Area Manager, Tana River County

Job Purpose:

• The Area Manager is responsible for leading Concern's projects in Tana River County. This responsibility covers programme delivery including coordination, programme planning and overseeing the day-to-day operations of field staff and supporting the operational functions (human resources, logistics, finance & administration, staff safety and security). In fulfilling these responsibilities, the Area Manager will work closely with the Programme Coordinator and Programme Director to ensure that the programmes are carried out in line with Concern's policies and procedures.
• The Area Manager serves as Concern's senior representative at the County level, providing leadership in external engagement and coordination with key stakeholders. Working in close partnership with the Programme Coordinator (PC) and Programme Director (PD), the Area Manager contributes to strategic planning, monitors programme performance, and identifies opportunities for scale-up or adaptation in response to emerging needs and contextual changes while providing technical support towards toward quality and timely implementation of programs. S/he will be responsible for developing the quarterly work plans, strengthening the capacity of the officers (Livelihoods, Health and Nutrition, Monitoring Evaluation Learning (MEL)and Governance & Advocacy) and leading the monitoring and documentation of all projects in the county.

Programme Cycle Management

• Provide leadership in implementation of the programs in Tana River County ensuring projects are executed in line with relevant strategies and donor guidelines. This also includes holding projects inception and planning meeting with County teams for effective implementation.
• Prepare and implement County specific program annual and quarterly implementation costed workplans that correspond to the approved donor proposals and budgets and update these on a timely basis.
• Prepare and share recruitment and procurement plans with HR and Logistics colleagues, and update these on a timely basis.
• Work closely with other Concern program teams and implementing partners to foster layering, sequencing and integration of various interventions towards desired outcomes.
• Timely initiate all program activities in line with the relevant program documents to ensure all planned activities are completed within set timelines and program commitments
• Support cross-sectoral periodic programme reviews to assess programme progress, capture lessons learnt and adapt programme strategies as necessary in accordance with Concern's results-based management principles. Ensure mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues/approaches throughout the programme cycle including Accountability to Affected Population, Gender, Protection, Conflict Sensitivity, Accountability and do no harm philosophy.
• Ensure the local authorities and communities are meaningfully engaged in programme development in line with the Core Humanitarian Standards initiative and best practices.
• Support community entry process for all the projects implemented in Tana River, ensuring the project priority is aligned to community needs to strengthen existing capacities
• In collaboration with program Technical Advisors, develop, continuously review and adapt implementation strategies for various program approaches such as Climate smart agriculture, Village savings and Loans associations, value chain development, business development services, Market based approaches, Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) Community Health Strategy, etc.
• Working closely with the program coordinators, Technical Advisors and County based project team, ensure program adaptation to the prevailing contextual changes to ensure relevance to the local needs.
• Actively promote intersectoral linkages such as Gender, Equality, Conflict and Peace, Protection, HIV and AIDS, Disaster Risk Reduction, Environment, Climate Change Adaptation, and Partnerships where relevant
• Contribute to development of donor proposals and budgets ensuring that all direct and indirect costs are fully and accurately budgeted.
• Work effectively with the support functions (operations and finance) to ensure that the programme, finance, HR and logistics needs are planned and met.

Team Management

• Line manages direct reports, contributing to their capacity building and career development through technical support and on-the-job training and coaching, including a thorough induction at the start of their contract.
• Provide technical mentorship to the officers(s) and including identification of capacity gaps and support in addressing them for effective implementation of the County program.
• Ensure that all department positions have accurate Job Description s and that each member of the team fully understands outcomes which are expected of them, by setting SMART objectives, and that they are aware of the success criteria relating to their work.
• Make recommendations on core staffing needs and training/capacity building needs for Tana River programmes and support in consultation with the PC.
• Develop, monitor and review performance development plans of all the staff reporting to him/her and hold staff accountable to meet their success criteria; give corrective feedback where required and take decisive action in the case of poor performance.
• Ensure that all department staff are aware of and comply with all of Concern's policies and procedures.
• Ensure that work within the team(s) is planned and organized in a way which will meet the organization's needs in the most cost-effective manner possible; ensuring that team members are given appropriate workloads and are working efficiently.

