Senior Programme Manager, Innovation & Skills - Youth Empowerment Synergy

As Senior Programme Manager, Innovation & Skills, you will become part of a strong team of motivators who view innovation and skills building as a way to unlock the ideas of young people through youth-centred design, and creating the right conditions for innovation to flourish. We are looking for a professional who has extensive knowledge and experience in the innovation and skills space, ideally with digital and non-digital innovations, demonstrating ability to take a pragmatic and hands-on approach to finding creative ways to resolve issues and drive the benefits of adoption of innovation approaches and
thinking in our work.

It is also essential that you can work from a place of empathy with our various stakeholders – including our network of youth-led organisations, young entrepreneurs, and our partners.

If you are passionate about tackling youth unemployment, believe in the potential of innovation, and enjoy working in a fast-paced and creative organisation, then we would love to hear from you.

Responsibilities:

Innovation and skills portfolio management

• Manage our ‘Youth Hub for Innovation and Skills’ and other innovation and skills programmes, with responsibility for delivering to hub objectives, stakeholder engagement, financials, administration and reporting
• Work with colleagues towards the development and implementation of our programme of support that inspires and stretches participating social entrepreneurs, through workshops, one-to-one coaching and best-practice resources

• Coordinate the delivery of high-impact training to young social entrepreneurs, in the form of group workshops, individual coaching and mentoring, drawing on the support of colleagues and external experts as required
• Build a network of key partners in the ecosystem, including experts, academics, funders and investors to support and enhance the portfolio
• Support business development activity related to the Youth Hub and other innovation and skills programmes, such as contributing to the research, conceptualisation and design of new programmes, and writing proposals for new projects
• Facilitate sponsored enrolments by working with corporate partners, prospective youth participants, and employers to complete training agreements and enrolment paperwork
• Manage event organisation and communications activities related to youth innovation and skills, including holding conferences, boot camps, seminars, workshops, and pitching sessions, as well as managing social media campaigns and writing blogs
• Contribute actively to developing and facilitating new approaches to social innovation, community engagement, youth mobilisation, skills training, youth entrepreneurship development, youth employment placement, and mentoring

Project management

• Manage planning and roll-out of our new PASEWAY and Adwuma Pa partnerships and other initiatives under the innovation and skills portfolio in accordance with the projects’ priorities and theory of change
• Manage implementation of project activities, including tracking progress towards core indicators and learning objectives
• Manage project finance and expenditures on the basis of delegated authority and ensure timely payments in accordance with YES-Ghana’s financial management policy
• Manage YES-Ghana’s operational MEL system, or other MEL systems jointly deployed with partners, and support data collection and analysis as needed
• Work with project team to report to partners and donors in a timely manner and according to donor requirements and formats

Team management

• Contribute to guidance, coaching and mentorship to the Innovation and Skills team in the setting and achievement of team goals and individual professional development goals
• Contribute to team performance planning and appraisals
• Provide space and opportunities to promote team wellness and safety; report critical incidents to senior management
• Contribute to identification and recruitment of appropriate resource persons and service providers to support the team in the accomplishment of team objectives
• Support the team in promoting and practicing compliance with YES-Ghana’s core values, code of ethics and other standards
• Support the team in promoting and practicing compliance with YES-Ghana’s policies and procedures including those relating to finance, travel, procurement, IT, programmes and specific donor requirements

Other duties

Other duties may be required from time to time, including responsibilities which require work on weekends and holidays for which time off in lieu (TOIL) may be taken

Person specification:

• Degree in business administration, project management or related fields required
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in technical advisory and/or project management roles in a national or international context targeting youth work readiness, job preparation, enterprise development, market systems, construction or similar areas required
• Proven experience in one or more of the following areas: community engagement, youth mobilisation, soft skills training, youth entrepreneurship, social innovation, employment placement facilitation, mentoring, rights-based and results-based programming, and financial literacy required
• Strong track record of designing workshops and other training essential
• Experience supporting early-stage entrepreneurs and understanding the contexts in which they operate essential
• Experience delivering successful innovation projects with multiple stakeholders preferably in a not-for-profit sector context essential, although commercial and industry innovation experience is also desirable
• Experience in contract and budget management essential
• Experience in event organisation essential
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills essential
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish good working relationships with colleagues, entrepreneurs, sector experts and others essential
• Excellent planning and organisational skills essential
• Creative and analytical skills, with an ability to see patterns, organise ideas and spot innovation opportunities essential
• Understanding of and ability to work with Project Management principles and methodologies essential
• Knowledge of the Ghanaian construction sector desirable
• Fluency in English required. Working knowledge of Twi, Ga and/or Ewe desirable

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YES-Ghana is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organisation.

YES-Ghana has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the organisation, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and processes, and discrimination. YES-Ghana also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards
and principles.