Projects manager, Latam projects

Reference number: 202657

Job status: In-progress

Job category: Local Position

Duty station: Lima, Peru

Landscape Alliance

Landscape Alliance transforms science into action, unlocking the power of trees, forests and agroforestry landscapes to
advance planetary health and human well-being. Landscape Alliance is the operating name of the Center for International
Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the International Centre for Research on Agroforestry (ICRAF). CIFOR and ICRAF are
independent International Organizations and CGIAR Research Centers.

Landscape Alliance is looking for a

Projects manager, Latam projects

Overview

Under the overall supervision of Regional Director and of the PIs (lead project investigators) the program manager will be responsible for ensuring the overall work planning, day-to-day management, delivery and reporting of the IKI projects CAP4BIO (Brazil, Peru and Colombia) and Transformar para Conservar (Peru and Colombia). The role bridges strategy and execution including coordination of the activities of the consortium members in line with the project document and objectives, the organization of consortium meetings, contracting of consultants and external services, as well as donor reporting, environmental and social safeguards reporting, MEL, output and outcome indicators reporting, in compliance with donor guidelines and Landscape Alliance policies. The position fosters synergies and learning between the projects and across Landscape Alliance teams and partners as part of a programmatic approach. The job applies to the two IKI projects mentioned above given their complementary approaches, biodiversity focus, implementation calendar and regional coherence.

Duties and responsibilities

1.Strategic and Operational Work
Planning and Implementation Monitoring

• Responsible for annual project planning, supporting the projects consortiums to translate project strategies intoannual Operational Workplans and Budgets (as well as any of their updates) given inputs from partners, for review by the Project Lead Investigators (PIs) and Project Steering Committees (PSCs). Monitor delivery progress on the activity plan, help devise the internal tracking systems, related KPIs and briefing materials. Together with the PI and the units in HQ (Quality for Impact team), oversee the work of the MEL specialist in support of related output/outcome indicators and impact assessment and reporting

2.Project Coordination and Delivery:

• Under the oversight and guidance of the PIs, owns and maintains
  the operating framework for project execution (planning, MEL learning loops,
  partner contracting standards, risk & assurance approaches).

• Be responsible for coordinating the timely implementation of all
  projects activities, ensuring that they are carried out in accordance with the
  logical framework, work plan, budget, calendar, indicator matrix, and project
  annexes approved by the donor.

• To this end, coordinate joint efforts with consortium partners and
  CIFOR and ICRAF technical teams.Align
  internal planning cycles with donor reporting timelines and strategic programme
  milestones. Support the PIs in facilitating workstream integration and run
  regular internal team meetings to track progress and foster ownership of
  deliverables.

• Lead, support and maintain the systems of document and internal
  information management for the consortium (online repositories, MS teams
  channels etc). Manage calendars and regular team meetings, including progress
  tracking of action points.

• Proactively and effectively ensure the timely delivery and
  execution of the projects’ activities by CIFOR, ICRAF and project partners and
  contractors, and propose any action to mitigate delays.

• Prepare, review and process (in relation with HR and procurement
  as relevant) external services agreements and consultancy contracts included in
  the project workplans. Draft and review Terms of Reference for such
  engagements. Review their implementation and delivery.

• Responsible for planning, coordinating, and monitoring travel
  arrangements, in accordance with institutional policies and established
  budgetary parameters.

• Ensure compliance with CIFOR, ICRAF and donors’ policies.

• Manage the projects for execution efficiency, evaluate monthly the
  operational and financial levels of project implementation (financial tracker
  system). Oversee the role of the financial and administrative manager and
  analysts in support of the related tasks.

• Anticipate and troubleshoot operational bottlenecks by CIFOR,
  ICRAF or partners, including on financial execution and cash flow issues
  (disbursements and payments).

• Coordinate with consortium partners to ensure compliance with the
  project’s co-financing commitments, and monitor their implementation and
  reporting.

3.Donor Reporting

·Be responsible, for final review and oversight of the PI, for the
annual technical reporting to the donor (including progress on indicators in
coordination with the MEL coordinator) : coordinating inputs from partners
including CIFOR and ICRAF and preparing the annual report.

·Support the PIs and liaise with PMU in ensuring compliance of
project activities with the existing agreement between CIFOR, ICRAF and the
project donors. In liaison with the PIs, prepare the organization of meetings
with the donor.

4.Partnership Management

• Support the work and functions of governance and management bodies
  of the projects, in particular the Steering Committees and Management teams,
  and organize the project task forces.

