ROLE: Programmes Team Manager
BENEFITS
Salary: £33,000 – £40,000 per annum (Dependent on experience)
Hours of duty: 40 hours per week
Responsible to: Regional Desk Manager
Location: Bolton Office
Annual leave: 28 days per year + 2 days for Eid (Pro Rata)
THE ORGANISATION
Established in 2001, Ummah Welfare Trust is a UK-based international relief and development charity. Inspired by the Islamic teachings of empathy, generosity and selflessness, the trust aims to alleviate poverty and suffering across the world, and also ensuring that the rights of those who are neglected and oppressed are fulfilled by providing sustainable development solutions relating to shelter, education, health, and spiritual wellbeing.
Knowing that we are all ultimately accountable to the Almighty, the charity strives to maintain transparency and accountability, and as such the charity also has a full and transparent audit trail from the donor to the beneficiary.
To find out more about the organisation please visit our website on:
THE ROLE
The Programmes Team Manager ensures impactful, accountable, and efficient implementation of projects within designated countries. This role aligns project execution with UWT's vision, providing strategic leadership, operational management, and capacity development for teams and partners. The manager plays a pivotal role in maximizing the charity's impact while maintaining transparency and donor satisfaction.
Main Duties
* Lead, supervise, and performance-manage all team members to ensure high standards and alignment with UWT's ethos.
* Foster a culture of shared vision, commitment, and accountability within the team.
* Develop and implement capacity-building plans for team members to enhance thematic and contextual expertise.
* Define team structure and composition in coordination with the Programmes Director and oversee recruitment and induction processes.
* Manage and support in-country teams to deliver their project mandates effectively.
Strategic Planning
* Define priorities for assigned countries in consultation with the Programmes Director.
* Develop short- and long-term strategies for each country, ensuring alignment with UWT's objectives and local contexts.
* Create and monitor annual operational plans, detailing targeted outcomes, budgets, timelines, and resource allocation.
* Track socio-economic and political developments in operational regions to adjust strategies and mitigate risks.
* Provide monthly progress updates for the Board of Trustees.
Implementation and Monitoring
* Oversee the application of UWT's Project Delivery Framework to ensure timely and impactful execution of annual plans.
* Monitor project outcomes, budget expenditure, and address delays effectively.
* Develop and implement robust monitoring mechanisms, both remote and on-field, for transparent and accountable project execution.
* Ensure all project records are meticulously maintained for audit purposes.
* Liaise with Compliance and Project Finance teams to address compliance feedback and banking matters.
* Collaborate with the Media team to secure timely and impactful media outputs.
* Evaluate completed projects, document lessons learned, and ensure their integration into future planning.
Field Visits
* Plan and execute field visits to enhance programme designs, ensure accountability, and foster stakeholder relationships.
* Prepare comprehensive field reports with actionable recommendations.
* Conduct risk assessments and implement safeguards to ensure the safety of staff and visitors during field visits.
Emergency Response
* Develop emergency response plans in collaboration with other Team Managers to address emerging humanitarian situations.
* Coordinate the implementation of Emergency Response Plans alongside ongoing operations.
* Support public relations campaigns by facilitating live media outputs during emergencies.
* Participate in emergency response field teams as necessary.
Stakeholder Engagement
* Identify and manage relationships with Partner Organisations (POs) to achieve project objectives.
* Build PO capacities in safeguarding, risk management, and performance tracking.
* Represent UWT to government authorities, umbrella organisations, and other key stakeholders to establish strategic partnerships and ensure operational efficiency.
Safeguarding and Compliance
* Build team capacity on UWT's safeguarding policies.
* Ensure POs meet UWT's safeguarding standards across all projects.
* Report any safeguarding breaches immediately and support ensuing investigations.
Miscellaneous
* Represent UWT at events and meetings as directed by the Programmes Director.
* Undertake additional duties aligned with the role as required.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Qualifications
* Undergraduate degree or equivalent in social sciences, management, or development studies (Essential)
* Professional certification in project management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2) or humanitarian leadership (Desirable)
* Technical training in humanitarian fields such as shelter, WASH, food security, livelihoods, healthcare, or education (Desirable)
Experience
* Demonstrable experience managing budgets, monitoring expenditure, and analysing financial data (Essential)
* 3-5 years proven experience in managing project teams in a humanitarian context, including planning, resource mobilization, and reporting (Essential)
* Experience using digital tools for remote team management and project monitoring (Desirable)
* Familiarity with donor relations and grant writing processes (Desirable)
Skills/Abilities
* Excellent organizational skills with the ability to oversee multiple projects simultaneously (Essential)
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail (Essential)
* Advanced proficiency in MS Office, particularly Excel (Essential)
* Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English and Arabic (Essential)
* Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to manage conflicting priorities effectively (Essential)
* Excellent report writing skills (Essential)
* Strong negotiation and inter-personal skills with the ability to maintain composure whilst dealing with key partners/stakeholders with conflicting priorities (Essential)
Other
* Commitment to UWT's values and ethos (Essential)
* Willingness to undertake regular international field trips (Essential)
* The ability to occasionally adapt working hours to meet the requirements of the organisation (Essential)
* Valid UK driving license and access to a car (Desirable)
To Apply
Please send your CV and a Covering Letter detailing how you meet the criteria to by 1st September, 2025. The position may close sooner if the right candidate is found.
For further information, contact
Note: This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £33,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
* Additional leave
* Bereavement leave
* Casual dress
* Company events
* Company pension
* Employee discount
* Enhanced paternity leave
* Flexitime
* Free parking
* On-site parking
* Store discount
Work Location: In person