Project Manager

Job Title: Project Manager

Type of Contract: Fixed Term

Location: Accra, Ghana

Reporting to: Head of Programmes

Start Date: January 2015

Duration of Contract:6 months (with potential scope for extension)

Salary and conditions:Negotiable, with benefits

About Us:

Established in 2001, the Youth Empowerment Synergy (YES-Ghana) is an ECOSOC-accredited NGO which is at the forefront of youth development policy, practice and research in Ghana. YES-Ghana has key competencies in three programme areas: Youth Employment & Entrepreneurial Development; Youth Policy & Governance; and Youth Participation & Active Citizenship. Within these areas, the organisation has more than a decade’s experience in developing and managing programmes combining multi-prong approaches and strategies including: delivering a range of employability and soft skills training to youth; facilitating access to youth-inclusive financial services; providing career and business advisory services; coalition building; and advocating for pro-youth empowerment policies. For more information on YES-Ghana, visit our website: http://www.yesghana.org/

The Big Idea is a ground-breaking new programme spearheaded by Restless Development, a youth-led development agency. Working across Africa and Asia, with a support office in London, Restless Development’s mission is to put young people at the forefront of development and change. . The initiative is grounded in the belief that if young people are equipped and empowered with the skills to use, analyse and generate data on key issues that affect their lives, they will take the lead in exercising accountability over their governments – particularly accountability over the next global development framework. In a bid to test this hypothesis, the Big Idea is launching with pilot projects in Ghana, Nepal and Tanzania where young people will generate and interrogate data, and use it to push for greater participation and increased accountability from decision makers on specific national agendas that matter to them.

Building on previous collaborations with Restless Development, YES-Ghana has developed the Big Idea pilot for Ghana, and is leading its implementation. For this, we are seeking a highly motivated and capable Project Manager to initiate and drive the project’s implementation phase.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Overall project management and technical guidance

• Ensure sound management of and take full responsibility for the implementation of the Big Idea in Ghana, as per agreed project documents and partner regulations;
• Act as a regional focal point for the Big Idea in West Africa, representing the global Big Idea programme, Yes Ghana, Restless Development and partners as required.
• Ensure coordination and communication with other Big Idea programme elements including the Accountability Advocates workstream
• Develop and oversee implementation plans and budgets based on expected project outputs and programme templates, ensuring close monitoring of activities and delivery; Ensure the overall direction and integrity of the project, supports the vision, Theory of Change, and technical frameworks of the global Big Idea programme.
• Provide direction and guidance to the Project Team and delivery partners where applicable; Identify and obtain any support and advice required for the management, planning and control of the project;
• Manage financial allocations and expenditures according to delegated authority and ensure timely payments in accordance with YES-Ghana’s financial management policy;
• Coordinate activities of the project, including those financed through pooled and parallel funding, to deliver intended outputs and achieve desirable impact of the project;
• Ensure proper use and maintenance of project equipment and office records and any other documentation by project personnel;
• Ensure gender mainstreaming within all project activities; and
• Perform other duties as may be necessary.

Effective leadership towards project implementation processes

• Develop a clear understanding of the global Big Idea programme objectives and Theory of Change, and ensure this is reflected in the local project delivery.
• Create a culture of responsiveness within the project delivery and the team, and put in place processes to respond and adapt to changing circumstances and unexpected results where necessary, capturing learning along the way.
• Establish and maintain good working relations with relevant stakeholders from government, civil society, international agencies, religious and traditional authorities, private sector, and the youth front;
• Build, motivate and lead a high performing team consisting of project personnel, expert consultants, service providers, etc.;
• Provide strategic leadership and steer the realisation of the project components, with particular focus on the effective and broad base process of mobilising youth to generate and interrogate data, and use it to push for greater participation and increased accountability from decision makers;
• Guide and oversee the process of delivery of assistance and interaction with youth groups and associations across the country, as per the planned activities within the project document; and
• Review on a regular basis project details, schedules, deliverables and budget as articulated in the implementation plan (evidence of progress towards expected outputs, according to schedule, within budget) with the project team.
• Oversee the set up, and provide guidance to, a Youth Steering Committee for project implementation.

