Marine and Coastal Programme Manager at Fauna & Flora International

Specific Duties:

Technical

• Provide technical advice and input as required on conservation issues and priorities, project design, development, implementation and monitoring on current and forthcoming projects
• Ensure the robust design and delivery of project activities
• Lead the implementation of specific/agreed project activities and deliverables
• Gather, understand and use applicable Kenyan legislative and regulatory frameworks relevant to the project to secure and optimise conservation initiatives conducted with local communities.
• Ensure that field operations are conducted to a high standard of health, safety, welfare, environmental good practice and cultural sensitivity, in line with FFI global policies and procedures and any national policies and procedures.
• With project partners, ensure the development and implementation of robust monitoring systems for fisheries and marine habitats within focal project areas. Support the establishment of fisheries co-management areas - CMAs (and locally managed marine areas – LMMAs) liaising with the relevant institutions as required
• With project partners, ensure the development and implementation of good governance practices for equitable and inclusive management within the community institutions are supported

Project Management and Development

• In coordination with financial and administrative Africa programme staff based in Kenya and the UK, undertake specific fund management responsibilities where appropriate, including:
  • Lead FFI and donor technical report writing and editing, coordinating the inputs of team members, cross-cutting teams, specialists and partners, ensuring accurate and timely technical reports as per FFI and donor requirements.
  • Ensure all landscape-level funding proposals and resulting contracts and grant agreements are appropriate to, and comply with, FFI operating standards, the FFI Delegation of Authority (DoA), and implementation context within the region
  • Delivery of grant funded projects within time-frames and budgets
  • Manage project inputs from relevant technical and operational staff and consultants, and implementing partners, ensuring appropriate contracts are in place where relevant
  • Be responsible for fund finances and ensure all expenditure complies with donor and FFI regulations, and the DoA.
  • Prepare project financial reports, with support from the FBP-A, Africa and ensure timely, high quality and accurate technical, operational and financial funder and institutional reporting.
  • Ensure the regular back-up and appropriate storage of all data on implemented FFI systems such as a monitoring system, as well as “cloud” based online storage.
  • Ensure that field operations are conducted to a high standard of health, safety, welfare, environmental good practice and cultural sensitivity, in line with FFI global policies and procedures and any national policies and procedures.

Partner Development and Relations

• As directed, act as the primary point of contact to partners implementing projects using funds provided by FFI
• Carry out assessments with partners to ensure FFI understands the technical and administrative abilities of partner organisations to carry out project work, clearly identifying gaps that will need to be addressed for successful delivery of projects
• Work with relevant staff to identify partner capacity gaps or any other issues with partner capacity to deliver projects
• Develop strategies for addressing partner capacity requirements including but not limited to:
• Providing training directly from within FFI utilising the skills and capacity within the FFI. Africa team and/or FFI cross-cutting teams
• Writing requirements into proposals
• Recommending further partnerships as appropriate
• Provide technical advice and support to partners and collaborators, in line with and acting as a conduit for FFI’s institutional experience and expertise
• As directed, lead on the development and implementation of partnership agreements, complying with FFI’s Delegation of Authorities as required.
• Ensure alignment and good relations are upheld with partner NGOs operating in the landscape
• Work with the Country Manager, Kenya to ensure that FFI Kenya continues to be well positioned, locally respected and valued by relevant authorities and development and civil society actors

People Management

• Provide strong and motivational management to line reports to support efficient, effective delivery of FFI’s conservation programme in Kenya through objective setting, continuous performance management, annual appraisal, training provision and personal development planning.
• Support project team members to ensure work plans are in place to meet project aims, objectives and timelines and ensure that projects are implemented in line with work plans and within budget.

Communications and Representation

• Ensure regular and meaningful communication and coordination with FFI programme staff in Kenya, the UK, and the wider region as appropriate
• Represent FFI at project-relevant key fora, meetings and workshops as required

Other

• Work as an active member of the Kenya team and attend Kenya team meetings
• Contribute to the annual budgeting process as required
• As directed, coordinate risk assessments within the Kenya or wider Eastern Africa programme, maintaining records and communications as per FFI policies and procedures
• Provide input, where appropriate, on other technical work undertaken by the Africa programme
• With the agreement of your line manager, perform any other tasks that may be requested from time to time that are appropriate to skills and experience

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

• Strong technical skills relating to marine ecology and conservation
• Fluent written and spoken English skills
• Excellent project management skills with proven experience in project design, development, implementation, risk management and evaluation
• Excellent financial management, including budgeting, reforecasting and procurement skills
• Excellent people management skills, with ability to motivate and performance manage individuals to achieve excellence
• Strong written communication skills, including report and proposal writing
• Facilitation and training skills
• Excellent analytical skills
• Excellent information organisation and presentation skills
• Strong prioritisation and time management skills, with ability to work to multiple deadlines

Desirable

• Marine biodiversity field identification skills
• GIS and map producing skills
• Fluency in Kiswahili

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Proven track record and ability to develop and manage marine/coastal conservation projects and teams
• Undergraduate degree in Marine conservation/biology/ecology, wildlife management, conservation biology, natural resources management
• Proven ability to successfully negotiating with diverse audiences
• At least five years’ experience in marine conservation programme management
• Proven leadership experience working with multiple partners with conflicting interests
• Management of contracts/grants
• Experience in dealing with rural/coastal communities on management of local natural resources
• Project development and fundraising, including managing donor relationships

Desirable

• Masters degree in Marine conservation/biology/ecology, Wildlife Management, conservation biology or natural resources management
• Formulation and implementation of marine conservation strategies
• Experience of managing large (100,000 USD plus) multi-year grants from statutory sources

Behavioural qualities

Essential

• Commitment to FFI’s values and mission
• Self-motivated, independent and resourceful
• Commitment to organisational and legal compliance, and responsible management of donor funds
• Team player, with ability to seek out views of others and build positive working relationships
• Ability to work under pressure and to deal with challenges in a calm, positive, pro-active and constructive way
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural environment

Other

Essential

• Entitlement to live and work in Kenya (without employee sponsorship)
• Available to travel domestically and/or internationally, and work occasional evening and weekend hours