Background

The Rural Electrification Authority (REA) is a statutory body established under REA Act No. 5 of 2023. Its mandate is to increase access to electricity in rural areas of Zambia, thereby enhancing productivity, stimulating economic growth, and improving the quality of life for the rural population. REA is expanding and seeking talented individuals for the following roles:

Role Context

The Project Manager has the authority to run the project on a day-to-day basis on behalf of the Project Steering Committee within the constraints of time, budget, quality and scope. The Project Manager is responsible for day-to-day management and decision-making for the project. The Project Manager's prime responsibility is to ensure that the project produces the results specified in the project document, to the required standard of quality and within the specified constraints of time and cost. The Project Manager reports to the Rural Electrification Authority Management and acts as the primary liaison point between UNDP and the Rural Electrification Authority.

Responsibilities

Ensures the direction of project activities and the achievement of project targets and results, by focusing on the following results

• Plan and develop project Annual Work Plans (AWPs) and establish Annual Targets in accordance with the Project Document and in close coordination with project stakeholders and the PMU staff;
• Ensure that AWP activities suggested are in line with the overall direction set by the Project Document and lead to the timely achievements of project targets and results;
• Oversee and coordinate development and formulation of detailed implementation plans, procurement and human resources, communication and risk management plans for the Project;
• Ensure implementation of activities as per AWP and agreed deadlines as well as according to detailed implementation, procurement and HR plans;
• Identify bottlenecks and develop solutions;
• Assess project impact and oversee the appropriateness and accuracy of methods used to verify progress and results;
• Establish adequate monitoring procedures and systems throughout project activities in consultation and collaboration with REA, Ministry of Energy, UNDP and consultants;
• Ensure that adequate systems are in place to gather data and information for project monitoring and that systematic monitoring of project progress against targets is undertaken, including regular field trips for monitoring purposes;
• Develop innovative improvements to enhance performance of the project;
• Manage the accurate and timely high-quality results reporting on the progress of the project and achievement of annual targets to the Project Board and GEF. Ensure that GEF and UNDP reports are prepared according to UNDP's SOPs, quality standards and in line with the contractual obligations to GEF;
• Ensure that all internal and external reports are submitted by deadlines;
• Coordinate and prepare ad hoc thematic and substantive reports/analysis/briefs;
• Ensure that project communications activities are being implemented;
• Organise and participate in project level coordination meetings and/or technical working groups as per project document and AWP;
• Implement project governance arrangements;
• Ensure organisation of Project Board meetings and ensure timely preparation of agenda, background materials to agenda items and minutes;

Ensures day-to-day management of the project, by focusing on the following results

• Ensure compliance of all actions and activities with organizational rules, regulations, policies, strategies and internal control mechanisms;
• Mobilize personnel, goods and services, training and grants schemes to initiate activities, including drafting and reviewing terms of references and work specifications and overseeing all contractors' work;
• Oversee effective provision of services to project stakeholders as required;
• Oversee the appropriate use of project funds as well as the consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations. Manage requests for the provision of financial resources by UNDP, through advance of funds, direct payments, or reimbursement using the FACE (Fund Authorization and Certificate of Expenditures);
• Monitor budget implementation and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of project expenditure;
• Coordinate preparation of financial reports to UNDP, as required;
• Supervise and manage project personnel and consultants. Develop ToRs for consultancies and other short-term jobs;
• Establish performance objectives and standards and ensure timely and appropriate feedback, guidance and support to ensure optimum performance;
• Undertake performance evaluation of project management staff;
• Manage and monitor project risks. In collaboration with the technical project staff, UNDP and REA identify new risks and update risk frameworks for consideration of the Project Steering Committee for consideration and decision on possible actions if required;
• Update the status of these risks by maintaining the project risks log;
• Ensure appropriate management of project assets, attendance records, filing system.
• Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during the audits and follow up on audit observations/recommendations. Provide inputs to audit management responses;
• Initiate operational closure of the project

Ensures and coordinates provision of high-quality technical advice and building of partnerships, focusing on achievement of the following results

• Coordinate the advisory activities of the project technical staff including the. Ensure that technical outputs are provided according to plans and up to highest technical standards. Review and clear technical outputs for quality;
• Establish, maintain and facilitate strategic dialogue between UNDP Staff, project staff and Government officials at central and local levels, in project's area of work;
• Provide technical advice, draft papers/briefs/proposals in project's technical focus;

Facilitates knowledge building and management, focusing on achievement of the following results

• Ensure that the Project systematically builds capacities of stakeholders through introduction of innovation and best practices, access to knowledge and expertise and promote their application to project implementation;
• Promote teamwork, information sharing and collaboration within the Project Team and between the Project Team and the Government partners and UNDP;
• Promote skills development of project staff through coaching and mentoring;
• Ensure capturing and disseminations of lessons learnt during project implementation;
• Facilitate the Project's representation and/or participation in international knowledge networks to draw on and share best practice and lessons learned.

