Main purpose of the role

The Senior Manager role within the SRHR team is central to the delivery of CIFF’s goal to scale equitable access through strengthened health systems. This role will have a particular focus on West and Central Africa – notably the Sahel region.

The role requires a deep understanding of how to support systemic change within LMIC health systems in terms of reach, equity, financing, cost-effectiveness, and integration, in alignment with ambitious national strategies. A demonstrated experience working in fragile vulnerable and conflict settings, with a strong understanding of financial barriers and norms related to SRHR, is required.

Critical requirements include an advanced ability to collect, interpret and manage complex data; design measurement approaches for continuous improvement; lead costing analysis to deliver greater efficiency; and forge successful partnerships across diverse stakeholders including with ministries of health and sub-regional structures like Ouagadougou Partnership. A key measure of success will be leveraged co-investment with domestic funding, health financing solutions and donor co-funding.

The Senior Manager will lead efforts to continuously improve the efficiency of our investments, with responsibility for identifying and managing key cost drivers. The role requires a deep understanding of strategies that maximize results and effectiveness, while implementing robust fraud prevention and verification mechanisms.

The role will oversee a complex portfolio of approx. $25-$50m in multi-year value, with portfolio growth subject to performance. Portfolio performance requires excellent collaboration across CIFF teams – notably between SRHR, Equity Gender & Youth, Girl Capital Africa, EME, Finance and Legal; as well as with external stakeholders including domestic authorities, bilateral and multilateral funders, and implementing partners.

The successful candidate will be passionate about the opportunity for philanthropy to advance equitable SRHR and bring a track record of managing health system interventions for SRHR or aligned outcomes in priority contexts. The role requires an adaptable and problem-solving mindset, and comfort with operating at different pace and at multiple levels depending on business needs.

It will represent CIFF across stakeholders, and step-in for senior leadership as required. The role will oversee and support team-members – often at a distance – in both direct and matrix relationships. Direct line management will depend upon growth in portfolio size.

Requirements

Role’s responsibilities

Programme development, delivery & performance

•  Oversee performance optimization of investments through comprehensive cost analysis, management of cost drivers, and identification of technically effective strategies to maximize results, while engaging with implementing partners and stakeholders.
• Develop and manage a dashboard system to monitor progress in performance (cost control and outcomes) and collaborate with directors and leadership for strategic decision-making.
• Drive the delivery of a portfolio of live programmes with a value of approximately $50M focussing on, but not limited to Senegal, Niger and an active pipeline of potential investments, in accordance with country driven plans and broader priorities.
• Against key corporate and / or sector team indicators and targets, monitor and report internally on the performance of assigned portfolio. Working either with sector colleagues or independently, validate data quality, prepare summary reports, board reports and portfolio investment reports, ensuring these are produced to a high-standard and in a timely fashion.
• Apply agreed due diligence, assurance and risk management protocols appropriately throughout the development and delivery of proposals and programmes, to ensure the interests and reputation of the Foundation are protected.
• Conduct structured feasibility analysis on investment proposals, using an appropriate range of methodologies and techniques, to ensure they are based on logical and robust assumptions, which can withstand scrutiny from the Executive Team (ET) and CIFF Board.
• Lead direct engagement with government counterparts in design, negotiations and monitoring of implementation of investments; this includes working with other development partners that are interested in the sub-region.
• Co-ordinate the development of grant agreements, to forecast and process grant payments and to enable effective grant management and reporting within the organisation.
• Conduct regular reviews of the progress and performance of programmes under delivery to identify problems and delays, and work with partners to develop course correction plans (escalating to more senior colleagues for support and intervention, where required).

Strategy & planning

• In collaboration with the rest of the team and across the organisation, design and regularly revisit and review SRHR strategies, partners and pipeline to ensure it is outcome focused, compelling (from a CIFF ‘value add’ perspective) and effective (i.e., is sufficient to deliver CIFF’s objectives).
• Spearhead discussion, develop technical approaches that advance SRHR service deliver in climate resilient and conflict and fragile affected situations.

• Prepare and present high-quality analysis and research, as required, to support the sector in determining future strategic priorities and setting operational plans.
• Contribute to the production of programme strategy and the associated evidence base, alongside other team members, prior to a proposal’s submission for approval.
• Ensure deep alignment with SRHR Missions, specifically: SRHR Access & Funding; SRHR self-managed care; HIV Prevention. Providing expert insight for country-specific approaches. This will also include ongoing close collaboration with the Africa Team’s Girl Capital and Co-Funding and Partnership Directors working on related issues.
• In collaboration with SRHR team, identify opportunities for integration of services to expand contraceptive access, as well as a proven track record of successfully developing and managing large, complicated strategies, investments and strategic relationships with grantees and other funders.
• The portfolio includes sensitive investments and/or those that carry potential political risk, requiring unique capabilities in diplomacy and navigating sensitive issue areas.

Sector knowledge and profile-building

• Actively maintain CIFF’s reputation as a valued partner for achieving transformational and sustainable change in SRHR.
• Influence the wider SRHR sector (national programmes, donors and implementers) to implement high-impact strategies for health sector change that improves service delivery, cost-effectiveness, quality, equity and gender transformative outcomes. This will include expertise on implementation science, research landscape and credibility to engage with diverse, senior officials.
• Be abreast of developments within the SRHR sector, client-centred design, opposition and international development sectors, establishing appropriate information gathering networks and channels to deepen professional knowledge and skills.

Stakeholder and partner management

• Act as the relationship manager for CIFF’s SRHR investments in Senegal and other focus countries, working across the foundations workstreams across equitable access, financing, and self-managed SRH.
• Act as CIFF’s external representative as required, which may include advisory groups/boards/steering committees and/or donor collaboration mechanisms.
• Identify and establish partnership that increases co-funding opportunities in focus countries.
• Conduct rigorous research and evaluation of potential partners, using agreed corporate protocols and techniques, to assess their suitability and credentials for collaborating on CIFF initiatives.
• Working alongside senior colleagues, help to develop strategic partnerships to support adoption, replication, co-funding or scaling-up of CIFF programmes.
• With respective Director/s, lead CIFF’s engagement with sub-regional structures like WAHO and Ouagadougou Partnership
• Support internal working groups – including but not limited to Employee Forum, and Anti-Racism and DEI Working Groups.

Membership and leadership of the team

• This role will have shared oversight over other SRHR staff members in the team. Specific line management is subject to portfolio and team growth. Matrix management is also anticipated.
• Lead through influence – working cross-functionally and services as a resource/mentor to Managers/Analysts from other teams and CIFF country offices and partners.
• Be a role model to less experienced team members, demonstrating CIFF’s leadership behaviours and providing mentorship to aid their growth.

Benefits

The starting salary for this role is GBP 80,000.

CIFF operates a hybrid work policy across all locations, which means employees work some of the time from home. We are happy to provide more information on this as part of the recruitment process.

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package here at CIFF that includes, but is not limited to the following.

• Annual leave – 25 days per annum. Increasing by 1 day after each year of service to a maximum of 30 days.
• Bonus – CIFF currently operates a discretionary bonus scheme.
• Training allowance
• Wellbeing allowance
• Life insurance
• Medical insurance

Please submit your application on or before 4 November 2024. CIFF reserves the right to close the job advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.