Team Leader – Kenya Devolution Programme at Act Change Transform (Act)

REF: ACT-TL-KDP/11/2023

Job Summary

• The Team Leader, Kenya Devolution Programme /Timiza Ugatuzi is responsible for the entire programme staff team and leads efficient planning and implementation of the programme in close coordination with other Act! technical teams across relevant departments and specifically within the DHR platform. The KDP/Timiza Ugatuzi team is also supported internally by a select team of non-programme staff (head office support).
• Specifically, S/he is responsible for the overall planning, budgeting, activity implementation, quality assurance, reporting, external representation, networking, and coordination of consortium partners in close collaboration with the FCDO governance team, downstream partners, and retained experts, advisors, and consultants.
• The Team Leader is a full-time staff of Act!, providing the overall strategic vision for the programme, and oversees all tasks ensuring the highest quality of performance and compliance with all contractual obligations and results as well as the performance planning, target setting, and periodic reviews for all staff, experts & advisors, consultants, and sub-contracted third parties. The key areas of responsibilities and performance are detailed in the following sections.

Key Responsibilities

• The Team Leader will report administratively to the Chief Executive Officer of Act! and programmatically to the Director/Head of Programmes. The Team Leader supervises and mentors the KDP/Timiza Ugatuzi staff and offers support to the field-based staff of the programme where applicable. Keeps effective relations with all the advisors, experts and consultants contracted under the program and leads the programme planning, monitoring and evaluation in conjunction with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning function at Act!. Specifically, the Team Leader will be responsible for but not limited to the following:

Programme Leadership and Management

• Oversees the day-to-day management of KDP/Timiza Ugatuzi.
• Oversees the design, implementation, and evaluation of programme strategies and activities.
• Coordinate key consortium and implementing partners’ roles and contributions to the programme’s delivery.
• Leads and coordinates the preparation of and manage the implementation of the programme’s annual work plans in fulfilment of the programme’s strategic objectives and goals, and within the allocated budget.
• Establishes and maintain close working relationships with National and County governments, CSOs stakeholders, and other relevant actors including high-level officials in government ministries and the devolution sector actors and coordination bodies.
• Establishes and maintain working relationships with bilateral; organisations, international NGOs and the donor community to ensure the successful implementation KDP/Timiza Ugatuzi.
• Coordinates effectively and seamlessly with all partners, teams, and experts on each of the programme components.
• Responsible for leadership of the drafting and timely submission of high-level quarterly programme implementation progress reports to Act! Senior Management Team, and ensure that such reports are aligned to and meet all the reporting requirements of the donor.
• Provides periodic updates to various internal and external stakeholders as may be desirable keeping all key stakeholders updated on progress and lessons from implementation; as well as forward plans of upcoming activities.
• Represents Act! and KDP/Timiza Ugatuzi in strategic and priority national and sub-national events such as donor meetings; stakeholder meetings; partner events and meetings etc. as may be discussed and agreed with the Act!’s Chief Executive Officer.
• Ensures the highest quality of programme monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and communications.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time. 

Team Management

• In conjunction with the Act! Senior Leadership Team, ensure compliance with Act! policies and donor rules & regulations, conditions and guidelines, particularly with respect to KDP/Timiza Ugatuzi funds.
• Establish strong working relationships with the field staff to facilitate the completion of programme tasks in a timely manner and within the allocated budget.
• Provide general supervision and mentoring of all staff, performance management, employee development and horizontal coordination with HR and other functions on employee wellbeing and effectiveness.
• Provide oversight and management of technical consultants, including review of all consultant reports and deliverables.
• Will be the primary coordinator for the KDP/Timiza Ugatuzi project, its full and timely implementation; overall success; outcomes harvesting and dissemination of outcomes/impact.
• Hold coordination meetings with the FCDO Kenya focal persons to share accurate and timely programming information.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Act! CEO for the successful implementation of KDP/Timiza Ugatuzi.

Financial Responsibility

• Works towards the timely and full completion of all programme tasks within the provided timelines and within the allocated budgets, whilst realizing value for money.
• Oversees preparation and presentation of financial reports to internal and external stakeholders and co-implementing partners.
• Supports the procurement processes in conjunction with the Act! Procurement department and in accordance with Act! policies and donor rules and regulations.
• Follows all the procurement procedures including awareness of the authority to make purchases and or incur expenses within the guidelines and policies established by Act!.

Decision-Making/Problem-Solving

• Possess high-level awareness and ability to assess risk and safeguarding factors and to generate timely responses to any threats in ways that ensure project implementation is smooth and efficient.
• Investigates and analyses contextual issues (situational analysis) based on information and data from dependable sources to inform decision-making and the development of protocols and procedures is a key requirement for the position holder.
• Spearheads the development and oversees the implementation of strategies to monitor and mitigate threats and their potential impacts.

Qualifications, Experience and Essential Skills:

Academic Qualifications 

• Master’s degree in one of the following professional areas: governance, public policy, economics, political science, development studies, or any other related field.

Professional Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualifications in Project Management or Financial Management.

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in managing governance-related programmes at the national or international level. Demonstrated by practical experience with the Kenya devolution context in the areas of Public Finance Management, Social Accountability, Intergovernmental Relations, Trade and Investments, Citizens Engagement & Public Participation, and Digital and Technology Approaches are desirable.
• Proven track record with Governance programming and solid experience working with civil society and in designing and implementing high-level impact development programmes.
• Experience working with any of the key National and or County Governance programmes, the IGR space, PFM, Economics, Trade and Investment Management, Civil Society Strengthening, Policy and Legislative Processes and Governance stakeholders’ engagement are added advantage.
• Familiarity working with the international donor community and experience as an action-oriented interlocutor with democracy-development actors at all levels.
• Demonstrated knowledge of multiple donor rules, regulations and priorities, including FCDO.
• Demonstrated knowledge in the proposal and report writing and management of budgets.
• Demonstrated knowledge of safeguarding and risk management frameworks and methodologies.

Other Relevant Skills and Competencies

• Hold sufficient prior experience managing governance programmes in politically challenging and sensitive environments.
• Must possess the ability to motivate, inspire and promote high-level and effective collaborations between individuals, organizations and networks while demonstrating strong diplomacy skills and cultural sensitivity always.
• Must be thorough, reflect attention for detail, possess strong consultative and collaborative qualities and style of working.
• Be capable of working in a multicultural environment.

Language Skills

• Must be fluent in written and spoken English and Kiswahili. Proficiency in other local languages may be an added benefit.