Job Title: Senior Program Officer, Peace Building & Conflict Transformation (PBCT)- Act Change Transform (Act!)

Act Change Transform (Act!) is a local Non-Governmental Organization whose mission is to facilitate the empowerment of marginalized people and communities in Kenya and neighboring countries, to become active participants in their development by enabling them to: stand up for their rights; demand good governance in the management of resources; and participate in decision-making processes. Act! does this through implementing partners, offering them capacity development, management of grants so that value for money is achieved and providing strategic leadership in national advocacy for the benefit of women, youth, people with disabilities and other marginalized communities.

Job Summary

The SPO will primarily support technical and project implementation support to Act! under the PBCT platform. The holder will collect data and provide accurate and up-to-date information to the PBCT team and Act! on the conflict & security operating context in Kenya. He/she will keep close tabs on all forms of conflicts i.e. nature-based conflicts, political conflicts, radicalization, violent extremism, conflict early warning and early response environment, link closely with strategic partners and advise Program staff on issues around peacebuilding and conflict transformation, democracy and human rights and environment, natural resource management sectors. This position reports to the Platform Manager, PBCT.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program Management

• Be part of Act! Program Technical & Management Team.
• Work with the PBCT Manager and other Project Managers in examining PBCT strategies and aligning with best national and other global practices.
• Support Programs delivery according to the set plans and timelines while ensuring that adequate consultations continuously happen with all key stakeholders.
• Facilitate staff and partners within PBCT Programs to engage effectively with communities, CSOs and Government.
• Support Effective Learning and Exchange between and among the key Program actors.
• Support regular sector wide and Program relevance analysis to inform future interventions.

2. Financial Management

• Responsible for the overall budget within allocated Programs.
• Provide oversight in budget preparation and tracking for the allocated Programs.
• Provide oversight for all expenditure related to grants and administration within the allocated Programs.
• Provide up to date advice to the on the financial health of the allocated Programs.
• Support by providing oversight to the budgeting process for all proposals submitted.
• Work closely with the grants lead in providing up to date reports on partners’ performance

3. Monitoring Evaluation Reporting & Learning

• Collaborate with the MERL team to design and operationalize Program level MERL plans.
• Develop content for relevant internal publications and liaise with Act! communication team for production (case studies, end-term reports, biennial impact reports, and features, etc.).
• Offer support to research teams within the PBCT Program platform, including coordinating the work of external experts and consultants on process and quality final products.
• Participate in setting Program baseline and targets indicators in line with overall strategic goal of the Programs.
• Support timely preparation of periodic technical reports, coordinating downstream partners reporting while linking with donor partners’ contact persons on high-quality deliverables

3. Capacity Development

• Offer technical inputs to the design of responsive Capacity Development plans for Program partners and collaborators by the Act! CD Unit.
• Provide leadership in training and delivery of PBCT training for Act! Partners/sub grantees.
• Provide leadership in mentoring and coaching for partners through accompaniment and quarterly site visits.
• Liaise with the PBCT Platform Manager and specific Project Managers in ensuring all capacity development needs for the partners are addressed in a timely manner.
• Assist in the preparation of CD and training materials and content modules that respond to the training needs identified and feedback from the Organizational Capacity Assessments (OCAs).

4. Staff Supervision

• This position supervises Program Officers, Programs Assistants, Interns and Volunteers.
• In close consultation and collaboration with the Platform Manager, establish performance objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) with each staff under their direct supervision, and lead the quarterly and annual performance reviews, filing timely progress reports with HR department.
• Provide targeted mentorship and technical support to all staff under their supervision. Ensuring that all staff under their supervision are performing to their best.

5. Networking and Representation

• Maintain good external linkages with all actors including national and county government, and the community.
• Establish and maintain regular contact with beneficiary groups and partner organizations, and to liaise and coordinate with the appropriate government and non-governmental bodies whenever appropriate to ensure successful project progress.
• Negotiate collaboration with partner institutions and government departments in support of Act!.
• Represent the PBCT platform and Act! when called upon at relevant meetings, forums and processes to stay up to date with unfolding events or issues and ensure that Act! is best placed to advise donors and other stakeholders.

6. Resource Mobilization

• Offer technical support and contribute to new business development and Act! fundraising strategies for expanding and sustaining PBCT Programs.
• Participate in active and ongoing research on funding landscape for relevant Programs and to identify opportunities for partnerships and collaboration – ensuring responsiveness of PBCT Programs to the changing donor/funding landscape.

7. Academic & Professional Qualifications, Experience and Essential Skills:

Academic Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in social studies and in particular peace & conflict related studies or any other related fields. A Masters qualification is an added advantage.

Professional Qualifications

• Professional training in Project Cycle Management, MERL and or other related topics is a requirement.

Indicative level of Experience

• Minimum of 8 years of progressive growth and demonstrated relevant work experience with national NGOs involved in peacebuilding, conflict transformation, countering violent extremism & advocacy with communities in Kenya.

Essential Skills and Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent computer skills.
• Excellent supervision & mentorship skills.
• Strong analytical and complex problem-solving skills.
• Excellent team player in a cultural and multi-disciplinary setting.
• Excellent policy influencing, advocacy and lobby skills.
• Able to work with minimum or no supervision.

Complexity and Difficulty of the Role

This is a demanding job position and requires tolerance, knowledge of local community dynamics, security awareness and dynamics, and an understanding of the local political and cultural dynamics.