Programme Manager, Coastal and Ocean Resilience (COR) - S.Africa at International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic management;

• In collaboration with the Country Representative, South Africa, facilitate the strategic development of the COR Country thematic Programme;
• In collaboration with the Country Representative, develop and maintain strong strategic partnerships with in-country programmes, regional programme units, members, commissions, technical agencies, government and non-governmental partners (national, provincial and city level), private sector, policy bodies and donors, and work closely with and other thematic programmes to develop and maintain an appropriate project portfolio and funding for implementation of the country programme;
• Oversee the development and implementation of any relevant marine and coastal initiative in the country, ensuring alignment with key strategic national action points agreed across regional conventions (Nairobi Convention, Abidjan Convention, and Benguela Current Convention), and provide where needed, guidance and support to the development and implementation of other IUCN Initiatives;
• Ensure that IUCN is adequately represented in relevant country fora and negotiations on marine and coastal issues and facilitate discussions on relevant thematic emerging issues to position IUCN as a reference;
• Provide support at regional and international level when required coordination with the Country Representative;
• Develop, coordinate and supervise COR programme country team to ensure that individuals work as an integrated team, ensuring coherence and consistency in programmatic outputs, and that high quality of technical advice is given to IUCN national programmes, field programmes, projects, members and partners;
• Oversee the development and implementation of annual budgets and work plans and provide a timely progress report of the Programme financial and technical activities in accordance with IUCN’s standards and procedures.

Project management;

• Provide managerial oversight, coordination and implementation of the Country COR programme portfolio of projects at the national level, including, lead responsibility in implementation of the ‘End Plastic Pollution International Collaborative (EPPIC)’ project in South Africa, in close collaboration with responsible regional and global IUCN teams;
• Ensure that IUCN's COR work in the country is of high technical quality, based on good science and drawing upon state-of-the-art thinking and knowledge;
• Convene regular meetings with project staff and other technical partners (including implementing partners) to review progress on projects as well as cost recovery and provide monthly reports to the Country Representative, South Africa and Regional Head, Coastal and Ocean Resilience;
• Ensure project/programme strategies and workplans are developed and implemented according to plan and commitments to partners and donors (including assuring quality of performance, timing and budget);
• Capitalize and disseminate to key decision-makers within the country and region, lessons learnt from program and projects as well as those learnt from partners;
• Working closely with the Finance and Administration Department as well as Human Resource focal point to ensure that projects/programme are financially viable and have the necessary human and other resources necessary for effective implementation;
• Ensure that contractual obligations and IUCN's policies and procedures are efficiently adhered to;
• In close coordination with the Country Representative, South Africa and Regional Head, Coastal and Ocean Resilience, ensure that IUCN's work is effectively and widely shared (including by producing high quality communication material), including on online platforms and other media channels.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting;

• In close collaboration with ESARO's Regional M&E Manager, support the development and implementation of in-country COR monitoring and evaluation systems and processes at programme and project level, including inputs to IUCN South Africa Intersessional Programme Monitoring and Evaluation Framework in line with the overall regional M&E framework;
• Oversee IUCN portal entries and management, and mid-year and annual reports development for in-country COR portfolio;
• Facilitate targeted socio-economic and scientific surveys and analysis, and in-country project evaluation management.

Programme development;

• Lead fundraising and resource mobilization efforts for the programme through development of concept notes and proposals and maintain good relationships with donors and funding agencies so as to ensure the financial viability of the programme.
• Work with GEF/GCF task manager to develop the in-country COR portfolio

Other responsibilities:

• Carry out other relevant tasks assigned by, and mutually agreed with, the line manager.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

REQUIREMENTS

Position requirements

Education;

• Minimum of an advanced degree in environmental sciences, marine and coastal management, natural resources management, sustainable development or any other discipline that is relevant to nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources or related fields combined with experience in similar organization/s or programmatic setting;
• Computer literacy in relation to office applications (word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint), use of internet and knowledge management tools;

Work Experience;

• We’re looking for an outstanding, hands-on, highly motivated, autonomous, innovative, solution oriented, results driven and resourceful individual with at least 7 to 10 years of proven experience in:
• natural resource management, coastal and marine conservation, protected and conserved areas, environmental economics, or regenerative blue economy;
• programme coordination and management, project development and fundraising, budgeting, project planning, and day-to-day delivery of activities;
• result-based portfolio and project cycle management, and monitoring and evaluation methodologies;
• adaptable to rapidly changing priorities and able to manage multiple deadlines and deliver high quality work.

Language requirement;

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English is essential.

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 provide a tolerant, positive and supportive working environment that fosters respect for diversity, demonstrates ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
• Professionalism: Promote the organization’s interests, objectives and values in a diligent and professional manner.
• Accountability: Takes responsibility of individual and collective actions, promotes the IUCN One Programme approach.