Job Background

As part of achieving the Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy’s goals for the forest sector, targets set in the NFSDP and as part of its REDD+ Implementation Plan, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change (MEFCC) is setting up a Forest Sector Transformation Unit (FSTU). The FSTU is formed to create a multi-sectoral coordination platform to bring about transformational change in the forest sector through initiating innovative approaches and guide implementation, compile lessons/challenges for adoption, promote engagement with private sector and CSOs in forest sector/REDD+ undertaking as well as to analyze the policy environment and the roles of the forest sector in achieving the CRGE objectives.

The unit is to be set up for highly capable professionals who are distinctive in their field and energized about the development of Ethiopia and its forest sector.  The unit will focus on supporting implementation of forestry initiatives under the REDD+ Implementation Plan with the ministry as well as building a broader portfolio of initiatives with the private sector and civil society that will allow rapid scale and impact in both afforestation / reforestation as well as forest protection in Ethiopia.

The FSTU is seeking a Manager who will be leading the Project Delivery Support team to deliver tangible results on new and ongoing projects. This team’s role is to provide execution and project management support to existing programs in the forestry sector.  This includes actively and collaboratively working with existing programs to develop workplans and milestones, build capabilities within program teams, problem-solve roadblocks, and identify opportunities to improve and accelerate programs. This is a hands-on and exciting opportunity to be at the front and center of strengthening Ethiopia’s forestry sector from the ground up and support execution of ambitious initiatives throughout the sector. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Project delivery support:

Collaborate with project teams  to set actionable near-term and long-term workplans, with clear milestones, deliverables, and KPIs;

Support project teams in delivery of these activities, as needed (including, for example, woreda selection for key activities, holding stakeholder meetings, designing trainings, creating and tracking budgets);

Build capabilities within program teams through trainings, design of implementation / tracking tools, and coaching on project management skills;

Identify issues in project delivery and work collaboratively with project teams to identify solutions and help resolve;

Identify and implement monitoring and evaluation strategies for meeting program targets.

Provide technical advice on the design, implementation and delivery of forest sector and forest-livelihood related models;

Regularly host coordination meetings with project teams to review overall progress and identify opportunities across projects for shared learning and resourcing;

Develop and maintain strong project management tools / guides / trainings for the Forest Sector Transformation Unit and supported programs;

Participating in FSTU’s strategic development, including attending internal meetings, strategy away days etc.;

Provide support to consultants or partner organisations contracted for training and support to partners;

Collaborate with Business Development team and relevant stakeholders, to ensure new projects developed are informed by the Project Delivery Support team;

Performing other tasks as may arise from time to time be requested by the Director or Deputy Director of the Forest Sector Transformation Unit.

Competencies

Proven experience in working with delivery of targets and programs in the forest and land use sector, especially working with donor funds;

Ability to carry out responsibilities independently with minimal technical support;

Strong project management experience with proven implementation results, including collaborating experience with higher learning and research institutions locally and abroad;

Strong team player, highly energetic, self-motivated, goal-oriented and committed to shared goals;

Strong set of personal values, including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service;

Excellent computer literacy including standard office applications such as MS-Office packages; Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Database/Access as well as statistical techniques;

Project planning and management skill with proven results or rich project management experience;

Flexibility, excellent adaptive problem-solver in challenging environment;

Strong project management experience with proven implementation results, including experience collaborating with line functions to support them in delivery of their projects;

Strong analytical skills with an ability to manage numbers, including budgets, impact numbers, monitoring and evaluation etc.;

Demonstrated experience of working with multi-stakeholder teams, ideally representing different government agencies;

Strong preference for individuals with previous experience working with government or government agencies;

Ability to collaborate with senior staff of national and international institutions;

Willingness and ability to learn on the job, keen to undertake training and on the job development;

Excellent computer literacy including standard office applications such as MS Office packages Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Database/Access as well as statistical techniques.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Minimum MSc degree in forestry, natural resource management, forest management, production forest.

Experience:

Minimum 6 years work experience in research and project management in the field of Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Livelihoods and Value Chain Development;

Practical understandings and experience of the challenges and opportunities of the forest sector in Ethiopia;

Demonstrated experience at managerial level in developing effective strategic plans and strengthening the capacity of public bodies;

Experience in project delivery support and effective management of complex interactions in complex work environment;

Proven experience in creating, mobilizing and coordinating teams for enhanced delivery;

Project management experience with proven results;

Proven experience in delivering goals of forestry related programs;

Previous work with government or government agencies is preferred, but not required.

Language requirements:

Fluency in English.

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