Lead Technical Programme Manager/
Deputy Team Leader

Job Title: Lead Technical Programme Manager/ Deputy Team Leader

Job Grade:

Reports to:  Team Leader

Job location: Islamabad

Introduction to DAI – AJPP Project:

DAI has been awarded the Accountable Justice in Pakistan Programme (AJPP). The four-year, £12 million, BHC-funded project will improve the application of the rule of law by equipping Pakistani men, women, and children with the knowledge and capacity to hold key law enforcement and justice sector institutions to account.

AJPP will enhance the rule of law by 1) increasing the accountability and oversight of law enforcement and justice institutions, and 2) increasing citizen engagement in legal reforms and legal empowerment, leading to a better informed citizen choice of justice mechanism. Working in three target provinces, AJPP will prioritise the engagement of women, girls, minority communities, and the poor in justice sector accountability reforms.

The Position:

The Lead Technical Programme Manager/ DTL will lead AJPP’s technical and thematic work at the federal level and across the three project provinces to stimulate reform and to hold GoP to account based on citizen and civil society needs. Special focus will be placed on women and vulnerable groups including religious minorities and persons with disabilities.  The Lead Technical Programme Manager/ DTL will report to the Team Leader and will manage three technical members of staff covering: empowerment, accountability and reform. S/he will be responsible for leading the programme in these technical areas in order to achieve project outcomes. This position is responsible for the quality of programme deliverables, providing recommendations of technical intervention activities, liaising with the technical officers and provincial leads, whilst building strategic partnerships with key stakeholders and fostering integral coalitions in which AJPP is engaged.

The Lead Technical Programme Manager/ DTL will provide expert knowledge and understanding of law enforcement and justice sector institutions, their accountability and oversight mechanisms, rule of law reforms and reform processes, legal empowerment in Pakistan, and will develop the strategy for effective engagement between citizens and the state. S/he will be responsible for excellent and timely results in all critical stages of Project Cycle Management (PCM). S/he will ensure compliance with DAI and donor policies, guidelines (e.g. gender mainstreaming and inclusive approach to development programming, accountability and transparency) and SOPs while performing official tasks. The position holder will maintain impeccable professionalism and integrity whilst undertaking their assignments.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Technical

• Provision of expert knowledge on national and provincial policy and practice in the rule of law sector in Pakistan, particularly with regard to accountability and oversight, reform, citizen engagement and barriers to justice.
• Develop policy briefs on key thematic and technical issues identified under AJPP, using gender mainstreaming and social inclusion approaches.
• Develop concept notes for potential interventions.
• As directed by the Team Leader, coordinate closely with AJPP technical officers for empowerment, accountability and reform as well as the provincial leads for building effective synergies and successful programme delivery.
• Coordinate with other rule of law programmes in Pakistan including UNDP and JSSP.
• Develop an evidence based advocacy and communication agenda to allow AJPP to influence the rule of law debate.

Project Management

• Management of the Consortium Partners as well as Grantees under AJPP while achieving set outcomes.
• Development and execution of the well-defined implementation strategy for AJPP and approved work plans for AJPP within the broader parameters of approved LFA, strategies, plans and budget.
• Quality assurance of programme deliverables in a timely manner.
• Develop and monitor detailed implementation plans with partners; regularly review and reflect to steer the implementation process more consciously and logically to achieve the agreed objectives.
• Develop Monthly Highlights as well as Quarterly Progress Reports (QPR) for donor submissions in coordination with the M&E Department and Consortium/Grant/Strategic Partners.
• Ensure compliance to DAI and donor policies, guidelines (e.g. gender mainstreaming and inclusive approach to development programming, accountability and transparency) and SOPs while performing official tasks.
• Facilitate the strategic planning exercise with partners for a clearer vision and future direction for the sustainability of AJPP interventions.
• Managing the complete records of the Consortium/Grant partners along with their approved detailed implementation plan, approved budget, reports and correspondence.
• Ensure systematic knowledge management for programmatic learning and reflections. 

Strategic Engagement and Coordination

• Assist AJPP team with engagement at the strategic level to strengthen AJPP’s positioning on the Justice Sector reform agenda.
• Build and strengthen relationships with Civil Society Organisations, Alliances/Networks, Parliamentarians, Media, Academia, and Government Ministries/Departments/Commissions   at the national, provincial and district level to create an enabling environment for the Justice Sector reform agenda and effective implementation of the Programme.
• Facilitate broader coalitions around the Justice Sector reform agenda in coordination with other Rule of Law Programmes in Pakistan.
• Representation and coordination at national and provincial levels.
• Support Programme team to identify opportunities for strategic engagement while building good working relationships with the multiple stakeholders (i.e. justice sector institutions including district, provincial and federal government officials, civil society organisations, media and lawyers).
• Effective and timely communication with AJPP team and external audiences (i.e. AJPP Partners/Grantees, government officials, CSOs, media and academia).
• Support internal and external audit of the programme partners and grantees as and when required.

Others: 

• Ensure that key information is shared with AJPP Senior Management Team (SMT) for their input on key programmatic areas.
• Support Programme Team to coordinate with the multiple stakeholders including relevant Ministries, government departments, commissions/authorities, parliamentarians, academia, media, civil society organisations, networks/alliances and consortium/grant partners at provincial and federal level.
• Work in coordination with various inter-departmental functions for Programme management to ensure timely coordination and compliance around various stages in the Programme/ Project Cycle Management.
• Any other tasks assigned by the Team Leader.

Minimum Qualification :

• Master’s degree in Social Sciences or LLM or equivalent from a recognised university.
• Overall 6-8 years’ experience in the development and/or justice sector in Pakistan, as well as Programme/Project management and technical positions.

Additional Minimum Qualifications  

• Expert knowledge of the Rule of Law and Justice Sector institutions along with their mandate.
• Knowledge and experience of the development sector Programmes and Project Management Cycle.
• Expected to demonstrate and inspire high levels of confidence in your professional judgment; able to communicate sensitively to and influence a range of different government and UN officials; and able to network and develop relationships with key stakeholders in Justice Sector.
• Understanding of the gender mainstreaming and inclusive approaches to development programming.
• Analytical skills to guide Programme activities in different context specific scenarios (e.g. regional, national, institutional) in the Rule of Law sector with conflict sensitivity lens.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Urdu and English. Knowledge of any other regional language (i.e. Pashto, Sindhi) would be an added value. 
• Demonstrated proficiency in client management and coordination with multiple stakeholders.
• Decision-making ability and judgment based on significant technical and management experience.
• Effective management of projects in complex environments and timelines.  
• Problem solving and result achieving attitude.
• Good coordination skills with multiple stakeholders.
• Effective interpersonal communications and professional integrity.
• Ability to travel in all project areas (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh).
• Proficient in use of MS Office.