Project Manager: Blue Action Fund Full-Time

Background

Peace Parks Foundation is a non-profit company that facilitates the establishment and development of transfrontier conservation areas in southern Africa. Peace Parks provides support to the Government of Mozambique for the development and management of the Maputo National Park (MNAP) through a 15-year partnership agreement signed with the government in 2018.

Peace Parks has been awarded a five-year contract, ending in mid-2027, by the Blue Action Fund which is titled: Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change – Conserving and Building Resilience. We seek to appoint a Project Manager for the project.

The Project Manager will be based in Ponta d’Ouro near Maputo National Park and Maputo Environmentally Protected Area region within Matutuine District, and will report to the Programme Manager. The project will be led by Peace Parks in close collaboration with Maputo National Park, National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) and consortium partner ADRA Germany.

Profile

We are looking for a dynamic and proactive professional with a strong understanding of conservation, community and donor programme management. The ideal candidate should have strong planning, coordination and communication skills and in particular, strong experience in donor programme monitoring, evaluation and reporting, through which it must be ensured that project objectives are met. Experience in financial management will be an asset.

The ideal candidate will be someone who has non-profit sector experience in implementation of international donor funded community and conservation-based projects within a marine and terrestrial environment, with multiple stakeholders and partners, in compliance with all related social safeguard, procurement, financial management and reporting requirements.

Job Purpose

The Project Manager will take overall responsibility for the implementation, management and reporting of the Blue Action Fund project.

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the conservation of a network of globally significant coastal and marine protected areas and their sustainable use zones by i) enhancing ecosystem services that ii) contribute to reducing climate change risks for vulnerable communities. To achieve this, the project will:

• Improve resources, instruments and capacities for Marine Protected Area management and sustainable use.
• Increase the resilience of infrastructure and the built environment to climate change.
• Strengthen adaptive capacity and reduced exposure to climate risks.
• Rehabilitate degraded coastal ecosystems.
• Enhance climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods for communities.
• Enhance knowledge, expertise and capacity of relevant national agencies to use Ecosystem-based Adaptation approaches for coastal zone management.
• Strengthen institutional and regulatory systems for climate-responsive planning and development.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Effective leadership and management of the project and implementation team, including ensuring collaboration, discipline, performance management and good morale within the project teams and partners.
• Develop and maintain good practices around engagement, communication and collaboration with all external role players and stakeholders, including communities, government and partner organisations.
• Ensure regular, formal co-ordination and planning meetings between project implementation teams and partners.
• Monitor, ensure compliance and take corrective actions to implement the project work plan, log frame and budget to ensure that the project objectives are met.
• Identify and ensure proactive engagement and corrective actions to address any project risks or implementation challenges.
• Manage the Compliance and Risk Officer, ensuring that all project monitoring and evaluation processes and environmental and social safeguard management systems are implemented to donor and Peace Parks standards.
• Manage the Finance and Administration Officer, ensuring that all procurement and financial management processes are implemented to donor and Peace Parks standards and that all project administration is undertaken in an efficient and effective manner.
• Manage the Eco Systems Officer, ensuring that project conservation activities are undertaken to the required project standards.
• Identify and appoint service providers to meet the project requirements.
• Manage the implementation of sub-grantee and subcontractor services and other service provider services to ensure that these are undertaken to the required project and contractual standards.
• Undertake monthly, quarterly and annual internal and external donor reporting.

Minimum Requirements

• At least ten years’ experience in a similar environment, preferably with a degree in Project Management, Business Management, Environmental Management or Social Sciences and at least five years’ experience in senior management or project management of similar scale projects or operations.
• Self-driven with strong leadership and team management experience, including ability to motivate, reach consensus, set objectives and manage performance.
• Strong administrative and multi-tasking skills.
• Experience in procurement and management of consultants and contractors.
• Full proficiency in professional spoken and written Portuguese and English.
• Experience in report writing.
• Experience in budgets, procurement and financial management.
• Understanding of environmental and social safeguard requirements.
• Track record, ability and willingness to live and work in remote conditions is highly advantageous.

Interested candidates are invited to submit a Curriculum Vitae, with full address, telephone number, email address and contact details of at least three contactable references.

A competitive salary package will be negotiated, based on qualifications and experience.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted to Human Resources.

We appreciate the time and effort taken by all applicants in expressing their interest in this role. Due to the high volume of applications received, we are only able to contact candidates who are selected for further consideration. If you do not hear from us within 3 weeks from the closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion. We encourage you to apply for future opportunities that match your skills and experience.

Duration: Two years

Reporting to: Programme Manager

Location: Maputo National Park, Mozambique