PEACE CORPS/ZAMBIA

PROVINCIAL PROGRAM ASSISTANT: VA- 16/2024

Peace Corps/Zambia wishes to invite applications from suitably qualified persons to fill the   position of Provincial Program Assistant (PPA) for Western Province

Location: Mongu, Western Province

Work Schedule: Full Time 44 hours/Week

Starting Salary:  ZMW 163,711.00 –  ZMW257,437.38 per Annum

General Description:

The Provincial Program Assistant (PPA) reports to the Provincial Program Coordinator (PPC).  S/he provides volunteer support, performs maintenance and related tasks, and is the official provincial driver for the provincial office and resource center to which they are assigned.   This position will work closely with the PPC, the Motorpool Coordinator in Lusaka, and the Director of Provincial Operations and Program Performance.  S/he will also work closely with Volunteers in the province.  The PPA will occasionally be asked to be acting Provincial Program Coordinator in their absence.

Tasks & Deliverables

Volunteer Support:

• Provide administrative, technical and emotional support to all the Volunteers (PCVs) in the province.
• Facilitate cultural integration of PCVs through counseling and coaching to solve problems arising due to cultural integration issues with host families, counterparts and other community representatives.
• Conduct a monthly cell phone check-in with all Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) in the province.
• Conduct site visits in coordination with relevant staff (PPC, DPT, Project Managers, Training Specialists, DPOPP) and PCVLs.
• Contact the appropriate staff in Zambia when problems arise with Volunteers to ensure effective communication with and responses by staff concerned.
• Assist, and respond, with all necessary logistics in the event of a medical or personal emergency or evacuation.

Site Management:

Following the Peace Corps guidelines, in coordination with PC staff and community members, the PPA will be responsible for the following activities:

• Ongoing site management and documentation
  • Ensure that housing is completed to Peace Corps standards before the arrival of new Volunteers. Work with local communities and host organizations to make sure housing criteria is followed.
  • Ensure that all forms detailed in the PCZ site development manual are completed within the given timelines.
  • Maintain site development files for every site and save completed forms in the appropriate site files on the shared drive within stated timelines.

Vehicle/ Driving Responsibilities:

• Always carry a valid Zambian driver’s license when driving.
• Ensure that all appropriate vehicle documentation is always copied and carried with the vehicle.
• Adhere to all Peace Corps Zambia driving guidelines, GRZ motor-vehicle laws, and DriveCam policies without exception.
• Drive the vehicle at safe speeds and ensure that official passengers’ safety is always their main concern.
• Never drive the vehicle after dark without prior approval from the Director of Management and Operations (DMO) or designee.
• Any accident, no matter how small, must be immediately reported to the PPC and Motorpool Coordinator; all accidents will also be recorded by the camera system on all official vehicles.
• Ensure regular maintenance and management of Peace Corps vehicles including the maintenance of accurate vehicle mileage logs for all official travel and providing an up-to-date fuel ledger and monthly reports regarding mileage and fuel consumption to the PPC and Motorpool Coordinator. Complete maintenance of vehicles as needed.
• Inform the PPC immediately if the vehicle develops problems that cannot be dealt with in the province.
• Under no circumstances may the PGSA use vehicles for any personal reason. All travel must be authorized by the Country Director (CD), Director of Provincial Operations and Program Performance (DPOPP), DMO, Director of Programming and Training (DPT), or the PPC. Vehicles are to be used strictly for Volunteer support and/or Peace Corps-related support.

Travel Responsibilities:

• Carry only official Peace Corps personnel or approved persons in the vehicle. Casual passengers are under no circumstance allowed to be transported in the Peace Corps motor vehicle.
• Coordinate with the PPC and Motorpool Coordinator about who, what, when and where the vehicle needs to go. In this endeavor, the PPA is expected to create a calendar of events so that vehicle bookings are adequately planned. This calendar will be planned in co-ordination with all staff on a quarterly basis.
• Ensure that all trips are approved in advance by the PPC, DPOPP, and DMO or designee.
• Coordinate transportation for medical emergencies with the Peace Corps Medical Officers, the DPOPP and the Volunteer.
• In collaboration with the Safety and Security team members, ensure that maps and access to all sites in the province are accurate and updated.

House and Bike Maintenance:

• Assist in maintenance around the provincial office as identified by any member of the provincial team (including PCVLs). Such work should be carried out only with authorization from the PPC and all bills and receipts accounted for accordingly.
• Maintain generator and completion generator fuel and service log.
• Keep and maintain an inventory of all Peace Corps fixtures and fittings in collaboration with the PPC and PCVL.
• Teach and assist volunteers with bike maintenance, and when traveling on site visits, be prepared to help when needed.
• Maintain inventory of bike parts at the provincial house and request additional parts as needed.

Other duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements:

In order to be selected for this position, the applicant must be legally eligible to work in Zambia, must not have  been employed in intelligence-related activities, and must submit an application that clearly documents how they meet each of the following requirements:

• Education/Certification: Successful completion secondary school including advanced certification in the field of Administration/Logistics/Procurement or related fields.
• Years of Experience: Minimum of three years’ work experience in the field of Administration/Logistics/ Procurement or related fields.
• Proficiency in oral and written English.
• Knowledge of MS Office computer applications (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Work experience in construction and/or maintenance work and experience with bike maintenance
• Must have a valid Zambian driver’s license of class C level or better for a minimum of 5 years and a clean record. Demonstrated ability to drive manual 4×4 vehicles is required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a medical clearance for driving and SMITH driving certification in accordance with Peace Corps Zambia and U.S. Embassy requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a diploma in the field of Administration/ Logistics/ Procurement or related fields.
• Professional experience with a donor funded multi-cultural organization.
• Experience in basic vehicle maintenance and repair.
• Professional work experience in Western Province.
• Good working knowledge of the commonly (spoken and written) local languages.

• Not evaluate or withhold and offer to an individual who has current or prior connections with intelligence activities or agencies through employment, related work, or even family relations.
• Not evaluate or to withhold an offer of a personal services contract to an individual that has a history of poor past performance or conduct as a Peace Corps Trainee, Volunteer, or staff member (USDH, PSC, or FSN).
• Withhold an offer of a personal services contract to an individual that is a relative or household member of a current Peace Corps staff member.