Senior Programme Manager

Overview

The Senior Programme Manager is responsible for managing all stages of programming and implementation for the PNG portfolio, supporting the Country Manager on programme development, planning, and preparation. Key duties include programmatic and implementation advice, resource management, coordination, and strategic stakeholder engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides strategic technical oversight and implementation guidance across the portfolio.
• Oversees portfolio work planning, performance monitoring, and reporting.
• Supervises and guides portfolio implementation arrangements.
• Leads senior-level engagement with government counterparts, development partners, and technical working groups.
• Exercises oversight and quality assurance of project outputs and delivery.
• Supports the development of business opportunities in the country.
• Supports the review of infrastructure projects outputs.
• Provides portfolio-level oversight of operational and financial performance.
• Ensures robust programme information management and reporting.
• Provides strategic oversight of project delivery arrangements.
• Maintains regular coordination with the Country Manager on portfolio implementation progress.
• Oversees consolidated financial and technical reporting across the portfolio.
• Supports the Country Manager in the governance and oversight of approved project plans.
• Supervises and evaluates the performance of service providers and implementing partners.
• Ensures portfolio-wide compliance with Environmental, Social, Health and Safety (ESHS) requirements.
• Oversees procurement and contract management processes.
• Provides senior technical oversight on contractor and supplier performance.
• Oversees portfolio risk, issue, and change management frameworks.
• Ensures timely reporting, information flow, and appropriate escalation of awareness of emerging risks and topics.
• Manages risks proactively and addresses issues effectively.
• Supports the Country Manager in the strategic management of institutional relationships with funders, the Government of Papua New Guinea, relevant UN agencies, development partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Leads programme-level engagement with contributors and partners.
• Provides strategic coordination with donors.
• Manages internal and external stakeholder relationships at programme level.
• Integrates the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into programme planning, implementation, and reporting.
• Leads programme-level knowledge management.
• Drives capacity building initiatives across the programme.
• Promotes dissemination and application of best practices.
• Provides strategic guidance on tools, methodologies, and technical approaches.
• Line manages all Project Managers and provides strategic leadership, guidance and oversight of project teams.
• Drives performance management and talent development across the programme.
• Leads and supervises external delivery partners and consultants.
• Ensures transparent and effective communication across the programme.
• Ensures project management processes are consistently applied.
• Leads and drives programme-level innovation.

Required Experience

• A proven track record with at least 7 years’ experience in designing and/or supervising Projects.
• A minimum of five(5) years of relevant of development sector experience managing complex infrastructure projects, across sector such as health, energy, education or WASH.
• A minimum of 4 years of experience in supervising Project Managers.
• Experience in generating and reviewing high quality technical reports is desired.
• A proven track record and experience in designing and supervising other infrastructure projects is an asset.
• Relevant work experience in implementation of complex infrastructure projects in remote locations.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a subject relevant to the position.
• A first university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the above-mentioned fields with five (5) additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree or higher degrees.

Other Details