WASCAL (West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use) is a large-scale research-focused Climate Service Center designed to help tackle severe challenges posed by climate change and thereby enhance the resilience of human and environmental systems to climate change and increased variability. It does so by strengthening the research infrastructure and capacity in West Africa related to climate change and by pooling the expertise of ten West African countries and Germany. Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), WASCAL is implemented in a collaborative effort by West African and German partners.

Job Description

The Competence Center, a newly established institute in West Africa, carries out research and provides science-based advice to policymakers and stakeholders on climate change impacts, mitigation, and adaptation measures. The Core Research Program complements the scientific activities of the Competence Center, and is implemented by a network of German and West African research institutes. The Capacity Building Department is composed of two divisions; namely Graduate Studies Program and In-Service Training program. The Graduate Studies Program involved the creation of ten graduate schools in West Africa that are contributing to the education of the next generation of African scientists and policy makers in the field of climate change and land management. The In-Service Training Program will anchor on-the-job training, on-line training and shot term training.

Job Summary / Task Description

The Program Manager in Service Training will work under the supervision of the Director of Capacity Building. He/she will provide technical support in organizing on-the-job training, on-line training and short term training program.

The duties include:

•   Driving, coordinating and implementing the In-service training program in compliance with the objectives of the WASCAL’s Strategic Plan.
•   Developing, in close collaboration with concerned institutions in member countries, customized short term training courses initiated according to identified needs and priorities.
•   Liaising with Graduate Research Programs in Lead Universities as well as WASCAL scientists and engineers to develop training modules ;
•   Implements all training courses as scheduled;
•   Developing training modules for climate negotiators from member states.
•   Contributing to the development of a data portal for online courses in climate change.
•   Recommending the necessary revisions to existing training courses and possible areas requiring training courses.
•   Developing performance assessment methodologies, indicators and metrics to be incorporated at the in service course design stage to ensure the course impact is measurable, demonstrable and in compliance with WASCAL’s mandate for results based management (RBM).
•   Managing the  financial performance to ensure that expenditure on training program remain within agreed program budgets and the overall in service training program budget and take remedial action where necessary.
•   Serving as an active member of the Capacity Building Department’s management team and assists the Capacity Building Director in developing annual budgets and plans.
•   Any other tasks as may be assigned from time to time.

This is an international staff position based in Accra, Ghana. Salary and benefits will be commensurate with experience. This position requires extensive travel within WASCAL Member Countries and beyond. With a view towards increasing the number of women in leading positions, WASCAL specifically encourages women to apply.

Qualification Required & Experience

The post holder will be expected to organize specialized training courses on climate change in response to a wide range of development challenges identified by member countries.  He/She should have vast experience in the field of training and strong connections with different academic, research and business institutions, on most diverse topics.

In particular, the Programme Manager should have:

•   Masters degree in Climate Science (Geography, GIS, Environmental Science and Engineering, Hydrology, etc) or in other related areas.
•   At least 8 years relevant work experience, including a proven track record of developing and managing in service training program;
•   A sound understanding of climate science systems within developing country settings;
•   Substantial specialist expertise in program design, management, monitoring and evaluation (organisational/institutional), project budgeting and forecasting and strong track record of leading and coordinating multi-faceted project teams;
•   Excellent written and oral communications skills;
•   Experience of working ‘on in service training program’ in developing country contexts;
•   Excellent written and verbal communication in English and French is mandatory.

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Please send your application including a covering letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae, statement of motivation and the contact details of three (3) referees by email to:-

candidature@wascal.org

Closing Date: 31 March, 2016

•   Please indicate “Programme Manager” in the subject line.
•   For further information, please visit www.wascal.org.
•   Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.