Programme Manager (Governance in MSME's)

Programme overview

Programme development and communications

• Design, develop, and execute the programme in alignment with organizational goals; innovate and improve its relevance, impact, and sustainability.
• Develop programme strategies addressing emerging MSME trends and challenges; collaborate with experts, consultants, and partners on content and deliverables.
• Identify synergies with organizational initiatives and co-create communications strategies for priority social media channels and email campaigns.

Business development and sustainability

• Develop business development and stakeholder engagement strategies; identify target markets, funding sources, and partnership opportunities.
• Manage an annual market engagement calendar, work toward funding targets, explore revenue streams, and support long-term financial sustainability.
• Lead workshops, convenings, online forums, and networking events; represent the organization and build partner and collaborator relationships.
• Develop proposals for funders and partners; negotiate and finalize funding agreements and partnership contracts.

Project delivery and contracts

• Manage collaborative projects and flagship initiatives in research, executive education, capacity-building, and convenings.
• Define scopes, plans, roles, tracking, and reporting; manage programme teams and third parties, accountability, performance, and risk.
• Ensure delivery meets contractual obligations, timelines, and quality standards; manage costs and resources and report progress, challenges, and successes.

Research and thought leadership

• Research market needs and pain points, identify opportunities, develop market-driven solutions, and monitor trends and market offerings.
• Produce original bilingual content such as articles, op-eds, white papers, research reports, and working group position papers.
• Build the programme’s online presence and relationships with journalists, analysts, and industry influencers.

Team leadership and impact

• Lead, mentor, and develop programme team members; provide feedback and foster an inclusive, collaborative learning environment.
• Define quarterly and annual impact metrics and engagement KPIs; develop surveys and feedback forms and coordinate data collection and analysis.
• Develop impact baselines, recommend programme improvements, prepare milestone impact reports, and contribute programme sections to the annual report.
• Use technology to support productivity, project management, business development, and research; attend relevant expert-led training.

Qualifications and experience

• Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as Business Administration or a related discipline.
• At least seven years of relevant programme management, coordination, and execution experience in a relevant organization or setting.
• Demonstrated experience leading business development, revenue generation, or fundraising for programmes, projects, or initiatives.
• Ability to deliver programmes independently and manage relationships with senior stakeholders, partners, and vendors.
• Fluency in English and Arabic is required.
• Additional certifications in project management, corporate governance, impact measurement, or SME operations are highly desirable.
• MSME, entrepreneurial venture, or start-up experience and knowledge of governance, impact frameworks, compliance, and sustainability are highly desirable.
• Research, impact analysis, programme development, curriculum design, and published writing experience are highly desirable.

Personal attributes