Project Manager - Elections

The Project Manager is responsible for the successful management and implementation of the electoral assistance project in Lesotho. The role involves leading project planning, coordination, technical support, monitoring and evaluation, and knowledge management to enhance electoral processes and institutional capacity.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, coordinate and develop effective project planning and implementation.
• Lead the formulation and implementation of project’s annual work plans (AWP).
• Lead development of detailed implementation plans.
• Lead formulation of budgets, and procurement and HR plans.
• Lead revision of AWPs, periodic revisions of procurement/HR plans ensuring that plans are updated in a timely manner and in close coordination of UNDP Country Office (Program, HR and Procurement Teams).
• Provide direct supervision of UNDP project personnel.
• Lead consultations and engagement with national, district and local government structures including traditional leadership such as chiefs in the implementation of UNDP’s project activities.
• Lead the project’s recruitment and supervision of technical expertise to implement specific component activities.
• Lead the implementing partners identification and onboarding process, and subsequent supervision of partners to implement specific component activities.
• Oversee implementation of project activities against annual work plans and delivery targets.
• Provide regular field updates to UNDP management.
• Coordinate project inception.
• Contribute to project communications and visibility efforts including the development of a range of core communication content including reports, briefings, infographics, case studies and presentations.
• Lead the implementation of project monitoring and evaluation framework in close coordination with Project Support Unit.
• Lead finalization of project results framework in close consultation with Project Support Unit.
• Coordinate the finalization of detailed results framework with a focus on agreed indicators and targets in close consultation with Project Support Unit and development partner(s).
• Monitor and report annual targets and results in close coordination with UNSDCF joint annual reporting in accordance with the project results framework.
• Lead development and conduct of the mid-term/annual reviews, and end line assessment.
• Coordinate the conduct of an independent evaluation.
• Organize training for the project personnel to enhance their capacities in the technical matters of the thematic area of the project.
• Identify, evaluate, synthesize, and document lessons learned and best practices directly linked to the project goals and activities.
• Develop knowledge sharing materials and respond to related queries.
• Contribute substantively to knowledge networks and communities of practice within the thematic area of the project.
• Develop and carry out a personal learning plan.
• Perform other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Governance, Political Science, International Relations or related field, OR; A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in electoral assistance advisory / democratic governance nationally or regionally.
• Professional experience in Project management;
• Knowledge of key software packages (MS Office)
• Experience in project coordination, design and implementation;
• Experience in development of analytical documents, briefs and project proposals;
• Good knowledge of the organization of elections in developing countries;
• Experience managing multistakeholder teams;
• Good knowledge of gender mainstreaming, conflict sensitive program and result based management;
• Experience in managing work teams and supervising technical assessments, reports and technical documents.
• Fluency in Sesotho and English is required.

Skills

• Project Management
• Electoral Assistance Advisory
• Democratic Governance
• Project Coordination
• Project Design
• Project Implementation
• Analytical Document Writing
• Project Proposal Preparation
• Election Organization
• Multistakeholder Team Management
• Gender Mainstreaming
• Conflict-Sensitive Programming
• Result-Based Management
• Team Supervision
• Technical Assessments
• Report Writing
• Microsoft Office Suite

Languages

English, Sesotho