Peace Parks is a non-profit conservation organisation that specialises in Conservation at Scale through the development of Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) and the long-term management of key Protected Areas in partnership with government, conservation agencies and communities within these landscapes. We currently focus on the development of five priority Transfrontier Conservation Areas measuring over 65 million hectares throughout southern Africa and the co-management of ten National Parks and Protected Areas covering over 5.2 million hectares.
Duration: 2-Year Fixed Term Contract
Department: Combatting Wildlife Crime Programme
Reporting line: Project Manager: Combatting Wildlife Crime
Location: Gauteng, South Africa
1. POSITION SUMMARY
The Project Manager will be responsible for the management and delivery of the South African Integrated Wildlife Zones Project (Phase III), implemented by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and Peace Parks Foundation (PPF). The Project Manager will apply project management best practice to manage and deliver the project on time, within budget with all defined targets met, according to the donor requirements.
2. KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS (KPAs) and RESPONSIBLITIES
2.1 Project governance
Ensure project governance:
2.1.1 Manage compliance to the conditions of the grant, PPF and DFFE policies and procedures.
2.1.2 Liaise with DFFE, project stakeholders and partners in the establishment of the required agreements to ensure the project is governed according to policy and donor requirements.
2.1.3 Manage project grant amendments, in cooperation with DFFE and project partners.
2.1.4 Act as a conduit between DFFE and PPF.
2.1.5 Enhance project implementation tools and methodologies to increase effectiveness and efficacy of projects implemented within the Project.
2.1.6 Manage the Project Implementation Task Team and participate in Project Steering Committee Meetings.
2.1.7 Establish synergies with other related projects within DFFE and Peace Parks.
2.2 Project management & implementation
Using project management best practice, manage the project to ensure compliance with time, cost and quality requirements.
2.2.1 Supervise the Project Team, consultants and other partners hired by the project. Sign off on technical reports, on the ground activities implemented and other deliverables concluded by Work Package leads.
2.2.2 Supervise, manage, and coordinate the implementation of project activities, in accordance with the Project Plan, to achieve project outputs and outcomes, on time. This includes carrying out regular field visits to the Project sites.
2.2.3 Manage the project budget (including providing expenditure forecasts) issue, risk and change logs, using the identified tools – keeping the Project Workbook up to date to allow for the real-time dashboarding of key information for senior management.
2.2.4 Report against the project plan to ensure that all relevant individuals and partners understand the project’s status and that donor reporting requirements are met (monthly and quarterly narrative and financial reports and close out reports).
2.2.5 Monitor the relevance of the project plan, rapidly capturing changes according to the needs and manage project grant amendments, in cooperation with DFFE and PPF.
2.2.6 Act as the point of contact for the Project. Ensure regular engagement with internal and external project stakeholders.
2.2.7 Participate in and facilitate the training activities supported by the project.
2.2.8 Develop and implement a project communication and marketing strategy that will include the hosting of weekly, monthly, and quarterly meetings (to monitor project implementation), with appropriate teams/stakeholders, as well as the usage of appropriate technology platforms such as Teams, Outlook Groups, SharePoint etc. to share information.
2.2.9 Transition (mid-term review) and sustainability plan to be compiled. Handover to DFFE at the end of the project term.
2.2.10 Manage the transfer of project deliverables, documents, equipment and any project assets or materials as per agreed standards procedures and PPF policies.
2.2.11 Manage project close out.
2.3 Working Conditions
- Travel to project sites across South Africa.
- Comfortable working outdoors, sometimes in rural areas.
- Ability to work extended work hours to meet project deadlines.
- Flexible work arrangements, with some in-office days.
2.4 Qualifications and Experience
· Qualification in conservation, environmental studies, natural resource management, project management or field related to the objectives of the project.
· Minimum 8 years’ experience managing and implementing major, complex projects funded by institutional donors, preferably for a non-governmental conservation/environmental crime/development organisation.
· Minimum 5 years’ experience in team supervision.
2.5 Competencies & skills
- Excellent organization and time management skills.
- Excellent technical and analytical skills.
- Team player and able to work effectively with diverse works groups in a multicultural environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Fluency in English is required.
- Ability to work well under pressure, multitask, set priorities, and deliver quality results.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and under minimal supervision.
- A record of success in managing and delivering projects from initiation to close out.
- Excellent abilities with Microsoft 365 products
- Ability to produce high quality, detailed technical reports.
Interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter detailing their interest in and suitability for the position and a Curriculum Vitae, with full address, telephone number, email address and contact details of at least three contactable references. These should be submitted by 29 February 2024.
A competitive salary package will be negotiated, based on qualifications and experience.
SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES will be contacted to attend an interview. Should you not hear from us within two weeks from the closing date, your application was unsuccessful.