Project Team Leader

Project Team Leader, GBCRP

Category: National (Individual)
Type: Full time consultant
Contract Duration: One year (with possible extension based on performance)

JOB DESCRIPTION:

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under direct supervision of the IUCN Nepal Country Representative and the National Project Director/Manager, Department of Forests and Soil Conservation (DoFSC), the Project Team Leder (PTL) is responsible for the overall management of the project. On behalf of IUCN Nepal Office as a technical advisor, the PTL will lead to implement the activities within the strategic Guidance of Project Management Committee (PMU) and Project Steering Committee (PSC) and, under the guidance of the Portfolio Manager Asia and Oceania – Multilateral Finance (GEF, GCF).

The PTL will provide technical leadership to the implementation of the project activities, and in doing so will work to ensure coherence with the GBCRP project implementation arrangement, developed at the national level – project management unit (PMU) and field levels (coordination/implementation) hubs with relevant parties. The PTL will oversee the overall monitoring of the use of funds and the implementation plan. S/he will be a member of the Project Management Unit (PMU) and will be supported by field coordinators, and project Consultants. In addition, s/he will guide the strategic direction of the project to other project execution support unit staffs and technical experts recruited to deliver project activities. S/he will ensure proper monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of all project activities.

The position requires significant coordination skills, broad general and technical knowledge, experience in the region and skills to ensure coherence and consistency despite urgent deadlines.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:
i) Manage the overall implementation of the GBCRP Project activities:

• Develop project annual work plan and budget (AWPB) and lead the process of its endorsement from the Project Management Unit (PMU) and support the approval process from the Project Steering Committee (PSC)
• Develop procurement work plans, as well as budgets based on expected year-end outputs, and ensure close monitoring of activities and delivery.
• Work closely with the finance team on matters including financial planning, expenditure tracking, and sub-contracting to external vendors to ensure wherever relevant IUCN and Government of Nepal policies are applied and GCF requirements are followed.
• Follow up on 1) the compliance of project implementation with GCF policies, IUCN policies, Government of Nepal policies and safeguards 2) the performance of the projects with the target indicators, logical framework, work plan, and budget through regular reporting and on-site supervision missions.
• Work with project staff to receive, review, and synthesize monitoring information to support adaptive management and ensure timely compliance with internal and GCF monitoring and reporting requirements, especially to produce the GCF annual performance reports (APRs).
• Prepare any required updates/summaries on the projects and participate in project-related meetings with the GCF, government, executing entity partners etc.
• Supervise personnel engaged in delivering aspects of the project.

ii) Coordinate partnerships with key stakeholders:

• Coordinate the project management unit (PMU) including providing advice to the National Project Director, the Project Manager and the NTNC.
• Build, maintain, and manage effective working relationships with consortium members. Ensure that each consortium partner is performing to the highest standards, supporting project objectives and targets, and complying with GCF rules and regulations.
• Serve as the single point of contact and project representative with partners and external stakeholders.
• Ensure continuous liaison with the relevant Government agencies, NTNC, NGOs, Civil Society and IUCN.

iii) Provide technical advice and support to the implementation of the Project activities:

• Provide technical inputs to the implementation of the different project activities and outputs – by providing technical inputs to workshop presentations, to studies, advisory services, and other activities and outputs of the project.
• Provide technical support and back-up services to project managers.
• Prepare, in consultation with the partners, TORs for consultants and comment on their reports.
• Oversee all cross-cutting activities and ensure their strong support of and synergy with technical implementation objectives and vision, including, but not limited to communications and outreach; monitoring, evaluation & learning (MEL), knowledge management and, gender and social inclusion.
• Monitor and report the implementation of environmental and social risk management measures through the programme cycle.

iv) Monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the overall Project deliverables:

• Oversee regular follow-up and monitoring of implementation activities.
• Oversee regular monitoring and reporting on risks and mitigation measures.
• Ensure timely preparation and submission of required reports, including bi-annual progress and expenditure reports, per the requirements of GCF.
• Provide regular updates on the project’s progress where possible for all parties and reporting requirements.
• Facilitate independent evaluations.

