SENIOR PROGRAMME MANAGER - SOUTH AFRICA URBAN RESILIENCE AND JUST ENERGY PROGRAMME

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

The Urban Resilience and Just Energy Programme is FCDO’s flagship programme in South Africa to deliver inclusive, sustainable and climate resilient – economic development in cities.  Over the period of 3 years (August 2024 – July 2027) the programme will build local government capability for long – term infrastructure planning, finance mobilization and sustainable project delivery, and secure public and private investment to drive catalytic economic development. Whilst the Urban Resilience Programme and Just Energy Programme have similar objectives and vision, they sit as two independent programmes with separate FCDO counterparts. The Urban Resilience Programme (URP) was designed to establish project-based support for improved urban management and governance, township economic development and resilient infrastructure. Whilst the Just Energy Transition Programme was established to leverage $9.3bn pledged by donors in support of South Africa’s transition from coal to clean energy.  JETP and URP sit under a single contract but have separate reporting channels.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Senior Programme Manager will lead the programme management team for JETP and URP, and will be the main point of contact for Adam Smith International in South Africa. They will be responsible for working closely with the Programme Team Leader, Programme Leads, and FCDO to set strategic direction, and drive forward high performing programmes and teams. As day-to-day lead for Adam Smith International on the Programme, they will manage external relationships with FCDO, international and local stakeholders. They will take responsibility for the operational and financial health of the programmes, and supporting the Team Leader will be accountable for team cohesion and technical delivery of the programmes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Delivery

1. Provide planning, resourcing and operational leadership to ensure effective delivery of task orders under the programme.

2. Provide oversight of the programme budget and to ensure financial targets are met.

3. Work closely with the core team and key experts to track progress towards achievement of project deliverables and logframe targets.

4. Manage subcontractor and partner performance, ensuring quality, timeliness and contractual compliance.

5. Support strategic direction of the project in consultation with Team Leader and Programme Leads.

6. Support the core team in drafting workplans and key donor reports.

7. Provide senior oversight of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and Value for Money frameworks, ensuring performance data is robust, decision‑useful and informs strategic management.

8. Embed adaptive management and real‑time learning practices, using MEL evidence to inform course‑correction and maximise impact and value for money.

9. Work closely with wider to team to ensure GEDSI, Climate, Nature and Environment (CN&E) ambitions and ICF programme targets are met.

10. Ensure all workstreams have clear sustainability and exit strategies.

Process Management

1. Provide leadership support to the Team Leader in setting up high performing teams for JETP and URP.

2. Leads on implementing country team procedures, policies and processes including governance structures and ways of working. 

3. Lead programme governance and risk management, ensuring compliance with FCDO Smart Rules, ASI corporate policies, and contractual requirements.

4. Ensure risks are proactively identified, owned, mitigated and escalated appropriately to FCDO and ASI leadership

5. Ensure financial management processes are fully followed and adapted where needed

External Engagement

1. Leads FCDO engagement, ensuring the programme is responsive and adaptive to client requests.

2. Act as principal senior interface with the client, ensuring issues and risks are identified early and escalated constructively.

3. Represent the programme in high‑level donor, government and stakeholder forums, managing sensitive relationships and political dynamics.

4. Ensures the programme is capably represented at external events and meetings.

Programme Management

1. Lead on reporting internally to ASI leadership across financial, risk and delivery metrics.

2. Oversight of the programme management and operations unit

3. Management/ mentorship of the Programme Manager and Assistant Manager.

4. Assist the leadership team to resolve management issues as they arise.

5. Responsible for tracking programme risks and escalating these where required.

6. Accountability for security and duty of care of staff under the programme.

7. Contribute to business development activities, including proposal development, identification of key personnel and partners, and sharing programme learning to strengthen future bids.

8. Contribute to wider ASI corporate initiatives, sharing learning across countries and programmes.

KEY SKILLS

1. 10+ years’ experience managing major donor funded programmes (FCDO experience preferred).

2. Technical understanding in one or more programme area (inclusive growth, climate resilient cities, infrastructure investment) preferred.

3. Strong leadership capability, with experience managing and developing teams in fast‑paced environments.

4. Excellent understanding of donor reporting requirements with experience writing technical and financial reports for donors, including annual reports, quarterly reports and monthly reports.

5. Strong financial management, forecasting and commercial oversight skills.

6. Proven ability to manage complex programmes, multiple priorities and politically sensitive contexts.

7. Strong adaptive programme management capability, including use of MEL and VfM data to inform decision‑making.

8. Advanced client relationship management and negotiation skills, including engagement with senior donor stakeholders.

9. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with ability to build effective working relationships.

10. Strong understanding of duty of care, safeguarding, security and compliance responsibilities in complex operating environments.