Programmes Manager
Location: Birmingham, UK (Hybrid)
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Salary: Competitive + benefits
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
About Saba Relief & Development Foundation
Saba Relief is a UK-based charity dedicated exclusively to supporting the people of Yemen through sustainable, life-changing programmes in healthcare, education, food security, water and sanitation, livelihoods, and orphan support.
As we embark on an ambitious new five-year growth strategy under new leadership, Saba Relief is poised to expand its impact, deepen donor engagement, and strengthen our position as the UK’s leading Yemen-focused charity.
This is an exciting opportunity to join us at a pivotal moment of transformation, helping shape the future of our programmes and making a lasting difference to the lives of vulnerable families in Yemen.
Our Core Values
Our values are the foundation of Saba Relief’s identity and operations. They shape our organisational culture, drive ethical decision-making, and ensure that compassion, integrity, and sustainability remain central to our service.
- Compassion: We serve with empathy, understanding, and respect for human dignity.
- Integrity: We are accountable, transparent, and trustworthy in all our actions.
- Righteous Ethics: We are guided by the principles of justice, sincerity, and accountability, striving to act with honesty and fairness in all that we do.
- Empowerment: We aim to enable communities to build resilience and self-reliance.
- Sustainability: We strive for long-term solutions over temporary fixes.
The Role
The Programmes Manager is accountable for the effective delivery, quality assurance, and compliance of Saba Relief’s programmes. The role provides strategic leadership and management oversight to UK-based programmes staff, the Field Implementation Team, and delivery partners, ensuring projects are implemented in line with organisational strategy, approved budgets, donor requirements, and recognised international and regulatory standards.
In addition, other key responsibilities include building and expanding strategic partnerships with donors and other development partners to increase the size, scope and quality of programmes implemented by the Field Implementation Team to reach the poorest, marginalised and underserved populations.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and implementation of programme plans aligned to Saba Relief’s Board-approved strategy and 5-year growth plan, working under the direction of the CEO
- Provide management oversight and technical leadership to the Field Implementation Team and partner organisations in programme design,
- Support both the UK and Field Implementation Teams to reinforce our mission, vision, values and direction through clear and articulate communications.
- Lead organisational development support for the Field Implementation Team, ensuring appropriate technical capacity, management capability, and governance controls are in place, with measurable improvements demonstrated through organisational health checks and performance reviews.
- Ensure robust due diligence, compliance, and partner-management procedures are implemented consistently across UK operations and the Field Implementation Team, escalating material risks to the CEO as required.
- Ensure efficient use of allocated funds; agree on budgets and plans for the Field Implementation Team. Ensure financial management and value for money are central to the management and accountability of work undertaken by the Field Implementation Team and partners.
- Ensure that the quality of our programmes and partnerships at all levels are of a high standard in delivering our promises and commitments.
- Lead oversight of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) systems across all programmes delivered through the Field Implementation Team and partners, ensuring data quality, learning integration, and accountability to beneficiaries and donors.
- Identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with partners and institutional supporters.
- Build, lead, and motivate a high-performing programmes team.
- Champion compliance and best practice in line with Charity Commission standards.
About You
You are a dynamic and strategic Programmes Manager who is detail-oriented and able to manage multiple projects and partners to a high standard. You’ll bring critical thinking, resilience, and leadership to drive growth, along with a deep empathy for Saba Relief’s mission and the people we serve.
Essential skills and experience:
- Proven success in international programme management, including senior management and managing projects remotely.
- Experience in building strong relationships at the highest levels with development partners.
- Excellent project management skills, including extensive experience using project management software.
- Strong and well-developed analytical skills coupled with experience in writing and auditing quality proposals and reports.
- Experience managing teams to nurture talent and deliver ambitious targets.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and networking abilities.
- Strong understanding of charity regulations, risk management, and governance.
- Willingness to occasionally travel nationally and internationally.
Desirable:
- Educated to degree level standard in international development or a similar related field
- Knowledge of Yemen or Middle Eastern humanitarian contexts.
Why Join Saba Relief?
At Saba Relief, you’ll be part of a purpose-driven organisation that’s growing rapidly and embracing innovation. You’ll work directly with the CEO to shape the charity’s future in an environment that values creativity, inclusivity, and professional development.
You’ll take a leading role in driving the delivery of high-quality humanitarian and development programmes in Yemen.
This is a dynamic opportunity to support and oversee our programmes team and partners, ensuring effective implementation of impactful projects that align with our strategy and meet international standards. If you’re ready to make an impact and support the needy people of Yemen through sustainable, scalable programmes, apply now to be part of our mission.
We offer:
- Competitive salary and pension contributions
- 28 days annual leave inclusive of public holidays (plus additional leave for Eid)
- Flexible and hybrid working
- Learning and development opportunities
- The chance to directly impact lives in one of the world’s most vulnerable regions