Generalist Program Manager

ACTED is an independent international, private, non-partisan and non-profit organization that operates according to principles of strict neutrality, political and religious impartiality, and non discrimination.

ACTED was created in 1993 to support populations affected by the conflict in Afghanistan. Based in Paris, France, ACTED now operates in 30 countries worldwide, with over 200 international and 4000 national staff. ACTED has a 100 million € budget for over 350 projects spanning 8 sectors of intervention; including emergency relief, food security, health promotion, economic development, education & training, microfinance, local governance & institutional support, and cultural promotion.

For more information, please visit our website at www.acted.org.

Capital Office : Nairobi

National Staff : 28

Areas : 2 (Pokot, Middle Juba)

On-going programmes : 6

Budget : 1.3 M

ACTED launched its Kenya mission in January of 2008 with an emergency assistance program for residents in Nairobi slums affected by the post election violence. Since 2009, Nairobi has been the home base of ACTED’s relief operation in Southern Somalia aimed at supporting vulnerable famers affected by recurrent droughts.

In 2010, ACTED’s mission in Kenya/Somalia sought to address the needs of pastoralist and farmer communities of North Central Kenya and South Somalia arising from multiple shocks such as adverse climatic conditions and disease outbreaks, through emergency food and non-food items distribution. In the wake of this emergency context, ACTED also promoted the adoption of sustainable community-based solutions, emphasizing livelihood strengthening and diversification, natural resource rehabilitation and management, good hygiene practices and access to sanitation facilities.

ACTED is developing its programs in South Somalia, focusing on building capacity to respond to emergency outbreaks, as well as ensuring local populations are integrated into longer term projects aiming at improving their livelihoods. This will occur in the form of food, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and livelihood support to vulnerable agro-pastoral and riverine communities.

Today, ACTED's teams and resources are mobilized on the front of dire needs in our areas of intervention in Somalia and Kenya, as well as other areas in the Horn of Africa.

The Program Manager will contribute to the development of his project, which is a constitutive part of the country strategy, and subsequently manage its implementation.

1. Ensure external representation of ACTED in relevant sectors

Representation vis-à-vis provincial authorities:

Participate in technical and sectoral meetings to ensure visibility amongst local authorities;

Representation vis-à-vis Donors:

Participate in technical and sectoral Donor meetings and pass relevant information to the Country Director;

Representation vis-à-vis international organisations:

Participate in technical and sectoral meetings and working groups involving NGOs and UN Agencies (OCHA, PNUD, UNICEF, FAO, etc.) and all other inter-governmental institutions;

Contribute to the creation of reports, ensuring the quality and accuracy of technical information provided as well as the confidentiality of internal information as required;

More generally, the program manager is expected to contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organisation, notably through the application of ACTED’s mandate, ethics, values and stand-point with regard to other actors.

2. Project Cycle Management

Plan the various stages of project implementation;

Guide the implementation of the project and the methods of follow-up;

Manage project finances, logistics and materials;

Liaise with all internal and external counterparts of the project;

Assess the activities undertaken and ensure efficient use of resources;

Project reporting requirements:

Set up a clear timeline of reports to be submitted to project Donors;

Draft narrative reports and contribute to the development of financial reports through regular budgetary follow up;

Ensure adherence to FLAT procedures.

More generally, communicate systematically to the relevant Country Director or Area Coordinator on project progress and planning.

3. Provide Relevant Technical Expertise

Ensure that technical quality and standards are considered during project implementation:

Collect technical information and analyse associated opportunities and risks;

Identify relevant technical authorities and partners, and propose formal partnership and/or contracts.

Analyse technical added-value and project impact;

Set up technical evaluation exercises during and following implementation.

4. Oversee Program Staff and Security

Guide and direct program staff:

Organise and lead project coordination meetings;

Prepare and follow work plans with each project member;

Ensure a positive working environment and good team dynamics (solve out potential conflicts);

Promote team working conditions in the limit of private life;

Adapt the organigramme and ToRs of project personnel according to the project development;

Undertake regular appraisals of directly supervised colleagues and pass appraisal forms to the Country or Area Administrator with recommendations (new position, changes to contract or salary etc.);

Ensure a building of capacity amongst technical staff in the relevant sectors.

Contribute to the recruitment of expatriate staff:

When requested by HQ, undertake interviews to assess technical abilities of expatriate candidates living in the country.

In cooperation with the relevant Security Officer, monitor the local security situation and inform the Country Director or Area Coordinator and Country or Area Security Officer of developments through regular written reports;

Contribute to the updating of the security guidelines in the project area of intervention;

Ensure that security procedures are respected by each member of the project team.

5. Identify Best Practices and Lessons Learned

Collect information and tools employed for project implementation;

Draft memos detailing lessons learned and best practices identified during the project;

Share such memos with internal and external partners;

Communicate such information to the Country Director or Area Coordinator, to Regional Support Offices and to HQ Reporting Department.

Please send, in English, your cover letter, CV, and three references to jobs@acted.org

Ref: GPM/KEN/SA

ACTED

Att: Human Resources Department

33, rue Godot de Mauroy

75009 Paris

FRANCE

Fax. + 33 (0) 1 42 65 33 46

For more information, visit us at http://www.acted.org

View the original article here