Summary
Date Posted: Tuesday, January 18, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
We are seeking a high caliber, self-motivated and dedicated applicant to fill the position of PROJECT MANAGER.
Role summary
Position: Project Manager
Type: Contract
Department: Fundraising & Communications
Period: 2 years (Fixed-term)
Location: Kenya.
Closing Date: Sunday, 6th February 2022.

The Project Manager will be responsible for the overall delivery and management of the project titled: ‘Strengthening Laikipia Conservancies and Collaboration in Northern Kenya‘, ensuring the project is implemented and managed in line with the rules and requirements of the donor and those of Ol Pejeta. A core part of this role will be to contribute towards strengthening the capacity of the Laikipia Conservancies Association (LCA).

Responsibilities
The role holder will be responsible for:
Organizational responsibility
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders within the organization across all departments and existing and new partners
• Work closely with the Grants Finance Accountant to ensure budget planning, management and reporting of resources is effective, timely, and accurate
• Work closely with the LCA and other project sub-awardees to ensure effective delivery and implementation of the project
• Contribute to developing a team culture that values collaboration, diversity, inclusion, openness, excellence, and honesty within the department and cross-functionally.
Project Implementation and Coordination.
• Lead planning and budget forecasting for the project, ensuring that all partners are appropriately engaged at all times
• Organize regular work planning and progress review meetings to ensure strong project reporting and risk management
• Co-ordinate effective implementation of the project as detailed in approved project documents (work plan, budget, M&E framework, grant agreement, sub-awards, etc.)
• Ensure the integration of best practices as they relate to project implementation, to achieve the project’s key objectives
• Design and lead monitoring and evaluation activities for the project (including baseline development), ensuring timely adaptation as required to meet project aims, objectives, and timelines, and support the dissemination of lessons learned when required
• Oversee the delivery of project partners’ field-based activities as required to ensure:-
(i) The successful delivery of project goals,
(ii) Appropriate management of funds and,
(iii) Compliance with all donor requirements.
Project Delivery and Financial Management
• Lead the develop quarterly and yearly work plans, engaging all partners and ensuring alignment with project budgets and anticipated outcomes
• Be responsible for the day to day management of project budgets and finances and ensure all expenditures comply with internal and donor procedures and regulations
• Ensure sufficient lead time for the allocation of resources - financial or otherwise - by planning strategically and projecting activities matched to required resources
• Work closely with the Fundraising and Communications, Grants Management team to ensure all processes and procedures strictly follow the compliance requirements as detailed in the donor agreement and award provisions
• Ensure effective project risk management and compliance to donor rules and regulations
• Collaborate with Head of Finance to ensure adequate project cash flow and timely delivery of financial planning and reporting
• Work with the Grants Finance Accountant to ensure effective financial and budget management of the grant including variance reporting, meeting compliance requirements, exchange rate management, co-financing liabilities, etc.
• Ensure maintenance of project financial records that meet all auditing requirements, internal and donor reporting requirements, and provide sufficient detail for overall institutional auditing of Ol Pejeta
• Maintain a database of records both on SharePoint for all project documentation and on salesforce for all project information and donor engagement
• In collaboration with other teams, lead and ensure accurate, timely, and high quality financial and technical project reports are submitted as per Ol Pejeta and donor requirements
• Ensure project reports are reviewed and signed off by the Fundraising and Communications team before submission to the donor
• In collaboration with relevant donor(s) and accordance with Ol Pejeta’s policy guidelines, contract and manage consultants in Kenya as required by the project, in compliance with Kenyan Labour Law and donor agreements.
Partnerships
• Oversee the implementation of project sub-awards, ensuring that partners are fully engaged within the consortium and that all objectives are being met
• Ensure alignment and good relations are upheld with all partner organizations
• Build and manage key relationships within and outside Laikipia County to maintain and enhance the project’s impact and Ol Pejeta’s goals
• Provide technical advice and support to partners and collaborators, in line with Ol Pejeta’s institutional experience and expertise
• In collaboration with relevant partners and accordance with Ol Pejeta’s policy framework, advise on the appropriate development of MoUs, MoAs with local partners
• Ensure a mechanism is in place to operationalize Ol Pejeta’s Grievance and redress policy as it pertains to the project
• Help build project management expertise at the LCA by supporting the development of effective project management tools to support the implementation of activities delivered as part of this project and beyond.
Communications and Representation
• Facilitate regular and meaningful communication and co-ordination internally, between partners and with donors
• Work closely with the Fundraising and Communications team to ensure that the project is fully compliant with all marking and branding requirements as outlined in the donor grant agreement
• Liaise with Ol Pejeta’s Fundraising and Communications department, contribute to communications materials as required (e.g. web pages, articles, reports)
• Identify opportunities to represent Ol Pejeta and provide visibility for the LCA at relevant key fora, meetings, and workshops
• As requested by Ol Pejeta leadership, represent the project, promoting the project to all relevant stakeholders
• Carry out any other tasks from time to time that may be requested of you as an Ol Pejeta staff member that is in line with your skills and experience and that contribute to the success of this project
• Work as an active member of Ol Pejeta and attend team meetings as required
• Provide input, where it relates to habitat expansion and conservation of endangered wildlife species, on other technical work undertaken by Ol Pejeta
• Provide input to reports and other communications and public relations outputs and activities as required.
Department and team contribution
• Contribute to departmental planning processes
• Driving efficient processes that enable cross-organizational working
• Participate in, and support activities, to build the capacity of the LCA as defined by an organizational strengthening plan to be carried out as an initial activity under the ‘Strengthening Laikipia Conservancies and Collaboration in Northern Kenya’.

Person specifications
Education, language & qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree or similar qualification in Conservation, Natural Resource Management or related discipline
• Excellent verbal and written communication with fluency in English, and verbal Swahili.

Essential knowledge, skills, and experience
• You must have demonstratable experience in project management of complex multi-year, multi-sectoral grants from government donors such as USAID, EU, or other major institutional donors, ideally gained while working for an NGO in Kenya. Experience managing USG funded projects strongly preferred
• Experience managing sub-award grant agreements
• Proven experience in conservation, capacity building, and/or natural resource management
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders
• Ability to develop and sustain strong working relationships
• Competent computer skills, including data management and statistical analysis, financial systems
• Good presentation skills
• Experience in budget management
• Experience in Protected Area management
• Experience in building community relations and dealing with conflict
• Well versed in conservation issues in Kenya’s Laikipia region
• Excellent planning, coordination, and reporting skills with demonstrated ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines

Desired knowledge, skills, and experience
• Masters degree is an advantage
• Project management certification or equivalent qualification such as Prince 2 is an advantage.
• Experience working on projects addressing conflict mitigation through natural resource management, is an advantage.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 60

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
You may view the more detailed job description by following this link. - https://bit.ly/3AWjF9m.
Applications, consisting of a covering letter explaining why you feel you should be considered for this post, a full CV, and contact details for three referees should be sent to jobs@olpejetaconservancy.org. Please note, only applications that total no more than five pages in length for the CV and cover letter together will be considered.
The closing date for applications is Sunday, 6th February 2022.

Regrettably, due to limited resources and the high number of applications we receive, we are only able to contact shortlisted candidates. If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.
THE OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY WELCOMES APPLICATIONS FROM ALL SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY & PROMOTES DIVERSITY.

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