Pact in South Sudan Program Manager

The Program Manager provides overall program oversight and management to Pact’s role as the coordinating agency for the Local Governance and Service Delivery Project’s (LGSP) “fast-track initiative” – a community driven development program supported by the World Bank for the Republic of South Sudan and funded by SIDA. The Program Manager will provide overall technical support, oversight and management of all components of the initiative including: representation with donors and government counterparts, and partners; oversight of program implementation; oversight of program methodologies and materials, supervision of sub-grantee “facilitating partners” and their compliance with the operating manual and methodologies developed; oversight of the program budget and finances; management of program human resources issues; building a strong team (including internal staff capacity development); monitoring of facilitating partners and coordination of monitoring and report writing.

Background / Description

Pact in South Sudan seeks a Program Manager for the “fast track” or pilot phase of the World Bank sponsored Local Governance and Service Delivery Program (LGSP). This program will follow community driven development/ reconstruction methodology that will be modified for South Sudan. The successful candidate should demonstrate strong technical knowledge and working experience coordinating and implementing community driven development programs or similar programs employing strong participatory planning and engagement at the village (or equivalent) levels as well as experience liaising with government counterparts in similar programs.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide lead technical direction / technical assistance in design and planning for the LGSP;

• Work closely with the LGSP team and the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to ensure on-time implementation of the LGSP.

Representation & Coordination

• Maintain a strong relationship with the Government of the Republic of South Sudan (GRSS) Local Government Board (LGB) and the World Bank, in particular regarding methodology, program progress and operational planning issues. Ensure that all relevant government (national and state) representatives are kept in the loop on discussions regarding the program;

• Ensure the development and timely submission of quality program documents, including narrative reports, lessons learned & success stories, beneficiary profiles, and other communications documents.

• Coordinate with other Pact programs, especially those operating in the countries affected by this program;

• Activate and maintain positive relationships with relevant government authorities and key partners;

• Develop project/program briefing papers and other publicity materials to communicate the impact of and learning from the delivery of the program;

• As appropriate, represent Pact and LGSP to other external actors, or in coordination fora.

Program Design & Quality:

• Ensure that high quality program methodologies and materials, in line with the operating manual and agreed upon methodology, are developed for all parts of the program and are rolled out to all facilitating partners;

• Ensure that all facilitating partners have adequate understanding of the methodologies and materials prior to implementation;

• Ensure that activities are implemented according to a well-defined set of program protocols and tools which balance the need for timely achievement of objectives with the importance of quality processes, and methodological rigor;

• Working with the Pact team and the LGSP program staff, ensure that facilitating partner implementation is monitored and information is gathered regarding the implementation process and any needed/ recommended adjustments in methodology or materials;

• On the basis of strong program monitoring, recommend adjustments to the program design or implementation protocols, and implement these as agreed with the LGB and the World Bank;

• Foster an atmosphere of constructive critique and continuous improvement of program approaches among Pact and Facilitating partner staff and with the LGB and the World Bank.

Program Management and Oversight:

• Ensure that the project is implemented according to defined work plans in order to achieve project deliverables. Through strong planning and monitoring, identify potential obstacles to programmatic success in a timely fashion, and implement corrective actions as needed;

• Provide overall oversight to the program budget, and liaise with key internal stakeholders to ensure spending is planned, executed and managed as appropriate;

• Manage contractual and programmatic aspects of relations with facilitating partners;

• Introduce quality assurance initiatives to address efficiency, effectiveness, or compliance concerns.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL)

• Ensure that a robust M&E system is integrated into the program methodology and approach;

• Ensure that learning is evaluated and recorded for all aspects of program implementation and that learning is incorporated into revisions of the operating manual, program implementation methodology and all materials;

• Maintain familiarity with similar programs and methodologies within South Sudan and globally.

Staff Management

• Directly supervise the Program Technical officer and the short-term M&E specialist.

• Directly supervise any consultants hired for this program including those hired to develop programming materials;

• Mentor, coach and support LGSP Program staff through regular one-to-one supervision, annual performance appraisals and other mechanisms for their professional growth and continuous development;

• Participate in program monitoring, evaluating and periodic reporting related to capacity development and community engagement;

• Support regular evaluation of program components in terms of feasibility, efficiency and effectiveness;

• Provide regular comprehensive program updates to supervisor as to program status, current and emerging issues, etc.

Other Tasks Perform other duties as assigned.

Experience Requirements:

• A proven and successful track record that features at least 6 years of previous senior program management experience;

• Prior experience with Community-Driven Reconstruction or Community-Driven Development programming, or similar;

• Extensive experience coordinating and liaising with senior government representatives on similar projects;

• Demonstrated experience delivering programs to tight deadlines;

• Demonstrated ability for rapid analysis of very complex issues, strong decision-making, and translation of programmatic learning and priorities into operational strategies;

• Knowledge of local governance and decentralization issues in post-conflict contexts, and of gender and inclusion strategies;

• Very strong computer skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook);

• Ability to travel frequently to project sites for monitoring visits, including remote areas.

Desirable:

Experience with budget management, navigating financial systems and payments, and contracts management;

• Excellent human resource management skills, interpersonal skills, cross-cultural communication and ease in managing a multi-ethnic team;

• Language proficiency (Arabic especially) a plus;

• Prior experience in South Sudan a plus.

Personal:

• Ability to establish and sustain interpersonal and professional relationships with donors, government representatives, contractors, international and local NGOs;

• Demonstrable commitment to the values and ethos of Pact;

• Outgoing personality;

• Flexible, proactive and innovative style.

This is initially a 9-10 month project through June 2013, but may be extended pending funding to a multi-year position.

To appy for this position, please visit our website at www.pactworld.org