DREAMS IES Deputy Program Director

Job Advert

IES ACHIEVE DEPUTY PROGRAM DIRECTOR X1

PRETORIA

Project Description:

DREAMS Intensive Economic Strengthening (IES) is a component of the ACHIEVE programming in South Africa.  The  DREAMS IES intervention is specifically aimed at empowering YW and increasing their opportunities to be self-reliant and earn sustainable livelihoods. 

ACHIEVE will build YW self-efficacy and decision-making power in relationships through economic independence so that their risk of HIV infection is reduced as they are less reliant on transactional sex and/or having to remain in relationships where they are experiencing emotional and physical abuse. 

Economic insecurity continues to increase vulnerability and is often a reason for risky sexual behavior among AGYW. Through the IES program sustainable linkages are created to a diversified array of socioeconomic opportunities that provide YW with a chance to earn a sustainable livelihood and minimize the economic inequalities they suffer. This subsequently strengthens their self-sufficiency (financial and emotional) to make more informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.

Position Description:

The DREAMS IES Deputy Program Director provides overall leadership and management of the program and ensures high-quality technical programming and alignment to global ACHIEVE and in country DREAMS targets. S/he will work closely with the global and in-country ACHIEVE teams and serve as the principal institutional liaison with the USAID Activity Manager, the Government of South Africa, and all other DREAMS IES stakeholders.

Specifically, s/he  will be responsible for overseeing and supporting the DREAMS IES implementing teams and partners, providing appropriate approaches and strategies to prepare young women to succeed in the workforce/wage employment or self-employment/entrepreneurship.

S/he   ensures that program objectives are met, all activities are responsive to the needs of the host country and donors, and the program continues to advance and play a key role in contributing to Pact’s development within South Africa.  

  S/he will work closely with the Private Sector Engagement Manager to foster relationships with the South African business sector, CSOs, NGO, and community structures to identify areas of possible collaboration and leverage on existing resources to link young women to economic empowerment opportunities including vocational training and skills development. 

The IES Deputy Director will report to the ACHIEVE Project Director.  As applicable, s/he will travel to the provinces to fulfil the program goals.   S/he will be based in the main ACHIEVE office in Pretoria.

Minimum Key Responsibilities and duties:

• Serve as team leader charged with the day-to-day execution of the IES activities as well as the Pact liaison to USAIS Activity Manager; under the timely deployment of financial and human resources for program success and attainment of desired results/indicators. Ensure that all project deliverables are met in a high quality, cost effective and timely manner. 

• Responsible for the technical oversight of the implementation of the IES components of the program and ensure highest technical standards, adopt innovative programmatic strategies, approaches, and contribute to the overall DREAMS strategic objectives. 

• Support Provincial Managers to track and effectively oversee the provincial activities and implementing partners.

• Provide regular training to Provincial Managers and implementing partners on technical IES components.

• Collaborate with the MERL team on performance results analysis, visualization, and reporting.

• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual narrative progress reports.

• Track, analyze and manage periodic target achievements across all provinces.

• Ensure that Provincial Managers coordinate, develop, and maintain high quality program documents, e.g., trackers, work plans, agendas, minutes of meetings, training reports, etc.

• Work with the MER unit to track program implementation and routinely review, evaluate, and strengthen program implementation. Must also work with the Finance unit for management of the activity budget.

• Ensure that regular training and mentoring is provided to implementing partners so that the implementation approach is in line with USAID guidelines. 

• Working closely with the Private Sector Engagement Manager, ensure successful stakeholder engagements such as Private Sector to secure linkages and opportunities for young women in various pathways (employment opportunities, entrepreneurship, wage internship, learnership and vocational training). 

• Actively liaise with DREAMS implementing partners, NGOs and other civil society partners, host country government partners, and private sector to cultivate strategic relationships and alliance. 

• Supervision of the Private Sector Engagement Manager and Provincial Managers to ensure that partners successfully link young women to waged employment opportunities, entrepreneurship, wage internship, learnership and vocational training. 

• Ensure the documentation and dissemination of best practices and lessons learned, capture timely, high-quality information and utilize data to inform decisions and foster learning and innovation.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

1. Degree in Business Development and Management, Economics, or Social Sciences. A master’s degree is highly     preferred. 

1. At least ten (10) progressive years of experience as a technical lead working in Economic Strengthening, wealth creation or Workforce Development in South Africa

1. Excellent understanding of the economic & labour Market landscape in South Africa

1. Demonstrated experience linking youth especially young women to employment or entrepreneurship activities or developing micro enterprise entities,

1. Demonstrated knowledge of the potential private sector support landscape for young women in South Africa.

1. At least five (5) years demonstrated PEPFAR experience in managing and supervising a team preferred.

1. Strong familiarity with PEPFAR and USAID policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and reporting requirements for INGO-led projects.

1. Proven leadership and inter-personal skills and ability to build and motivate diverse and talented teams.

1. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.

1. Valid South African driver’s license.

1. Eligibility to work in South Africa.

Only applicants possessing the prescribed minimum qualifications and experience are invited to submit their electronic CVs and application letters with a subject line “ IES ACHIEVE Deputy Program Director” and “ Province ” to applications@pactworld.org  

Closing Date:  21 September 2023  

Pact reserves the right to verify all information provided by candidates including credit rating. Please note that correspondence will be limited to short listed candidates only and if you do not hear from us within 3 weeks after the closing date kindly accept that your application was unsuccessful.