Darwin Extra, Project Coordinator at Ol Pejeta Conservancy (OPC)

The role holder will be responsible for:

Culture and behavioural responsibilities

• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders within the organization across all departments to ensure the organizations priorities are effectively linked to funding priorities.
• Contribute to departmental planning processes.
• Driving efficient processes that enable cross-organisational working.
• Attend and, on occasion, help to lead team and department meetings.
• Support team administration, including database management and filing of key documents.

Project Implementation & Coordination

Implementation & Coordination

• The Project Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating the Darwin Extra initiative: “Increasing ecological and socio-economic resilience of Upper-Ewaso Ng’iro north ecosystem” as detailed in the project proposal and other key project documents (Grant agreements etc.).
• Liaise with relevant Ol Pejeta, and partner, staff on a day-to-day basis to ensure effective delivery of all planned project activities.
• Lead planning and budget forecasting for the project, ensuring that all partners are appropriately engaged at all times.
• Organize regular work planning and progress review meetings to ensure strong risk management and alignment with annual project budgets and anticipated outcomes.
• Ensure that Ol Pejeta Management are regularly updated on project progress, highlighting challenges where they occur an advising on strategies to address those challenges to effective decision making.
• Ensure the integration of best practices as they relate to project implementation, in order to achieve the project’s key objectives.
• Design and lead monitoring and evaluation activities for the project (including baseline development), ensuring timely adaptation as required to meet project aims, objectives and timelines, and support the dissemination of lessons learnt when required.
• Maintain a database of records both on SharePoint for all project documentation and on salesforce for all project information and donor engagement.
• Represent Ol Pejeta in the Project Implementation Committee and coordinate activities with consortium partners and other stakeholders.

Project finances

• Work in close collaboration with Ol Pejeta’s finance department to manage project budgets and finances and ensure all expenditure comply with internal and donor procedures and regulations.
• Ensure sufficient lead time for the allocation of resources - financial or otherwise - by planning strategically and projecting activities matched to required resources.
• Collaborate Ol Pejeta’s finance department to ensure adequate project cash flow and timely delivery of financial planning.
• Ensure all procurement activities are carried out in compliance with the terms of the project grant agreement.

Project reporting

• In collaboration with other team members, lead the development of accurate, timely and high quality financial and technical project reports to be submitted as per Ol Pejeta and donor requirements.
• Ensure project reports are reviewed and signed off by the Fundraising and Communications team before submission to the donor.
• In collaboration with relevant donor(s) and in accordance with Ol Pejeta’s policy guidelines, contract and manage consultants in Kenya as required by the project, in compliance with Kenyan Labour Law and donor agreements.

Partnerships

• Ensure alignment and good relations are upheld with all partner organizations.
• Build and manage key relationships within and outside Laikipia County to maintain and enhance the project’s impact and Ol Pejeta’s goals.
• Provide technical advice and support to partners and collaborators, in line with Ol Pejeta’s institutional experience and expertise.

Communications and Representation

• Facilitate regular and meaningful communication and co-ordination internally, between partners and with donors.
• Ensure that the project is fully compliant with all marking and branding requirements as outlined in the donor grant agreement.
• Identify opportunities to represent Ol Pejeta and the project at relevant key fora, meetings and workshops.
• Work as an active member of Ol Pejeta and attend team meetings as required.

Person specifications

• Experience in Conservation, Natural Resource Management or related discipline.
• Demonstrable experience managing funds (>US$1m per year) from a range of donors, particularly government donors such as Darwin, USAID, EU etc.
• Experience implementing conservation and / or Natural Resource management, and community development activities in Kenya.
• Extensive working knowledge of both Microsoft 365 and Google productivity apps.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills.
• Experience of budget design and management.
• Excellent planning, coordination and reporting skills with demonstrated ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to develop and sustain strong working relationships.
• Self-motivated, independent and resourceful.
• Adept at prioritising needs, you are happy taking the initiative to get things done and thrive in a busy environment.
• A ‘can-do’ and agile attitude, ability to problem solve and adaptive thinking.
• The right to live and work in Kenya.

Desirable Knowledge, skills and Experience

• Master’s degree is an advantage.
• Knowledge of conservation activities in Laikipia.
• Project management qualification.

Fixed term contract - (5 years)