Address
Form of work
Salary Results for Development (R4D) is a leading non-profit global development partner. We collaborate with change agents around the world — government officials, civil society leaders and social innovators — to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. We help our partners move from knowing their goal to knowing how to reach it. We combine global expertise in health, education and nutrition with analytic rigor, practical support for decision-making and implementation and access to peer problem-solving networks. Together with our partners, we build self-sustaining systems that serve everyone and deliver lasting results. Then we share what we learn so others can achieve results for development, too.
We have a unique and vibrant culture at R4D. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of our work environment and help advance our mission. Diversity—of ideas, identities, perspectives and backgrounds—is vital to who we are and what we do. We seek people who embrace these values and will help reinforce them. Our work culture is collaborative, creative and entrepreneurial. We operate based on trust and respect. Teams across the organization frequently collaborate on programmatic work and support each other in continuously building a better R4D.
About the Innovation Practice
Around the world, individuals and institutions are finding new ways to work faster and smarter to address pressing challenges in health, education and nutrition systems. By adapting innovations to different contexts, creating novel approaches and solutions, and anticipating possible futures, these change agents are delivering better outcomes for citizens and challenging systemic inequalities.
In partnership with change agents, we facilitate the scale-up of innovations — addressing supply and demand-side barriers to scaling the impact of individuals or cohorts of innovations. We also facilitate the strengthening of innovation ecosystems — addressing specific gaps, weaknesses and inefficiencies in the environment that are constraining innovation and scaling processes. To achieve these goals, we work with a range of innovation ecosystem actors, including social entrepreneurs, governments, civil society organisations and development agencies.
Read more about the practice and some examples of our flagship programmes here.
Opportunity
R4D is seeking a Programme Managerto join our Innovation Practice, based in London. This opportunity represents a chance to work with a highly collaborative team which embraces innovation and learning together, taking ownership over critical components of the team’s portfolio. Experience working in the fields of technology innovation, scaling innovation and/or innovation ecosystems strengthening is highly desirable.
The Innovation Practice operates a matrixed resourcing structure, with team members feeding into different programmes and projects in line with their expertise and programme resourcing needs. An integral member of the Innovation Team, the Programme Manager will therefore be responsible for leading the successful implementation of a number of projects within the Innovation portfolio as well as contributing technical expertise in the innovation scaling process, innovation/entrepreneurship ecosystems and/or innovation policy and practice.
The right person for this role will be entrepreneurial, strategic, and highly organised individual. They will have a strong track record of managing multiple projects and programmes involving: detailed workplanning, collaboration across geographically disbursed teams, funder engagement, management of multiple contracts and partnerships (including with innovation and / or public sector actors), risk management, and ensuring the production of high-quality deliverables.
The role will report to the Senior Programme Manager, Innovation or Associate Director, Innovation (based in London) (TBC). The position may over time adopt management responsibility for other Innovation team members.
Responsibilities
- Innovation Practice Strategy & Management
- Contribute to the development of the Innovation Practice, e.g. through production of thought leadership, development/improvement of Practice methods and tools, operational improvement initiatives and recruitment as required.
- Contribute to development of funding proposals for business development opportunities, e.g. leading on writing sections of proposals.
- Line manage / supervise small teams of other Innovation Practice team members, providing coaching and direction to set goals, develop their skills, prioritise their work, deliver quality products and complete performance reviews.
- Represent the Innovation Practice and R4D at meetings, conferences and events as required.
- Contribute to R4D internal networks and improvement initiatives.
- Lead significant components of large projects and/or lead small to medium-sized projects.
- Develop and execute personal and team workplans.
- Produce high-quality deliverables with light-touch support and guidance from manager.
- Proactively manage risks and issues as they arise, proposing next steps / options for resolution.
- Manage the development of funder progress reports / updates.
- Contribute to operational processes such as procurement, budgeting, resourcing.
- Contribute to internal evaluation of how work is progressing on programmes / projects.
- Identify areas for process improvement and spearhead implementation.
- Establish and maintain strong collaborative relationships with project partners including funders and implementing partners at country and global levels.
- Create crisp, impactful content and effectively adapt it for presentation to relevant audiences.
- Plan and lead engaging and productive small meetings and workshops with funders and partners.
- Lead, with some senior support, the production of technical / analytical products such as articles, reports, tools and frameworks including effectively structuring complex analytical problems and high-quality qualitative and quantitative analytics.
- Contribute to small teams to produce technical deliverables and provide direction on the content, structure, etc.
- Significantly contribute to the development of new knowledge and approaches within given project areas, and/or begin work in some new areas.
Project / programme management
Partner engagement
Technical input
Qualifications and experience
- Essential
- MA +3 years' experience OR BA +5 years’ experience. The qualification would ideally be in global development, public health/administration, business/management, or another relevant field. Candidates with other qualifications offering equivalent levels of experience may also be considered.
- Programme and project management experience in global development.
- Impeccable writing, communication and presentation skills (e.g. in-person/virtual presentations, meeting facilitation, etc.) for high-level stakeholders.
- Demonstrated experience of working effectively in a matrixed environment across multiple programmes / projects.
- Demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships with a diversity of different development actors - both country and global levels.
- Experience managing small/medium FCDO and/or other donor funded programmes (including managing multiple sub-contractors / sub-grantees / partners) and/or managing components of large, complex, multi-country FCDO and/or other donor funded programmes.
- Willingness to travel occasionally based on project needs (max. 3-4 weeks per year).
- Understanding of the innovation and scaling process and innovation ecosystems.
- All candidates must be legally authorised to work in the UK.
- Experience working in the fields of technology innovation, scaling innovation and/or innovation ecosystems strengthening.
- Sectoral experience in R4D’s priority areas of health, education or nutrition.
- A professional qualification in project / programme management.
- Experience with innovation methodologies such as user centred design / agile / adaptive learning.
- Experience working directly with innovators/entrepreneurs and/or other innovation ecosystem actors.
- Strategic and creative problem solver.
- High level of organisation and attention to detail.
- Strong candidates will have demonstrated experience of being a strategic and creative problem solver, with a high level of organisation and attention to detail. They will be able to work independently in a fast-changing environment, taking initiative and balancing competing demands. The role requires a highly collaborative and approachable team member who is enthusiastic about supporting the Innovation team and working closely with others at R4D.
Highly desirable
Potential Salary: GBP 45,000 – 57,000. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.
With many of the initiatives within our portfolio at an exciting stage of their development / implementation, we are eager to find someone who is able to start as soon as possible. As a result we will be interviewing candidates on a rolling basis as we receive strong applications.
Results for Development is an EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering
and nurturing an energetic, collaborative and diverse workforce. R4D provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits.
