The COR Deputy Regional Head – Program Delivery and Operations, will be directly responsible for the day-to-day management of IUCN COR project portfolio in the region, building on and aligning with IUCN ESARO’s Blue Resilience Framework and add value to nationally defined priorities. This position will also provide additional support on programme and proposal development when required, in close collaboration with the COR RH and the COR Leadership Team as well as other relevant IUCN programmes, Members, Commissions and partners.

This position is responsible for: i) In close collaboration with regional programmatic managers, country teams and implementing partners, ensuring that the COR project portfolio activities are effectively and efficiently implemented; ii) Promoting project management learning, knowledge generation and innovation within project portfolio, between regional programmes and between country teams and partners; and iii) Lead progress and performance review of the COR programme in the region, (iv) ensure that project budgets, expenditures and project implementation are in line with the workplans and work with regional programme managers, country teams and partners to adjust accordingly when required, (v) ensure that IUCN online systems are kept up to dates and (vi) coordinate sound and strong procurement and other critical processes related to project implementation.

This position will ideally be based in IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, Nairobi. Other country offices (i.e. South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar, Comoros) could also be considered for the right candidate.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic support and management;
Support the implementation of the COR Regional Program Strategy and associated large projects, with a focus on ensuring seamless integration with country and global IUCN program strategies to address IUCN’s strategic priorities
Support Identifying key target audiences, influencers and partners to drive IUCN COR’s work in the region forward, including key delivery, organizational, partnership and fundraising objectives
Identify organizational and program-related challenges, emerging issues and solutions faced by the programs at the regional and country level
Ensure critical monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of COR’s programmatic and project efforts in the region that demonstrates impact and reflects IUCN’s initiatives and projects as appropriate to local conditions
Design support, including development of mature theories of change, monitoring and evaluation, work plans, risk assessments, alignment with IUCN COR’s strategic goals and objectives, project institutional arrangements, governance and delivery
Proposal writing and review when applicable, contract or lead the proposal writing and coordination
Ensure coordination within the program on large-scale, multi-country and priority projects
Flag and help project teams/project leads avoid pitfalls and issues experienced by other projects that could have been averted with more sound design.
Share best practices/processes/resources to streamline the proposal development process and increase the uptake of best practices for project implementation across the program.

Program Coordination;
Represent IUCN COR’s efforts and work in the region, with a focus on project delivery, creating synergies with other non-COR project activities and teams, and ongoing development efforts, addressing issues and opportunities
Liaise with other programs and project teams in ensuring and pushing program excellence

Project management;
Day-to-day technical oversight on all COR projects, both at Regional and Country levels, with a focus on ensuring program quality control, and impactful program and project delivery
Lead development and delivery of strong and sound regional work plans and related budgets. Ensure that the best adaptive management practices are mainstreamed and adhered to by regional and in-country teams.
Ensuring that project/programme strategies and workplans are developed and implemented according to plan and commitments to partners and donors (including assuring quality of performance & progress, timing and budget);
Serve as initial coordinator for new large-scale and priority public-funded projects,
Analyze delivery risks/delays identified, and provide projects the necessary management support
Monitor/track success and progress for selected projects comparing against criteria that will be developed specific to that project
Support high-risk projects or those not meeting expectations
Gather and share lessons learned and other resources for project management and implementation across the division (e.g., project management tools, finance/operations processes, etc.).
Ensure knowledge sharing between program staff across the COR program, for transfer of ideas on program development, program implementation, and strategic partnership building
Working closely with COR RH and the Finance and Administration Department as well as Human Resource, support efforts to ensure that projects/programme are financially viable and have the necessary human and other resources necessary for effective implementation;
Ensuring that contractual obligations and IUCN’s policies and procedures are efficiently adhered to;
Ensure that all IUCN online system are kept up to date
In close coordination with the COR RH and the Regional Communication officer, ensure that IUCN’s work is effectively ad widely shared (including by producing high quality communication material), including on online platforms and other media channels.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting;
In close collaboration with ESARO’s Regional and COR M&E Officers, support the development and implementation of a regional COR monitoring and evaluation systems and processes at programme and project level;
Oversee IUCN portal entries and management, and mid-year and annual reports development for regional COR portfolio;
Facilitate targeted socio-economic and scientific surveys and analysis, and project evaluation management.

Programme development;
Support fundraising and resource mobilization efforts for the programme, including writing of proposals based on COR RH guidance, regional strategic framework and in-country guidance.

Other Duties;
Carry out other relevant tasks assigned by, and mutually agreed with, the line manager.