Senior Program Manager

DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world. DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner. DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

Scope of Work

USAID BIODIVERSITY

USAID Biodiversity will conserve nature, enhance human well-being, and safeguard Nepal’s biodiversity to improve the health of ecosystems, fight environmental crime, and improve the ability of communities to prepare for and adapt to impacts caused by climate change and natural disasters. The activity will achieve measurable conservation targets within the biodiversity-rich, terrestrial, and freshwater ecosystems in and around the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape, Kailash Sacred Landscape, Terai Arc Landscape, and the proposed Karnali Conservation Landscape while increasing resilience to climate change and contributing to the inclusive and sustainable development of the Nepali people. To accomplish this, USAID Biodiversity will implement activities aligned with three mutually interrelated and reinforcing objectives: Improve the health of ecosystems (Objective 1), Strengthen environmental crime control and natural resource safeguards (Objective 2), and enhance the climate resilience of natural and human systems (Objective 3).

1. Objectives of the assignment 

The Senior Program Manager (SPM) will support the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) to effectively implement the Annual Work Plan (AWP) for USAID Biodiversity, operationalize integration across the three mutually interrelated and reinforcing objectives, and continually incorporate field learning into activity design and work planning. The SPM will ensure stakeholder and community engagement in biodiversity conservation, environmental crime control and climate change adaptation activities, while facilitating coordination across partners, as well as the thematic components. The SPM will also ensure excellent communications and coordination between USAID Biodiversity’s three regional field offices and high mountain satellite offices, and the main office in Kathmandu.

2. Tasks & Responsibilities

• Ensure that staff in the field use inclusive, participatory planning methods to bring together landscape-level stakeholders (including CSOs, and the private sector) to develop a shared, mutually beneficial vision for conservation in their areas,
• Identify and integrate community engagement and capacity building activities in USAID Biodiversity strategies and investments,
• Oversees project interventions to build the capacity of biodiversity conservation community and civil society organization (CSOs) to implement integrated conservation and development initiatives.
• Support provincial and local authorities by facilitating (and documenting) regular stakeholder dialogues in an open and transparent manner,
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant provincial government, local government, and other stakeholders,
• Review technical reports prepared by the landscape leads and partners to ensure quality standards are met before submission to USAID and sharing with GoN and other stakeholders,
• Substantively contribute to periodic reporting, including quarterly and annual progress reports, Success Stories, technical reports, etc.,
• Supervise Landscape Team Leads and oversee field execution in coordination with the Objective leads, cross-cutting leads, and DCOP,
• Responsible to oversee preparation and implementation of landscape annual work plans, and any other relevant plans at the landscape level.
• Any other tasks assigned by the DCOP or COP. 

3.   Qualifications 

• A university degree in a relevant field is required; advanced degree is preferred.
• For a candidate with a master’s degree, 12 years of professional work experience in natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, climate change, environmental governance, or a highly relevant field. For candidates with a bachelor’s degree, 14 years of relevant technical experience is required (Please subtract one years of relevant experience—11 years with advanced degree or 13 years with undergraduate degree—for persons of excluded groups).
• Demonstrated experience in management of field programs, including training and capacity building, community mobilization and engagement. 
• 5 years of relevant program management experience is required. 
• Experience supervising teams is highly desired. 
• Proven experience in planning and reporting of international donor funded projects required.
• Relevant experience working on USAID contract in a related role highly preferred. 
• Strong computer skills (MS Office suite) required.
• Excellent connections with the wildlife conservation community, and GON partners, is highly desirable. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Nepali is required. 

Application link:

https://fs23.formsite.com/OLJTgx/0kra4sprds/index

Application instructions:

Please select the position for which you are interested in applying for, fill out the required information and upload your CV. Only shortlisted applicants will receive notifications on the next steps.

Interested candidates should submit their application no later than June 29, 2023. 

Women and persons from excluded groups are encouraged to apply.

Consistent with DAI’s commitment to attracting and retaining staff from all races, ethnicities, castes and backgrounds, DAI may adjust eligibility requirements to allow for applicants from excluded groups.  In these cases, the Scope of Work and vacancy announcement will clearly indicate the minimum requirements according to the Country Compensation Plan as well as the revised minimum requirements for applicants representing an excluded group. DAI promotes workforce diversity and in Nepal, DAI considers excluded groups to be women, Dalits, indigenous ethnic minority groups, Madhesi, Muslim, persons with disabilities, people living in remote areas, and sexual and gender minorities.