Background information about the job or company

Q-Sourcing Limited trading as Q-Sourcing Servtec is a manpower management solutions firm operating in the East African Region in the countries of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and South Sudan.

On behalf of our client Ripple Effect in the NGO Sector, we are looking for a competent, skilled, and experienced PROJECT DIRECTOR to work in Kampala.

The Youth Economic Empowerment through Livestock Development (YEELD) Program is a five-year initiative aimed at improving the socio-economic well-being and resilience of financially disadvantaged young people aged 18–35 years in the Teso, Bukedi, and Ankole sub-regions of Uganda through livestock value chains. The program seeks to create 250,000 work opportunities, including for 200,000 (80%) young women, 5% persons with disabilities (PWDs), and 3% refugees and displaced persons (RDPs). YEELD is being implemented across 20 districts in the three sub-regions through a consortium coordinated by Ripple Effect, dfcu Foundation, and Multi Community Based Development Initiative (MUCOBADI), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.

The Project Director provides overall strategic, technical, and operational leadership, and coordination for the YEELD project, ensuring delivery of impact, compliance with partnership requirements, coordination with Consortium partners and stakeholders, achievement of program goals focused on systemic transformation of the livestock sector to create dignified and sustainable employment opportunities for young people, especially women and refugees. The role balances donor accountability with local ownership, aligning with Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy and Uganda’s national development priorities.

The Project Director will lead partner engagement, provide strategic guidance and capacity support, and ensure effective coordination across all implementing partners. He/She will lead programme management unit (PMU), a member and secretary to the steering committee, ex-officio to the Ripple Effect oversight committee, be accountable for partner performance, ensuring high-quality delivery, compliance with agreed objectives, and achievement of project outcomes through regular partner monitoring, performance reviews, and adaptive management.

Responsibilities or duties

• Provide overall strategic vision and technical direction for YEELD, ensuring alignment with Mastercard Foundation priorities and Uganda’s livestock development agenda to promote innovation, scale, and sustainability.
• Promote transformative climate change adaptation strategies to fundamentally change agricultural systems in response to climate change in line with the livestock sector.
• Develop strategies to improve production practices, market access, and build sustainable agribusinesses resilient to market disruptions
• Lead systemic transformation of livestock value chain systems to generate sustainable youth employment.
• Ensure strategic alignment across thematic areas and partners.
• Serve as a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), contributing to strategic decision making.
• Oversee program planning, budgeting, implementation, and performance management.
• Oversee partner onboarding, due diligence, contract development (with Compliance & Legal), and co-creation of risk-mitigated investment strategies with all key stakeholders.
• Ensure achievement of results, high-quality deliverables, and cost-efficiency.
• Monitor progress through regular reviews and adaptive management practices.
• Lead annual and quarterly planning processes, translating strategy into actionable work plans with clear milestones.
• Anticipate risks and design adaptive strategies to ensure program resilience, compliance and sustainability.
• Maintain high standards of project governance and audit readiness.
• Provide strategic oversight for partner onboarding and orientation processes.
• Ensure effective performance management of implementing partners through clear onboarding and induction, setting expectations, regular monitoring and review meetings, risk and performance management, and continuous support to enable delivery of high-quality results in line with project objectives and compliance frameworks.
• Drive efforts to mobilize resources at scale for livestock sector programming scale and youth enterprise development by engaging the relevant ministries and departments of Government, Financial Institutions, Development Partners, Development Financial Institutions, and private investors.
• Facilitate cross-learning and collaboration among stakeholders to maximize impact.
• Serve as the Program’s primary point of engagement with Mastercard Foundation, and different stakeholders, Project Committees, boards, government, and development partners
• Build Strategic Alliances by cultivating and maintaining strong partnerships with anchor firms, implementing partners, government agencies, youth networks, academia, and the private sector to advance YEELD’s impact.
• Coordinate across consortium partners, government ministries, civil society, and private sector actors.
• Oversee partner onboarding, due diligence, contract development (with Compliance & Legal), and co-creation of risk-mitigated investment strategies with all key stakeholders.
• Supervise Technical Lead to ensure coherent technical implementation and coordinate resources across implementation zones.
• Oversee project implementation, ensuring adherence to project plans, timelines, budgets, and quality standards; provide timely justification for any necessary modifications.
• Ensure that sustainability considerations, including climate change adaptation and mitigation measures are mainstreamed into all aspects of project implementation and deliver sustainability-transformative outcomes.
• Ensure robust systems are in place for effective data collection, analysis, and knowledge management to facilitate continuous learning and program improvement.
• Oversee and design a comprehensive MEL framework that captures youth employment, livestock productivity, and inclusion outcomes across the three sub-regions.
• Ensure high-quality data collection and analysis, maintaining integrity, consistency, and compliance with Mastercard Foundation standards.
• Lead adaptive management processes, using evidence to refine strategies and guide program adjustments for greater impact.
• Promote organizational learning and knowledge sharing, documenting lessons, success stories, and best practices to influence policy and practice.
• Deliver timely, accurate, and donor-compliant reports, providing transparent analysis of progress, challenges, and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Ensure robust systems are in place for procurement, safeguarding, safety, and data protection.
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and resource allocation and expenditure monitoring.
• Ensure efficient use of donor funds with strong compliance to financial, contractual regulations and internal policies.
• Oversee financial performance of partners and ensure timely submission of quality reports.
• Mobilize additional resources through partnerships and co-funding opportunities.
• Maintain oversight of risk mitigation, safeguarding, and program governance mechanisms.
• Proactively identify and mitigate financial and operational risks throughout the program lifecycle; regularly reviewing and updating the risk management framework.
• Lead the YEELD team to develop and submit all data, analysis and reporting that is required for accountability purposes on time and to standard
• Report regularly to the Steering Committee and submit timely, high-quality reports.
• Lead and inspire a diverse team of technical experts and support staff of the YEELD program. Build capacity of staff through mentorship, training, and performance management.
• Foster a culture of inclusivity, collaboration, accountability, equity, and innovation.
• Ensure staff wellbeing, motivation, retention and professional growth.
• Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary team of 70+ professionals.
• Ensure effective delegation, coaching, and performance management systems.
• Ensure the team is resourced with the expertise and tools necessary to deliver on strategy; through a combination of recruitment and management of staff, and procurement of consultants where needed.
• Plan and organize the work of the team to accomplish strategic & project goals and targets are achieved in the most cost-effective and impactful manner; ensure that each team member is provided with clarity concerning expectations.
• Provide overall safeguarding oversight for the YEELD project, ensuring that robust safeguarding systems, policies, and practices are implemented and upheld across the Program staff and all partners, and that risks related to safeguarding are proactively identified, monitored, and addressed in line with organizational, donor, and national safeguarding standards.
• Ensure compliance with Ripple Effect policies and all relevant legislation.
• Act at all times according to Ripple Effect’s values and in support of its Africa Forward Together approach.
• To undertake other duties of a similar nature as reasonably required by the line manager.

