Vacancy announcement -- Lesotho

MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT - LESOTHO

Vacancy Announcement

Position: Wetlands Project Manager

Location: Maseru, Lesotho

Start Date: 1st March 2008

1. BACKGROUND

The Wetlands Restoration and Conservation Project (Wetlands Project) is being funded by a U.S. Government grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. Government corporation that provides financial and technical assistance to promote economic growth and poverty reduction in carefully selected developing countries. Administration of the grant (Compact) is the responsibility of the Millennium Challenge Account - Lesotho.

The Wetlands Project is a US$4.7 million component of the Lesotho Compact that is intended to help Lesotho address widespread overgrazing and degradation of alpine wetlands, which are prevalent throughout the highlands of Lesotho and are an important ecological and economic resource to the country and its people. Using MCC Funding, a pilot-scale project will be implemented to design and apply restoration measures and examine alternative land management prescriptions at three target study areas. In conjunction with the pilot studies, a broad-based assessment of Lesotho's wetlands will be undertaken to characterize the environmental, social, and economic implications of current management practices and to identify potential economic opportunities beyond herding. Based on the results of the pilot studies and environmental and socio-economic assessment, a strategic action plan will be developed that outlines requirements for establishing a national watershed management and wetlands conservation program.

Under the policy direction of the Ministry of Natural Resources through the office of the Principal Secretary and corporate oversight and operational direction of the Director of Department of Water Affairs, the Wetlands Project Manager is directly responsible for management and oversight of the overall development and implementation of the Wetlands Project.
Given the diversity of the project activities, the day-to-day administration and oversight of the project will be undertaken by a dedicated Project Implementation Unit (PIU) within the DWA the Wetlands Project Manager will be responsible for establishing and managing the PIU, coordinating the work of outside consultants and contractors, and liaising with project stakeholder to assure the Wetlands Project is executed according to the timeframe, budget and performance standards established in the Compact.

2. WETLANDS PROJECT MANAGER - OVERALL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the authority of the Director, Department of Water Affairs the Wetlands Project Manager will:

• Provide professional and technical oversight in the implementation of the project, including recruitment and management of PIU staff and consultants;
• Develop and maintain a detailed project implementation and work plan that identifies the specific activities, milestones, and resources required to achieve the objectives of the project within the required timeframe and budget;
• Coordinates with other relevant water sector projects, project stakeholders, community based organizations (CBO's), and MCA-Lesotho for the timely implementation of the project;
• Establishes and chairs a Stakeholder Committee consisting of parties that have an interest and influence on the project activities;
• Reports efficiently and effectively on a timely basis to the Director of the Department of Water Affairs and MCA-Lesotho on the performance and achievements of the project;
• Ensures that procurement and financial practices and processes are in line with the established policies and procedures and Procurement Agreement and Fiscal Accountability Plan of the Compact;
• Supports timely preparation of the requests for disbursement of project funds;
• Assures the Wetlands Project is executed in compliance with MCC Environmental Guidelines, MCC Gender Policy, and the terms of the Lesotho Compact.

3. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Science/Environment/ Project Management or equivalent from a recognised institution, and at least ten (10) years experience in natural resource management; or
• Master of Science degree in Natural Sciences/Environment/ or related field from a recognized institution. At least eight (8) years experience in natural resource management;
• Demonstrated experience managing wetlands restoration and conservation programs and/or similar types of watershed or natural resource management projects;
• Possess good communication and reporting skills, and be fluent in both spoken and written Sesotho and English;
• Proficient in the use of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other word processing and data management software (knowledge of geographic information systems - GIS - is preferred);
• Must have strong leadership and management skills.

4. TIMING AND TERMS OF APPOINTMENT
Start Date: 1st March 2008

The Wetlands Project Manager is required for the 5 year project implementation period subject to a yearly performance evaluation by the Director, Department of Water Affairs.

Applications must be submitted to:

Ministry of Finance & Development Planning
MCA - Lesotho Core Team
Mafike House, Ground Floor, Kingsway Road

Dr. Moeketsi Majoro, P.S.Finance and Dev. Planning
Phone No: +266 22328437
Fax: +266 22311516
Email: mcalesothoboard@yahoo.com

Website: www.finance.gov.ls
MCC Website: www.mcc.gov

Closing Date: Applications must be submitted to MCA-Lesotho Core Team office not later than 12:00 noon on 15th February 2008 by email or in hard copy.