Senior Project & Coordination Manager (SPCM)

Overall Purpose of the Job

The Senior Project & Coordination Manager (SPCM) serves as the Programme Management Office (PMO) Lead for the EKN Regional Programme and is responsible for ensuring disciplined planning, coordination, tracking, reporting, documentation, and follow-through across all programme work streams.

Reporting to the Senior Project Director (SPD), the SPCM provides programme management, planning, coordination, reporting, performance tracking, and knowledge management support across all programme streams, including Direct Service Delivery (DSD) countries, Technical Assistance (TA) countries, consortium partners, governance structures, technical functions, and support teams.

The role is responsible for maintaining integrated programme workplans, coordinating reporting processes, tracking programme milestones and commitments, managing programme and governance calendars, facilitating cross-functional coordination, and ensuring effective management of programme documentation, decisions, actions, risks, and organisational knowledge.

While the Senior Partnership Governance & Engagement Lead (SPGEL) is accountable for consortium governance, partner relationships, stakeholder engagement, and Country Advisory Committees, the SPCM provides programme management and coordination support to these functions through integrated planning, action tracking, reporting coordination, meeting management, documentation, and follow-through. Similarly, while the Project Director retains accountability for programme delivery, country performance, operational management, and implementation quality, the SPCM provides the systems, processes, and coordination mechanisms required to support effective programme execution and accountability.

The position serves as the central coordination point across the EKN Regional Programme and plays a critical role in ensuring alignment between strategic direction, programme implementation, consortium governance, and operational execution.

The role works closely with the Project Director (PD), Senior Partnership Governance & Engagement Lead (SPGEL), country leadership teams, partners, technical functions, Strategic Information, Finance, Human Resources, Grants & Compliance, and Advocacy teams to ensure coordinated implementation, effective communication, and accountability across the programme.

Key Performance Areas

PMO Leadership, Programme Systems and Governance Support

Purpose

Lead the Programme Management Office (PMO) function, ensuring effective programme management systems, governance processes, reporting standards and accountability mechanisms across the EKN Regional Programme.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the establishment and management of the EKN Programme Management Office (PMO).
• Develop and maintain programme management systems, tools, templates and processes.
• Establish and maintain programme management standards, planning frameworks, reporting protocols and accountability mechanisms.
• Serve as custodian of programme management methodologies and ensure consistent application across countries, partners and functional teams.
• Support the SPGEL through coordination of governance processes, governance calendars, governance documentation and action tracking.
• Maintain governance records, decision registers and programme management systems.
• Promote continuous improvement of programme management processes and practices.

Integrated Planning, Coordination and Work plan Management

Purpose

Ensure effective planning, coordination and integration across countries, partners and programme functions.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead development and maintenance of integrated annual, quarterly and monthly programme work plans.
• Consolidate plans across countries, partners and functional teams.
• Ensure alignment between strategic priorities, implementation plans and resource allocation.
• Monitor progress against approved work plans and milestones.
• Coordinate updates and revisions to programme plans.
• Facilitate coordination across country teams, consortium partners, technical functions and support departments.
• Support integrated implementation across DSD and TA countries.
• Coordinate cross-functional planning and problem-solving processes.
• Maintain visibility of critical path activities and programme dependencies.

Performance, Reporting and Executive Oversight Support

Purpose

Provide accurate programme performance visibility and decision-support information to programme leadership and governance structures.

Key Accountabilities

• Coordinate programme performance review processes.
• Track progress against programme KPIs, milestones and commitments.
• Coordinate preparation of performance review packs, leadership dashboards and executive summaries.
• Support preparation of reports for programme leadership, governance structures and donor engagement.
• Monitor follow-up actions arising from performance reviews.
• Support the SPD in monitoring programme performance, strategic commitments, donor obligations, consortium commitments and governance actions.
• Ensure timely escalation of strategic implementation risks and emerging issues requiring executive attention.
• Support accuracy and quality assurance of programme management information.

Deliverable, Risk, Issue and Decision Management

Purpose

Maintain visibility, accountability and control across programme implementation activities, risks, decisions and commitments.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop and maintain systems for tracking programme deliverables, milestones and commitments.
• Maintain programme risk registers, issue logs, decision registers and escalation trackers.
• Monitor implementation progress and identify delays, bottlenecks and emerging risks.
• Track actions arising from leadership meetings, governance forums and programme reviews.
• Escalate implementation concerns and delivery risks to programme leadership.
• Support accountability for delivery across programme teams.
• Monitor implementation of mitigation actions and agreed decisions.
• Maintain visibility of programme-wide dependencies and emerging challenges.

Knowledge Management, Information Management and Learning

Purpose

Ensure effective knowledge management, information flow and organisational learning across the programme.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead programme knowledge management systems and processes.
• Maintain programme repositories, documentation systems and knowledge resources.
• Coordinate documentation of lessons learned, innovations, programme adaptations and good practices.
• Support organisational learning and cross-country knowledge sharing.
• Promote effective use of programme evidence and learning.
• Coordinate dissemination of programme information, dashboards, reports, decisions and updates.
• Maintain information flows between programme leadership, countries, consortium partners and support functions.
• Ensure programme records are complete, current and accessible.

Leadership, Service Excellence and Continuous Improvement

Purpose

Foster a high-performing PMO culture that promotes accountability, collaboration, service excellence and continuous improvement.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide leadership and support to programme coordination staff where applicable.
• Promote programme management capability across countries and functions.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and service excellence.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across programme systems and processes.
• Promote effective teamwork and cross-functional collaboration.
• Model mothers2mothers values and leadership behaviours.

Key Deliverables

• Integrated programme work plans and implementation schedules.
• Effective PMO systems and programme management processes.
• Accurate tracking of milestones, deliverables, decisions, and actions.
• High-quality reporting coordination and management information.
• Up-to-date risk registers and issue management systems.
• Effective governance and meeting management processes.
• Strong knowledge management and organisational learning systems.
• Effective coordination across countries, partners, and functions.
• Timely escalation of implementation challenges and risks.
• High levels of programme visibility, accountability, and operational discipline.

Qualifications, Experience and Competencies

Must-Have

• Master's degree in Programme Management, Public Health, International Development, Business Administration, Health Systems, Social Sciences, or related field.
• Minimum 8-10 years of progressively responsible programme management experience within complex donor-funded programmes.
• Demonstrated experience managing PMO functions, programme coordination, and performance tracking systems.
• Experience supporting multi-country or regional programmes.
• Strong experience in planning, reporting, risk management, and programme coordination.
• Experience working across multiple stakeholders and matrix-managed environments.
• Excellent organisational, project management and coordination skills.

Core Competencies

• Programme Management
• Programme Coordination
• Planning and Prioritisation
• PMO Leadership
• Performance Tracking
• Risk and Issue Management
• Reporting Coordination
• Knowledge Management
• Organisational Effectiveness
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Communication and Influence
• Attention to Detail
• Problem Solving
• Continuous Improvement
• Collaboration and Teamwork

Reporting and Team Structure

• Reports To: Senior Project Director (SPD)

Key Working Relationships:

• Project Director (PD)
• Senior Partnership Governance & Engagement Lead (SPGEL)
• Country Leadership Teams
• Strategic Information Team
• Finance Team
• Grants & Compliance Team
• HR Team
• Advocacy Team
• Technical Leadership Team
• Consortium Partners

Working Conditions

• Full time role
• Regular travel maybe required across sub Saharan Africa

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives
• Comprehensive benefits (health, retirement, leave)
• Opportunities for growth, leadership, and professional development