PROGRAM MANAGER – Vacant position
Are you passionate about driving innovation and empowering entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams? Join our dynamic team as a Program Manager and play a pivotal role in shaping the success stories of aspiring business leaders. We offer a collaborative and supportive environment where your strategic vision and leadership will make a meaningful impact on the startup ecosystem. Apply now and be part of our mission to fuel the growth of groundbreaking ventures!
- Job overview:
The Program Manager is responsible for the designing and coordinating the implementation of a Program. S/he plays a pivotal role in ensuring the successful execution of a Program, fostering collaboration among cross-functional teams, and driving project outcomes.
- Key responsibilities:
Project start-up and implementation (35%):
- Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for the successful start-up in the program, based on the provided design for the program.
- Establish project timelines, milestones, and budgets, and oversee the allocation of resources to ensure project is executed efficiently and within established parameters.
- Coordinate delivery of the program according to the agreed plan with the stakeholders.
- Monitor and track the progress and engagement of supported entrepreneurs enrolled in the program, and ensure they are provided with necessary guidance.
- Manage the relationship and communication with the client, team, and all stakeholders, to ensure program objectives and deliverables are clearly defined and achieved, ensuring the project is delivered to satisfaction.
- Foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and excellence in project implementation.
- Liaise with partners to solve issues, communicate needs and create synergy.
- Collaborate with BPN clients, stakeholders, and project teams to gather and understand project objectives, goals, and specifications.
- Conduct continuous research to gather information, analyze market trends and assess feasibility. This may involve studying user needs, conducting surveys, or analyzing competitors’ offered business development services.
- Identify and mitigate potential risks.
Entrepreneurs’ recruitment (20%):
- Oversee the development and implementation of entrepreneur recruitment strategies and campaigns to attract and engage high-potential entrepreneurs, utilizing various channels such as partnerships, industry events, online platforms, and personal networking.
- Ensure to attract, recruit, and retain a diverse pool of entrepreneurs, including individuals from underrepresented genders, PWD, youth, refugees etc.
- Oversee the process of evaluating and assessing entrepreneur applications, business plans, utilizing a structured evaluation framework to identify the most promising candidates.
- Perform thorough background checks and due diligence on potential entrepreneurs, partners to verify their credibility, reputation, and adherence to ethical standards.
- Continuously evaluate and improve the entrepreneur recruitment and selection processes, incorporating feedback from entrepreneurs and internal stakeholders to enhance the program’s effectiveness
- Provide guidance and support to selected entrepreneurs during the onboarding process, ensuring they have a clear understanding of the business development service’s offerings, expectations, and milestones.
Partnership management (15%)
- Identify and engage potential partners to facilitate the delivery of the program, such as government institutions, technical experts, and support organizations.
- Build and maintain a strong network of contacts within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including ESOs (Entrepreneurship Support Organizations), venture capitalists, industry associations, and other relevant organizations.
People management (20%):
- Lead and manage the program team, providing guidance, support, and mentorship.
- Prepare and offer capacity building that will enhance the team’s technical and soft skills, in collaboration with HR Unit.
- Be an active team member of the Program department Management team; working together, creating synergy and interaction between the department teams, solving shared problems and capitalizing shared opportunities.
- Be an active team member of BPN Rwanda as a whole.
- Be exemplary to the rest of the team.
- Carry an entrepreneurial attitude on BPN Rwanda’s targets and activities: Keep a helicopter view, challenge, suggest, and act where ever necessary in order to actively contribute to the success of BPN Rwanda as a whole.
Documentation, reporting and others (10%):
- Monitor program performance and provide regular reports to senior management, highlighting key metrics, risks, and opportunities.
- Ensure efficient documentation processes within the department.
- Analyze and report on the project progress, forecast for strategic changes and report on key metrics.
- Ensure that all data and reports are entered in CRM consistently and timely. CRM is to be used to its full potential.
- Attend different entrepreneurship related events (pitch, exhibition, etc.) and be on the panel of judges when required.
- Stay up-to-date with industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies relevant to program implementation and management.
- Any other related tasks as assigned by the supervisor.
- Skills, Qualifications and Experience
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, Project Management or a related field.
Experience
- Proven experience 7 years in program management, implementation, or related roles, preferably within a business development services company.
- Strong leadership skills with a track record of successfully leading and managing high-performing teams.
- Demonstrated understanding of the context and needs of high potential entrepreneurs.
- Experience as an entrepreneur is an advantage.
Attitude and values
At BPN we expect every employee to proactively practice, nurture and strengthen the following key aspects of his or her working attitude:
- Have a learning attitude and be the driver of your own development process
- Be an active listener
- Be an entrepreneur centric
- Strive to perform and deliver beyond strict job content with a high ownership
Key competencies:
- Exceptional project management skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and deliver results within deadlines.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate and influence stakeholders at all levels.
- Fluent in English and Kinyarwanda (excellent writing and oral skills)
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a keen eye for detail and a strategic mindset.
- Proven ability to build and maintain strong client relationships, delivering exceptional service and driving client satisfaction with a high networking aptitude.
- Demonstrated understanding of business development principles, strategies, and methodologies.
- Proficiency in project management tools, software, and techniques.
- Analytical skills are necessary to correctly identify risks and solve any problems which may arise throughout the project.
- Business & commercial acumen and excellent stakeholder management skills
- Knowledge of modern business communication, including style and format of letters, memoranda, minutes, and reports.