Qualifications and Experience

Skills:

• Demonstrable experience in project reporting and preparations of annual progress reports (APR)
• Proven knowledge of project Management through certifications such as Prince II or (Project Management Professional from Project management institute) etc
• Professional management and coordination experience of projects in multi-stakeholder environment in the field of engineering, renewable energy etc.
• Experience in managing projects, setting budget preparation, budget monitoring and analysis, preparation of annual work plans.

Experience:

• 7.0 Year(s)

• Plan and develop project Annual Work Plans (AWPs) and establish Annual Targets in accordance with the Project Document and in close coordination with project stakeholders and the PMU staff;
• Ensure that AWP activities suggested are in line with the overall direction set by the Project Document and lead to the timely achievements of project targets and results;
• Oversee and coordinate development and formulation of detailed implementation plans, procurement and human resources, communication and risk management plans for the Project;
• Ensure implementation of activities as per AWP and agreed deadlines as well as according to detailed implementation, procurement and HR plans;
• Identify bottlenecks and develop solutions;
• Assess project impact and oversee the appropriateness and accuracy of methods used to verify progress and results;
• Establish adequate monitoring procedures and systems throughout project activities in consultation and collaboration with REA, Ministry of Energy, UNDP and consultants;
• Ensure that adequate systems are in place to gather data and information for project monitoring and that systematic monitoring of project progress against targets is undertaken, including regular field trips for monitoring purposes;
• Develop innovative improvements to enhance performance of the project;
• Manage the accurate and timely high-quality results reporting on the progress of the project and achievement of annual targets to the Project Board and GEF. Ensure that GEF and UNDP reports are prepared according to UNDP's SOPs, quality standards and in line with the contractual obligations to GEF;
• Ensure that all internal and external reports are submitted by deadlines;
• Coordinate and prepare ad hoc thematic and substantive reports/analysis/briefs;
• Ensure that project communications activities are being implemented;
• Organise and participate in project level coordination meetings and/or technical working groups as per project document and AWP;
• Implement project governance arrangements;
• Ensure organisation of Project Board meetings and ensure timely preparation of agenda, background materials to agenda items and minutes;
• Ensure compliance of all actions and activities with organizational rules, regulations, policies, strategies and internal control mechanisms;
• Mobilize personnel, goods and services, training and grants schemes to initiate activities, including drafting and reviewing terms of references and work specifications and overseeing all contractors' work;
• Oversee effective provision of services to project stakeholders as required;
• Oversee the appropriate use of project funds as well as the consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations. Manage requests for the provision of financial resources by UNDP, through advance of funds, direct payments, or reimbursement using the FACE (Fund Authorization and Certificate of Expenditures);
• Monitor budget implementation and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of project expenditure;
• Coordinate preparation of financial reports to UNDP, as required;
• Supervise and manage project personnel and consultants. Develop ToRs for consultancies and other short-term jobs;
• Establish performance objectives and standards and ensure timely and appropriate feedback, guidance and support to ensure optimum performance;
• Undertake performance evaluation of project management staff;
• Manage and monitor project risks. In collaboration with the technical project staff, UNDP and REA identify new risks and update risk frameworks for consideration of the Project Steering Committee for consideration and decision on possible actions if required;
• Update the status of these risks by maintaining the project risks log;
• Ensure appropriate management of project assets, attendance records, filing system.
• Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during the audits and follow up on audit observations/recommendations. Provide inputs to audit management responses;
• Initiate operational closure of the project
• Coordinate the advisory activities of the project technical staff including the. Ensure that technical outputs are provided according to plans and up to highest technical standards. Review and clear technical outputs for quality;
• Establish, maintain and facilitate strategic dialogue between UNDP Staff, project staff and Government officials at central and local levels, in project's area of work;
• Provide technical advice, draft papers/briefs/proposals in project's technical focus;
• Ensure that the Project systematically builds capacities of stakeholders through introduction of innovation and best practices, access to knowledge and expertise and promote their application to project implementation;
• Promote teamwork, information sharing and collaboration within the Project Team and between the Project Team and the Government partners and UNDP;
• Promote skills development of project staff through coaching and mentoring;
• Ensure capturing and disseminations of lessons learnt during project implementation;
• Facilitate the Project's representation and/or participation in international knowledge networks to draw on and share best practice and lessons learned.

• Demonstrable experience in project reporting and preparations of annual progress reports (APR)
• Proven knowledge of project Management through certifications such as Prince II or (Project Management Professional from Project management institute) etc
• Professional management and coordination experience of projects in multi-stakeholder environment in the field of engineering, renewable energy etc.
• Experience in managing projects, setting budget preparation, budget monitoring and analysis, preparation of annual work plans.