Transport Director at TransCentury

A key member of TradeMark East Africa’s (TMEA’s) Senior Management Team, the Senior Director, Transport is responsible for ensuring quality in TMEA’s work in Outcome 1a, Improved sustained efficiency and capacity of transport infrastructure. In particular s/he will ensure that TMEA’s strategic objective of reduced trade barriers, and associated strategic impacts, outcomes and outputs are achieved, aligning infrastructure and international trade practices and goals to TMEA’s strategy. S/he will ensure that the linkages between trade facilitation and infrastructure development are mainstreamed across all aspects of TMEA’s work and clearly linked to organisational objectives at both the national and regional levels.

Responsibilities

Strategy and programme development and management

• Develop the transport infrastructure programme strategy and oversee quality project implementation, including work plans, budgets and project proposals (or Project Appraisal Reports – PARs).
• Contribute to corporate strategy development as related to efficient transport infrastructure and promote linkages between infrastructure development, trade facilitation and business competitiveness for integrated programmes.
• Accountable for the achievement of the reduced trade barriers strategic objective target, related to transport infrastructure and ensuring programme consistency, delivery and quality assurance across the entire portfolio of projects whilst demonstrating value for money and having clear mechanisms for measuring results. This will require close liaison with the respective country and regional directors and other Senior Directors.
• Oversee the development and delivery of a large, complex transport infrastructure portfolio across the region. This will include projects focused on reducing trade costs through infrastructure and productivity improvement at ports, borders, link roads, among others.
• Liaise with Regional Technical Directors, Country Directors and Technical Coordinators to agree delivery frameworks/agreements and targets, and review progress on the achievement of outcome targets and desired results in order to contribute to delivery of TMEA’s corporate and programme objectives.
• Appraise/undertake due diligence of potential investment opportunities.
• Work closely and collaboratively with Portfolio Directors, Project Leaders and Regional Technical Directors and, when necessary, mediate and resolve disputes.
• Effective liaison with delivery partners and investors on programme issues and performance monitoring.
• As part of the Senior Management team, support smooth implementation of TMEA’s Theory of Change working proactively with TMEA’s other Senior Directors.

Monitoring, evaluation and reporting

• Maintain strong monitoring and evaluation systems for programme delivery comprising qualitative and quantitative indicators for all results and activities, in collaboration with the Results team.
• Ensure a clear ‘line of sight’ with key strategic objectives, impact, outcome, output and project target results and work closely with the Results team to obtain delivery measurement data and analyse progress against achievement of targets.
• Report on transport infrastructure programme delivery including ensuring high quality and timely quarterly and annual reports of TMEA programme and financial performance to National Oversight Committees (NOCs) and the Board. Contribute to TMEA-wide Annual and donor reports, in line with the monitoring and evaluation framework.
• Facilitate discussion, information sharing and agreement on the achievement of strategic objective and targets.

Team management

• Manage and nurture strong internal technical competences and knowledge management across TMEA’s teams, and through this ensure technical excellence of work streams to the highest international standards.
• Ensure world class management across the team in line with TMEA’s culture and values;
• Manage, mentor and motivate a strong team of Regional Technical Directors and technical programme management staff, ensuring adequate capacity is developed for successful delivery.
• Ensure risk management, transparency, zero tolerance of fraud and corruption, and due diligence in all programming activities.
• Ensure close coordination and foster strong integration with other outcome delivery and country-based teams.
• Ensure that all TMEA infrastructure projects have adequate engineering resources as provided by either TMEA staff or external consultants.
• Oversee the establishment and use of TMEA’s infrastructure framework pool.
• Assist in developing continuous learning programme for TMEA engineers and others interested.
• Work closely and collaboratively with TMEA Transport Directors on project planning prioritization and implementation.
• Work closely and collaboratively with the Portfolio Directors for TMEA infrastructure projects to ensure adequate communication and risk management.
• Work closely and collaboratively with all other relevant TMEA technical units, including in particular Procurement, Finance, Audit & SIT.
• Where appropriate, work with external partners in furtherance of any of the above responsibilities.
• Ensure good practice PCM is followed by the whole team in project design, procurement and contract management, outcome/output-based planning, reporting and financial management, and resultsoriented monitoring, learning and evaluation.

Corporate systems

• Contribute to knowledge generation and dissemination and support teams in conducting regular informal and formal reflection, knowledge sharing and learning events.
• Apply the highest standards of controls and risk management practices and behaviours and embed a positive risk and control culture.
• Demonstrate prudence, sound judgement and appropriate and timely escalations in management of all types of risk (including fraud risk) applicable to the role.
• Understand and comply with the relevant end-to-end processes including applicable risks and controls.
• Seek to identify, understand and escalate risk events/incidents/ issues on a timely basis focusing on fixing root-causes and taking ownership of identified mitigating actions.
• Complete all relevant mandatory trainings within the stipulated timelines.
• Promote and adhere to TMEA’s core values and ensure compliance with organisational policies and procedures.
• Maintain zero tolerance to bribery, fraud and corruption, and ensure the immediate reporting of any corruption or suspect behaviour that threatens TMEA’s reputation.
• Adhere to the safeguarding policies and procedures and immediately report any safeguarding concerns.
• Any other related responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager from time to time.

Qualifications

Academic and professional qualifications

• Undergraduate or Masters degree in areas relevant to TMEA’s focus, such as Development Studies, Economics, International Trade or other relevant disciplines.

Work experience

• Undergraduate degree holders will have at least 15 years’ relevant working experience, including seven years of leadership and management experience. Postgraduate degree holders will require at least 13 years’ relevant experience including seven years of relevant leadership and management experience.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in leading the development and delivery of infrastructure programmes, particularly those related to surface transport, and trade and trade facilitation development programmes to enhance the capacities of developing countries in trade policy development, formulation and implementation trade reforms, regional integration, and support to national governments.
• Three years of relevant senior level experience within East Africa or other developing economies are essential for this role.
• Significant work experience with Regional Economic Communities preferably in East or Southern Africa, in an international multicultural environment.
• Experience in working with the private sector and civil society to deliver trade facilitation and infrastructure development capacity support and to support trade-related advocacy.
• Infrastructure experience, particularly surface transport, is a distinct advantage.

Additional skills and competencies

Technical competencies

• Excellent understanding of the transport infrastructure sector and strong commercial skills.
• Strong understanding of the dynamics affecting trade at national, regional and at the global multilateral levels.
• Excellent understanding of the multilateral trading systems and their implication for regional integration.
• Significant knowledge of the trade facilitation and infrastructure development needs of developing countries.
• Good understanding of trade policy, trade facilitation, infrastructure and transport/logistics.
• Ability to differentiate between issues related to market participation, chain governance and institutional change.
• Understanding of conceptual frameworks related to market development which can be used to identify pro-poor and inclusive development opportunities.
• Ability to support policymakers, development practitioners and professional service providers in their new role as market facilitators.
• Ability to apply tools and instruments to develop market-led, pro-poor, inclusive and/or sustainable development interventions.

Behavioural competencies

• Strong strategy formulation and implementation skills including the ability to communicate strategy and results concisely and simply.
• Excellent leadership and management skills.
• Proven conceptual and intellectual skills, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong portfolio building and fundraising skills.
• Highly developed coaching and mentoring skills, particularly for staff at a senior level.
• Ability to deliver a plan and performance to budget.
• Adept at working with diverse teams and challenging accepted wisdom, delivering change and demonstrating value for money.
• Ability to influence others to achieve objectives and gain consensus and collaboration.
• Sound decision-making and judgement.
• Problem solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent presentation, communication and personal effectiveness skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications.