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Job Title : Program Director – Ark 2030Reporting to : Operations Director
Grade Level : 17
Work Location : Nairobi
Purpose of Position
To lead a consortium of NGOs including ICRAF, CRS, TNC and Just Digit, private sector institutions and respective County Governments in the implementation of “Restoring Land and Livelihoods across East & Southern Africa’s Savannah” Program, that targets communities living in five ASAL counties of Narok, Kajiado, Garissa, Isiolo and Marsabit in Kenya. It will involve engagement with partners and the donor to ensure that the project outcomes are achieved, risks are managed and evidence of best practice and learning from the Program are identified and shared.
Major Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Management (40%)
- Provide effective, innovative and strategic leadership and direction to the Program Management Unit (PMU)/Secretariat, Project Managers and Field officers.
- Provide leadership, supervision, and oversight to improve the performance of all activities, ensuring efficient and effective Program implementation including the timely completion of high-quality work plans, accurate reports, and other mandated deliverables by all consortium partners.
- Develop appropriate implementation strategies for the Program.
- Provide strategic advice on changes and improvements where needed.
- Work with the team in preparing project work-plans with clear objectives and achievable benchmarks, reflecting strategic long-term and short-term priorities.
- Regularly review the program strategy to ensure relevance and enhance the Program impact by suggesting appropriate alternative strategies and changes to the technical working groups.
- Ensure all Program-based needs and requirements are timely and efficiently shared with support services for best coordinated implementation.
- Ensure integration of the grant with the partners objectives including WVK Initiatives and Child Well- being outcomes in-line with the WVK Strategic priorities.
- Provide excellent standards in the management of the human, financial and technical resources of the Program, which includes inspiring and maintaining high standards of work and clear accountability to stakeholders.
- Establish a consultative and participative management environment that engages and develops project teams, combining country office and global office staff, to deliver on donor obligations hence meeting the Program commitment priorities.
- Manage relationships between the consortium partners to ensure that the Program remains integrated and all partners achieve their outcomes, and that any conflicts are resolved.
- Provide management, administrative and financial, to the PMU including supervising all PMU staff and being the Secretary to the National Program Steering Committee.
- A cohesive consortium team that is working together for a common goal.
- The program is well integrated and supports or complements ongoing and new interventions being implemented by national & county governments, other NGOs and partners within the five target counties.
- Well-coordinated & implemented Program that is performing optimally towards the achievement of the set objectives
- Ensure that the implementation of the Program is in compliance with the donor, GoK, WVK and other partners’ acceptable standards and norms.
- Ensure timely surveys of the Program and dissemination of findings to all partners including GoK and the Donor while ensuring streamlining implementation in respect to the outcomes of the survey.
- Develop, with support of other consortium members, a detailed plan that will support delivery of the Program objectives throughout the Program period.
- With support from the MEAL Coordinator, lead the planning, implementation and budgeting of the Program activities.
- Organize annual review meetings for planning and monitoring of Program activities.
- Ensure monthly and quarterly reporting to the donor, government highlighting implementation status, challenges and key plans for the following months in an acceptable format or a format agreed/provided by the parties.
- Ensure that partner agencies submit timely and quality periodic and annual reports and plans as required by the donor.
- Well-coordinated & implemented Program that is performing optimally towards the achievement of the set objectives
- Ensure Program quality adherence, contractual compliance and timely reporting.
- In collaboration with the Grant Finance Manager, take responsibility for Program expenditure, financial accountability and planning requirements, and provide a high level of support to processes and procedures.
- Monitor the overall financial integrity of Program funds through grant management, monitoring and evaluation.
- Ensure operational standards of the Program are maintained leading to acceptable audit performance
- Ensure implementation of risk and audit recommendations.
- Provide capacity building to the Program staff to strengthen the organizational practices that result in successful financial and operational audit scores and take lead in the implementation of audit recommendations as per the findings.
- Prudent project financial management, timely and accurate financial reporting as per donor regulations.
- Develop and maintain close relationships with ARK 2030 through Ever-greening Alliance; Government, Consortium partners, and other relevant stakeholders.
- Ensure that the Program and partners are actively represented in coordination structures.
- Share progress and update on the Program activities within the Ever-greening Alliance, WVI partnership and relevant donors.
- Participation in Kenya or international conferences to share findings from the Program and support improved programmatic impact.
- Engage and/or get involved to provide support in policy dialogues and identify synergies or opportunities to advance project objectives.
- Maintain clear, regular and effective lines of communication with Consortium Partners and other relevant stakeholders (GoK, International Agencies, private sector, and other local actors).
- Organize and convene/chair partners meetings for joint planning and Progress review.
- Synergies and program visibility for greater impact
- Contribute to the development and introduction of innovation to ensure best practice approaches in the operations.
- Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for re-greening and land restoration initiatives in Kenya and thus build a body of knowledge across Africa.
- Promote learning within the grant and disseminating the outcomes with GoK authorities, Consortium Partners, Ever-green Alliance and other agencies.
- Contribute to the development of project related documents such as success stories and publications
- Evidence based best practices documented and in use.
- A robust contribution to learning and knowledge
- Perform any other duty as may be assigned by supervisor or designee from time to time
- Participate and contribute in committees and task forces
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management, Agriculture, Agro-Economics, Agro-forestry, Climate Change, Range Management, or equivalent and a Masters in any the same or Development Studies, or Project Management. Post graduate qualifications in Leadership will be an added advantage.
- Minimum 10 years’ experience in humanitarian and development agency 6 of which must be in leadership,
- Project management and sustainable NRM or integrated livelihood and development projects.
- Experience in project design, proposal writing, needs assessments, surveys, and information management.
- Experience of managing systems and tools to oversee complex program portfolios across different sectors and locations as well as within the consortium.
- Experience of managing or leading a team of professional staff and a range of stakeholders in a high value donor funded consortium of at US$ 10-20 million project.
- Excellent interpersonal, co-ordination and negotiation skills, and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
- Strong commitment to integrity, professionalism, creativity and innovation, learning, accountability, planning and organization, results orientation, teamwork and technological solutions.
- Experience working in ASAL is an added advantage
- Proven skills on leading high value project start-up process.
- Proven experience of representing externally to key stakeholders and maintaining donor relations.
- Ability to live and work under pressure in a rapidly changing environment.