Budget management

• Monitor programme expenditures and budgets and work with Programme Officers and the PC to ensure optimal resource utilisation and spending in accordance with Concern's financial procedures and donor requirements.
• Monitor and report delegated program budgets against the costed work plan ensuring 100% completion of planned quarterly activities with >90% expenditure
• Review monthly management account reports from Finance to ensure that expenditure is being accurately recorded and to avoid any under- or over-spends
• Ensure all expenditure is authorized and spent in accordance with Concern's internal procedures.
• Ensure the allocated budget is utilized effectively, and any necessary adjustments are requested in a timely manner.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Develop a comprehensive detailed implementation plan for the project, oversee its implementation and undertake regular review and update on the progress.
• Initiate programme activities on time to deliver planned outputs within agreed timelines and commitments.
• Proactively provide capacity support in all the program evaluation exercises such as program participants registration, baseline/midline and end line surveys, post distribution monitoring exercise etc.
• Spend at least 50% of time visiting project sites with field visit reports prepared at the end of every monitoring trip.
• Participation in relevant monthly and quarterly review meetings and organizing similar progress review meetings at County level.
• Organizing and participating in field visits by donors and other technical support staff.
• Lead documentation of Tana River programming through development of success stories and program briefs

Reporting and Donor Compliance

• Support the timely submission of internal monthly and donor reports as per the grants/funding tracker
• Work with the Program Director and Program Coordinator to ensure the timely and high-quality development of programme proposals and concept notes for donors and other interested parties, including government departments.
• Ensure the timely production of high-quality annual reports, including reporting on PEER and CHS.

Representation & Networking

• Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with peer NGOs, County government staff and communities with whom we work.
• Participate regularly in County Steering Group, sectoral working groups and other relevant coordination meetings.
• Share information with other actors (other NGOs, UN agencies, private sector etc) for effective coordination and cooperation

Responding to Emergencies

• Participating and contributing towards Concern's emergency response, as and when necessary
• Complying with Concern's health, safety and security guidelines during emergencies

Others

• Adhere to and promote the standards outlined in the Concern Code of Conduct and associated policies to their team, program participants, and be committed to providing a safe working environment
• Working closely with Concern CRM and accountability officer, support in addressing all the complaints, response and feedback issues related to the program.
• Actively participate in collective exercises such as preparation or updates of Preparing for Effective Emergency Response (PEER) plan, Security Management Plan (SMP) and other Concern initiatives.
• Ensure the highest stands of accountability through ensuring good communication and information sharing within and outside the organisation.
• Contribute to security assessments for the County, monitoring and providing and/or advising security situation in the County and reporting of all security incidents on the Security Incident Reporting Tool (SIRT)
• Actively participate in any emergency response if called upon to do so (within the existing programme area or in a new one).
• All managers are responsible for upholding and promoting Concern's values, demonstrating leadership on workplace equality, diversity and inclusion, and role modelling a positive safeguarding ethos.
• Managing administrative aspect such as office, vehicles and stores for smooth running of the office
• Undertake other related duties as may reasonably be assigned by the line manager.

Role Holder Requirements:

Minimum Education, Qualifications & Experience Required:

• A Bachelor's degree in either of the following: Agriculture Economics, Agronomy, Agri-business Management, Environmental Science, Disaster Management, or any other relevant field.
• At least five (5) years' experience implementing multi-sectoral projects with livelihoods, nutrition, WASH, community empowerment, Climatic resilience themes.
• Demonstrable experience in market-based approaches in livelihoods programming including Cash and Voucher Assistance, Value chain development, Enterprise and SME development, private sector partnerships and financial inclusion
• At least three (3) years' experience in budget management.
• Proven experience and knowledge of Project Cycle Management, Climate Smart Agriculture, Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction, WASH, Natural Resource, Management, Value chain development and Market Systems Development.
• Experience in rural community development and empowerment
• Experience in management of a diverse team of staff.
• Fluency in spoken and written language in English and Swahili
• Good computing and report writing skills

Preference will be given to candidates who have:

• High integrity and demonstrated ability to follow standards and policies
• Ability to work in a systematic and organized manner
• Ability to work under pressure and adhere to deadlines
• Energy to work long hours and be out in the field all day
• Analytical Skills - critical thinking & Data analysis.
• In-depth understanding of procedures with strong technical knowledge.
• Be able to work independently, as well as in a team
• Be willing to accept responsibility and to show good judgment, initiative, and resourcefulness
• Strong planning, leadership and management skills