Qualifications or requirements

Desirable:

• Master’s degree in agriculture, Business Administration, International Development, Public Policy, Economics, or a closely related field from a recognized institution.
• Additional certifications in project management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2), MEL, or climate-smart agriculture are an added advantage.
• Evidence of continued professional development and thought leadership through participation in relevant conferences, publications, or strategic advisory roles

Experience needed

Desirable:

• Minimum 12 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in large-scale development programs.
• Strong experience with donor-funded projects.
• Deep understanding of youth employment, agricultural value chains (especially livestock), and rural development in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Proven experience managing multi-million-dollar portfolios and large, diverse teams.
• Demonstrated success in resource mobilization, fundraising, and managing strategic donor relationships.

Technical Skills & Knowledge

Desirable:

• In-depth knowledge of climate change adaptation frameworks and their relevance to sustainable livestock production.
• Advanced skills interpreting MEL systems that incorporate real-time analytics, geospatial data, and outcome-based performance metrics.
• Strong capacity for strategic planning and operational execution, including scenario modelling, cost-benefit analysis, and adaptive management approaches.
• High proficiency in tools such as Power BI, Excel, GIS platforms, and digital collaboration suites
• Demonstrated experience in designing and institutionalizing enterprise-wide risk management systems and integrating them into program decision cycles.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to craft compelling reports, briefs, and presentations for high-level stakeholders.

Any other provided details

At Ripple Effect, we are committed to creating a safe and rewarding environments for all of our people, including staff, participants, partners, volunteers, children, and vulnerable adults. It is a shared responsibility to ensure that everyone is treated properly and protected from harm, exploitation, and abuse. To fulfil this commitment, we have established a robust Safeguarding Policy that everyone working with us is expected to follow, along with a confidential whistle-blowing procedure that allows individuals to raise any concerns they may have.

Key Result Areas

• Creation of dignified employment opportunities for youth, women, and refugees in livestock value chains.
• Systemic transformation of livestock markets and services in Teso, Bukedi, and Ankole sub-regions.
• Strong institutional partnerships sustaining impact beyond donor funding.
• Evidence-based advocacy influencing national livestock policy and practice.
• Programme closeout completed on time, with all deliverables, agreements, and legacy knowledge products finalized and shared with stakeholders.

