Senior Program Manager

Project Background

The USAID Uganda Feed the Future Water and Food Systems (WSF) Activity is a five year activity (2023-2028) that aims to inclusively and equitably improve food and water security in the Kyoga Basin in northeastern Uganda, specifically three watersheds – Lokok, Awoja, and Lokere, by empowering individuals and communities to mitigate and adapt to shocks and stressors in order to improve livelihoods, maintain nutrition and health wellbeing, address drivers of conflict, and reduce reliance on humanitarian assistance. This area is home to pastoralists whose livelihoods are at risk due to violent cattle raiding and the effects of climate change (drought and flooding). This part of Uganda also suffers from fragmented markets, chronic underinvestment in public services, and a lack of private sector investment. This Activity is aligned with the Water and Development II (WADI II) scope to access critical technical services in support of the U.S. Government’s Global Water Strategy, Global Food Security and Strategy Refresh, Agency Climate Strategy, and the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience; and is a cornerstone of the USAID Uganda (2022) Country Development Cooperation Strategy Development Objective (DO) 2, Resilient Growth Enhanced. The activity aims therefore aims to achieve results under the following development objectives:

• Improve water supply and integrated water resource management.
• Increase equitable access to sanitation and hygiene services for households and schools.
• Improved agriculture-based livelihoods.
• Increased consumption of nutritious foods among women and children.
• Expanded access to financial resources for women, men, youth, indigenous people, and marginalized groups.
• Improve local capacity to manage shocks and stressors.

FtF WFSA will enhance market systems, strengthen relevant institutions, expand access to climate-resilient services, and—in two of the most vulnerable of the 21 districts covered by the activity—employ “graduation” approaches to assist the ultra-poor. These initiatives will incorporate conflict sensitivity, local leadership, climate change adaptation, and approaches inclusive of women, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and indigenous groups.

Role’s Purpose

The Senior Program manager is tasked with providing rapid and ongoing support to both the Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party/Strategic Technical Advisor on field-based activities. S/he will oversee, coordinate, and monitor project activities; ensure compliance with USG procedures; and support quality assurance of technical reports and other deliverables. S/he will provide technical assistance and regularly liaise with technical leads. The Senior Program Manager supervises the Implementation Area Leads for all catchments and reports to the Deputy Chief of Party/Senior Technical Advisor.

Key Duties

• Deliver programmatic leadership to field-based teams and uphold DAI ethics and values in all aspects of program design and delivery.
• Supervise the Lokere, Awoja, and Lokok Implementation Area Leads. Serve as the AILs’ main point of contact.
• Assist DCOP/Senior Technical Advisor in oversight and quality assurance on deliverables of grantees, subcontractors, and independent consultants.
• Participate in engagement with local communities and stakeholders and support Implementation Area Leads, to gather feedback and ensure project activities are responsive to their needs and priorities, while also maintaining conflict sensitivity in all stakeholder engagement processes.
• Gather insight and project information from Implementation Area Leads to contribute to contractual reports (weekly, quarterly, annual, and other communication products) and monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities to showcase the achievements, challenges and lessons learned on WFSA; ensure implementation teams embedded with stakeholders and target districts provide contributions to all reports.
• In liaison with the DCOP/Senior Technical Advisor, and senior leadership, manage and/or participate in selecting program implementers such as grantees, sub-contractors, etc.
• Participate and ensure field-based staff support the data collection processes to measure project performance and impact, including undertaking field visits to activity sites.
• Support developing and implementing client feedback mechanisms and ensure that the field teams act on client feedback appropriately.
• Contribute to developing key research questions in support of the MEL Director, and apply rigorous sampling methods to identify respondents, collect data, and analyze findings for technical reports, abstracts and project knowledge management products.
• Conduct regular field visits working closely with technical leads and Implementation Area Leads to assess project implementation, identify challenges, and provide on-the-ground support and guidance to field-based teams.
• Identify and alert DCOP/Strategic Technical Advisor on any current or anticipated challenges or issues in the field.
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and support to the field teams to ensure they are operating effectively at the catchment and district level according to USAID and DAI rules and regulations.
• Regularly communicate with the Technical Leads, DCOP, and COP regarding project planning and implementation, risk and problem identification and rectification.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations for direct reports, providing feedback, and identifying opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Support compilation of project updates, annual work planning, quarterly/annual reporting and responses to USAID, GOU and key stakeholders
• Other tasks, as assigned by the supervisor and COP.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree development studies, economics/business, agriculture, water/environment/natural resource management, or related field.
• 10+ years of relevant professional experience. Experience with USAID or donor-funded water-related programs in Uganda preferred.
• Demonstrated skills working in the technical areas of water management systems, climate adaptation and livelihoods preferred.
• Experience in organizing and planning multi stakeholder consultations/meetings/workshops. including development and tracking of workplans, budgets, and risk management plans.
• Demonstrated knowledge of market systems development, institutional strengthening and locally-led approaches.
• Knowledge of USAID policies, procedures, and reporting requirements preferred.
• Knowledge and experience of USAID Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) practices
• Demonstrated organizational skills and a strong track record in meeting deliverables and deadlines.
• Excellent knowledge of USAID rules and regulations and reporting requirements preferred.
• Strong program management skills. PMP or equivalent certification is an added advantage
• Demonstrated experience in program design, and managing program implementation mechanisms including Grants under Contracts, and Sub-contracts
• Demonstrated experience in building cross-sectoral teams, including their capacity strengthening. Supervisory skills required
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively interact with local counterparts, grantees/partners, USAID, international donors, private sector partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Professional proficiency in English (oral and written) is required, and proficiency in local languages is preferred.

Reporting

The Senior Program Manager will report to the DCOP/Senior Technical Advisor.