IES Deputy Program Director

Pact is an international nonprofit that works in nearly 40 countries building solutions for human development that are evidence-based, data-driven and owned by the communities we serve. Founded in 1971, Pact works with partners to build resilience, improve accountability, and strengthen knowledge and skills for sustainable social impact.

Department Programs - Pact strives for a world where all people are heard, capable, and vibrant. The Programs Team helps realize this objective by bridging program management, technical support, and business development, enabling Pact to achieve its global strategy. We ensure program excellence through continuous learning, monitoring and evaluation and provide organizational and industry-wide thought leadership by leveraging a complementary set of cross-functional, multi-disciplinary skills, expertise, and experiences. The Programs team: influences progressive change through the development and implementation of global and regional strategies and business plans; supports advancement of innovative solutions; pursues new business opportunities; and drives effective internal and external engagement to maximize Pact’s impact across the globe. Across all aspects of its role, the Programs Department adheres to and promotes a culture of inclusion, accountability, and respect.

Position Overview

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.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as team leader charged with the day-to-day execution of the IES activities as well as the Pact liaison to USAID Activity Manager; undertake 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.
• Working closely with the provincial teams, develop flow charts, models, and processes to assist partners with implementation.
• Participate in the on-boarding of IES implementing partners to ensure successful implementation in all provinces.
• 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).
• Provides overall quality assurance on technical design and implementation.
• 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.
• Promote a learning environment within the country office that facilitates two-way learning with various stakeholders. Facilitate and/or participate in country level and global learning communities and task forces.
• S/he will form part of the Senior Management team for the project in South Africa (IES and OVC).
• As applicable, make periodic visits to field sites, to monitor the status of the project.

  Oversight, communication, and coordination

  • 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.
  • Support Provincial Managers to track and effectively oversee the provincial activities and implementing partners.
  • Meet regularly with partners and provide technical guidance.
  • Represent the ACHIEVE IES project at national technical working group meetings, and other related forums.
  • Provide regular training to Provincial Managers and implementing partners on technical IES components.
  • Communicate IES technical changes on a regular basis to the global ACHIEVE team and the USAID Activity Manager. Advise on matters of concern and elements of risk regarding implementation and target achievement.
  • Build and maintain a cohesive team and a value based working environment.
    • Target tracking, progress review and reporting
    • Report on progress, issues, challenges, and local risk management.
    • Undertake periodic data-driven program reviews and troubleshooting as necessary.
    • Collaborate with the MERL team on performance results analysis, visualization, and reporting.
    • Compile routine and ad hoc reports for ACHIEVE leadership and the donor.
    • 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 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.
    • Oversees the monitoring of project activities, providing technical guidance to project staff.
    • Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual planning, monitoring, and reporting for all IES related activities.

      Basic Requirements

      • Master’s degree and 9+ years relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience, including 5 years of management experience

        Other local education and experience:

        • Degree in Business Development and Management, Economics, or Social Sciences. A master’s degree is highly
        • At least ten (10) progressive years of experience as a technical lead working in Economic Strengthening, wealth creation or Workforce Development in South Africa
        • Excellent understanding of the economic & labour Market landscape in South Africa
        • Demonstrated experience linking youth especially young women to employment or entrepreneurship activities or developing micro enterprise entities,
        • Demonstrated knowledge of the potential private sector support landscape for young women in South Africa.
        • At least five (5) years demonstrated PEPFAR experience in managing and supervising a team preferred.
        • Strong familiarity with PEPFAR and USAID policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and reporting requirements for INGO-led projects.
        • Proven leadership and inter-personal skills and ability to build and motivate diverse and talented teams.
        • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
        • Valid South African driver’s license.
        • Eligibility to work in South Africa.