Post - Social Protection - SAGE Programme Director

Organization(s): Maxwell Stamp PLC

Country/Region: Uganda

Contract Length: Long-term consulting assignment

Apply by: 25 January 2010

Description

SAGE Programme Director

Apply By: 22 January 2009

Maxwell Stamp has been contracted by DFID as the Management Consultant to provide good quality and timely technical assistance to the Government of Uganda to implement the Expanding Social Protection in Uganda (ESPU). This 5 year programme of support for social protection in Uganda will focus on developing and piloting a cash transfer scheme and delivering technical assistance to increase capacity for management of social protection. The overall aim is to help develop a national social protection framework taking into account both social assistance and social insurance mechanisms which will support chronically poor households. The programme will be led by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD).

Maxwell Stamp will oversee implementation of the cash transfer pilot scheme over 3 years, involving administration and management of up to £20 million in cash transfers. A Management Agency composed of MoGLSD personnel and individuals contracted by Maxwell Stamp will implement the Programme.

Maxwell Stamp is currently looking to recruit a Programme Director who will responsible for managing the cash transfer component, Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE). The position will start as soon as possible and work full time in Uganda for 3 years (late 2009 to 2013). The SAGE Programme Director will be responsible for establishing and managing the SAGE unit and ensuring the overall efficiency and accountability for the programme.

Key duties for this role will be:

• § Effectively managing a team of international and national staff comprising Finance & Procurement Manager, Operations Manager, M&E Coordinator, MIS Coordinator, Training Coordinator, support and administrative staff, plus long and short term consultants as dictated by the Programme;
• § Leading the team, particularly the Finance & Procurement Manager and M&E Coordinator, in managing and monitoring implementation of the SAGE pilot system for dispersal of cash transfers across the Programme implementation zone according to the logframe and Programme Memorandum, including submission of statements of expenditures, preparation of monthly reconciliation reports and cash transfers;
• § Regular field visits to pilots districts ensure proper coordination and delivery of the pilot;
• § Reporting progress on targets to the National Coordinator of the Social Protection Secretariat;
• § Liaising closely with the Social Protection Adviser on policy matters pertaining to SAGE;
• § Acting as spokesperson for SAGE within the SP Secretariat, with partners and in external meetings;
• § Overseeing financial and procurement matters including contracted service providers; and
• § Meeting all the programme planning and reporting requirements as specified by the client and Maxwell Stamp.

The candidate for this role will be a senior international consultant with the following credentials;

• § A development practitioner with a relevant post graduate degree in social sciences or economics, with at least 15 years experience in overseeing social assistance/social protection programmes in conjunction with partner governments;
• § Chartered accountant or demonstrated credentials in financial management is highly desirable;
• § Prior experience with DFID, preferably in team leadership position;
• § Experience managing large teams of consultants and government counterparts and in motivating staff to perform;
• § Extensive experience working in East Africa, preferably Uganda or a country in a similar setting in terms of social protection development;
• § Strong skills in programme and team management and understanding of cash transfers programmes;
• § Experience working on conflict-prone or fragile environments (such as Northern Uganda);
• § Experience building capacity of government counterparts, mentoring and training;
• § Ability to lead the pilot implementation team and to ensure that the pilot is delivered on time and to the specified milestone targets; and
• § Experienced in working in private-public partnerships.

The position is based in Kampala, within a designated office of the MGLSD and will involve regular travel to the pilot districts.

Candidates that meet the above requirements are strongly advised to send their CVs/Resumes to: dcooper@maxwellstamp.com, by Friday 22 January at 5pm UK time. Please note that due to the high level of interest only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Further informatin about the opportunity can be found on our website at: http://www.maxwellstamp.com/assets/pdf/Current-Contract.pdf

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