Program Manager, Local Capacity Strengthening at PCI
- Company: PCI
- Location: Zambia
- State: Zambia
- Job type: Full-Time
- Job category: Administrative/Secretarial Jobs in Zambia
PCI seeks a Program Manager, Local Capacity Strengthening (LCS) in Zambia to manage and coordinate the implementation of capacity strengthening plans and activities for a consortium of six local partners as a key component of the five-year USAID/PEPFAR-funded STRONG project. The STRONG project aims to improve resilience and health outcomes among vulnerable children and adolescents (VCA) through a sustained, locally-led response to HIV/AIDS and VCA service delivery at the household, community and sub-national levels in Southern and Central Provinces of Zambia. PCI will serve as the LCS partner to the consortium with an emphasis on PC Zambia as a new prime.
The Program Manager, LCS partners with STRONG’s Chief of Party, PCZ’s Executive Director and PCI’s Director, LCS to assess and coordinate local and US-based headquarters’ inputs and expertise to develop and implement effective, tailored capacity strengthening services and support to STRONG local partners to: (1) strengthen their organizational systems to enhance financial and operational management of USAID/PEPFAR funded activities and ensure compliance; (2) strengthen their capacity to effectively plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate USAID programs; and (3) strengthen their organizational and leadership capacity to define strategic direction, manage change and adapt, forge partnerships, and position for sustainable growth.
The Program Manager reports to PCI’s Director, LCS and has a strong relationship with STRONG’s COP in Zambia. This position is contingent on funding.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Project Management
- In close collaboration with PCZ’s Executive Director and Chief of Party for STRONG, develop and implement annual workplans and track, document and ensure the day-to-day management and implementation of LCS program activities for the project
- Ensure project activities are implemented on schedule and within budget, and in alignment with overall project requirements, while also ensuring a flexible and adaptive approach that encourages experimentation and innovation with an end goal of providing high-quality support that leads to adoption, improvement and sustainability.
- Identify issues and risks related to LCS in a timely manner, and collaborate with the Director, LCS to develop and implement appropriate technical or operational solutions, and recommend program adjustments as needed.
- In partnership with PCI HQ, provide quality assurance support and oversight to PC Zambia for all partnership agreements under STRONG (ex. sub-grants, contracts), ensuring compliance with donor regulations and organizational policies
- Ensure compliance with PCI’s policies and procedures, as well as donor regulations and requirements.
- Act as the key programmatic liaison between PCI and PCZ for PCI’s LCS scope of work, under the oversight of PCI’s Director, LCS, and maintain effective communications and a cooperative working relationship with PCZ as prime and STRONG consortia partners.
- Maintain proactive communications with PCI’s HQ including timely updates on program activities, achievements, challenges, risks and issues. Work collaboratively with HQ to develop solutions and corrective action plans when needed.
- Support’s PCI’s Director, LCS, to develop staffing inputs and protocols that ensure appropriate skills and competencies are provided to deliver effective LCS support to PC Zambia and other local partner organizations and can respond to evolving LCS project and portfolio needs.
- Manage project planning and reporting responsibilities for LCS, including the development of deliverables/reports to the donor through PCZ as prime, including annual work plans, budgets and progress reports
LCS Service Delivery
Employ a process to strengthen the capacity of PC Zambia and STRONG consortia members to manage USAID funding by leading or collaborating with partners on the design, development/improvement, testing, roll-out and adoption of systems that strengthen organizational capacity and effectiveness in HR, finance and audit readiness, administration, operations and compliance, IT, award management, safety and security, and other critical functions that support a strong, efficient and low-risk organization. This includes writing, reviewing and co-developing policies, procedures, tools, and technology solutions.
- Ensure appropriate and high quality technical and management guidance, training, supervision, mentoring and accompaniment to staff and/or consultants to strengthen capacity for high-quality technical assistance to local partners
- As applicable, coordinate and/or conduct LCS assessments (NUPAS, NUPAS Plus, ISTAR, OCA, OPI, etc.) to gauge capacities of local partners to prioritize needs and opportunities and evaluate progress over time.
- Identify and prioritize LCS needs, develop plans, and customize and implement interventions that recognize an organization’s absorptive capacity, with an ultimate goal of ensuring a healthy and sustainable organization and a strong and productive organizational culture and brand.
- Collaborate with the Director, LCS to ensure the human-centered design and quality improvement approaches are integrated, effective and maximized throughout the project.
- Collaborate with the Director, LCS to ensure incorporation of social inclusion principles, methodologies and strategies into all capacity strengthening activities.
- Coordinate the input and contributions of technical experts in a range of technical areas (gender, GBV, protection and safeguarding, education, health, and economic strengthening) to provide appropriate technical guidance on requirements, standards or implementation strategies that support the delivery of high-quality services along the HIV continuum of care for OVC and AGYW.
- Provide strategic support to PCZ, and local partners as needed, to strengthen leadership and governance, including targeted support and accompaniment to Boards of Directors and senior management on sustained organizational development.
Learning and Knowledge Management for LCS
- Increase the quantity and quality of documentation of PCI’s and the STRONG project’s LCS approach, programmatic guidelines and tools, achievements, best practices and lessons learned
- Identifies programmatic differentiators and learning, documents PCI’s achievements and impact, and promotes evidence-based marketing of success through effective documentation and dissemination with key stakeholders
- Solicit continuous partner feedback and document challenges, successes and employ other qualitative and/or quantitative measurement and learning approaches to ensure continuous improvement and relevance of LCS strategies, approaches, plans and activities.
- Support PCZ in knowledge sharing and learning efforts across STRONG consortia members through communities of practice or other approaches to allow for reflection, learning, information sharing and collaboration across local partners and staff, and with other stakeholders.
- Work with PCI’s Director, LCS to develop organizational capacity statements and other materials to share with donors and to develop, document, and disseminate lessons learned in local capacity strengthening.
- Support the LCS Director’s efforts to promote and socialize PCI’s technical and programmatic approach for LCS within the organization and with STRONG partners
LCS Program Development
- In coordination with PCI’s Director, LCS, and technical and new business staff, assist in the technical development of new business proposals for LCS, including helping inform LCS program designs.
- Actively contribute to efforts to raise PCI’s technical profile, visibility and reputation for LCS through meetings, conferences, forums, other external events.
Position Parameters/Special Responsibilities Required:
- Domestic, regional and international travel up to 15% time
Required Qualifications:
- Advanced degree such as an MBA, MPH, MHA, MD preferred; Bachelor’s Degree required.
- Minimum of 5 years of project management experience, with an emphasis on local capacity strengthening / organizational and systems strengthening, within an international NGO. A minimum of 8 years of professional experience and 2 years in a similar role.
- Experience with USAID-funded projects, ideally having served in a technical or operational role in a USAID- funded project particularly in the international public health sector, ideally with demonstrated experience in both project and budget management and/or establishing, institutionalizing, maintaining and adapting/improving systems for country and project operations.
- Experience with technology platforms/solutions and web-based systems highly preferred.
- Experience living and/or working in USAID priority countries in Southern Africa and/or experience working with local and/or community-based organizations in Southern Africa, as well as experience interacting with local organizations.
- Demonstrated commitment to participatory, strength-/asset-based and partnership-based capacity strengthening approaches and methodologies. Experience in assessing organizational capacity and providing capacity building activities.
- Experience in resource/proposal development, including program design, proposal writing, networking, partnership cultivation, and marketing is highly desirable.
- Exceptional oral and written skills in English, cross-cultural communication skills.
- Innovative spirit, along with a passion for the mission and values of development philosophy in keeping with PCI’s mission, vision, core values and approach to integrated, community-driven programming
- A passion for the mission and values of PCI.
Method of Application
Closing Date: 4 Oct 2020
