Program Director-Climate Asset Management-CAM Project

Job Purpose:

To provide strategic leadership and oversight in the implementation of “Restoring Land and Livelihoods across East & Southern Africa’s Savannah” program that is supported by Global Evergreening Alliance (GEA) Program across Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania. World Vision Kenya serves as the Lead Implementation Organisation (LIO) and works in partnership with Just Digit, Africa Harvest, Greenbelt Movement, ICRAF, Self Help Africa, CoAKe, private sector institutions and respective County Governments to support communities living in the four ASAL counties of Elgeyo Marakwet, Narok, Kwale and Tana River Counties in Kenya. The job holder will manage the large and complex project, ensuring effective systems and processes are in place to support high-quality programming that will guarantee the achievement of project outcomes, management of risks and identification and sharing of best practices and learning from the Program.

Strategic Leadership and Management 

• Provide effective strategic leadership and direction to the Program Management Unit (PMU)/Secretariat, Project Manager 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.
• Provide oversight in the preparation of the 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 partner’s 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.
• Supervise & mentor all PMU staff and act as the Secretary to the National Program Steering Committee.

Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• 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.
• With the support of other consortium members, develop a detailed plan that will support delivery of the Program objectives throughout the Program period.
• Lead in the planning, implementation and budgeting of the Program activities in liaison with the MEAL Coordinator and the Finance & Administration Manager.
• Organize periodic review meetings for planning and monitoring of Program activities.
• Ensure monthly and quarterly reporting to the donor and other relevant stakeholders while 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.

Financial Management & Operational Compliance

• Promote, uphold, and model commitment to the efficient use of donor resources. Ensure compliance with the GEA grants, including financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration and reporting to the Program Coordination Unit. Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors.  
• 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.
• Support capacity building of 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.

Partnership, Advocacy and Networking

• Develop and maintain close relationships with the donor, 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 Global Ever-greening Alliance, WVI partnership and relevant stakeholders.
• 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

Knowledge Management and Innovation

• 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 by supporting in the identification of learning opportunities, research and publications in the thematic areas and disseminating the information to GoK authorities, Consortium Partners, Global Ever-green Alliance and other agencies.
• Support in the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency and knowledge management agenda while ensuring integration of innovations and best practices.

Knowledge, Skills and Qualifications for the Role

• Masters degree in Natural Resource Management, Agriculture, Agro-Economics, Agro-forestry, Climate Change, Range Management, or equivalent. Post graduate qualifications in Leadership or International Development will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in the area of Landscape Management and Restoration, Climate Smart Agriculture or Sustainable Agriculture Practices.
• 7 years of experience in managing complex projects, donor funds, including multi-country grants. 
• Excellent knowledge and experience in budget management preferably with an international NGO.
• 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 a consortium.
• 5 years’ Experience of managing or leading a team of professional staff and a range of stakeholders in a high value donor funded consortium of at least US$ 10-20 million project.
• Experience working in ASAL is an added advantage
• Excellent strategic & analytical thinking and problem-solving skills with the capacity to see the big picture and the ability to make sound judgments and decisions. 
• Excellent relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship. 
• Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams. Coaching/mentoring skills. 
• Strong communications and presentation skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences. Proficiency in English language is required.
• Possess excellent knowledge of the Humanitarian Development Field.
• Consortium management experience preferred
• Good presentation and facilitation skills
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented.