SSU Management Team-Leader at MSFP

The Multi-Stakeholder Forestry Programme (MSFP) will build on the achievement of the past 20 years of forestry work supported by the UK, Switzerland and Finland in partnership with the Government of Nepal (GoN). These have had significant impacts in reducing poverty and building governance at local levels through strengthening the capacity of community forest user groups, in order to enable them to better govern forests in a sustainable way. The MSFP will also engage strongly in harnessing the economic potential of forests whether under community, private or government management. The role of forestry in helping Nepal adapt to climate change and mitigate its impacts will be new area of work.

The MSFP will scale up its geographical coverage to 61 districts with focused activities in 35, and build stronger linkages between practice and policy. A Services Support Unit (SSU) will be established during the inception phase and run during the transition phase. It is anticipated that during the transition phase a National Entity will be formed and the SSU will then cease to function. The SSU will manage the MSFP to meet the outcomes and outputs as stated in the programme document.

In this respect, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) invites applications from qualified and dynamic – Nepali citizens for the SSU positions below. All are subject to the approval of the MSFP programme document by GoN.

SSU Management Team-Leader (One)

In close collaboration with the GoN assigned Programme Coordinator, SDC and other participating donors, the position holder will have the following responsibilities:

• to work very closely with the GoN assigned Programme Coordinator, sharing tasks as appropriate
• to lead the SSU team in a way that the MSFP is able to deliver the outcomes and outputs in line with the programme document;
• to represent MSFP in interactions with relevant stakeholders including donors and the Government of Nepal;
• to prepare annual plans and budgets, and oversee the monitoring of programme delivery;
• to manage reporting – ensuring that quality financial and narrative periodical reports are produced in time in cooperation with partners and stakeholders at all levels;
• to identify suitable programme implementing agencies (PIAs), supervise contractual arrangements and ensure quality of delivery;
• to manage the human resources, assets and finance of the SSU;
• to ensure the support of institutional capacity development of sector stakeholders and implementing partners;
• to contribute to the process of forming the National Entity (NE) in the forestry sector;
• to supervise the execution of planned activities with a focus on strengthening the district and local forestry activities;
• to coordinate with other parallel donor efforts in order to deliver effective forest sector development.

Technical Competencies

Minimum Masters degree in Natural Resource Management, Forestry or relevant fields, with at least 5 years experience in programme management - preferably in the development sector in the areas of community forestry, rural development, empowerment of communities, social inclusion, equity and local governance, excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Social Competencies

Able to provide leadership to a multi-cultural and multi-stakeholder programme - creating an excellent team and work environment; in-depth understanding of current issues of poverty reduction, social inclusion and gender equality in Nepal; good networking, negotiation and communication skills; client-orientation and management competence.

Detailed Terms of References are available on the SDC website www.sdc.org.np or can be personally collected from the SDC office.

Applications in English with a letter of motivation including an immediate contact address with telephone number and an updated CV should reach [email protected] – or be sent by post to BRS Neupane & Co, PO Box 8137, Contact Phone: 014411314, 014411910, Kathmandu - by 8th April  2010 latest. Please clearly mark on the envelope “Application for Team Leader”

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.  The SDC reserves the right to reject any or all applications without assigning any reasons.

The Embassy of Switzerland in Nepal promotes workforce diversity and applies positive discrimination to candidates from discriminated groups (women and candidates from Dalit, Janajati, Madhesi/Terai, and other minority community).