• Provide overall strategic vision and technical direction for YEELD, ensuring alignment with Mastercard Foundation priorities and Uganda’s livestock development agenda to promote innovation, scale, and sustainability.
• Promote transformative climate change adaptation strategies to fundamentally change agricultural systems in response to climate change in line with the livestock sector.
• Develop strategies to improve production practices, market access, and build sustainable agribusinesses resilient to market disruptions
• Lead systemic transformation of livestock value chain systems to generate sustainable youth employment.
• Ensure strategic alignment across thematic areas and partners.
• Serve as a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), contributing to strategic decision making.
• Oversee program planning, budgeting, implementation, and performance management.
• Oversee partner onboarding, due diligence, contract development (with Compliance & Legal), and co-creation of risk-mitigated investment strategies with all key stakeholders.
• Ensure achievement of results, high-quality deliverables, and cost-efficiency.
• Monitor progress through regular reviews and adaptive management practices.
• Lead annual and quarterly planning processes, translating strategy into actionable work plans with clear milestones.
• Anticipate risks and design adaptive strategies to ensure program resilience, compliance and sustainability.
• Maintain high standards of project governance and audit readiness.
• Provide strategic oversight for partner onboarding and orientation processes.
• Ensure effective performance management of implementing partners through clear onboarding and induction, setting expectations, regular monitoring and review meetings, risk and performance management, and continuous support to enable delivery of high-quality results in line with project objectives and compliance frameworks.
• Drive efforts to mobilize resources at scale for livestock sector programming scale and youth enterprise development by engaging the relevant ministries and departments of Government, Financial Institutions, Development Partners, Development Financial Institutions, and private investors.
• Facilitate cross-learning and collaboration among stakeholders to maximize impact.
• Serve as the Program’s primary point of engagement with Mastercard Foundation, and different stakeholders, Project Committees, boards, government, and development partners
• Build Strategic Alliances by cultivating and maintaining strong partnerships with anchor firms, implementing partners, government agencies, youth networks, academia, and the private sector to advance YEELD’s impact.
• Coordinate across consortium partners, government ministries, civil society, and private sector actors.
• Oversee partner onboarding, due diligence, contract development (with Compliance & Legal), and co-creation of risk-mitigated investment strategies with all key stakeholders.
• Supervise Technical Lead to ensure coherent technical implementation and coordinate resources across implementation zones.
• Oversee project implementation, ensuring adherence to project plans, timelines, budgets, and quality standards; provide timely justification for any necessary modifications.
• Ensure that sustainability considerations, including climate change adaptation and mitigation measures are mainstreamed into all aspects of project implementation and deliver sustainability-transformative outcomes.
• Ensure robust systems are in place for effective data collection, analysis, and knowledge management to facilitate continuous learning and program improvement.
• Oversee and design a comprehensive MEL framework that captures youth employment, livestock productivity, and inclusion outcomes across the three sub-regions.
• Ensure high-quality data collection and analysis, maintaining integrity, consistency, and compliance with Mastercard Foundation standards.
• Lead adaptive management processes, using evidence to refine strategies and guide program adjustments for greater impact.
• Promote organizational learning and knowledge sharing, documenting lessons, success stories, and best practices to influence policy and practice.
• Deliver timely, accurate, and donor-compliant reports, providing transparent analysis of progress, challenges, and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Ensure robust systems are in place for procurement, safeguarding, safety, and data protection.
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and resource allocation and expenditure monitoring.
• Ensure efficient use of donor funds with strong compliance to financial, contractual regulations and internal policies.
• Oversee financial performance of partners and ensure timely submission of quality reports.
• Mobilize additional resources through partnerships and co-funding opportunities.
• Maintain oversight of risk mitigation, safeguarding, and program governance mechanisms.
• Proactively identify and mitigate financial and operational risks throughout the program lifecycle; regularly reviewing and updating the risk management framework.
• Lead the YEELD team to develop and submit all data, analysis and reporting that is required for accountability purposes on time and to standard
• Report regularly to the Steering Committee and submit timely, high-quality reports.
• Lead and inspire a diverse team of technical experts and support staff of the YEELD program. Build capacity of staff through mentorship, training, and performance management.
• Foster a culture of inclusivity, collaboration, accountability, equity, and innovation.
• Ensure staff wellbeing, motivation, retention and professional growth.
• Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary team of 70+ professionals.
• Ensure effective delegation, coaching, and performance management systems.
• Ensure the team is resourced with the expertise and tools necessary to deliver on strategy; through a combination of recruitment and management of staff, and procurement of consultants where needed.
• Plan and organize the work of the team to accomplish strategic & project goals and targets are achieved in the most cost-effective and impactful manner; ensure that each team member is provided with clarity concerning expectations.
• Provide overall safeguarding oversight for the YEELD project, ensuring that robust safeguarding systems, policies, and practices are implemented and upheld across the Program staff and all partners, and that risks related to safeguarding are proactively identified, monitored, and addressed in line with organizational, donor, and national safeguarding standards.
• Ensure compliance with Ripple Effect policies and all relevant legislation.
• Act at all times according to Ripple Effect’s values and in support of its Africa Forward Together approach.
• To undertake other duties of a similar nature as reasonably required by the line manager.

• In-depth knowledge of climate change adaptation frameworks and their relevance to sustainable livestock production.
• Advanced skills interpreting MEL systems that incorporate real-time analytics, geospatial data, and outcome-based performance metrics.
• Strong capacity for strategic planning and operational execution, including scenario modelling, cost-benefit analysis, and adaptive management approaches.
• High proficiency in tools such as Power BI, Excel, GIS platforms, and digital collaboration suites
• Demonstrated experience in designing and institutionalizing enterprise-wide risk management systems and integrating them into program decision cycles.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to craft compelling reports, briefs, and presentations for high-level stakeholders.

• Master’s degree in agriculture, Business Administration, International Development, Public Policy, Economics, or a closely related field from a recognized institution.
• Additional certifications in project management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2), MEL, or climate-smart agriculture are an added advantage.
• Evidence of continued professional development and thought leadership through participation in relevant conferences, publications, or strategic advisory roles