Program Manager - Peace Building & Conflict Management

Job Ref: PK/PBCM/2011

Department: Peace and Development

Location: Nairobi, Dagorreti Corner

Job Purpose

Reporting to the head of Peace and DG, the Program Manager for Peace building and Conflict management will assist the Head of Programs and the KCSSP Chief of party in all programmatic and technical efforts for Kenya Civil Society Strengthening Program under the Peace Building component.

S/He will be responsible for overseeing design and implementation of the peace work across a range of areas, including policy advocacy, community peacebuilding, national coordination, conflict early warning and response, as well as management of a peace and development project in Mt Elgon.

S/He will provide strategic direction to the Peace building component, working closely with the other two components in Democracy and Governance and Natural Resource Management.

Responsibilities

Program Management

• Providing the overall supervision of the Peacebuilding component of KCSSP.
• Ensure that projects are designed in a timely manner and in response to the peacebuilding context in Kenya
• Coordinate conflict analysis and scoping efforts to inform project design
• Ensure that all Requests for Applications meet the agreed criteria as established by the KCSSP project description and that they are issued and assessed in a timely manner
• Enhance performance of KCSSPs early warning and response efforts under the targets of opportunity mechanism
• Provide oversight to the KCSSP supported peacebuilding advocacy efforts
• Supervision of staff working in the peacebuilding component
• Supervise KCSSPs peace and development project in Mt Elgon

Financial management

• Provide oversight in budget preparation and tracking
• Monitor partners project implementation as contained in grant agreements
• Work closely with the grants manager in providing up to date reports on partners performance to the project team

Advocacy

• Provide overall supervision to the National Peace policy advocacy process
• Provide specialist support to the monitoring of on national reforms in as far as they affect national healing and cohesion building
• Coordinate with the Program Manager democracy and governance in the monitoring of the national accord

Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge sharing

• Participate in setting program targets in line with overall strategic goal of the program
• Provide up to date reporting to the donor, USAID on all aspects of the program as described in the program description. Ensure that the peacebuilding components meet the generally agreed standards for Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning principles of KCSSP
• Participate actively in contributing to documentation of “success stories” and other anecdotal information to enhance the overall quality of performance reports to the donors
• Share information and lessons learnt with other program staff

Organizational Development

• Work closely with the OD manager in ensuring that KCSSP capacity building approach is implemented with the peacebuilding partners
• Coordinate with the OD manager in ensuring that partners undertake Organizational Capacity Assessments (OCAs ) and monitor implementation of the capacity building plans

Representation and networking

• Maintain good external linkages with all actors including government and the community
• Support the National Steering Committee’s (NSC)efforts at national peace coordination
• Support the efforts of the NSC and the advocacy for a national peace policy
• Establish and maintain regular contact with beneficiary groups and partner organizations, and to liaise and co-ordinate with the appropriate government bodies whenever appropriate to ensure successful project progress.
• Negotiate collaboration with partner institutions and government departments in support of Pact Kenya and the project activities subject to approval from the Supervisor.
• Represent the program and Pact Kenya at meetings, forums and processes to stay up to date with unfolding events or issues and ensure that Pact is best placed to advise USAID on such events or issues.

Strategic planning

• Ensure that the KCSSP peace component is responsive to the Kenyan context and responds to the needs of CSOs interacting with it
• Participate in program planning and review meetings, and program co-ordination meetings.
• Contribute to the formulation and review of the overall program strategy and business planning.
• Collaborate with the D&G (Democracy and Governance), NRM (Natural Resources Management) and OD Managers in identification and management of cross cutting issues in the implementation of KCSSP

Preferred Skills:

The minimum required academic and professional skills for the jobholder to perform successfully in their job are:

• Bachelors Degree in a related field ; International relations, advocacy, political science, development studies or equivalent level of experience A Masters degree in relevant field will be an added advantage
• 5-10 years of Project Management experience, including budget development and oversight, grants management, proposal development, project implementation, community engagement, monitoring and reporting and relationship building in an reputable Non Governmental Organization
• At least 10 years demonstrated experience in Peacebuilding and Conflict Management in Kenya
• A thorough understanding of the current and proposed peacebuilding infrastructure in Kenya
• Demonstrated experience in staff supervision
• Extensive donor liaison experience
• Ability to communicate effectively with others both written and spoken.
• High level of computer literacy in terms of word and spreadsheet usage and internet research and
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently as part of a team
• Ability to work in a fast paced environment requiring multi-tasking and work under pressure

Applicants will be required to submit:

• detailed and current CV
• cover letter demonstrating why they qualify for this position
• contact information for 3 referees; and
• indicate current remuneration package.

If you meet the requirements for any of the advertised positions, please submit your application and CV electronically to hr.admin@pactke.org, quoting the position and reference number provided.

Only candidates short-listed for interviews will be contacted.

Pact Kenya is an equal opportunities employer

Deadline for applications submission is 5:00 pm Friday 30th June 2011