Project monitoring, reporting and quality assurance

• Set up agreed reporting systems and processes in line with the Big Idea’s global Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning framework
• Manage and monitor the identified project risks and issues; submit new risks and issues to senior management for consideration and decision if required; update the status of project risks and issues;
• Oversee and ensure the timely and production of financial and narrative reports at regular intervals as required by the Big Idea’s Global Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework.
• Monitor and analyse the project environment and progress, using applicable monitoring and evaluation and risk management tools where relevant, and advice on timely readjustment of project strategies and corrective actions as necessary;
• Conduct field visits and quality check of project events, sites and activities;
• Prepare reviews and capture lessons learnt from the project’s implementation, and also identify follow-up actions

Communications

• Manage regular communications with the Restless Development’s Big Idea’s global team in London and other pilot countries
• Maintain communications and strong relationships with key stakeholders through the production of regular and effective communications

Knowledge management

• Ensure wide dissemination and visibility of project achievements, including through the project’s communication tools, and, where possible, participate in national and international forums to make substantive contributions as appropriate; and
• Ensure dissemination of information and knowledge management within the team for effective project implementation.

Partnership and advocacy

• Build partnerships with technical, financial and influencing partners in Ghana to support a multi-stakeholder approach and successful delivery of the project.
• Liaise with donors, relevant government agencies, and all project partners, including youth groups and associations for effective coordination of all project activities;
• Actively participate in resource mobilisation efforts in close consultation with senior management;
• Identify and support the realisation of synergetic initiatives and/or contribution from various stakeholders, which would add value and maximise project results; and
• Ensure regular communication and coordination with project partners and develop and maintain effective mechanisms for integrating and responding to feedback and insights.

Competencies:

• Knowledge of issues of youth development, participation, public policy and related concepts at global, African, and national levels;
• At least two years of experience managing governance / accountability / citizenship projects
• In-depth knowledge and experience in youth development in Ghana, including youth policy, legislative frameworks, programming, and mobilisation;
• Demonstrated experience in planning and managing development projects at the national level, including results-based management;
• Demonstrated writing skills, including ability to prepare reports and conduct presentations by clearly formulating positions on issues, articulating options concisely, making and defending recommendations;
• Sound political judgement, impartiality, diplomacy and discretion;
• Proven ability to provide effective leadership and transfer advice and knowledge to team members from different backgrounds;
• Proven effective supervision skills;
• Proven ability to establish priorities and to plan, organise, coordinate and monitor own work plan while providing advice and guidance to others;
• Demonstrated sound judgement in resolving issues/problems;
• Effective communications and interpersonal skills, including ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with young people and others in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
• Ability to work under pressure and target-driven conditions;
• Self-starter, self-motivated; able to take initiative and bring innovation to project implementation;
• Professional demeanour; able to present a professional image of the organisation at all times;
• Excellent computer skills and ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource.

Education and Experience:

Master’s degree in development studies, social sciences, or equivalent is desirable.

Minimum two years experience in similar position;

• Previous experience as team leader planning and managing programme/project at national level is an asset, including financial management of projects, reporting, and M&E;
• Practical experiences running youth programmes in Ghana would be an added advantage;
• Understanding of the overall political, administrative and institutional set-up of governance and participatory development in Ghana;
• Familiarity with key public documents, strategies and trends related to youth development and democratic governance in Ghana, as well as global and regional frameworks for youth development;

Language:

• Fluency in English with excellent drafting and presentation skills;
• Working knowledge of one or more Ghanaian languages desirable.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please submit a one-page motivation letter and a recent CV bearing your contact details and two references to jobs@yesghana.org . Be sure to highlight in the motivation letter how specifically you meet the criteria for this role.

Due to capacity constraints, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Application deadline: Sunday, 30 November, 2014