Programme Manager - Association for Water And Rural Development

Programme Manager: RESILIM-O

This fixed-term contract position has opened at the Association of Water and Rural Development (AWARD), an NGO based in Hoedspruit, Limpopo Province. The incumbent will form part of the AWARD team within the USAID RESILIM-Olifants program (RESILIM O), the purpose being to reduce vulnerability through building improved transboundary governance and management of the Olifants Catchment so as to enhance the resilience of its people and ecosystems through systemic and social learning approaches. The post is based at AWARD’s office in Hoedspruit
Job Purpose: The PM will, in conjunction with AWARD staff, oversee the administrative management of the RESILIM O programme. This is a senior management post which includes financial and administrative responsibilities. The Program Manager (PM) will be based in Hoedspruit. The PM will report to the Director (RESILIM-O Chief of Party (COP) and Assistant Director of AWARD and will be supported by administrative staff. The anticipated duration is two years with a possibility for renewal. 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities: 
The PM will work in close collaboration with the Director (RESILIM-O COP) and Assistant Director of AWARD, as well as other AWARD staff and consultants, to ensure the smooth and successful implementation of the RESILIM-O program. The PM will have responsibilities for:
a) The PM will, in conjunction with appropriate AWARD staff, oversee the administrative management (including support for the design, planning and implementation) of the RESILIM O programme 
b) The oversight for RESILIM-O reporting and liaison (internally and with USAID);
c) Ensuring coherency in support of M&E;
d) Oversight of contracts, sub-contracts, consultancies and sub awards (together with the Office Manager);
e) Budgetary oversight and compliance (together with the Financial Manager); 
f) liaison with Mozambique partner, and co-ordination of field activities; 
g) Co-ordination of intern programme; 
h) He/she will also provide coverage support for the senior AWARD staff and COP as appropriate; 
i) If qualified, the incumbent will oversee a database management system. 


Specific responsibilities are:
a) Program management
Management and Operations
• Serve as responsible person for program reporting to ensure that reporting requirements are met (quarterly, annual); must ensure that they are up-to-date on RESILIM-O content and progress
• Serve as the responsible person for structuring and negotiating contracts and tracking progress;
• Serve as the responsible person for structuring and negotiating partnerships and leveraging alliances across all components, especially with the Mozambican RESILIM-O sub-project;
• Serve as the responsible person for liaison and co-ordination of the internship program (together with the Office Manager) support
• Serve as acting Director (COP)/ Deputy Director and/or Financial Manager when required,;
• Liaise with “Mozambican RESILIM-O sub-project” to ensure coherency and good communication;
• Ensure USAID requirements are met by project partners (including Mozambican RESILIM-O sub-project);
• Assist the Financial Manager in budget preparation and tracking so as to ensure compliance with USAID requirements;
• Assist the Directors in ensuring coordination amongst the themes and with Mozambican RESILIM-O sub-project together with the Administration team so that activities are appropriately planned, logistics are provided, and activities are in line with programmatic objectives;
• Assist the Directors and team to strategize designing and implementing the sub-grants program;


a) Technical Support and Supervision
• Serve as the responsible person for setting up and maintaining a coherent database to house project data within AWARD (especially spatial data);
• Support technical needs of the teams (e.g. database design, spatial data analysis)
• Together with the MEL manager and team, ensure program activities are appropriately monitored, results are shared, and outcomes are aligned with programmatic objectives;
• Contribute to the development of annual work plans and other planning documents;
• Support the team in partnership development and potentially private-sector development;
• Provide project staff training and guidance on the implementation of USAID requirements, including in Mozambique (Mozambican RESILIM-O sub-project); 
• Respond to and plan for new and emerging work and partnerships.

Tasks and Responsibilities: 
• Support conceptual & strategic direction to the key focus areas of work (water, climate change, biodiversity and capacity development)
• Partake in strategic planning and management of implementation initiatives directed at natural resource management work in a changing world
• Undertake advocacy where necessary
• Oversee technical and socially orientated field work and monitoring
• Programmatic, financial and staff management of key focus areas
• Contribute to overall organisational management.

Qualifications, experience and key competencies: 

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in relevant area required;
• Minimum eight years’ experience with progressive responsibility in project management;
• Knowledge of USAID grants under contracts and USAID compliance;
• Experience building, tracking, and reviewing budgets; 
• Proactive individual with a positive attitude, willing to work in team settings and to travel.

The following key competencies are required:

• Good interpersonal skills
• Leadership
• Adaptability
• Interest in participatory systemic approaches
• Attention to detail and high level of accuracy
• Ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and sectors
• Liaise with project partners
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Proven computer literacy and knowledge of office software packages (MS Word, Excel, MS Outlook, GIS software) 
• Good planning and project skills
• Fluency in English (read, write, understand)
• Preference will be given to persons that have experience in working in an NGO environment 
• Valid Driver’s licence (EB)
• Prepared to travel


Closing date: 16th March 2015. 
Candidates who meet the above requirements should forward their CV’s, including at least three contactable references, and certified copies of qualifications to:

The Office Manager
Association for Water And Rural Development (AWARD)
PO Box 1919, Hoedspruit, 1380, Tel. 015-7930503 
E-mail: kelvin@award.org.za

Only short listed candidates will be contacted. If no response has been received within 21 days of the closing date, candidates may consider their applications are unsuccessful

AWARD is committed to fair recruitment and selection practice and shall not discriminate on grounds of race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, family responsibility, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, political opinion, culture, language and birth.