Overall assignment

The Team Leader (TL):

• Is responsible and accountable for the coordination and implementation of the programme as a whole and for the strategic, operational and financial management of the programme;
• Plays a key role in ensuring the programme’s coherence, alignment with EF’s global mandate and objectives, and quality delivery;
• Plays a key role in stakeholder engagement, representation, and coordination across a broad range of institutional and non-institutional actors, as the programme activities will be implemented in a complex multi-stakeholder environment. While safeguarding the programme’s objectives, the TL maintains and develops constructive working relationships with the donor, national authorities, civil society organizations, independent media actors, international partners, and other relevant stakeholders.

The TL works under the supervision of the Head of Unit and Deputy Head of Unit in Paris and in close coordination with EF Paris-based programme team.

The TL manages the programme team and long-term intermittent expert team, grant beneficiaries and subcontractors and ensures the overall quality control, coordination and completion of all activities, achievements and objectives, as well as overall reporting to the donor.

Specific responsibilities

The TL’s main specific responsibilities are the following (but not limited to): 

• Programme management:
  • Ensure the achievement of programme objectives, expected results, and contractual commitments;
  • Provide strategic leadership and direction to the programme;
  • With the support of the Deputy Team Leader, supports coordination across and within the three SOs to ensure harmonized implementation of the project across all geographic areas of intervention;
  • Validate key programme documents and decisions;
  • Lead and consolidate the annual and multi-annual planning of activities;
  • Supervise the implementation of the project activities 
  • Ensure close coordination and good relations with implementing partners, follow-up their activities, work plan and ensure alignment with the overall project work plan;
  • Draft the calls for proposal and organize the selection of partner organizations;
  • Ensure the follow-up of partner organization (validates the technical and financial reports);
  • With the support of the financial team, oversees budget planning, resource allocation, and financial forecasting;
  • With the support of the MEAL Manager, ensure the implementation of the M&E system; 
  • Anticipate and manage project risks and developments, and alerts the line manager when necessary;
  • Ensure the programme’s ability to adapt to evolving priorities and constraints of beneficiaries and donors, as well as to changes in the context.

• Team Management and supervision of long-term intermittent expert team:
  • Ensure close coordination with EF Paris-based team members and HQ management;
  • With the support of the Paris-based programme team, manage the set-up of EF office in Tirana;
  • With the support of the Paris-based programme team, manage the recruitment, supervise and mentor programme team members (11 people foreseen) in Tirana, including by communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews;
  • Recruit and supervise the long-term intermittent expert team (7 people foreseen) that will ensure effective coordination between the regional and national levels of implementation, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and support the delivery of country-specific activities.

• Project representation and partnership:
  
  • Convene and facilitate programme governance bodies (i.e., Steering Committees, Operational Steering Committee) and coordination mechanisms;
  • Act as the programme focal point for the donor, DGENEST;
  • Regularly inform the donor, DGENEST, of major programme developments and alerts them to any issues requiring the attention of the European Commission services or EU Delegations;
  • Monitor issues related to democratic processes, civic spaces, CSO enabling environments, gender equality in the region and in countries (changes in legislative frameworks, launch of new programmes, availability of funding etc…);
  • Ensure overall coordination with key stakeholders, including the EUDs, technical and financial partners, and official representatives;
  • Participate to key activities when visibility is required;
  • Represent the programme toward external actors (institutions, donors, partners, EU MS representatives, embassies etc…) in external activities and events when visibility of the programme is needed;
  • Ensure synergies with other projects and programmes;
  • Oversee project visibility as well as flow of information and representation with embassies, local authorities and relevant stakeholders. 

• Reporting: 
  
  • Ensure proper and timely internal and external accountability in line with donor and internal requirements;
  • Regular reporting to EF Paris-based programme team and HQ management on programme progress as required (monthly reports);
  • Ensure contractual obligations;
  • Ensure the quality control of the overall project’s outputs and deliverables;
  • Ensure the drafting of the contractual reports (technical and financial) to the donor.