Project Manager, DRIVE Project

Position: Project Manager, DRIVE

Job location:   Arua, West Nile Office (with 50% in Rhino Camp)

Starting date: February 2026

Vacancy closing date: 20th January 2026

Duration position: 1 year renewable contract 

Working hours: Fulltime (40 hours per week)

About ZOA

We are here for people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster.

ZOA, as an international NGO, supports people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster. Together, we can come to their aid in emergencies and remain faithful to communities as they recover – providing new opportunities for them to help themselves again. The work of ZOA is coordinated from the Netherlands. We are active in multiple countries in Africa, South America, the Middle East Region, and Asia. We work with approximately 900 employees worldwide and with (local) partners. We invite you to join our team of committed colleagues.

Our work in Uganda

In Uganda, ZOA has offices in Kampala, West Nile (Arua), Acholi (Kiryandongo), and Karamoja (Amudat). ZOA Uganda works both in relief and recovery on the themes of food security & livelihoods, primary/accelerated/vocational education, and conflict management with a special focus on land security.

About the DRIVE Project

The Developing sustainable, Resilient, and Inclusive local food systems (DRIVE) Project project’s overall objective is to achieve a resilient local food system in West Nile region by enhancing productivity and production by smallholder farmers including women and youth, using climate smart agroecological practices and sustainable land/water management practices and increasing the participation of smallholder farmers including women and youth in profitable local and regional markets. The project runs for 36 months. The project is implemented in Terego and Madi Okollo Districts. There is one local implementing partner and one technical partner.

ZOA Uganda is looking for a Project Manager, DRIVE Project to be based in Arua City -ZOA West Nile Office.

Your challenge

The Project Manager, DRIVE Project in the West Nile Region of Uganda, with support from the Programme Manager West Nile, is responsible for day to day management  of the RVO funded DRIVE project. He/she will collaboratively and coordinates  work with  PALM Corps staff , , and other ZOA team members to successfully deliver the project results in quality and time. The PM  is responsible to ensure excellence in implementation of the project in terms of impact, reporting, and timeliness, networking and coordination, maintain good relationship with relevant stakeholders (including the private sector), adherence to ZOA policy and guidelines, ensure timely reporting and documentation and that spending is in line with the approved budget.

The PM will support and motivate 4 ZOA Project Officers to deliver quality implementation, adherence to Participator Integrated Plan (PIP) initiation and scale up.  The PM will also work closely with the project partner, building a collaborative and accountable working relationship.

Your main tasks and responsibilities

Project planning and implementation:

• Lead in project planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring of progress in line with RVO/ARFSA Project and ZOA requirements.
• Oversee the Implementation of activities as described in projects proposal and plan
• Conduct regular meetings and direct day-to-day supervisions of the field staff and PIs to ensure the projects are on track towards meeting the work plan requirements, ensuring targets and deliverables are completed by established deadlines.
• Facilitate the adaptation of existing PIP trainers’ manual to West Nile context and tailor PIP practices to respective agro-ecological needs and farmers needs across the two districts
• Oversee the startup of PIP creation and its scale up from generation to generation
• Ensure that there is a cross learning among PIP farmers within and across districts especially from sub counties that are advanced with PIP implementation
• In collaboration with the POs, support the design and set up experimental plots or IPPs (experiments/validation/comparative) with clear objectives, parameters for observation and protocols for analysis.
• Facilitate capacity building for POs, PIs and relevant district and sub county staff in PIP methodology operationalization.
• Organise joint planning and monitoring with local partner, PALM Corps and when required, local government stakeholders

Reporting and Knowledge Management, MEAL

• Organize monitoring and data recording systems of activities in the project in coordination with MEAL colleagues, and ensure timely data collection and entry
• Write and submit comprehensive and quality reports, specific activity reports and any other reports when necessary in a timely manner
• Organize projects monthly, quarterly and annual reviews meetings to track progress towards projects objectives, adherence to PIP approach quality standard and processes
• Monitor the context and carry out adjustments to project plans and management on an on-going basis in light of changing context, resources, and opportunities.
• Take lead in documentation and sharing of Impact, success stories and best practices to promote learning.

