USFS Coastal Sustainable Landscapes Project Assistant Director

OUTREACH NOTICE

USFS Coastal Sustainable Landscapes Project Assistant Director

Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana

June 2013

The US Forest Service (USFS), International Programs and Management and Engineering Technologies International, Inc. (METI), as a part of the US Agency for International Development’s bilateral programs in Ghana, seeks a full-time Project Assistant Director to support the implementation of the Coastal Sustainable Landscapes Project in the Western Region. 

Background:

As a part of a broader and multi-partner conservation effort along the coasts of Ghana, USFS is working with the Government of Ghana and USAID to design and implement a coastal forest landscape conservation project in the six coastal Districts of the Western Region of Ghana.  This Coastal Sustainable Landscapes (SL) project will contribute to moving Ghana into a low greenhouse gas emissions, high carbon sequestration development pathway in the land use sector.  Activities under this program will be strategic and transformative and contribute to the Ghanaian national strategic process that is currently addressing climate change. 

Once launched in late 2013, the project expects an overall long-term impact of strengthened capacity for low emissions development through improved coastal forest landscape management.  The underpinning medium-term outcomes are the following:

1. Strengthened terrestrial ecosystem governance at all levels
2. Increased quality, availability, accessibility and use of biophysical and socio-economic data, technologies and management tools created at all levels for effective coastal terrestrial ecosystem management
3. Improved coastal zone management and livelihoods enhancement supported

Position Description:

The Assistant Director will take the lead role in project operations and administration including project monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to ensure accurate and comprehensive data collection, analysis, and reporting of project indicators to USAID, against the agreed targets, for project activities implemented by USFS and any Project funded partners.  In addition, responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide technical leadership in project operations and administration including logistics, procurement, human resources management, and financial management;
• Provide oversight and coordination with USFS and any Project funded partners to collect qualitative and quantitative data for indicators to track implementation of biodiversity conservation, climate change, environmental governance, and food security activities;
• Provide guidance/capacity building to funded partners for indicator reporting and review data entry for M&E;
• Conduct M&E missions to the field sites to support implementation of M&E;
• Produce progress reports in accordance with USAID indicator guidelines on a regular basis to USFS/IP and USAID/Ghana;
• Coordinate with the Project Director to finalize work plans, budgets, and M&E frameworks;
• Identify, document, and disseminate lessons learned; and
• Serve as Acting Project Director when appointed.

 Qualifications:

• +5 years’ experience working in Africa, West Africa experience preferred;

• Proven ability in project management/monitoring and administration;
• Demonstrated knowledge of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) procedures and experience supervising M&E efforts for multi-sectorial, multi-country programs;
• Professional written and spoken proficiency in English required;
• Familiarity with USAID reporting procedures;
• Experience in biodiversity conservation, climate change, natural resource management;
• Proven ability to work well with multi-level stakeholders; strong interpersonal skills;
• Demonstrated capacity building experience;
• Strong writing, organizational, and communication skills; and

• USAID or other donor experience strongly recommended

Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Location: Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana

To apply please send a resume and cover letter to James Beck (jamesbeck.usfs.outofoffice@gmail.com ) no later than June 30, 2013.  The successful applicant will be hired through a contractor.