Other responsibilities:

• Fundraising/building synergies to other ongoing initiatives and program development support
• Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time by line manager or NPD.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
Education:

• Master’s degree in forestry, environmental science, natural resource management, watershed management or any other closely relevant subject.

Work Experience:

• Ten (10) years or more of progressively responsible national work experience in implementing large programs with demonstrated strong management and coordinating skills with five (5) years of which is in management, including direct supervision of professional and support staff and assembling teams working on multi-faceted programs.
• Expertise and experience in climate change and relevant sectors such as energy, agriculture, water and cross-cutting issues such as gender, environmental and social impact assessments.
• Experience in leading teams in the country and/or proven ability to establish productive working relationships with multi-sectoral partners/counterparts/stakeholders.
• Experience in gender mainstreaming in programmes.
• Experience in programme design, monitoring, and evaluation.

Language Proficiency:

• Fluency in both written and spoken English and Nepali.

Core Competencies:

• Transparency: Able to build trust and contribute to informed and responsible decision-making by carrying out the work of IUCN in a transparent manner; provides clear guidance to ensure that objectives and desired measurable results are understood by members of the team.
• Inclusiveness: Understands and accepts cultural diversity, and provides a tolerant, positive, and supportive working environment that fosters respect for diversity, demonstrates the ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment, and maintains effective working relations with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
• Professionalism: Promote the organization’s interests, objectives, and values diligently and professionally.
• Accountability: Takes responsibility for individual and collective actions and promotes the IUCN One Programme approach.

Functional competencies:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills including the ability to summarize complex donor programs.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to interact effectively with all levels of staff and partners from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Capability to develop and implement effective strategies and tactics for accomplishing assigned duties.
• Demonstrated ability to think critically and synthetically across fields and topics.
• Strong ability to work independently and/or remotely, while maintaining productivity.
• Demonstrated ability to work in team environments and cultivate productive partnerships across a diversity of stakeholders.
• Ability to go beyond established procedures and models and propose new approaches that expand the range of projects.
• Proven networking, team building, organizational and communication skills.
• Clear commitment to fostering a culture of high performance and accountability, demonstrated in the ability to manage by results,
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills.
• Committed to continuous learning and a proactive and mature attitude towards self- development.
• Willingness to travel.

In order to participate in this Application, you must meet the following conditions:

• Free of conflicts of interest
• Registered on the relevant professional or trade register of the country in which you are established (or resident, if self-employed)
• In full compliance with your obligations relating to all applicable taxes
• Not been convicted of failing to comply with environmental regulatory requirements or other legal requirements relating to sustainability and environmental protection.
• Not bankrupt or being wound up.
• Never been guilty of an offence concerning your professional conduct.
• Not involved in fraud, corruption, a criminal organisation, money laundering, terrorism, or any other illegal activity.

Submission of Application

• Submission Deadline: 20 May 2024, 17:00 PM
• Your application must be submitted by email to info-np@iucn.org
• The subject heading of the email shall be [RfP Reference – Applicant’s name].
• Your application must be submitted in PDF format. You may submit multiple emails suitably annotated, e.g. Email 1 of 3, if attached files are too large to suit a single email transmission.
  You may not submit your application by uploading it to a file-sharing tool.

Required Documents

• Letter of Expression of Interest (Application Letter) mentioning how you fit for the requirement along with the expected fee per month (inclusive of all Taxes).
• Curriculum Vitae
• Signed Declaration (attached herewith)
• Citizenship Certificate/ PAN or VAT Registration Certificate
• At least three (3) references

Notes: Telephone inquiries shall not be entertained. Canvassing during the selection process will lead to automatic disqualification. Only shortlisted applicants will be invited for further process. IUCN will make one or more awards to carry out the whole or part of the assignment as deemed necessary. IUCN reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications without assigning any reason whatsoever