Representation and coordination 

• Actively participate in all relevant technical working group meetings conducted at district and settlement level, and ensure good information sharing with the wider ZOA team
• Develop and maintain strong relationships within and outside the DRIVE project including with the relevant local government offices, the private sector and research/knowledge institutions
• Maintain effective coordination and collaboration with PALM Corps and Wageningen Environmental Research

Team Management and Human Resources

• Ensure the project teams have clear objectives, with weekly and monthly targets, to ensure quality implementation of project outputs and outcomes, with regular face to face meetings (weekly or monthly)
• Contribute to the recruitment of well-qualified project staff, reviewing the job descriptions, participating in job interviews;
• Ensure that project staff are conversant with their job description, ZOA’s internal regulations, standards, policies and donor regulations;
• Supervises and carries out periodical evaluation of the performance of the staff assigned to the project(s) against established performance objectives in a timely manner
• Ensures capacity building on key projects concepts and approaches with support from PQ department and/or other ZOA and partner staff; recommends strategic training opportunities for the team;
• Ensures effective leave management within the project team, in liaison with the field Finance and Administration Associate Manager;

Finance and procurement

• Uses ZOA’s ERP system to track and maintain oversight of projects expenditure (including partner finances), rregularly monitor projects expenditures (using the BVA) to ensure spending is made in line with the budget approved with the donor
• Ensure timely initiation of procurement requests and follow up on progress
• Provide appropriate code for expenses
• Ensure full utilization of the projects approved budget, and timely adjustments and communication with the finance team to ensure good budget management.

Accountability

• Sensitize all stakeholders (participants, service providers, partners, government and other) on feedback and complaint mechanisms implemented by ZOA Uganda;
• Upon receipt of a complaint or feedback, ensure that it is correctly documented following correct reporting procedures;
• Work closely with MEAL team to ensure regular analysis of feedback and complaints registered to inform the program of changes in operational trends and context to help in improving the intervention and adaptive management.

Your profile

Identity

• The candidate is expected to fully support the vision, mission and Christian values 0f ZOA (see https://www.zoa-international.com/corporate-identity)

Knowledge & Experience:

• Degree in agricultural sciences, development studies, or other relevant field; Master degree will be an added advantage;
• At least 5 years successful project cycle management experience in a similar position; - Experience managing large programmes for INGOs is an added advantage;
• Experience managing large projects funded by institutional donors is an added advantage;
• Having led a project in partnership with a local NGO is an added advantage;
• Excellent spoken and written command of English;
• Language skills in relevant local languages of the duty station is an added advantage.

Skills:

• Participative leadership with clear command of overall operations;
• Sensitive towards HRM and organizational issues;.
• Good communication, writing and facilitation skills;
• Innovative, creative and enthusiastic;
• Good computer skills: Ms Excel and Ms Word;
• Self-motivator, able to work with limited supervision;
• Able to ride a motorbike in field conditions, holding a valid driving license (this will be checked with a practical test during interview).

Attitude:

• High level of personal integrity
• Flexibility and adaptability;
• Interpersonal and cross-cultural sensitivity;
• Able to work under pressures and meet deadlines;
• Able to work in a sometimes fluid and insecure environment;
• Commitment to ZOA’s mission, vision and values (see https://www.zoa-international.com/corporate-identity)

Special conditions/circumstances

The Project Manager will be based at the ZOA West Nile office in Arua with 50% time in Rhino camp office. Regular field visits to the project locations in Terego and Madio Okollo as well as other districts in the region are anticipated, which may necessitate overnight stays. Visits to Kampala and other ZOA programme locations may also be requested for coordination, training and learning. The postholder is expected to regularly ride a motorcycle in rural conditions/on unmade roads.

The role is 1.0 FTE (40 hrs/ week). Working hours are outlined in the ZOA Uganda Employee Handbook. Some flexibility on working hours may be required, e.g. for travel at weekends, or during reporting times.

Our offer

• ZOA offers a challenging role in a dynamic context, and you will be part of an inspiring and motivated team.
• We offer good benefits and remuneration which suits the NGO sector.

Do you need more information?

For more information about ZOA, please visit our website www.zoa-international.com.

Interested and ready to apply?

All interested and qualified candidates please apply directly via the application link, at the latest by 20th January 2026

CV’s of no more than 5 pages in length are appreciated. Please provide at least 3 references related to your previous employment listed in the application. References of previous positions held should not be older than five years.

Only selected candidates will be contacted and invited to participate in the process of recruitment. 

ZOA operates with an equal opportunities policy and is committed to diversity in the workplace.
Qualified women and men, people of all nationalities, and cultural backgrounds, and candidates with disabilities are welcome to apply.

Please note that ZOA carries out background and reference checks (including COTER – Counter Terrorism check) for all candidates as part of the recruitment process. As ZOA participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a written questionnaire: the “Statement of Conduct”, which will be sent to past employers regarding misconduct (such as sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment).

Please note that ZOA does not solicit for funds during any recruitment process.
To report any unethical conduct, please use; report.uganda@zoa.ngo or report@zoa.ngo or Call: 080-020-0121 Tollfree.