| Description |
Position Summary: The Program Manager (PM) will report to Senior Program Manager (SPM) and work collaboratively with the Program Delivery team, other Pact departments, and country staff to represent and advocate on behalf of Pact’s East and West Africa programs, ensure necessary project planning, development and management activities function smoothly and efficiently for the country offices. The Program Manager will initially be responsible for a portfolio including the Ethiopia country program and Global Projects managed from the DC office. The East/West Africa team is also currently managing programs in Kenya, Tanzania, DRC, Rwanda, Nigeria and Namibia, with potential additional expansion.
Core Values: Pact employees embrace the following core values as representatives of the institution:
• all people have a right to participate in decisions affecting their lives
• gender equity is mandatory for social transformation
• resources are allocated in a transparent manner, guided by accountability to our clients and Pact’s role as steward of resources intended for the poor
• diversity in background, gender and age strengthen our capacity to be wise managers of public and private funds
• teamwork and collaboration shape our day-to-day working relationships
• innovation and risk taking to achieve impact and broad scaleable results drive strategic priorities
• gathering and sharing information are primary roles for all employees
• staff growth and advancement are a priority, including training and professional skills building to increase knowledge and competence and to stay abreast of new developments, especially in technology
• a healthy balance between work and life outside of work must be maintained for work satisfaction and fulfillment
Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
Country Portfolio Support (50%)
The PM provides guidance and support to assigned country office(s) by:
• Maintaining full knowledge of the country office / project issues, including the operational environment, potential risks
• Assisting country office staff in the development of project reports, work plans, PMPs and other project contractual obligations, and ensuring timely submission and quality of content;
• Helping the Country Director and in-country team assess and mitigate risks (primarily financial) associated with working in the country and in implementing country projects;
• Tracking monthly financial reports and working with country offices to prevent cost overruns and under-runs on projected expenditures in the absence of justifiable variances;
• In collaboration with the country office, establishing a country office budget; identify gaps in funding and plan for resource mobilization to address these gaps to ensure country office sustainability;
• Liaising with other departments to respond to country and project issues.
• Training country office staff on Pact operations and tools, as needed
• Participating in project startup and assist in new country sub-office startup processes;
• Coordinating new staff orientation at Pact DC office for staff traveling to the country office(s);
• Providing technical support to country office and projects, as applicable
• Coordinating monthly project calls and ensuring timely follow up on action items;
• Coordinating preparation of project related consultant agreements and tracking payments;
• Participating in the recruitment of operational and management staff in country as required;
• Supporting the country office’s implementation of a timely and orderly project closeout;
• Ensuring project intellectual capital is properly captured, filed and disseminated;
• Traveling to country office and its field sites to provide project support, as needed
New Business Development (20%)
• Participate in the development of thematic country engagement strategies in collaboration with country office, Opportunity Development, and Program Advancement
• Track business development opportunities and contribute to proposal development efforts in cooperation with Opportunity Development
Networking/External Relations (20%)
• Develop & strengthen relationships with key networks based in U.S. involved in country and technical issues related to the portfolio
• Proactively coordinate with relevant donor and stakeholder agencies with offices in the U.S.
• Attend and represent the country offices and projects in public events and meetings;
• Support opportunities for visibility and advocacy on issues related to the country program (ie. presentations to Congressional groups, policy forums)
Other (10%)
The PM also contributes to the PD team by:
• Participating in Program Delivery team-wide meetings and initiatives
• Cooperating and promoting collaboration with the Program Advancement team;
• Contributing to the Program Delivery Balanced Scorecard indicator targets and in tracking these accomplishments;
• Promoting integration and cross fertilization of ideas and information across countries, projects, and regions
• Participating in initiatives within Pact related to Program Delivery functions (standards, policies, management tools, training and similar);
• Performing other related tasks as needed.
Qualifications:
• Ability to establish and sustain interpersonal and professional relationships with Pact staff in overseas offices, in donor organizations and in peer organizations
• Knowledge and understanding of institutional donors’ (US govt., European governments, UN, etc.) policies, procedures or regulations for program design & implementation
• Strong computer skills: proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets and database skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to make presentations, facilitate meetings and trainings, and draft external communications materials
• Strong writing and analytical skills
• Ability to problem-solve difficult issues and be flexible, constructive and creative in addressing different contexts, processes, levels of capacity and work styles.
• Ability to multitask with ease, adapting to frequently changing priorities
• Good negotiating and conflict resolution skills
• Strong understanding of budgets
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 25% of time, including on short notice and to sites with limited accommodations and comforts
Education and Experience Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree with equivalent experience in international development, project management, or related studies, plus ten years’ related experience, or Master’s degree with relative equivalent experience.
• Experience working in East or West Africa on development programs.
• a minimum of 1 year of Project Management experience highly desirable
• English Fluency required; knowledge of a second language, particularly French, Swahili or Amharic, is a plus |
