Company Profile

WUSC (World University Service of Canada) is a Canadian non-profit organization working to create a better world for all young people. We bring together a diverse network of students, volunteers, schools, governments, and businesses who share this vision. Together, we develop solutions in education, economic opportunities, and empowerment to overcome inequality and exclusion for youth around the world, particularly young women and young refugees. WUSC currently works in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $40 million. We have over 90 staff in our Ottawa office, and over 200 people overseas implementing 16 development projects in collaboration with donors such as Global Affairs Canada, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Mastercard Foundation and the African Development Bank.

Job Description

• Eligibility: Local National; must be legally entitled to work in Ghana
• Reports to: WUSC Ghana Country Director
• Contract term: 2 years with possibility of renewal

Background:

The INVEST Project

The Innovation in Non-Traditional Vocational Education and Skills Training (INVEST) project is a 5 year initiative, funded by the Government of Canada, that will build sustainable pathways to enhanced economic empowerment, well-being and inclusive growth for young urban women in Accra, Kumasi, and Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana. Working in high growth sectors, the initiative will test and scale innovative, sustainable models to improve the enabling environment, reduce gender-specific barriers to women’s economic participation, and enhance access to decent work for marginalized women in non-traditional sectors.

Nature and Scope
The Project Director oversees the strategic and operational implementation of the INVEST project in Ghana. The Project Director manages relationships with key stakeholders, including national and local Governments, project partners, local partners, the private sector and the donor.

Reporting to the WUSC Ghana Country Director, and working in close collaboration with the Senior Program Officer (SPO) in WUSC Ottawa, the INVEST Project Director is responsible for the following:

Technical Direction & Project Management

• Provide technical and managerial direction and guidance to the project, in line with the project’s expected outcomes and WUSC policies and procedures;
• Develop key project planning deliverables (e.g. Project Implementation Plan, Annual Workplans and Annual Reports) using results-based management approaches and tools;
• Develop specific strategies for cross-cutting themes (capacity building, gender equality, private sector engagement, environmental sustainability) for the project;
• Maintain open, effective and regular communication amongst strategic partners and project team members in Canada and Ghana;
• Oversee day-to-day coordination and delivery of project activities in conjunction with staff, technical advisors, volunteers and partners;
• Convene and coordinate the project steering and advisory committees, and any other committees that may be established, at regular intervals and as needed. 

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Oversee the establishment and effective implementation of a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning plan for the project in accordance with WUSC’s best practices and procedures;
• Regularly monitor progress towards results, ensuring appropriate course correction and adaptive management;
• Work with team members to produce regular reports to key stakeholders;
• Maintain regular communication with WUSC in Canada to ensure alignment with WUSC M&E policies, procedures and tools and enable appropriate support, as needed.

Human Resources Management

• Manage the project team in Ghana including its project offices in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi;
• Supervise, guide and evaluate the work of project staff and consultants;
• Oversee human resources management issues such as employment policies and practices and subcontracting, are in compliance with local laws and regulations;
• Ensure that the emergency, security and safeguarding procedures established by WUSC with respect to volunteers, WUSC personnel and partners are implemented, updated and enforced.
• Work with colleagues and partners to ensure the effective mobilization, orientation and coaching of volunteers and technical advisors;

Financial & Office Management

• Lead overall project budget planning and execution according to WUSC policies and procedures and in compliance with donor requirements;
• Establish and oversee a financial management system for the project in close consultation with WUSC’s Finance team;
• Ensure that the project complies with local taxes, banking controls, and labour laws;
• Under the guidance of WUSC’s Finance team, regularly update, monitor and report on the local project budget in order to ensure regular reporting to the donor by WUSC Head Quarters;
• Oversee office set-up , and operations in the project’s offices in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi;
• Maintain the required administrative and project infrastructure of staff, field offices and equipment.

Risk Management & Security Preparedness

• Actively assess and monitor the risk profile of the project; identify specific risks and appropriate mitigation strategies;
• Ensure the application and relevancy of WUSC security policies, procedures and preparedness to the operational context of the project;

Donor Liaison & Coordination

• Establish a strong working relationship with the donor and its representative(s) at the Canadian High Commission in Accra including on strategic planning and information sharing;
• Ensure coordination with GAC and assigned Project personnel as required in conjunction or consultation with WUSC HQ
• Coordinate regularly with other development actors to ensure harmonization and synergy with similar initiatives;
• Ensure GAC approval of official communications via communiques, brochures, radio spots or other media in Ghana 

Communications and Promotion

• Represent the project in official communications in Ghana
• Develop and implement a Communications strategy in Ghana in consultation with WUSC’s Communication team at HQ
• Develop promotional materials as appropriate for dissemination or use in Ghana

Required Skills or Experience

Education
A postgraduate university degree in international development, project management, a relevant field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience and Competencies

• A minimum of ten years of progressively more responsible assignments related to management of development initiatives;
• Knowledge and experience in technical and vocational education and training, curriculum development and education reform;
• Proven experience engaging the private sector in development programming;
• Demonstrated capacity to work in cross-sectoral collaboration;
• Experience managing technical advisors considered an asset;
• Experience working with international development donor agencies (Government of Canada would be seen as an asset);
• Knowledge of Results Based Management (RBM) and environmental and gender policies and reporting requirements;
• Proven technical, financial, administrative and organizational skills;
• Knowledge of donor financial and narrative reporting procedures and requirements;
• Proven experience managing a large, multi-disciplinary team of staff;
• Diplomatic skills and the knowledge of cross-cultural, interpersonal communication;
• Proven experience of adaptability to a challenging and constantly changing environment requiring iterative planning on a regular basis;
• Proven knowledge of and commitment to the concepts of Gender Equality and Youth Inclusion;
• Experience in capacity building with local partner organizations and a commitment to a participatory partnership approach to development.
• Superior oral and written skills in English