Provincial Project Operations Officer x3 at Ministry of National Development Planning

Zambia has been implementing the World Bank supported Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR) aimed at strengthening Zambia ‘s institutional framework for climate resilience (while) improving the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities in selected Sub-basins. This phase strengthens capacity at both national and local levels, whilst piloting the mainstreaming of climate risk management into spatial planning. Investments supported by the Zambia PPCR on the ground include participatory adaptaton, climate-resilient infrastructure and strategic program support in agriculture, water, livestock, fisheries and natural resources and climate information scrvices. The investments were targeted at helping the country to manage the challenge of land degradation, unsustainable land use and climate variability and change.

Building on the programmatic approach for the implementation of the PPCR in Western Province of Zambia and scaling up lessons from it, the Government of the Republic of Zambia with the support of the World Bank
will be implementing the Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development (TRALARD) project in the Northern region of Zambia, in three provinces, namely; Luapula. Northern and Muchinga. The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve natural resource management in the northern regon of Zambia to support sustainable livelihoods, and in the event of an eligible crisis or emergency, to provide immediate and effective response to the eligible crisis or emergency. TRALARD project will cover a number of thematic areas including sustainable landscape management, restoration and resilience: intrastructure tor resilience  and market access; and contingency emergency response, to support one of the poorest regions in the country by integrating livelihood improvement with natural resource sustainability. The interventions will operationalize landscape approaches to contribute to the national forest landscapes restoration requirements as well as enhance resilience and development in the Northern region and deepen the work in southern region of the country.

The impacts of climate change, subtle or gradual as they are, remain persistent. They are taking their toll on the natural resource base of the region. exacerbating the already vulnerable context of the people.

The government of Zambia has embraced an integrated approach to development investments at landscape level. To respond to the challenges of sustainable livelihoods by restoring degraded forest lands and through  multi-dimension renewable natural resource sustainable use and restoration, will require a demand for a large scale, landscape approach that could impact thousands of rural level communities.

The Ministry of National Development Planning now invites applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the following vacancies as part of the TRALARD Project Implementation Units (PIUS) in the three (3) target  provinces of Luapula, Muchinga and Northern provinces;

Provincial Project Operations Officer – 3 Positions (01-Luapula, 01-Muchinga, 01-Northern)

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Operations Officer’s prime responsibility is to ensure that the project produces the results specified in the project document, to the required standard of quality and within the specified time and cost. He/She has the authority to run the project on a day-to-day basis within the constraints of time, budget, quality and scope. The Project Operations Officer will lead a Provincial Project Implementation Unit (PPIU) of 6 subordinates which will include the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, the Procurement Officer, Project Operations Officer, Environmental and Social Safeguards Officer; and Including Operation offcer in the district office. He/She Will ensure the direction of project activities and the achievement of project targets and results, by focusing on the following results:

a. Project Management:

b. Coordination of a holistic and integrated project activities

c.  Preparation and submission of consolidated reports, annual work plans and budgets

d. Ensures and coordinates provision of high-quality technical advice and building of partnerships, focusing on achievement of the following results:

e. Facilitates knowledge building and management, focusing on achievement of the following results:

f. Undertake any other tasks as assigned by the National Project Coordination Unit, National Coordinator andfor the Assistant Director – PPU in connection with the TRALARD.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Leadership – Ability to provide direction, vision, coach/mentor team members, sound judgment, issue & conflict resolution, and effective decision making.
• People Management – Ability to improve performance and satisfaction, team building, build and manage interpersonal relationships, influence and win respect role modelling and fairness.
• Communication – Ability to actively listen, adapt, persuade and transform.
• Delivery – Ability to get things done, managing deliverables and milestones on time/within budgct/mccting project needs.

Technical/Functional Competencies:

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Good knowledge of biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, rural livelihoods and local governance.
• The ability to think outside the box to come up with creative and new solutions or approaches when conventional solutions and approaches are not working.
• Stakeholder Engagement – Ability to liaise effectively with officers at all levels in key government departments and institutions.
• Professlonalism – Ability to focus on professional ethics and integrity.
• Secondary Knowledge Management – Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.
• Maintaining and keeping open strong/trusting relationships with key organizations.
• Leading by Example – Walking the talk and using the power of influence to effect positive change.
• A nigh level ot computer literacy, including Word, Excel, Intemet, Email, Power Point.

Qualification, Skills and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree or Higher in Natural Resources Management. Project Management, Development Studies, Environmental Management, Development Planning, Agriculture, Forestry, Rural Development Or related field.

Skill and Experience

• Minimum 8 years relevant experience in design, planning, implementation. monitoring and evaluation of development projects and including at least 5 years in a management role.
• At least 8 years of demonstrated experience in working on natural resources management, sustainable development projects/programmes, climate change, rural livelihood projects and/or  programmes and community development;
• Demonstrated experience working on Community Driven Development Project.
• Prior experience working on donor funded projects in Zambia will be an added advantage;
• Demonstrated experience working in rural set up.
• Demonstrated experience in technical report writing and presentation;
• Should be a good team player, self-starter, has ability to work under minimum supervision and maintain good relationships; and
• Relevant work experience in Northern Zambia would be an advantage.

Language

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, in English;
• Ability to communicate in Bemba is an added advantage.

Duration

The engagement is for an initial 2 years with possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance.

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