Project Director- Action for paid Childcare sector Transformation

POSITION LOCATION Nairobi, Kenya

The person selected will be offered an employment contract from one of our global offices depending on their resident status (you must hold a valid work authorization – WUSC will not facilitate any work authorization process) Person must be legally authorized to work in Nairobi, Kenya

REPORTS TO Director, Program Management and Operations

CONTRACT TERM 2 years, with possibility of renewal

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading Canadian international development organization focusing on three programmatic areas: Economic Opportunities, Education, and Empowerment. Our vision is a better world for all young people. It is a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable world in which all young people, especially women and refugees, are empowered to secure a good quality of life for themselves, their families, and their communities.

WUSC currently works in over 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $45 million. Globally, we partner with a network of higher education institutions, civil society organizations, private sector partners, professionals, students, volunteers, faculty and community leaders that work with us to achieve our mission.

The Action for paid Childcare sector Transformation (ACT) project is a 4-year collaborative initiative that uses an innovative systems approach to drive gender transformative, locally-owned, collaborative action to transform paid childcare from a job of last resort to a vocation of choice, and for the paid childcare sector to become one of economic prosperity for women in Kenya and in Malawi. ACT aligns with Canada’s commitment made towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 (gender equality and empowerment), SDG 8 (decent work for all), Canada’s FIAP action area on growth that works for everyone.

The project will be implemented in close collaboration between WUSC and partners in Kenya and Malawi, notably Uthabiti and the Coalition of Violence Against Women (COVAW) in Kenya, and the Women’s Legal Resources Centre (WOLREC) in Malawi.

NATURE AND SCOPE

The Project Director (PD) oversees the strategic and operational implementation of the ACT project in Kenya and Malawi. The Project Director manages relationships with key stakeholders, including with national and local Governments, project partners, local partners, the private sector and the funder.

The Project Director for ACT will report to the Director of Program Management and Operations and work closely with the Kenya Deputy Director and Malawi Country Director. The Project Director will be responsible for the following:

Partner Relations and Communications

• Establish and maintain effective relationships between key project partners, including those based in Kenya and Malawi
• Develop robust relationships with project stakeholders, including relevant governments, financial institutions, investors, consultants and civil society organizations
• Organize and manage governance structures / committees
• Represent WUSC among stakeholders, ensuring that the ACT project can provide value to local actors and make a positive impact within the entrepreneurial ecosystem

Technical Direction & Project Management

• Provide technical and managerial direction and guidance to the initiative, in line with the project’s expected outcomes
• Develop key project planning deliverables (i.e. Initiative Inception Plan, Annual Work Plan) using results based management approaches and tools;
• Develop specific strategies for cross-cutting themes (capacity building, gender equality, private sector engagement, environmental sustainability) for the initiative
• Ensure focus on gender equality outcomes and deliverables
• Maintain open and effective communication amongst strategic partners and project team members in Canada and Kenya and Malawi
• Oversee day-to-day coordination and delivery of project activities in conjunction with staff, technical advisors, volunteers and partners

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Establish and oversee a results monitoring system for the project
• Stay apprised of developments in key markets of interest to the project and develop systems for monitoring changes and adaptations in these markets over time
• Regularly monitor progress towards results, ensuring appropriate course correction and iterative management
• Work with team members to produce regular reports to key stakeholders, including the donor agency
• Maintain regular communication with WUSC colleagues in Canada and with key overseas partners to ensure appropriate support

Human Resources Management

• Manage the project teams in Kenya and Malawi
• Supervise, guide and evaluate the work of project staff and consultants
• Oversee human resources management issues such as employment policies and practices, in line with local law
• Work with colleagues and partners to ensure the effective mobilization, orientation and coaching of volunteers and technical advisors

Financial & Office Management

• Establish and oversee a financial management system for the project
• Ensure that the project complies with relevant local taxation, banking controls, and labour laws
• In conjunction with the finance team, develop and monitor the project budget and ensure regular reporting to the donor
• Recruit, maintain and direct the required administrative and project infrastructure of staff, field offices and equipment as well as making decisions on administrative policy, planning and procedural matters

Risk Management & Security Preparedness

• Actively assess the risk profile of the initiative; identify specific risks and appropriate mitigation strategies
• Ensure the application and relevancy of WUSC security policies, procedures and preparedness to the operational context of the project

Donor Liaison & Coordination

• Establish a strong working relationship with the Donor, including planning, capacity building and information sharing
• Convene Project Steering and Advisory Committees at regular intervals
• Coordinate regularly with other development actors to ensure harmonization and synergy with similar initiatives
• Represent the Project in official communication and fora

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• A university degree in international development, business administration, finance or other relevant area
• Specialized training in entrepreneurship support, financial inclusion, gender and/or the care economy would be an advantage

Experience and Competencies

• A minimum of ten years of progressively more responsible assignments related to management of development initiatives
• Knowledge and experience in entrepreneurship ecosystem support, gender lens investment and financial inclusion
• Proven experience engaging the private sector in development programming
• Demonstrated capacity to work in cross-sectoral collaboration; able to work independently and collaboratively in multicultural teams
• Experience managing technical advisors considered an asset
• Experience working with international development donor agencies
• Knowledge of Results Based Management (RBM) and environmental and gender policies and reporting requirements
• Proven technical, financial, administrative and organizational skills
• Knowledge of donor financial and narrative reporting procedures and requirements
• Proven experience managing a large, multi-disciplinary and international team of staff
• Diplomatic skills and the knowledge of cross-cultural, interpersonal communication
• Proven experience of adaptability to a challenging and constantly changing environment requiring iterative planning on a regular basis
• Proven knowledge of and commitment to the concepts of Gender Equality
• Experience in capacity building with local partner organizations and a commitment to a participatory partnership approach to development
• Share in WUSC’s commitment and approach to advance gender equality and social inclusion for all young people
• Ability to contribute to WUSC’s organizational culture that respects differences, including sex, age, ability, refugee or migration status, race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and other identity factors
• Flexibility, ability to work with multiple time zone and frequent domestic and international travels (especially to Malawi)

Language Proficiency

Strong verbal and written communication skills in English

SALARY

A local salary and compensation package based on WUSC’s salary grid will be discussed during the selection process