Unites States Peace Corps Careers - Cross Sector Programming Priorities (CSPP) Program Manager
Organisation: United States Government Peace Corps Duty Station: Kampala, UgandaReports to: Director, Programming and TrainingThe Peace Corps is an agency of the United States Government, which sends American Volunteer development workers to assist in capacity building and technical assistance activities in over 70 countries worldwide. Peace Corps Uganda invites applicants for the position listed above which is based in Kampala, Uganda. Job Summary: The US Peace Corps Cross Sector Programming Priorities (CSPP) Program Manager will offer management and technical leadership in Cross Sector Programmatic Priorities to creatively determine the best utilization of the Volunteer skills and abilities to build Uganda capacity by proactively seeking optimum placements and translate host country assistance requests into viable, effective projects; to provide technical and personal support to assigned Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs); and to ensure the maintenance of a quality Peace Corps program overall. The Peace Corps has six CSPPs: Technology for Development, Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, Volunteerism, Youth as Resources, Support for People with Disabilities, and HIV/AIDS. Currently, Peace Corps Uganda is focused on two specific CSPP: Youth as Resources and Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. Youth as Resources work programming focus currently is on youth camps, life skill instruction to counter HIV/AIDS and active citizenship. Gender Equality efforts have overlapped with youth in the area of activities promoting co-ed cooperation, plus health promotion addressing Saving Mothers Giving Life. The Cross Sector Programming Priorities (CSPP) Program Manager heads the CSPP Team and works as part of a Programming and Training team with the Director of Programming and Training (DPT), the Training Team, the Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator (or person assigned to those tasks) and collaborates closely with all members of the Programming and Training and Administrative Units. Key Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Programming and Management (25% of time): Develops and maintains Peace Corps’ CSPP projects that reflect and serve the needs of Uganda.Identifies host country development issues and dynamics through research, study, and dialogue.Performs or coordinates periodic assessments of host country and community assets and needs. In conjunction with host country officials, non-governmental organizations, community members, Peace Corps staff members, PCVs, and third parties when appropriate, identifies and develops projects which reflect and serve the needs of the host country.Ensures that projects also meet Peace Corps and regional programming criteria and strategies. Determines the range of skills and degree of competency needed for project implementation.Intuitively verifies the probability of recruiting PCVs with the required skills and works with training staff to ensure that the PCVs will be given training to achieve necessary competency levels.Offer technical advice and guidance to resolve, implement, or manage program or policy issues that involve major areas of uncertainty in approach or methodology. After consultation with other staff members, PCVs, and host country officials, makes recommendations to the CD about the continuation, completion, closure, or reconfiguration of existing sites, activities or projects.Researches and writes all major programming documents including project plans, volunteer assignment descriptions, Job Specific Requisitions (JSR), funding requests, periodic report forms, and Project Status Reports (PSRs). Revises project plans annually as part of PC/Headquarters' annual review.Surveys potential PCV sites and evaluates them for appropriateness along multiple lines including opportunities for meaningful work, living conditions, and opportunities for community involvement, the availability of supporting resources, and safety and security.Ascertains safety situation for PCVs, including the adequacy of transportation and communications for emergency evacuation purposes. Works with the community and organizations at each site to prepare them to work with and receive a PCV.Develops and maintains a Project Advisory Committee and through this and other efforts, establishes working relationships with the host country government, communities, non-governmental organizations, and other institutions to encourage effective participation and support for PCV projects. Briefs on-site host country supervisors and counterparts on projects and PCV roles.Maintains liaison and working relationships with relevant ministries and organizations concerning PCV supervision, safety, housing, technical support, and project implementation.Supervises CSPP Response Volunteers, Extension Volunteers who have a particular focus on one or more of the CSPP. The PM is the “Champion” for these Volunteers. On a case by case basis, the PM may also assume the champion role for other Volunteers across any of the other sectors.Offers program leadership and guidance to Program Managers in Health, Agriculture, and Education on strategies to integrate post priorities.Works closely with the Director of Programming and Training to assure strategic and operational coordination with the entire Programming and Training Team. 2. Volunteer Support and Safety (25% of time): Provides and coordinates the provision of timely, locally appropriate technical, personal, and administrative and safety and security support to PCVs through site visits, office visits by PCVs, email and phone communications.Provides and coordinates the provision of technical information and related resources to individual Volunteers and groups, such as Think Tanks, proactively or in response to requests to assist Volunteers in carrying out their duties.Maintains phone and internet communication and checks in on assigned Volunteers with work status and personal adaptation updates.Performs at least 1 site visit per assigned Volunteer to monitor PCV’s project work and assists PCVs to evaluate their work and plan for the future.Offers guidance and / or problem-solving assistance to Volunteers experiencing cultural adjustment, language, job assignment, housing problems, and crises at home. Refers cases in need of professional counseling to the PCMO as appropriate.Identifies and advises PCVs on the advisability of seeking external SPA, VAST or PCPP funding for their projects. Reviews and approves/disapproves Volunteer community projects involving requests for external support.Performs regular visits to potential Volunteer sites to determine their suitability of Volunteer placement and the availability of suitable housing prior to final site selection.Reviews MS-270 and Site History Files for any safety/security issues before Volunteer placement. Updates Site History Files form time to time with relevant information. As of this SOW, these Files are being developed.Conducts meetings with Volunteers’ supervisors/counterparts and/or ministry/organizational officials on Volunteer related work issues.Identifies possible Volunteer safety and security issues during interactions with Volunteers and/or their supervisors/counterparts and assists the Safety and Security Coordinator with MS-270 compliance.Alerts the Country Director through the DPT to any problematic job-related, security or health issues that arise at Volunteer work sites.Offers clear guidance to Volunteers regarding Peace Corps policies and enforces those policies in a fair and consistent manner. Institutes disciplinary actions when PCVs violate established policies. Informs CD of problems and recommends solutions. 