Project Manager

Country: Kenya

Organization: CARE USA

Closing date: 5 Aug 2022

CAtalyzing Strengthened policy aCtion for heAlthy Diets and resiliencE (CASCADE)

The CASCADE program goal is to improve food security and contribute to the reduction of malnutrition of at least 5 million women of reproductive age and children under 5 in Benin, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Mozambique. The consortium is comprised of CARE International and GAIN, two organizations that have extensive experience in tackling malnutrition in the program countries at multiple levels. The programme has two strategic objectives:

• it aims to increase access to and consumption of healthy diets,


• as well as increasing the resilience of households to economic and climate change-related shocks across the six countries, with a focus on women of reproductive age and children.

The program will galvanize government, business and communities around 5 domains:

1) Policy change and accountability;

2) Re-engineering markets and mobilizing private sector;

3) Transforming cultural norms and practices;

4) Taking a gender transformative approach;

5) Systematizing data and learning for policy.

In Kenya, the program will focus on the counties of Nakuru, Nyandarua and Nairobi, aligning with DIETZ’s A1 programming areas. CASCADE will build on successful projects in Nyandarua by CARE which have successfully implemented FFBSs that integrated gender-transformative interventions.

1. 
   JOB SUMMARY
   

The Project Manager shall provide overall Technical oversight and management for the project including leading the Planning, Management, coordination, implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation of the project and ensuring the quality of project, implementation, partnership management the donor reporting, and field level management is of the highest standards in accordance with CAREs values. The Project Manager provides line management support to all project staff including the Project Officers and a MEAL Coordinator and overall management of their performance.

The Manager will provide overall administrative and budget management, financial tracking and reporting, results tracking and reporting, and decision making regarding implementation support, contract management and compliance. to ensure that services are delivered. He/She shall be in charge of day- day running of the project and therefore, will supervise the project staff. The Manager, together with the team will develop the PMF pack, including work plans and M&E plans for effective and efficient delivery of the project activities. The Manager will be responsible for developing effective communication, maintaining partnerships, knowledge management, learning and using innovative methods to report project impacts.

1. 
   ROLES AND RESPOSIBILITIES
   


2. 
   Program oversight and management
   

• Lead in the preparation and management of the Project Monitoring Folder (PMF) (Approved proposal, approved work plan, signed contract, approved budget, staffing plan, procurement plan, MEAL plan, communication plan, and update program and financial expense reports) detailed implementation plans, procurement plans, prepare budget tracking and expenditure tools and review them at least monthly. Clarify on the proposed timeline/ frequency for review.


• Organize in consultation with the PQA&L Manager inception and planning forums, quarterly review meeting, annual and learning forums to facilitate coordination, collaboration, and effective delivery of all components of the project and ensure timely preparations of high quality of narrative reports and financial reports according to donor standards


• Guide the development of sound monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure proper implementation. This will involve the use of monthly activity plans (MAPS), monthly activity reports (MARS) and monitoring evaluation and learning tools and programming approaches such as SAA, FFBS and CSC.


• Ensure communication flow is understood by all partners and that timely communication for project concerns are shared with project governance structures, supervisor and other levels of management while ensuring that all official processes for internal and external communication are adhered to.


• Establish good working relationship, oversee networking, liaising & collaboration activities, and coordinate with Project stakeholders to facilitate smooth project implementation, nurture support for key program components and successful growth of the project. Particularly with Council of Governors, County Governments of Nyandarua

1. 
   Contract and Budget Management
   

• Oversee the grants and partnership management implementation, accountability, and compliance to all contractual requirements of the project.


• Ensure full awareness of donor contractual clauses and develop checklist for clauses that are transferable and ensure these are implemented as per conditions in the partners grant agreement.


• In collaboration with the Award and Sub-Award ensure time bound conditions are reflected by date and a tracking list generated for tracking compliance to conditions and timelines for the project ensure conditions are met.


• Ensuring timely identification of risks and communicate these in writing to CARE’s management through the designated supervisor


• Prepare, revise and in a timely manner operationalize procurement plans for the project with support and guidance from procurement team.


• Review in consultation with finance team all project financial reports submitted by finance monthly while providing timely feedback on all aspects to enhance proper and efficient utilization of project funds, analyzing budget burn rates against planned activities/expenditure plans.


• Prepare and manage project assets and inventory held by the CARE and partners as per donor requirements and CARE policies and regulations.


• Support and coordinate preparation for audits annually in consultation with finance department and support Senior Management in planning and responding to project audit queries.

1. 
   Program Quality, Knowledge Management and Learning
   

• In collaboration with the PQA&L Manager facilitate the development of a comprehensive MEAL Plan, Detailed Project Implementation Plan, Performance Measurement Framework and Operational Plan together with the Project team.


• Support in the development of action plan for operationalization of the MEAL plan for Project. Support in mentorship of the MEAL staff in the development and execution of the MEAL system.


• Review MEAL reports and components of it in the project reports in accordance with contracts and develop a system for validation of information.


• Organize and oversee field technical and monitoring visits and supporting plans for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of ongoing project activities. Develop management project progress update reports.


• Institute a learning agenda, develop and implement to promote a culture of learning, information sharing, dialogue, and critical analysis, intended to improve quality of programming, adoption of good practices, and influencing policies and practices at scale.


