Group Operations and Programmes Manager

The Thomson Foundation is recruiting a Group Operations and Programmes Manager who will oversee Thomson’s impactful projects, ensure they meet funders’ standards, internal compliance, and collaborate with key stakeholders and local teams to deliver them timely and within budget.

As the Group Operations and Programmes Manager, You will monitor organisational workflows, practices and the overall group operational efficiency, while fostering collaboration across teams to share best practices.

Responsibilities

The Group Operations and Programmes Manager is responsible for comprehensive supervision and coordination of Thomson’s programming and operations. Your responsibilities and main duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Lead the design, implementation, and optimisation of project management systems, ensuring alignment with organisational and goals.
• Responsible for providing line management, training and feedback to project managers/coordinators, and other project team members, setting clear expectations, monitoring performance and taking overall responsibility for handling issues and troubleshooting any problems.
• Oversee implementation and evaluate project resources and their deployment, ensuring project timelines and quality standards are met, while maximising efficiency and impact.
• Oversee and negotiate project budgets with accountability for spending objectives, tracking performance against financial targets, and ensuring optimal resource allocation (staff, contractors, equipment).
• Support the finance management team with the preparation of projects financial reports and project audits; ensure adherence to the funder’s financial reporting calendars and deadlines.
• Maintain and upgrade efficient operational frameworks and workflows, including logistics, payment approval, resource allocation, and data archiving for internal and external reporting.
• Provide guidance on backstopping, project management, compliance and procurement procedures, with support from administrative teams for implementation.
• Assist in developing project proposals with resources planning and allocation, budget preparation and financial projections.
• Coordinate knowledge-sharing across projects, ensuring that best practices and successful strategies are documented and accessible to stakeholders.
• Foster a collaborative environment by working with finance, administrative, and project support teams to maintain up-to-date project documentation and facilitate smooth project transitions.
• Participate in organisational meetings, oversee project-specific metrics, and ensure team compliance with project requirements, operational protocols, and performance indicators.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by senior management, ensuring flexibility and responsiveness to emerging organisational needs.

Required skills and qualifications

• Extensive programme management experience working with multiple institutional donors, ideally in the media development sector, including experience setting up new teams, running activities, end-to-end accountability for reporting to donors, recruitment, monitoring and evaluation, impact assessment.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to resolving challenges.
• Strong understanding of the journalism/media industries would be highly beneficial.
• Excellent organisational and team management skills to control their own workload and that of others.
• Ability to communicate coordinate and collaborate closely and effectively with multiple stakeholders in person and remotely, across cultures and time zones.
• Financial acumen and numeracy, experience in budget development and financial management.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to multitask and prioritise effectively.
• Experience of managing a team.
• An eye for detail while not missing the bigger picture.
• Proficient in using office software such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and collaboration tools.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality and discretion.
• Fluency in English is required, German or other languages an asset.
• Self-starter and flexible, “can do” attitude.

How to apply

The deadline for applications is January 5, 2025. To learn more and apply, please click here.