Programmes Manager

About ELRU

The Early Learning Resource Unit (ELRU) is a provincial NGO within the Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector. ELRU’s vision is to give every child in South Africa a good start in life by providing holistic support through enabling access to an integrated package of quality ECD services.

The Purpose of this role is to provide strategic, operational, financial, people-management, quality assurance and compliance leadership across ELRU’s FCM Programme, Centre Support Programme, Registration and Training Departments. The role is accountable for ensuring that programme planning, budgeting, implementation, evidence generation, reporting, stakeholder engagement and team performance are aligned to ELRU’s strategy, funder contracts, organisational policies and community impact objectives. This role is operational, and requires strong project management skills across several provinces.

Key Responsiblities

• Approved annual portfolio implementation plan maintained for FCM, CSP, Registration and Training Departments.
• Programme objectives, outcome frameworks, workplans, activity schedules and targets aligned to ELRU strategy and funder contracts.
• Programme models reviewed and improved through documented learning, evidence, field feedback and stakeholder engagement.
• Cross-programme dependencies, shared resources, systems improvements and delivery risks reviewed monthly.
• SOPs, templates, dashboards, log frames and implementation tools updated where required to strengthen delivery quality.
• Programme start-up, implementation, learning, close-out, handover and funder debrief processes completed in line with contractual requirements.
• All contractual deliverables achieved within approved timeframes, quality standards and designated budgets.
• Monthly implementation reviews completed against milestones, activities, outputs, outcomes and evidence requirements.
• Project bottlenecks, delays and risks escalated timeously with practical options and a recommended solution.
• Central project folders maintained with current contracts, budgets, workplans, reports, evidence and correspondence.
• Programme and project budgets developed with Finance and the Programme manager before implementation.
• Monthly budget-vs-actual, burn-rate, cash-flow and forecast reviews for each programme or department.
• Requisitions, expenditure and budget approvals managed in accordance with the ELRU Approval Framework and available budget allocations.
• Administrators and team leads understand budget lines, coding, supporting documentation and expenditure controls.
• Overspending, underspending, reallocation needs and financial risks flagged.
• Accurate and timeous narrative reporting across all designated projects.
• Funder reporting dates, submission requirements and report responsibilities tracked through the ELRU Funder Overview Dashboard.
• Quarterly funder and stakeholder updates provided, including delivery progress, risks, lessons, milestones and impact stories.
• Resource Mobilisation supported with stewardship, proposals, funder communications, case studies, testimonials and programme positioning.
• ELRU represented professionally with funders, municipalities, government departments, ELPs, beneficiaries and ECD sector stakeholders.
• Programme MERL frameworks, tools, indicators and evidence sources implemented consistently across FCM, CSP, Registration and Training.
• Embed key MERL activities, assessment and frameworks across programmes in collaboration with the MERL Manager.
• Performance data used to guide supervision, implementation improvement, quality assurance, programme learning and management decisions.
• Case studies, field stories, learning briefs, testimonials and outcome evidence documented with MERL and Resource Mobilisation.
• Direct reports have clear roles, workplans, targets, reporting rhythms and delegated areas of accountability.
• Performance check-ins, appraisals, development reviews and corrective actions implemented through the Istratgo Performance Management System.
• Staffing, logistics, procurement, administration and operational requirements planned and coordinated with HR, Finance, IT and Admin.
• Internal SOPs, policies, communications, feedback and workplace expectations cascaded consistently across teams.
• Team capacity, wellbeing, training needs, performance risks and resourcing gaps escalated and addressed appropriately.
• CSP implementation plan guides ELP support, compliance support, quality improvement, mentoring and practitioner engagement.
• Registration Department managed through the Registration Coordinator with clear delivery targets, trackers, reporting rhythms and escalation pathways.
• Bronze, Silver and Gold/MRD/partial-care progression, MSS compliance and documentation pipelines tracked monthly.
• Municipal, DSD, DBE/WCED and local stakeholder processes supported, coordinated and escalated where required.
• Registration evidence, document storage, status updates, risk logs and follow-up actions remain accurate, complete and accessible.
• Manage and oversee provincial FCM Programme operations.
• Ensure the FCM delivery model is implemented with fidelity across recruitment, training, household enrolment, home visits, referrals, supervision and reporting.
• FCM Programme Managers and field teams supported to maintain referral pathways, household support quality and supervision routines.
• Training Department managed for accredited and non-accredited training, practitioner/caregiver training and internal staff capacity-building needs.
• Training attendance, completion, certification, moderation, learner support and quality assurance evidence maintained and reported.
• Quarterly Risk Register inputs completed with real-time risk identification, mitigation actions and escalation where required.
• Safeguarding, POPIA, data protection and incident reporting protocols implemented across all programme and compliance teams.
• Programme quality assurance reviews, site checks, reflection sessions, after-action reports and corrective actions documented.
• Compliance with ELRU policies, HR procedures, finance SOPs, procurement requirements and governance standards maintained.
• Learning reviews and internal knowledge-sharing sessions facilitated to strengthen programme quality, accountability and organisational learning.

Qualifications required

• Relevant master's qualification in Early Childhood Development, Education, Social Sciences, Community Development, Development Studies, Social Work, Public Management, Project Management or a related field.
• Postgraduate qualification, project management qualification or management development programme.
• Valid driver’s licence and ability to travel to programme sites, funder meetings and stakeholder engagements as required.

Experience, Knowledge and Skills requirements

• Minimum 5–7 years’ experience in programme, project or departmental management within the ECD, education, social services, community development, public benefit or NPO sector.
• At least 5 years’ people-management experience, including senior staff.
• Strong writing, analysis, communication, public speaking and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proven experience managing multi-project portfolios, workplans, implementation plans, deliverables, risks, timelines and reporting cycles.
• Strong financial management capability, including budget development, budget approvals, budget-vs-actual monitoring, and forecast planning.
• Experience with donor-funded programmes, funder contracts, contractual compliance, narrative reporting, MERL reporting and financial reporting.
• Knowledge of the South African ECD sector, including ELP support, registration pathways, minimum safety standards, quality improvement, practitioner support and stakeholder coordination.
• Experience with home-visiting, family support, case management, referrals, caregiver support, community health or social-servic