• In collaboration with PQA&L manager contribute to development and execution of the Country Office communication and Visibility Strategy Including communication materials to disseminate the impacts of gender transformative change in food & nutrition and WASH and scale up. (Internal and external)


• Prepare & share project success and learning in relevant national and regional forums (external to CARE). Ultimately responsible for ensuring the high quality and timely delivery of donor reporting (narrative and financial) for all projects, as well as compliance with CARE’s internal reporting processes


• Ensure that respective donors’ contractual requirements, and all relevant laws and regulations of Kenya, are fully adhered to by the team, by overseeing the development and implementation of appropriate plans to meet requirements.

1. 
   Resource Mobilization, Partnership, Advocacy and Communication
   

• Support preparation of concept notes and proposals working closely with the Program Director and Program Quality Manager and respective technical team/ advisors.


• Support CO effort to position for new business opportunities by capturing and documenting best practices and showcasing CARE Kenya programmatic service delivery, research and achievements for increased visibility and strategic partnership


• Scope out existing opportunities in areas of expertise to allow program growth and sustainability.


• Lead in the mobilization of resources for the implementation of projects by developing partnerships with existing sources of funding, international conventions, and donors.


• Explore possibility of leveraging CARE funds/resources with other external funds such as devolved funds from local government, private sector, and other related public private partners in order to achieve high impact and synergies.


• Support CARE resource mobilization aligning with CO program strategy and growth/ sustainability plan.


• Collaboratively work with the Program Director on all resource mobilization plans for the CO for guidance support & layering effort.


• Support the exploration and negotiation of external partnerships ensuring that opportunity are identified at local and national levels and beyond. Including private sector and new emerging avenues/ opportunities (non- traditional funders)


• Acts as an advocate for policy sector engagement in nutrition in Kenya, on behalf of CARE


• Engaging with external stakeholders through a positive, proactive and strategic approach to brand building and effective representation of CARE’s programmatic work in Kenya.

1. 
   Staff Supervision and HR Management
   

• Effectively distribute work among staff by ensuring that the staffing plan takes on board considerations for effective duty allocations, performance management and that teamwork is always maintained. (Staff wellness and support).


• Ensure timely, consistent, and adequate compliance with CARE-Kenya’s performance management system including midterm and annual performance appraisal processes.


• Responsible for promoting gender sensitivity, equity and rights within the program set up.


• Ensure the new staffs are properly oriented to CARE principles and guidelines at the program onset or at the time of joining the organization/program.


• Facilitate the staffs to develop their job descriptions (JDs) to meet the job and program requirements, individual operation plans (IOPs) and Annual operation plans (AOPs).


• Initiate and conduct staff confirmations and issuance of CARE mandatory identifications cards.


• Ensure the program staffs have appropriate technical support, equipment, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and communication systems to facilitate their daily chores.


• Line manage direct reports including supporting work plan development and performance management.


• Coach, guide and mentor leaders within project team and the department so that they are effective and maximize on their potential in their respective fields

1. 
   Program Administration and Operations
   

• Approve all travel expenses reports (TERs), Project advances and Procurement requests of the program field staffs after verifications.


• Arrange and recommend staff leave requests in a manner that will not disrupt project or program activities.


• Liaise with the Procurement Manager and Field staff to ensure smooth and timeliness in the operations of the project procurement services’ needs.


• Prepare quarterly procurement schedules and process according to CARE and donors’ regulations with the Program Coordinator and review these monthly.


• Monitor project expenses in coordination with the CARE Finance’s tracking systems and monthly Contract Budget Statement reports and maintain strict adherence to CARE financial policy.


• Ensure rationalized utility of the program assets including motor vehicles/motorcycles, computers, Satellite Thuraya phones, Smart phones, cameras, GPs gadgets, and any other asset entrusted to the project. QUALIFICATIONS
  

Education/Training

• Bachelor or Master’s degree from a recognized institution/university in the following areas; Nutrition, Agriculture, Agribusiness development, Rural Development/Livelihoods, Gender Studies, food science, public health, economics

Experience and Competencies Required

• Minimum of five years’ experience working in Nutrition, agricultural development, value chains, enterprise, and/or agribusiness in an East African setting and Kenya in particular


• At least five years` management experience in leading and developing projects in a multi-cultural environment at national level in the private sector, food industry or with development organizations.


• Experience in influencing the development and implementation of nutrition-related policies


• Experience in agricultural market & value chain analysis, or activities linking small holder farmers to agricultural commodities markets


• Experience in programming on gender equality and women’s voice and use of appropriate tools and approaches for challenging social norms


• Strong experience in donor reporting, designing, setting up and coordinating, monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment systems and processes.


• Experience in building effective personal networks at a senior level, showing track record on successful fundraising with statutory, private and corporate donors.


• Demonstrated in‐depth understanding of program issues and policy work at organizational, national and international levels.


• Understanding of key trends in international development.


• Broad understanding of the nutrition-food systems nexus, public health and community development.


• Demonstrated success in building and managing multi-disciplinary team

How to apply

Interested candidates who meet the criteria are encouraged to view the comprehensive job description and how to apply via https://www.care-kenya.org/get-involved.