Program Manager (Cash & Voucher Program CVP) needed at Chowberry

SCOPE OF WORK:

The Cash & Voucher Program (CVP) Manager is a mid-level senior Chowberry position working to improve indigent families’ livelihoods with their access to basic household items. Supervised by our Programs Lead, the CVP Manager will also work closely with the Food Security Coordinator and other nutrition and livelihood field staff to oversee household selection and day-to-day cash transfer programming (CTP) implementation. The CVP Manager is expected to travel to the field frequently for higher-level decision-making, particularly during the often-challenging stages of identification of beneficiaries who fit the vulnerability index, community sensitization, project selection and dispute resolution.

The main objective of the CVP Manager is to contribute to achieving high-quality programming by ensuring effective program management, including compliance requirements, timely and quality reporting, development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of CTP activities, specifically unconditional cash grants. The position will consolidate information about what families used their cash to purchase captured on the Chowberry Assistance Voucher (CAV) App and how this contributed to their well-being status.

The position will also:

• Ensure daily activities at the field level follow implementation guidelines.
• Establish and maintain transparent, functional relationships with target beneficiaries and communities.
• As appropriate and necessary, mediate conflicts between beneficiaries, vendors, and Chowberry.
• Manage/monitor CTP budgets and track expenditures to ensure that all spending aligns with approved budgets and timelines, including developing monthly program spending plans and cash forecasts.

The CVP Manager reports directly to the Director of Programs based in Abuja. They also work closely with the CAV app development team, providing helpful feedback from the field on improving the user experience (UX) and functionality of the app for the successful implementation of the program pilot.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Grant Planning & Implementation

• Develop and document appropriate mechanisms for cash transfers, ensuring that transfers adhere to Chowberry’s policies and procedures and that effective, transparent accounting procedures are in place.
• Prepare and maintain/update detailed CTP work plan(s) that support and achieve the overall grant timeline and completion date.
• Promptly identify and recommend solutions to technical issues.
• Develop implementation guidance on beneficiary selection criteria for participation in CTP and train staff on the methodology.
• Manage/monitor CTP budgets and track expenditures to ensure all spending aligns with approved budgets and timelines, including developing monthly program spending plans and cash forecasts.
• Provide direction and monitor implementation of the CTP work plan and quality of technical activities, as well as share relevant information and direction to improve quality and achieve timelines.

Grant Monitoring & Reporting

• Ensure all monitoring activities are fully documented, including systematic and timely data collection as required under the grant and for Chowberry M&E purposes.
• Produce/contribute to Chowberry and donor reports on grant activities, indicators, and achievements according to set schedules (monthly, quarterly, and annually).
• Undertake regular field monitoring visits to assess progress, identify and report technical quality issues and/or other implementation issues, provide solutions, and implement modifications as required.

Partner Management

• Regularly monitor the performance of the partners and vendors to achieve the set project’s objectives; provide technical support and guidance; share relevant information and direction to improve quality and achieve timelines.
• Review partner financial and narrative submissions, including M&E data; provide advice and guidance to improve accuracy and quality as required.
• Serve as the main focal person in the field for Chowberry’s implementing partners for CTP; maintain respectful and constructive relations and ensure regular meetings and ongoing coordination.

Coordination & Representation

• Actively participate in the various coordination meetings and information-sharing activities with Cash Working Group (CWG), national NGOs, international organizations, donors and government about CTP, food security, nutrition and livelihood interventions.
• Work closely and coordinate with the local partners, Chowberry supply chain, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and compliant program activities and expenditures, including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings.

Staff Supervision & Development

• The position supervises field officers and must work closely with staff from various programmatic and operational teams to deliver high-quality activities at the community level.
• Ensure timely completion and submission of monthly timesheets, probation, and annual performance reviews.
• Maintain open and professional relations with other response programs, promote a strong team spirit, and provide oversight and guidance to enable staff to perform successfully.

Program Development

• Support the collection of data, assessments and proposal development related to CTP.
• Provide overall inputs into the strategic development of Chowberry’s Food, Nutrition, Cash and Voucher Program.
• Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly report concerns or incidents to Chowberry management and liaise with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for Chowberry programs.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop Chowberry programs.

Professional Standards

All Chowberry staff are required to adhere to Chowberry’s Standards for Professional Conduct and the Staff employment policies.

REQUIREMENS:

• Degree or educational requirements/certification required for the position
• 2-5 years of experience in teams implementing CTP, Food, Nutrition and livelihood programs, finance, banking, supply chain, business development or community development projects.
• Proven abilities in developing work plans, data collection, basic analysis, and performance monitoring.
• INGO experience preferred.
• Personal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.
• Fluency in English is required, both speaking and writing.