Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, March 02, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Program Manager - Market linkages
About the Company
Inkomoko supports entrepreneurs to grow their business to improve livelihoods and create thriving communities.
Founded in 2012, as the Rwandan affiliate of the African Entrepreneur Collective (AEC), Inkomoko has now worked with more than 25,000 entrepreneurs, providing a combination of training, consulting, access to finance, and market-level systems change. We are the largest lender to refugee entrepreneurs in Africa.
Inkomoko is now a 90+ person company with 8 offices across Rwanda (with Kigali HQ). All of our services ensure that businesses in Rwanda can thrive and contribute to the growth of Rwanda’s economy.
In the past few years, we’ve had high-profile partnerships with MINEMA, Ministry of ICT, GIZ, Bank of Kigali, MTN, Mastercard Foundation and more. Inkomoko disbursed $2.3 M USD to 4,000 businesses across Rwanda to support COVID-19 economic recovery, all while taking our content digital. In 2022, we are launching a new strategic plan to reach beyond what we have previously thought possible.

Company Values
All staff embody the company’s culture. In addition to the skills above, all candidates must demonstrate our core values:
• Purpose: be solutions-oriented and produce high-quality work and be a global leader
• Achievement: push yourself to reach beyond what you think is possible
• Improvement: Be humble and committed to continuous learning and growing. Improve through giving and receiving open and accurate feedback
• Bravery: willing to take risks and create a safe space for others. Be compassionate and inclusive
• Turikumwe/Tuko Pamoja/ Abren Nen/Waalin Jirra/ We are Together: We appreciate our colleagues, celebrate success, and support each other in hard times.

About the Opportunity
We’re currently searching for an experienced Program Manager to join our client services team to lead a variety of projects. She/He will be responsible for developing and implementing our new market system approach designed to support entrepreneurs in creating new market linkages as well as lead a team of business advisors. The ideal candidate will have a sharp business mind and a proven ability to strategize and implement program initiatives, a strong talent for project coordination and delegation, and is motivated by optimizing productivity and nurturing program success from inception to completion.
While this position will cover a variety of upcoming projects as Inkomoko secures tenders and partnerships, we anticipate that the PM will have a portfolio that includes serving both micro and small businesses in Kigali as well as in secondary cities. The projects will have a focus on creating market linkages across all Inkomoko entrepreneurs and the PM will play a key role in making sure our new market system approach fits market needs.

The objectives of this role include:
• Design, implement and maintain program initiatives that adhere to organizational objectives - including a market-systems approach to serving entrepreneurs in Rwanda and the region
• Develop program assessment protocols for evaluation and improvement
• Maintain organizational standards of satisfaction, quality, and performance
• Oversee multiple projects, ensuring program goals are reached
• Manage budget for maximum productivity

Responsibilities
Program Management (70% time)
• Fully develop and operationalize program plans and program execution, meeting the needs of Inkomoko and our partners
• Design and Develop a new market systems approach to serve entrepreneurs in line with Inkomoko’s strategic plan
• Project coordination and managing project interdependencies
• Creating and managing a budget
• Cross-project resource management
• Identifying and addressing problems and risks.
• Stakeholder communications, negotiations, and problem-solving
• Develop program plans, including staff roles, timelines, activities, and outcomes to meet the objectives of the projects
• Build a team around a shared goal, delegating effectively, ensuring the right staff for each job
• Align project goals, objectives, and priorities with other equally valuable programs within the Client Services Department and company
• Manage the schedule and delivery of services to achieve project and company goals, raising concerns and creating solutions to overcome barriers to delivery
• Work closely with the MEL department to plan and implement the evaluation processes required to meet project reporting and learning objectives for the company
• Use learnings and MEL data to iterate project activities as well as improve services to clients
• Plan, direct, coordinate, and review the work plan for staff on your project; assign work activities, and projects; review and evaluate products, methods, and procedures; meet with staff to identify and resolve problems
• Program documentation and reporting on progress, results, impact, and learnings
• Respond to and resolve difficult and sensitive clients’ inquiries and complaints
• Perform other related program management duties as are presented

Partnerships & External Relations (15% time)
• Solicit relevant tenders on behalf of Inkomoko, providing support to the Director with respect to program development, staffing, budgeting and timelines
• Seek out new opportunities for Inkomoko and take part in developing new services, projects and programmes as well as take part in proposal writing
• Proactively communicate and maintain relationships with Inkomoko stakeholders, including government, donors, partners relevant to PM projects
• Actively represent the interests of Inkomoko and your program in partnership/collaborative meetings, sharing insights and learnings
• Coordinate relevant events related to project implementation
• Work with the Communications team to provide source material from your projects (case studies, quotes, entrepreneur profiles, impact results) for Inkomoko public relations, social media, blogs, etc.

Management & Administration (15% time)
• Participate in the development of Client Services Department goals, objectives, and KPIs as part of the annual planning process.
• Ensure departmental compliance with local laws, company guidelines, and donor requirements
• Work with the Finance Department to maintain appropriate expense controls, accounting, and budget management, and project billing.
• Supervise the team of staff working with you on various projects, and in cases of dotted-line reporting, coordinate with the direct line manager for effective staff engagement
• Coordinate, review and make recommendations regarding department personnel matters, including recruitment, hiring, discipline, investigations, personnel actions and staff compensation
• Participate fully as an Inkomoko staff in all-staff meetings and other organizational activities.

Minimum Qualifications
• We are looking for candidates who have previously project management leadership roles with demonstrated success, and who align with our company values.
• 7+ years of demonstrated success in program management of complex projects
• Excellent team builders with demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to train, supervise, evaluate, and give feedback to staff
• Experience with designing and implementing projects with a market-systems approach and/or to create market linkages in Rwanda. Regional experience is a PLUS
• Experience working with micro and small businesses as well as overall market dynamics
• Excellent time management and planning skills
• Excellent budgeting skills
• Highly analytical and organized
• Great negotiators and influencers, and highly adept at conflict resolution
• Excellent digital skills, including experience with Asana, Slack, and other PM software as needed
• Master’s degree preferred, or Bachelor’s degree in Project Management or related field
• Ability to embrace transparency with diplomacy and sophistication with high-level leaders
• Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken to a range of audiences
• Fluency in English is required. Kinyarwanda is strongly preferred, and French and Kiswahili are a plus.

What You'll Get
• Fun, collaborative work environment
• Opportunity to work with a talented, passionate, and committed team of professionals
• Challenging work and the opportunity to grow and develop your skills
• Ability to make a significant social impact and contribute to economic growth
• Competitive benefits package - health insurance, staff savings program, parental leave, sabbatical program, and more.

Compensation
Compensation includes salary and potential KPI-based bonus, healthcare, retirement benefits, flexible annual leave, possible travel in East Africa, professional development opportunities, and the chance to connect with colleagues across East Africa in a supportive and inclusive environment. In addition, this role is a tremendous opportunity to work in a high-growth, mission-driven organization.


AEC seeks to reflect the communities we serve and is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. All qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.
NB: We do not employ staff whose background is not suitable. All employment is conditional upon successful completion of all applicable background checks.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 36

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
To Apply Click Here

All Jobs

QUICK ALERT SUBSCRIPTION