Vacancy: Programmes Manager (Fixed Term)

Job title: Programmes Manager (Fixed Term)

Reporting to: Deputy Head of Programmes (Multi-lateral Engagement)

Supervisory responsibility: Programmes Officer and/or Programmes Administrator

Key relationships: Head of Programmes, Communications Manager, Financial Accountant and Head of Strategy & Engagement, Programmes Managers

Term: 10-month Fixed Term contract

Salary: £39,192 per annum (inclusive of London Weighting)

Primary Duties or Responsibilities

1. To support the design and delivery of a range of programmes and events on behalf of CPA and partner organisations that include:

• Contributing to the overall planning, design and delivery of CPA projects and programmes (for example, workshops, webinars, conferences, technical assistance projects, resource development, etc).
• Delivering elements of a programme under the guidance of senior colleagues
• Establishing effective relationships with Members and partners and acting as a key contact and support for the duration of the programme or project
• Building and managing relationships pro-actively with a range of external partners
• Contributing to the writing of monitoring and evaluation reports
• Engaging with senior colleagues and contributing to both external and internal meetings where appropriate
• Producing related communications outputs in liaison with the CPA Secretariat’s Communications Team.
• Supporting the generation of income for the CPA by delivering projects and/or programmes.

2. Proactively tracking activities associated with programmes and governance matters through producing performance reports. These responsibilities will involve setting up and maintaining databases, holding internal meetings, producing reports and undertaking necessary associated administrative duties as required.

3. To contribute to the production of proposals for future work, to include:

• Producing clear, concise written reports on the viability of proposals for future work
• Undertaking proposal costing exercises, working closely with the `Heads of’.

4. With this role also comes the responsibility of coordinating the CPA Small Branches network. The network represents legislature from populations with less than 1 million people. Coordinating a parliamentary network as an advocacy body of the CPA by:

• Arranging governance meetings to update Commonwealth Members of Parliament on network activities.
• Coordination of a fund dispensed in supporting CPA member Parliaments to improve in a thematic area (e.g. youth engagement in democracy, disability inclusivity, gender mainstreaming).
• Lead in delivering in-person events and activities at the CPA’s annual conference (Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference) under the auspices of the network.

5. Support consultants in the delivery of online courses for the CPA’s Parliamentary Academy and publications for the CPA’s membership, by reviewing their content and liaising with CPA member Parliaments for case studies of best practices.

6. Line managing team members and provide oversight and responsibility for supervising various personnel in the planning, delivery and management of programmes.

Essential

• Enthusiastic, flexible, and proactive attitude towards problem-solving.

• Confident working with senior people, with the ability to establish both good working relationships and professional credibility.

• Experience working in a small and dynamic office with an ability to work under pressure, adapt to changing requirements, and balance conflicting demands.

• Excellent time management, attention to detail and self-organising skills.

• Experience providing personnel management, including developing new and existing personnel to achieve high performance as well as proven experience of oversight and supervision for leading a small and diverse team in the delivery of multiple programmes.

• Excellent project management skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence and negotiate.

• Proven ability to sustain a programme of activity that requires excellent collaboration with senior professionals.

• Solid working knowledge of Microsoft Office (e.g. SharePoint, Dynamics 365 and Excel).

• Evidence of research skills (including proficiency in the use of research tools/packages) to contribute constructively to analysis of data and/or leadership, or organisational interventions, and apply the analysis appropriately.

• Numerate, with the ability to understand and analyse financial and statistical data.

• Ability to engage constructively with colleagues to regularly review and support the execution/completion of projects/activities.

• An understanding of and commitment to valuing diversity and the development of collegiate working culture.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, especially public speaking and communicating to a wider and diverse audience.

• Experience working with people from different geographical regions, backgrounds and cultures.

• Graduate level education or demonstrable equivalent experience within an international multicultural setting.

Desirable

• A relevant post-graduate qualification in international relations, public policy or politics, or keen to develop and extend knowledge in this area.

• Experience of working with Members of Parliament/parliamentary staff.

• Good working knowledge of the Commonwealth, its shared values and associated organisations.

• Experience in long-distance business travel and the ability to deliver results in developing and developed countries.

• Experience and understanding of the workings of ‘Westminster model’ Parliaments.

• Project/programme management qualification (e.g. Prince2 or Project DPro).

• Experience of working with design software (Adobe InDesign specifically).

• Experience of using video editing software (Adobe Premiere Pro specifically).

Our Mission:

"To promote knowledge of the constitutional, legislative, economic, social and cultural aspects of parliamentary democracy, with particular reference to the countries of the Commonwealth."

About Us:

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is a membership-based association that brings together Parliamentarians, irrespective of gender, race, religion or culture, who are united by a community of interest, respect for the rule of law and individual rights and freedoms, and by the pursuit of the positive ideals of parliamentary democracy. The Association is made up of over 180 Parliaments and Legislatures (also known as CPA Branches) divided up between nine geographic regions of the Commonwealth. It offers a vast opportunity for Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff to collaborate on issues of mutual interest and to share good practices.

If you are committed to progressing parliamentary democracy, highly self-motivated, hard-working and an organised individual who is willing to take on responsibility, then please apply for this role.

To apply, please submit a copy of your CV and a covering letter of no more than two A4 pages, stating how you fulfill the requirements of the role. 

All applications should be sent via email to sharon.moses@cpahq.org.

Deadline: Midnight on 28 July 2024 (GMT+1)

Interviews: Interview dates to be held during the week commencing 5 August 2024.

For informal enquiries please contact Sharon Moses, Head of Human Resources at the CPA Headquarters.

NOTE: All posts are subject to UK Border Agency requirements for those who already have the right to work in the UK.