Job Description

Posted on June 7, 2021

Senior Manager – Zambia
Salary Grade: 2 – Senior Management Team
Hours: Full Time
Location: Zambia
Reports to: Group CEO
Issued: 31/05/2021
HOW TO APPLY
Please send your CV, Cover Letter outlining your motivation and suitability for the role, and an answer to the below question to zambia@thechallengesgroup.com by 13th June 2021.
Question: In your opinion, what are the major barriers and opportunities for increasing youth employment in Zambia? [200-400words]
ABOUT CHALLENGES
The Challenges Group is a family of social enterprise consultancies with a mission to support inclusive economic growth by fostering enterprising solutions to global development challenges. We recognise the need for creating sustainable routes to delivering social impact and innovation, and we deliver impact through looking both at how the social economy can be more enterprising and sustainable, and how the ‘traditional’ private sector can be more inclusive, particularly in developing and emerging economies.
Challenges has been operating globally for over 20 years across 4 continents. Since 1999, we’ve operated in over 70 countries, supporting more than 3,500 enterprises and tens of thousands of people. In the past four years alone, we have partnered with more than 1,000 companies in Sub-Saharan Africa, where we have established offices and full-time teams in Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia.
THE ROLE
We are seeking to appoint a skilled Senior Manager who will have oversight for our Zambian country team and delivery portfolio including the Standard Chartered Foundation funded Youth to Work Programme and a variety of Advisory contracts.
The Senior Manager will have responsibilities that include project management, internal and external reporting, budgeting, and financial management for all projects being delivered in Zambia. They will also be required to manage and support our Zambian team alongside overall responsibility for Zambian operations. Externally they will lead the growth of Challenges work in Zambia, engaging current and new partners, developing strong working relationships, and ensuring continued and new sources of income.
As part of the Challenges Group, each Senior Manager is expected to hold at least one internal specialism that they can lead on within the wider group. These areas include: Youth Employment, Rural Programming, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Entrepreneurship, MEL, Finance & Accounting, Change Management, Investment, Proposal & Bid Writing.
SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND PERSONAL QUALITIES
Essential
Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
Previous senior management/leadership experience preferably in an international context
Strategic thinking and a track record of effective strategic management
Experience of planning, developing and leading projects or programmes
Experience of budget management and reporting
Excellent understanding of security risks and mitigation
Strong project management skills, including project development, monitoring and evaluation
Able to ensure excellent communication channels between the Country Offices
Deep understanding of enterprise development and youth employment
Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with a range of partners and stakeholders
Persuasive and engaging manner
Flexible and adaptable with an ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines
High level of motivation, able to work independently as well as part of a team
Able to represent the organisation at a senior level
High level of IT competence, particularly Microsoft Office
Strong communication skills both verbally and in writing
The ability to explain complex information clearly and simply
Fluent written and spoken English
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Challenges Strategy
Work closely with the Senior Management Team (SMT) to establish and deliver a country strategy in-line with Challenges’ priorities and the country context
Establish partnerships to further Challenges aims in-country
Represent Challenges at external meetings
Team Management
Support and oversee project staff and ensure that any line managed staff are supported in a clear runway, through Challenges’ performance management and development systems and in accordance with agreed HR policies and practises
Expand and lead a team to enable delivery of project objectives.
Ensure all Challenges policies and procedures are adhered to and specifically act as the lead for safeguarding in country.
Project Management
Ensure project delivery structures are in place for all projects and are disseminated to all relevant parties
Provide strong leadership of the assigned projects, working to ensure both short and long-term positive impacts and outcomes are achieved within agreed timelines and within budget
Manage project budgets and ensure all expenses are handled according to budget
Collate relevant qualitative and quantitative data from all operational activity for both internal and external communication.
Monitor and report on progress on all projects as required
Manage stakeholder and external partners relationships
Support in identifying and securing the services of the most appropriate consultants or staff for each project
Responsible for identifying project risks, maintaining a risk register and developing mitigation strategies to alleviate the impact of any significant risks
Business Development
Develop client relationships to enhance current and future delivery
Identify and foster new partnership opportunities that align to Challenges Zambia
Lead on the development of proposals, ensuring submission deadlines are met
Monitoring, Reporting and Communications
Collate and report relevant qualitative and quantitative data from all operational activity for both internal and external communication.
Work with the Communications team to generate materials on our work such as case studies and social media posts.
Financial Management
Oversee strong financial managements for Challenges Zambia through budget setting and forecasting, use of online accounting and financial controls and procedures.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send your CV, Cover Letter outlining your motivation and suitability for the role, and an answer to the below question to zambia@thechallengesgroup.com by 13th June 2021.
Question: In your opinion, what are the major barriers and opportunities for increasing youth employment in Zambia? [200-400words]