Senior programme officer, PRA, Zimbabwe

Poverty is an outrage against humanity. It robs people of dignity, freedom and hope, of power over their own lives. Christian Aid has a vision – an end to poverty – and we believe that vision can become a reality. We are striving to bring lasting change to the lives of the poorest communities. We work wherever there is great need, helping people to find their own solutions to the problems they face, irrespective of their religion, caste or creed. If you’re passionate about positive change across the world, then this job might be for you.

As a member of the Zimbabwe Christian Aid team, you will lead the PRA theme in the country while directly managing, supporting and giving technical guidance to Christian Aid’s partners, implementing institutional donor-funded programmes in the Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe. You will ensure speedy implementation using best practice and report on progress, impact and learning in accordance with Christian Aid and donor requirements.

This role reports to the Programme Manager and in turn leads two programme officers working on the EU–funded Matabeleland South Food and Livelihoods Security Project and the DFID–funded Graduation project. The role also works closely with the Senior Programme Officer (Value chains and markets), the Programme Officer (Accountable power) and the Programme Officer (Performance and M&E) for programme coherence and demonstration of impact. Externally, the role works closely with partners managing large and complex programmes with strong linkages to Humanitarian, communication, advocacy and fundraising roles. The role will represent Christian Aid with donors, clusters and work groups.

The role makes significant technical decisions on programme work and team/workgroup management to ensure programme work is implemented using best practice, within budgets and timeframes.

The key outputs of this role include: Lead and support a strong portfolio of partners able to respond and support Chistian Aid’s profitable and resilient agriculture agenda; Comply with policies and procedures; Write proposals; Recruit and manage high-performing teams and create strong linkages between partner livelihoods work and advocacy, communications and fundraising roles in the country and the UK.

If you are educated to at least a degree in agriculture (or relevant development discipline), you are knowledgeable about development issues and priorities in Zimbabwe and the region, you possess a working knowledge of churches, local development partner organizations and funding/reporting regulations of different donors and you possess strong programme, financial, resource and staff management and capacity building skills, then:

Please show your suitability for this post by giving answers to the following four questions relating to the four core competencies: Using the guidance notes may help you formulate your answers.

Creativity and innovation

What is the most creative solution or option you have developed in response to a problem?

What was the situation?
What solution or option did you develop?
How did you apply it to the problem?
What was the outcome?

Effectiveness and accountability

Please describe a time when, on a major activity, you had to renegotiate a deadline due to circumstances beyond your control or a change in organizational priorities.

What was the situation?
What circumstances required a change in deadline?
How and with whom did you renegotiate the deadline?
If the deadline was changed, did you need to make any other changes once the deadline was revised?
What was the result?

Team work

No individual team member can do all the team's work. Tell us about a time when you recognized fellow team members for their efforts.

Describe the situation, your role and that of others
What did your fellow team members do that warranted recognition?
What role did you play in recognizing the team?
How was the recognition received by employees?
What was the outcome?

Communication and interaction

Describe a time when you had to adjust your communication for a diverse audience to produce the desired effect.

What was the purpose of your communication?
In what way/s was the audience diverse?
Specifically, how did you align your communication to achieve its purpose?
What was the outcome?

In addition to answering the above four questions, you are required to prepare a Power Point presentation (5 slides maximum) in response to the following scenario which you will submit, together with the Application form, and make a presentation on the date of the interview.

Scenario

You have been in charge of a large and complex donor funded project which concludes in the next two months.

Depict what the project was all about, its duration, level of funding, etc
What key processes are you preparing for now?
What would you include in the end of project narrative report to the various named stakeholders?

We value the contribution each person makes to the success of our organization, so you can expect a wide range of rewards and benefits that will ensure you enjoy a good work/life balance.

Download the role profile (73 KB pdf)

To apply for this post, please download an application pack and email your completed International application form to: zimbabwerecruit@christian-aid.org quoting the job reference number.

Preference will be given to applicants who are Zimbabwean nationals or who are eligible to work in Zimbabwe. Internal candidates should refer to the Human Resources team for further advice.

Please note that CVs will not be accepted and that only short-listed candidates will be contacted. If you have not been contacted by 28 November 2011, please assume your application was unsuccessful.

Job reference: ZIM/SPO-PRA-1112/NK

Closing date: Friday 18 November 2011

Interview date: Week commencing 28 November 2011

Christian Aid values diversity and aspires to reflect this in our workforce. We welcome applications from people from all sections of the community, irrespective of race, colour, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief.