Job Details

Job Description

Project Background:

Nathan Associates is implementing the USAID Zambia Revenue for Growth Project (USAID R4G), a five-year project awarded in June 2021, which supports the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) in its efforts to improve domestic revenue mobilization and expand the fiscal space for public spending and investments in service delivery and poverty reduction. USAID R4G engages both government and non-government stakeholders to build capacity in tax policy analysis, improve tax compliance and administration, and strengthen the tax culture in a manner that facilitates private sector growth and accountability relationships between taxpayers and the GRZ.

USAID R4G is organized around four Objectives: 1) Improve Tax and Non-Tax Administration and Compliance; 2) Strengthen Tax Policy; 3) Enhance Public-Private Dialogue; and 4) Enhance Capacity to Address Emerging Fiscal Policy and Management Issues. Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) is a cross-cutting Objective.

Position Description:

The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Governing Board and Commissioner General have mandated the Innovation and Project Management (IPM) Department with the role of coordinating and supporting the actualization of all change initiatives that promote revenue collection efficiency in the ZRA. Consequently, the IPM has the enterprise-wide project mandate in the organization.

The ZRA has identified the review and optimization of its project management processes, procedures, and systems as a potential area for R4G support. Pursuant to this, R4G will provide technical support to the ZRA regarding the review and optimization of its project management/delivery process, including its operating model (including governance), reporting, project prioritization, benefits realization, project monitoring and evaluation, change management, and automation. R4G will work extensively with IPM and other key stakeholders. The enhancement of the ZRA’s project management / delivery capabilities will significantly improve its ability to efficiently and effectively implement key strategic initiatives contained in its Corporate Strategic Plan, resulting in improved taxpayer compliance and an increase in revenue collected. ZRA’s limited human and financial resources will also be better allocated to projects with the highest return on investment.

The Project Management Expert will work to enhance the ZRA’s project management capabilities to improve its ability to efficiently and effectively implement key strategic initiatives. The Expert will report to the R4G Objective 1 (Tax Administration) Component Lead.

This is a short-term position to be conducted in Lusaka, Zambia. To apply, please send a CV via email with the subject line “R4G – Project Management Expert” to [email protected] before January 1, 2025.

Activities:

• Review the current ZRA project management framework and identify opportunities for optimization thereof.

• Develop a revised project management framework which will significantly improve the ZRA’s ability to efficiently and effectively implement key strategic initiatives contained in its CSP.

• Pilot the revised project management framework on a selected project(s).

• Train the ZRA on the revised project management framework (on a train-the-trainer basis).

• Develop IT user requirements for the automation of the project management framework (or selected elements of it, as agreed with the ZRA and R4G).

Deliverables:

• Diagnostic report (in Microsoft PowerPoint) outlining the key strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of the current ZRA project management framework. To include benchmarking against global best practice.

• Document (in MS Word) containing a revised project management framework (including its operating model & governance, reporting, project prioritization, benefits realization, project monitoring and evaluation, change management and automation) which will significantly improve the ZRA’s ability to efficiently and effectively implement key strategic initiatives contained in its CSP, resulting in improved taxpayer compliance and an increase in revenue collected.

• Implementation report (in MS Word) containing the results of a pilot of the deliverables on two projects selected by the ZRA and R4G.

• Development and documentation (in MS Word) of user requirements for an IT system to automate the project management process and enable the efficient and effective management of the project portfolio (including management information system reports).

• Training to the ZRA on the revised project management framework to be utilized by the ZRA (up to 40 participants). To include training materials in Microsoft Word and / or PowerPoint.

Qualifications:

• At least 10 years of professional experience in project management. To include at least 5 years of project management experience in IT projects.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Economics, Public Finance, Information Technology or Business Administration or other related areas.

• A relevant master’s degree is required.

• Project Management Institute or PRINCE2 Agile practitioner and / or certification.

• Demonstrable experience in the successful management of large projects, including IT projects.

• Experience consulting in Zambia or other emerging market to government institutions and/or regional bodies.

• Project management experience in a revenue authority will be an advantage.

• Professional proficiency in written and spoken English.

• Excellent team player and strong interpersonal skills.

• Ability to deliver high-quality work within deadlines.