Consortium Project Manager – Social Accountability for Public Resources Management in Health and Agriculture

ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL

DIRECTORATE: Programmes

Position: Consortium Project Manager - Social Accountability for Public Resources Management in Health and Agriculture in Southern Africa

Location: Johannesburg - preferred but Lusaka, Lilongwe, Maputo or Dar es Salaam may be considered

Salary: £36,035 equivalent; Grade D

Duration: 3 years

(Depending on the Location of the candidate, Local terms and conditions of employment will apply)

Project Related:

ActionAid International is the Principal/Lead in a Consortium of 6 organisations contracted by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to implement a project which aims to ‘Strengthen Social Accountability and Oversight Capacity for Rights-based Public Resources Management in Health and Agriculture in Southern Africa’. The other consortium members are International HIV/AIDS Alliance, SAfAIDS, East and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers Forum, Training Centre for Development Cooperation and the Public Service Accountability Monitor programme of Rhodes University. Pre-planning phase of the project will run from 1 August 2015 – 30 March 2016. The main implementation Phase 1 of the project is expected to run for 3 years from 1st April 2016 to 31st March 2019 and future Phase 2 and 3 for another 7 years depending on performance and funding. The Project Manager is initially required for both the pre-planning phase and Phase 1 implementation.

Purpose of the Role:

The Project Manager will lead and manage the Project Management Unit (PMU), with support from the Programme Officer and will be overseeing day to day planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation to achieve the defined project objectives/outcomes in line with the approved tender mandate and Project Document. S/he will work closely with the Consortium Leads (CLs) and Country Focal Points (CFPs) from each consortium member organisation, and act as ex-officio member of the Consortium Strategic Oversight Team (CSOT). S/he will represent the consortium in engagements with regional partners, allies and other stakeholders.

Key responsibilities include but not limited to:

Oversee the effective planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of the project to achieve the defined project objectives in line with the approved Project Document.
Oversee the effective implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation framework in collaboration with the Consortium partners and M&E Coordinator, ensuring sharing of knowledge and learning within and outside the consortium.
Ensure that crosscutting issues (gender, HIV/AIDS, governance) are prioritised and monitored throughout the project period.
Link up with Consortium Heads of Missions in the participating countries to ensure the project is given optimum support for effective delivery.
Coordinate the Consortium Strategic Oversight Team (CSOT) including organising and convening quarterly meetings to review project progress and performance.
Act as the main focal point for engagement with and accountability to SDC.
Act as the Consortium’s Spokesperson including engaging with media.
Ensure that the Consortium work plan and expenditure conforms with the project budget and remains within agreed limits. Facilitate any necessary revisions and approval from SDC before implementation.
Coordinate inception workshops in Year 1 to ensure that Consortium Members are familiar with SDC policies, guidelines and reporting requirements.
Compile and manage a risk register for the project.
Represent the Consortium in engagement with key regional stakeholders including governance institutions and civil society networks to ensure support for the project.
Line manage Project Accountant and programme officer and contribute to the management of matrix reports including recruitment, induction, setting performance objectives, individual work planning, performance management, personal development, coaching and mentoring.

Desired Skills & Experience

The successful candidate will have:

Postgraduate degree in Political Science, Development Studies, Human Rights, Democracy and Governance, Public Finance Management and Public Administratio
English language proficiency, Portuguese skill as an asset
At least 10 years experience working in an international agency/across countries using rights based approaches.
Comprehensive understanding of both policy issues and programme practice on oversight, social accountability and public resources management in the health and agriculture sectors.
Experience in working with parliaments/parliamentary committees and issue-based CSOs in the sectors of health and/or agriculture
Experience of developing, planning, managing and reporting on complex multi-country institutional donor-funded projects.
Ability and experience to conduct political economy analysis and apply lessons learned in the design and implementation of programmes and projects.
Solid project management skills and experience of managing complex projects with a wide geographical scope requiring virtual collaboration.
Strong networking/relationship-building skills to work well with and influence diverse stakeholders in a multi-cultural environment.
Excellent problem-solving skills, resourcefulness to understand and synthesize diverging points of view and resolve conflicts without escalation.
Team coordination skills, ability to negotiate, influence and facilitate activities with colleagues to get results without formal line management authority.
Energetic, enthusiastic and interested in learning within a political, changing and diverse work environment.
Very good communication skills (verbal and written) to work well in a global and multi-cultural context.

Application Procedures:

Applications should be sent with your CV, motivation cover letter by no later than 17th July 2015. You are requested to highlight in the motivation letter how specifically you meet the criteria for this role. Please clearly indicate which position you are applying for.

External Applications send to:programmes.jhb@actionaid.org