3. Volunteer Training (20% of time)Plans and conducts training activities to ensure that Trainees are given a good start and Volunteers are prepared to be a valuable member of their Ugandan communities.Steers the development of core competencies and learning objectives for CSPP activities to meet the objectives of the ED project plans, safety and security, and other priority development technical areas of PCU.Takes lead of the CSPP contribution as the lead technical specialist to collaboratively work with the Training Manager and her/his team to plan and implement TOTs, PSTs, ISTs, MSTs, technical workshops and COS conferences.Actively coordinates collection of materials for training, and identifies guest speakers to participate in sector-specific training activities.Delivers CSPP training to PCTs and PCVs. 4. General Management and Administration (15% of time): As a senior staff member at post, provides input and works on tasks effecting overall post management and the success of the Peace Corps program in country as a whole. Support the Country Director in establishing an overall vision and mission for the country program. Provides input into the creation of the Post’s strategic and operational plans.Works in liaison with other staff members to create uniform and complementary programming, training, and administrative systems.Performs long-range planning and management of new substantive agency programs where precedents are scarce or nonexistent.Fulfills fiscal responsibilities, including budget preparation, budget reporting, and maintenance of fiscal controls.Assumes oversight responsibility for specific Peace Corps activities such as the Coverdell World Wise Schools Program and ad hoc Volunteer working groups and committees.Represents the Peace Corps to the U.S. Embassy, USAID, other development agencies, host country government, and non-governmental organizations, providing information on Peace Corps' purpose, philosophy, goals, program, history, and projects.Significantly contributes to PCV welcome books, trainee handbooks, PCV handbooks, and other post documentation dealing with the recruitment, selection, placement, training, and support of PCVs.Takes part in the design and implementation of the Emergency Action Plan and coordinates emergency plan meetings, resources, and contacts for assigned Volunteers.5. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (MER) (10% of time): Co-manages co-coordinates and collects ED data and information from PCVs; conducts evaluative and reflective activities regarding the project and related PC activities, and writes and contributes reports on ED projects.Learns how to use all relevant reporting tools and operations and mentors other staff and Volunteers on them, particularly the Volunteer Reporting Tool and Forms (VRT/F).Offers timely, technical, relevant and supportive feedback on VRFs to the PCV author and uploads them into the Volunteer database (VIDA).Writes reports, with input from the post coordinator (or person assigned the tasks) for Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting, items relevant for periodic and Annual reports to comply with special funding needs and Peace Corps headquarters reporting requirements.Takes part in monitoring and evaluation meetings and activities and creates draft documents for the Integrated Planning and Budget (IPBS), the annual Peace Corps reporting (Project Status Reviews (PSRs), Training Status Review (TSR) s, Congressional Reports and Peace Corps Uganda Annual Report.Promotes to PCVs and their counterparts to monitor and complete reporting documentation to Peace Corps on their activities.Conducts site visits to current Volunteer sites in order to assess their welfare, job performance, job satisfaction, skill transfer activities, housing and resource support. Prepares site visit reports indicating any required follow-up.Works closely with the Grants Coordinator to encourage prompt and accurate reporting by PCVs for their SPA, VAST and PCPP grants.Manages the preparation of the CSPP training report. Periodically serves as post duty officer responsible for weekend and after-hour emergenciesContributes articles on Health to Staff Notes and Volunteer Newsletters.Perform other duties as assigned by the CD or the DPT to assist Peace Corps successfully carry out its mission in Uganda. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The ideal candidate for the US Peace Corps position should preferably hold a good bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.Past exposure and experience of at least four years of related work as a teacher, a supervisor, tutor, curriculum specialist, coach, headmaster, or other related work.Excellent computer skills including word processing and spreadsheet programs; excellent command of English, both spoken and written; native ability in spoken and written at least one Ugandan language.Possess the ability to work independently with little supervision; good organization and time management skills; willingness to take the initiative; excellent teamwork skills, strong service attitude; personal integrity; strong cross-cultural skills; strong interpersonal skills, strong interest in Uganda’s development.Ability and willingness to travel extensively.Ability to work on a regular Monday through Friday schedule with evening and weekend hours when necessary.Ability to travel throughout Uganda as needed for implementation of the program and as in line with the jobPossess, or able to secure, a Uganda work visa. All interested candidates are required to apply by E-mail strictly. Please do not attach academic credentials to the email.Please kindly indicate the position applied for on the subject line of the cover mail. For example “Cross Sector Programming Priorities (CSPP) Program Manager”Letter of interest / cover letterResume, including names and contact information for 3 referencesSubmitted documents become the property of the Peace Corps and will not be returned. You will be contacted ONLY if you are deemed qualified. If invited for an interview, you will be expected to bring a reference letter from your Local Council (LC1) and your academic credentials.Deadline: Tuesday October 14, 2014 by 5:00 pmFor More Ugandan Jobs, Please Visit http://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
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