Type of Contract: Fixed Term
Reporting to: Executive Director
Start Date: June 2016
Duration of Contract: One year (renewable)
Salary and Conditions: Negotiable

About Us:

Established in 2001, the Youth Empowerment Synergy (YES-Ghana) is an ECOSOC-accredited NGO which is at the forefront of youth development policy, practice and research in Ghana. At YES-Ghana, we work to realise a vision: a world where every young person has a real chance to benefit from and participate in the development processes at local, national and international levels. Our mission is to promote policies and develop initiatives that help youth succeed in becoming life-long learners, productive members of society, materially sufficient and self-respecting citizens.

Overall Purpose:

YES-Ghana is seeking a highly motivated and capable Project Manager to lead the delivery of our flagship workforce development project designed to create economic opportunities for disadvantaged youth, including training in demand-driven technical and vocational skills, life planning skills, and entrepreneurship skills. The project targets youth in the five largest cities in Ghana and is delivered as part of a consortium of which YES-Ghana is a key part. Main activities under the project are organised into five components:

•   Youth readiness for employment and entrepreneurship
•   Access to financial service providers capable of serving youth
•   Access to demand-driven training and service providers
•   Youth enterprise start-up and recruitment by employers
•   Collaboration for positive government policies

Duties and Responsibilities:

Overall project management and technical guidance

•   Ensure sound management of and take full responsibility for the implementation of the project, as per agreed project document and donor regulations;
•   Develop and oversee implementation plans and budgets based on expected project outputs, ensuring close monitoring of activities and deliverables;
•   Provide direction and guidance to the Project Team and responsible parties where applicable;
•   Liaise with consortium partners to ensure the overall direction and integrity of the project;
•   Identify and obtain any support and advice required for the management, planning and control of the project;
•   Manage financial allocations and expenditures according to delegated authority and ensure timely payments in accordance with YES-Ghana’s financial management policy;
•   Coordinate activities of the project to deliver intended outputs and achieve desirable impact of the project;
•   Ensure proper use and maintenance of project equipment and office records and any other documentation by project personnel;
•   Ensure gender mainstreaming within all project activities; and
•   Perform other duties as may be necessary

Effective leadership towards project implementation processes

•   Establish and maintain good working relations with relevant consortium partners and stakeholders from government, civil society, international agencies, religious and traditional authorities, private sector, as well as youth;
•   Build, motivate and lead a high performing team consisting of project personnel, expert consultants, service providers, etc.;
•   Provide strategic leadership and steer the realisation of the project components, with particular focus on the effective mobilisation and training of and capacity building for target youth;
•   Guide and oversee the process of delivery of assistance and interaction with youth groups and associations across the country, as per the planned activities within the project document; and
•   Review on a regular basis project details, schedules, deliverables and budget as articulated in the implementation plan (evidence of progress towards expected outputs, according to schedule, within budget) with the project team.
Project monitoring, reporting and quality assurance
•   Manage and monitor the identified project risks and issues; submit new risks and issues to senior management for consideration and decision if required; update the status of project risks and issues;
•   Oversee and ensure timely submission of narrative and financial reports as required by YES-Ghana and its consortium partners;
•   Monitor and analyse the project environment and progress, using applicable monitoring and evaluation and risk management tools where relevant, and advice on timely readjustment of project strategies and corrective actions as necessary;
•   Conduct field visits and quality check of project events, sites and activities;
•   Prepare reviews and capture lessons learnt from the project’s implementation, and also identify follow-up actions.

Knowledge management

•   Ensure wide dissemination and visibility of project achievements, including through the project’s communication tools, and, where possible, participate in national and international forums to make substantive contributions as appropriate; and
•   Ensure dissemination of information and knowledge management within the team for effective project implementation.

Partnership and advocacy

•   Liaise with donors, relevant government agencies, and all project partners, including youth groups and associations for effective coordination of all project activities;
•   Actively participate in resource mobilisation efforts in close consultation with senior management;
•   Identify and support the realisation of synergetic initiatives and/or contribution from various stakeholders, which would add value and maximise project results; and
•   Ensure regular communication and coordination with external partners and develop and maintain effective mechanisms for integrating and responding to feedback and insights.

Qualification Required & Experience

Education and Experience

•   Advanced degree in development studies, social sciences, or equivalent;
•   Minimum five years combine experience in similar position;
•   Previous experience as team leader planning and managing programme/project at national level is an asset, including financial management of projects, reporting, and M&E;
•   Practical experiences running youth programmes in Ghana would be an added advantage;
•   Understanding of the overall skills and capacity gaps in youth development in Ghana political, particularly as related to creating productive and sustainable livelihoods for youth;
•   Familiarity with key public documents, strategies and trends related to youth employment and entrepreneurship in Ghana, as well as global and regional frameworks for youth development.

Technical Knowledge

•   Development, social, economic and political issues particularly in regard to young people in Ghana and Africa
•   Rights-based and results-based programming expertise
•   Programme, project and budget management expertise
•   Demonstrated capacity to build and maintain strategic partnerships and alliances
•   Well-developed business acumen and strategic insight
•   Solid research and publications record (desired)
•   Computer literacy, including proficiency in most Microsoft Office applications

Personal Attributes

•   High integrity and strong attention to detail
•   Strong financial, analytical and/or evaluative skills
•   Proven ability to establish priorities and to plan, organise, coordinate and monitor own work plan and provide advice and supervision to others
•   Resourcefulness, sound judgment and decision-making skills. Demonstrated sound judgment in resolving issues/problems
•   Excellent and effective communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with staff, project participants and partners, as well as others in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity
•   High level of professional, people management and human relations skills
•   Ability to initiate and complete assignments and to work under demanding circumstances with minimal supervision
•   Professional and independent working style, highly motivated and well-organised with the ability to work manage multiple tasks and projects at a time
•   Professional demeanour. Able to present a professional image of the organisation at all times.

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Please submit a one-page motivation letter and a recent CV bearing your contact details and two references to:-

jobs@yesghana.org

Please indicate the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email. Be sure to highlight in the motivation letter how specifically you meet the criteria for this role. Due to capacity constraints, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Closing Date: 15 April, 2016