Programme Manager oversees multi-sectoral project execution and donor budgets, requires a Development Studies/Project Management Degree and 5+ years experience.
Job Summary
The
programme manager will provide programmatic, technical and managerial
leadership in the implementation of Nature+ Program in Mau and Mt. Elgon
ecosystems. The Program is implemented in Narok, Nakuru, Bungoma and Trans
Nzoia Counties. The job holder will lead landscape restoration, carbon Program
development, GIS and spatial planning, stakeholder engagement, and partnership
management to deliver high-quality environmental, social, and carbon outcomes
across target ecosystems. The Job holder will supervise Nature + Program staff.
Job Responsibilities:
Technical
and Strategic leadership and management
Responsible
for the coordination, technical support and implementation of the Program’s
objectives
Ensure
that the Program deliverables are achieved effectively and timely as per the
proposal/work plan and meeting donor expectation and regularly review Program
status
Ensure
that Program initiatives meet or exceed planned outcomes and are implemented in
full compliance with the donor, WV Kenya and Government standards and
guidelines;
Provide
effective, innovative and strategic leadership and direction to the Program
staff from WV Kenya and other stakeholders within the Program.
Coordinate
restoration interventions in partnership with Kenya Forest Service (KFS),
County Governments, Community Forest Associations (CFAs), Water Resource User
Associations (WRUAs), and other local institutions.
Oversee
assessment and documentation of land tenure, carbon rights, and Program
eligibility requirements within target landscapes.
Ensure
compliance with carbon standards, land-use regulations, environmental laws, and
safeguard requirements.
Lead
stakeholder engagement on carbon ownership, benefit-sharing, and participation
agreements.
Maintain
accurate Program records and documentation required for carbon Program
registration, verification, and audit processes.
Ensure
restoration approaches are aligned with county and national forest restoration
strategies.
Develop
appropriate implementation strategies for the Program as per approved PDD and
budgets through quarterly, monthly and weekly activity work plans and budgets
Ensure
focused quality, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Program’s
interventions
Work with
the accountant to monitor and support the timely and appropriate utilization of
budgeted resources for all Program interventions.
Ensure
social inclusion (mainstreaming gender and youth) and conflict-sensitive
programming.
Ensure
that professional development activities, including performance appraisals,
performance agreements, monitoring and needed training and mentoring activities
are carried out successfully.
Ensure
integration of the grant with the Area Development Programme’s and Integrated
Programme Framework objectives and Child results in-line with the WVK Strategic
priorities.
Lead,
inspire and manage a high-performing project team, ensuring clarity of roles,
objectives and accountability.
Oversee
performance management including goal setting, coaching, appraisals and
development plans.
Mentor
and build capacity of staff in program delivery, compliance, and stakeholder
engagement.
Drive
recruitment, onboarding, retention and succession planning for project critical
roles.
Provide
leadership in a matrixed environment across technical, MEAL and finance
Promote
staff wellbeing, safeguarding, inclusion, and a culture of learning and
continuous improvement.
Quality
Assurance – Implementation, Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation
Develop,
with support of WVK Program staff, a detailed plan that will support delivery
of the Program objectives throughout the Program period.
Ensure
accurate and quality Program Design Documents (PDD) are on file and used to
inform implementation
Ensure
timely and effective implementation of all Program interventions as well as the
successful achievement of proposed outcomes and intended impacts
Ensure
timely and appropriate utilization of the budgeted Program resources in full
adherence to the donor’s set standards.
Organize
annual review meetings for planning and monitoring of Program activities.
In
Liaison with Program Accountant, track Program implementation expenditure
levels, manage work plans and budgets to ensure Program expenditure remains
within acceptable levels
Ensure
that the Program achieves acceptable financial and operational audit results by
implementing activities in accordance with established norm and policies whilst
maintaining acceptable audit rating
Proactively
enforce controls and checks as well as ensure effective and timely response
plans to all financial audit findings and take the needed measures to prevent
future recurrence.
Ensure
timely baseline survey of the Program and dissemination of findings to all
partners including GoK while ensuring streamlining implementation in respect to
the outcomes of the survey.
Support
the Program officers to set up and maintain effective complaints and feedback
mechanisms to ensure that beneficiary concerns are addressed in a timely and
effective manner.
Ensure
submission of timely and quality periodic (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and
annual reports) to the Regional Manager, Cluster Manager and Technical team at
the National Office and Support Office.
Work
closely with the communications department to ensure regular documentation of
best practices, success stories / innovation and lessons learnt over the
Program implementation period for sharing across the partnership
Ensure
production and dissemination of communications resources for the Program to key
stake holder
Partnership,
coordination and networking
Establish
and maintain strategic partnerships with national and county government
institutions, regulatory agencies, research organizations, and development
partners to advance Program objectives.
Lead
stakeholder coordination and engagement processes with community institutions,
producer groups, cooperatives, and local governance structures across the
Program.
Facilitate
participatory planning and decision-making processes that promote community
ownership of restoration and carbon development activities.
Ensure
implementation of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles and
compliance with social and environmental safeguards.
Oversee
the design and implementation of equitable, transparent, and inclusive
benefit-sharing mechanisms for participating communities.
Promote
meaningful participation of women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and vulnerable
groups in restoration planning, implementation, governance, and carbon benefit
distribution.
Advocacy:
Policy and Budget Influence
Coordinate
advocacy and policy influence initiatives of the program at county and national
level
Increase
the visibility of WVK and the donor by maintaining active engagement and
advocacy on NRM related matters
Qualifications
Required
Professional experience
Minimum
10 years of experience in natural resource management, forestry, climate
change, landscape restoration, or environmental conservation.
Demonstrated
experience leading and managing restoration Programs involving both
protected/gazetted forests and community-managed lands.
Demonstrated
knowledge of the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) and familiarity with
carbon project development lifecycles, including carbon accounting and
monitoring protocols.
Experience
working with forest governance structures and community natural resource
management systems.
Strong
understanding of land tenure systems and community engagement processes.
Understanding
of gender and diversity issues and commitment to addressing inequalities in all
the key areas of responsibility
Ability
to work under pressure and strict deadlines
Understanding
of development/relief issues with commitment to humanitarian principles and
action
Good
financial/budget management
Good
people management, training and coaching skills with strong conceptual and
analytical Skilla
The
ability to work independently, think innovatively and strategically and work
effectively within a team
Required Education &
Certification
Minimum
Bachelors’s degree in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Environmental
Science, Agro-forestry, Range land Management or any other related discipline.
Post
graduate degree in any of the above is desirable
GHG
accounting/carbon certification or training in standards like VCS, Gold
Standard, or CDM will be an added advantage.
Proficiency
in GIS tools e.g. QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, Google Earth Engine for satellite data
monitoring is desirable
Preferred Knowledge and
Qualifications
Demonstrated
experience in implementing and managing nature-based carbon projects
Demonstrated
knowledge and familiarity with national carbon market policies and schemes,
including evolving government policies and regulations, in the forest and
biodiversity sectors.
Demonstrated
technical knowledge of the carbon project lifecycle, including carbon
accounting and monitoring, validation/verification will be an added advantage.
Familiarity
with certification in voluntary carbon certification, e.g., Verra Verified
Carbon Standard (VCS), Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA), and
Plan Vivo
