.
• Support the District PMs to coordinate activities, and share updates with relevant District ministries.
• Support all assessments for the project by providing information and/or data as and when needed.
• Responsible for compiling National level reporting for high quality and timely internal, donor, Concern Annual report and GoSL compliance and coordination (SLAs) that reflects contributions from the project team and partners.
• With MEAL Coordinator and Project MEAL team: ensure the MEAL plan is in place, implemented and reviewed; case stories and lessons learnt are captured and shared; project review meetings are conducted and data used to adjust programming as necessary.
• Coordinate closely with the LIFE and SLCRP Programme Managers to share learnings between the livelihoods projects.
• With Advocacy and Communications Manager ensure project Advocacy plans are in place, implemented and reviewed.
• Develop and maintain good professional relationships with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and other stakeholders working in livelihoods sectors in the Tonkolili and Port Loko districts as well as at national level as necessary.
• Participate in internal and external Livelihood, Food Security coordination meetings, at District and at National level (e.g. Food Security Working Group), representing Concern and ensure the timely delivery of the commitments reached in those meetings; Ensure project team and partners get opportunities to participate in national/external events.
• Actively participate in collective exercises such as preparation or updates of Preparing for Effective Emergency Response (PEER) plan, Security Management Plan (SMP); proposal development; Concern strategic plan and other Concern initiatives.
• Promote and protect the reputation of Concern in external settings, ensuring the organization’s experience and expertise is well communicated and consistently presented, and that we are seen as a professional organization.
• Ensure the efficient and transparent use of all Concern’s resources in order to maximize the benefit to the targeted communities.
• Promote accountability and ensure compliance with Concern’s Code of Conduct and Associated Policies (Programme Participants Protection Policy, Child Safeguarding Policy, and Anti-trafficking Policy), Anti-Fraud Policy and Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS), including the complaint and response mechanism (CRM), to ensure maximum protection of programme participants and the efficient and transparent use of Concern’s resources.
• Promote Equality, especially gender, within the organization and across programmes, in line with Concern’s Equality Policy and, and ensures targeting and project implementation is informed by How Concern Understands Extreme Poverty(HCUEP).
• Undertake other related duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Country Management Team or by Line Manager.
• Ensure adherence to Concern policies and procedures.

Person Specification

• Degree in Agriculture, Agri-Economics or Natural Resources Management, International Development, Social Sciences or other related field or accepted equivalent professional experience.
• At least 5 years of relevant programme management experience.
• Experience in planning and management of programs in Sierra Leone, experience in implementing/managing Livelihoods programmes.
• Experience of managing consortia projects and working with national partners.
• Demonstrated experience in line management and building cohesive high performing teams.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills (in English) (World, Excel, PowerPoint …).
• Ability to organise and plan effectively;
• Strong budget and financial management skills;
• Excellent skills in representation and communication and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences at community and senior levels
• Proven influencing and negotiating skills with internal and external audiences, experience working in partnership with Government stakeholders would be an advantage.
• Initiative and ability to work with minimal supervision; ability to work both as part of a team & independently;
• Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Experience in any of the following: system strengthening, climate smart and adaptive approaches, nutrition, natural resource managing, environment, equity, Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS)
• Experience in working with district sector offices (such as, welfare, gender and equality, agriculture, education health …), local NGOs, INGOs and private sector;
• Proposal development;
• Strong spoken skills in Temne and Krio

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply with:

• An application letter clearly justifying how you meet the selection criteria
• Recent Curriculum Vitae including names and full contact addresses of three (3) referees, one of whom must be their current or most recent employer.
• Candidates must state the position of each referee and his/her relationship to the candidate.
• A copy of a valid labour card must be attached to ALL applications (written or electronic)
• Police Clearance will be required from the successful candidate

Applications should be sent through email to info.sl@concern.net

Please mark your application as per the references stated in position above (by email please put the reference in the SUBJECT heading).

Closing date for receipt of applications for the above vacancy is 17.00 on Wednesday 17th June 2026

Please note that we will be shortlisting candidates during the application period. We reserve the right to close the application process once we have received sufficient applications. Therefore, early applications are encouraged. And only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

PLEASE NOTE THAT A COPY OF THE APPLICATION LETTER (written or typed) MUST BE SENT TO THE NGO DESK OFFICER, MINISTRY OF LABOUR & SOCIAL, NEW ENGLAND OR EMAILED TO employmentdesk71@gmail.com

“FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY”