The Ugandan Jobline

Job Title:    Program Manager – SUSTAINED

Organisation: Mercy Corps

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Minimum Salary: UGX 6,788,406 /= per month

Reports to: Director of Programs

 

About the Company:

Mercy Corps is an international non-profit organization which implements high-quality, analytical development programmes in very difficult places. Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006. It has and continues to implement programs in Acholi and Karamoja sub regions. Mercy Corps is taking a community-led, market driven approach to address poverty and food insecurity needs through interventions that get to the root causes and contributing factors of economic vulnerability.

 

About SUSTAINED Program:

The SUSTAINED consortium (Mercy Corps, CARE, and Oxfam) is a gender integrated intervention to increase access and use of quality, reliable, affordable, and clean energy sources for refugees and surrounding host communities. The SUSTAINED programme will adopt a Market Systems Development (MSD) approach, responding to the clear need for linkages to facilitate the entry of quality private sector actors into displacement settings, whilst ensuring that vulnerable populations can access quality products and services, in a safe, supportive environment. In this context, SUSTAINED will work with energy service companies (ESCOs), Financial Service Providers (FSPs), refugee and host communities, to address both demand and supply side barriers. The SUSTAINED programme will also take an ecosystem approach, supporting the development of an enabling environment required for a clean energy marketplace for refugees in Uganda.

 

Job Summary:   The Consortium Manager (CM) will be a senior member of the  Mercy Corps, CARE, and Oxfam  SUSTAINED program  and advisory team and will oversee the planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, learning, and reporting of the SUSTAINED project for which he/she is responsible. He/she will also provide business development and go to go market strategies advice to the two private sector partners. The Consortium Manager will be accompanied by the MEL lead, Team Leader, Program Officer and MEL Officer and other partners program implementation team for activities monitoring and implementation.

 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work ·
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members ·
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options

Technical Responsibilities

Vision, Strategy, and Leadership

• Project lead for the SUSTAINED programme and monitors the progress of the programme to ensure that MCU delivers the quality outcomes, outputs and services as formulated in the approved project proposal. Provide advice on changes and improvements where needed
• Provide effective leadership and management of the Programme Management Unit ensuring different functions of the PMU are working together in a coordinated manner to bring impact in programme implementation
• Provide leadership, supervision, and oversight to improve the performance of all program activities, ensuring efficient and effective program implementation including the timely completion of high-quality work plans, accurate reports, and other mandated deliverables.
• Work with the MEAL Lead and consortium partners in preparing project work-plans with clear objectives and achievable benchmarks, reflecting strategic long-term and short-term priorities
• Support MEAL Lead in developing tools for, and delivering, effective tracking of implementation progress across the whole consortium.
• Ensure a robust Monitoring, Evaluation and accountability system is implemented across the consortium and is aligned to the Inter-agency feedback mechanism (FRRM)
• Maintain clear, regular and effective lines of communication with relevant GoU stakeholders, donor, Support Offices and consortium partners.
• Regularly review the program strategy to ensure relevance and enhance program impact by suggesting appropriate alternative strategies and changes to the technical working groups.
• Ensure all programme-based needs and requirements are shared with support services in a timely manner for ensuring effective and coordinated implementation.
• Provide excellent standards in the management of the human, financial and technical resources of the organization, 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 MCU project teams, combining National office and global office staff, to deliver on donor obligations hence meeting program commitment priorities
• In consultation with the Director of Programmes identify opportunities to complement services under the program through identifying, leveraging and creating linkages with other projects where appropriate.
• Ensure timely delivery of quality quarterly and annual reporting to support MCU, CARE and Oxfam and the Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (MFA Netherlands) in an acceptable format or a format agreed/provided by the parties.

Program Management

• Manage the implementation of project activities according to the objectives, indicators, work plan and approved budget including, staffing, budgeting and internal/external reporting in close coordination with Mercy Corps and the two private sector partners teams.
• Chairs the project Steering Committee and Project Management Committees
• Ensure adherence to Mercy Corps Minimum Standards for Program Management.
• Be the focal point for all communications and coordination on activities implementation with the two private sector partners.
• Ensure regular and proper project documentation and reporting according to donor and Mercy Corps standards, rules & regulations.
• Working closely with the MEL lead, ensure the capture and dissemination of key lessons learnt and successes of the project.
• Develop and manage relationships with key stakeholders including local partners, county governments, private sector firms, NGOs, financial institutions, potential donors and other institutional and research partners.
• Manage relationship with the donor of the program.

Sub Awards Management

• Serve as the operational and contractual point of contact for MCU contracted sub-partners
• Coordinate with Director of Programmes and Sub-Awards team on sub-partner performance and new or shifting program partnership needs
• Oversee and manage the full award cycle for a portfolio of sub-agreements, including solicitation, review, execution, implementation management, monitoring, communication with recipients, and closeout
• Lead in the development of subaward documents such as RFPs/RFAs, grant and contract agreements, and evaluation and selection process
• Manage the development of subaward Scopes of Work together with Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (MFA Netherlands) technical team and representatives
• Ensure full compliance with MCU and donor policies, best practices, and procedures relating to subaward development, award, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and close-out
• Identify issues and risks related to project activity implementation
• Establish the project’s grants manual and update it, as relevant and required
• Assemble data required on a recurrent basis to assist in the preparation of reports, analysis, and presentations on partner/activity performance
• Liaise between the program and MCU and Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (MFA Netherlands) Project Management Team on issues related to subcontracts and compliance.
• Serve as a project representative at industry events, meetings and other in-person engagements with project stakeholders in the Netherlands
• Supervise an Operations Associate

Financial & Operational Compliance

• Ensure program quality adherence, contractual compliance and timely reporting.
• In collaboration with the Finance Manager, ensure responsibility for programme expenditure, financial accountability and planning requirements, and provide a high level of support to program processes and procedures. Monitor the overall financial integrity of programme funds through grant management, monitoring and evaluation.
• Provide capacity building to 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.

Representation and Communication

• Develop and maintain close relationships with MCU, CARE, Oxfam and the Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (MFA Netherlands)
• Ensure that MCU, CARE, Oxfam programmes and partnerships are actively represented in coordination structures. Share progress and update on programme activities within the partnership and relevant donors.
• Ensure that branding and other communication activities as agreed with donor in the project agreement document are adhered to.
• Facilitate documentation of stories and media materials are related to MCU, CARE, Oxfam consortium policies and liaise with concerned units for broader coverage (digital and printed, media).

Contribute to Knowledge Management and Innovation

• Contribute to the development and introduction of innovation to ensure Mercy Corps is continually incorporating best practice approaches in operations.
• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for corporate development planning and knowledge building.
• Ensure effective engagement and collaboration with other Netherlands funded programmes in the West Nile to support learning in SUSTAINED program as well as to amplify impact from the MCU, CARE, Oxfam resources.

Technical Support

• In close coordination with the technical support unit, provide technical support to team members and ensure compliance with Mercy Corps policies and procedures
• In close coordination with the three Advisors, provide technical advice to the private sector partners to develop inclusive business models, go-to market strategies and Responsible Business Conduct practices.

Team Management

• Provide technical and managerial support to team members towards project delivery and professional development.
• Be a champion for the mission, vision and values of Mercy Corps.
• Promote and encourage a transparent, cohesive and ethical work culture.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Master’s Degree in Social Studies, Development Studies, Energy, Environmental Science, Engineering, Business Administration, Economics, or related degree.
• Postgraduate qualification in Project Management preferred.
• At least 5 – 7 years’ experience implementing donor funded projects, with progressive levels of responsibility
• Proven track record in delivering market systems programming
• Comprehensive understanding of renewable energy technologies, policy environment and business models in Uganda
• Experience of delivering programming with refugees
• Excellent organisation and project management skills. Ability to manage multiple programmes and client engagements, meet deadlines and allocate resources effectively
• Strong financial management skills with proven experience managing large budgets.
• Strong skills in developing accurate and timely reports to donors.
• High level of interpersonal skills and comfortable collaborating with senior level colleagues, SMEs, public agencies, and other stakeholders. Track record managing a diverse mix of professionals and different cultures.
• Superior communication skills, both verbal and written and good oral presentation skills.
• Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders; proven ability to develop partnerships and effective relationships with industry stakeholders including SMEs, investors, donors, and other stakeholders.

 

How to Apply:

All interested applicants must submit their Cover Letter & CV saved in 1 document as a PDF of no more than 5 pages at the link below.

 

Click Here

 

Deadline: 9th September 2024

 

NB:

• Please note that any application submitted that does not follow the above instructions will be automatically discarded.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Locals with the required qualifications are encouraged to apply.
• Mercy Corps does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.

 

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