• Organize the consortium-level virtual and face-to-face meetings
  (core group, task forces, technical meetings etc) under the oversight of the PI
  (for core groups and SC meetings) or of responsible staff (for technical
  groups). Lead preparation of documentation for the SC meetings and serve as
  secretary of the projects core groups, prepare meeting minutes. Manage
  effective coordination among consortium partners, and online tools such as the
  virtual document repositories (sharepoint).

• Manage and monitor sub-grant agreements, subcontracts, and
  deliverables with consortium and other partners, coordinate effectively with
  the PMU unit, and follow up on their compliance. Prepare the nessary
  documentation PMU requires for this.

5.Knowledge management, communication & Learning

• Oversee and contribute to the knowledge management, communication
  and outreach plan and related activities of the project (in relation with the
  corresponding officers in CIFOR, ICRAF and partners). Support the realization
  of knowledge products, strategic briefs and high level reports, liaising as
  relevant with the respective officers and coordination committees in charge of
  these areas of work. Coordinate with the communication specialist to
  periodically update project information on the IKI and internal project
  portals.

• Help prepare drafting of reports, articles, and documents intended
  to disseminate and make available the results and knowledge generated by the
  projects, in coordination with the relevant technical teams.

6.Budgeting and Financial Oversight

• Provide programme budget oversight coordinating across Admin,
  Finance, Contracted partners, and the project team.

• Coordinate effectively with the Financial Support Unit (FSU) at
  CIFOR and ICRAF to ensure proper financial management of the project, including
  the preparation and submission by FSU of financial reports, of disbursement
  requests to the donor, and of the distribution of funds to consortium partners
  in compliance with the organization policies, donor policies, and binding
  agreements between the parties.Prepare,
  in coordination with PMU and FSU, the documentation management with partners
  (voucher system).

• Prepare for engagement of audit reviews and quality assurance
  procedures.

7.Safeguards and Learning

• Oversee the development and implementation of the MEL
  (Monitoring,Evaluation and Learning)
  plans – including lessons learned – of the projects, liaising as relevant with
  the MEL specialist and under the overall supervision of the PIs.

• Support adaptive learning across the programme including internal
  reflection, after-action reviews, and documentation of lessons learned in close
  collaboration with the Quality 4 Impact Team.

8.Other Responsibilities

• Be member of the Landscape Alliance internal coordination bodies
  for the implementation of the projects

• Actively participate in relevant office, technical, follow-up,
  monitoring, training, policy or other meetings.

• Perform any other relevant duties as required related to portfolio
  management under the direction of the PIs.

Requirements

• An advanced degree (Masters level) in
  project management, environmental science, economics, development, business or
  a related discipline with sound knowledge of related contemporary issues.

• A minimum of 7 years of experience in
  project/programme management and implementation in the fields of environment
  and natural resource management in relevant public institutions, the private
  sector or in international organizations

• 4 years of proven success and track record
  in the position of lead manager or lead coordinator of a large scale project,
  including the in position of responsibility for the management of the whole
  planning-implementation-monitoring-reporting cycle with project partners and
  donors.

• Experience in the oversight and
  application of project Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) plans and
  processes, and of project-related social and environmental safeguards

• Experience in projects with
  inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations and involving
  stakeholders involved in policy on natural resources management at regional,
  national and sub-regional levels in a Latin American context.

• ·Experience managing multicultural teams to
  implement project proposals

Education, knowledge and experience

• An advanced degree (Masters level) in project management, environmental science, economics, development, business or a related discipline with sound knowledge of related contemporary issues.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in project/programme management and implementation in the fields of environment and natural resource management in relevant public institutions, the private sector or in international organizations
• 4 years of proven success and track record in the position of lead manager or lead coordinator of a large scale project, including the in position of responsibility for the management of the whole planning-implementation-monitoring-reporting cycle with project partners and donors.
• Experience in the oversight and application of project Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) plans and processes, and of project-related social and environmental safeguards
• Experience in projects with inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations and involving stakeholders involved in policy on natural resources management at regional, national and sub-regional levels in a Latin American context.
• Experience managing multicultural teams to implement project proposals

Terms and conditions

• This is a Locally Recruited Position (LRS). CIFOR-ICRAF offers competitive remuneration in local currency commensurate with skills and experience.
• The initial appointment will be for two (2) years, with a six-month probationary period, with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources.
• The position is based in Lima, Peru

Application process

The application deadline is 23 Sep 2026.

We will acknowledge all applications, but will contact only short-listed candidates.