Expertise: Program (Delivery) Manager
Expertise Group: Project Management/ Institutional Development
Consultant Source: International
TOR Keywords: project management; engineering
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
The Solomon Islands Water Authority (trading as Solomon Water – “SW”), was established under the Solomon
Islands Water Act 1993, and commenced operations in May 1993. The Act sets out the functions of SW with
respect to the proper management and development of urban water supply and sewerage services in Solomon
Islands. SW currently provides water supply services to over 65,000 people in 4 urban centers (Auki,
Honiara, Noro, and Tulagi) of which approximately 58,000 live in the greater Honiara area.
In 2017, SW developed and commenced implementation of its 30 Year Strategic Plan and 5 Year
Infrastructure Action Plan aimed at ensuring the ongoing sustainable development of SW’s water and waste
water services throughout Solomon Islands. To improve access to safe water and sanitation services, SW’s
comprehensive strategic plan, and 5-Year Action Plan details the infrastructure development and works
required to meet the growing demand for water and sanitation services throughout Solomon Islands.
With the support of Development partners, the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and European Union, SW
have obtained funding for a significant portion of the 5 year action plan under the Urban Water Supply &
Sanitation Sector Project UWSSSP. UWSSSP will improve access to safe water and sanitation services in
urban and peri-urban areas of Solomon Islands. The project will have the following outcome: efficiency,
climate change and disaster resiliency, sustainability of safe water and sanitation in urban areas
improved.
The project outputs will include:
Output 1 – continuous, safe and climate resilient urban water supply.
Output 2 – effective, efficient and safe urban sanitation services.
Output 3 – enhanced and sustained awareness of hygiene and water issues and sustained improved hygiene
behavior.
Output 4 – SW is financially and technically sustainable.
Output 5 – Management of Honiara’s drinking water source areas are strengthened to build resilience to
climate change.
The Project Management Unit established within SW is responsible for the delivery of SW UWSSSP
investment projects in line with SW 30-Year Strategic Plan and 5-Year Action Plan.
Scope of Work
The Program Manager will be responsible for coordination all of the various projects and related
functions that make up the UWSSSP program within Solomon Water. The Program Managers duties include
aligning multiple SW projects towards its broader strategic goal, liaising with a range of stakeholders
throughout and beyond the SW business, and prioritizing, creating or terminating specific individual
projects.
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
The tasks and expected outputs of the Program Manager include, but are not limited to:
• Provide programmatic and project management support to the Manager Major Projects and SW Chief
Executive Officer regarding ongoing and closing project activities, while maintaining and implementing
appropriate standards and best practices in line with Solomon Water and donor partners policies and
procedures.
• Directly contribute to SW strategic oversight, advice direction and support on programme and project
management activities in line with project agreements and project documents.
• Initiating, monitoring and terminating individual projects, and initiatives in accordance with SW 30-
Year Strategic and 5-Year Action Plan.
• Creating and carrying out program strategy encompassing a variety of individual projects and
coordinating multiple projects and handling the interdependencies between them.
• Managing program budgets and allocation of funds.
• Working with SW Human Resources to oversee staffing and allocate resources to various programs.
• Working with Marketing and Communications department to raise awareness of SW project initiatives.
• Implementing program governance procedures and ensuring compliance with donor requirements, standards
and regulations across multiple projects.
• Reporting on overall program performance to donors, stakeholder agencies and SW organizational
directors.
Liaise with various Donors on potential funding programs, reporting requirements and any other
requirements associated with receipt of donor funds for the further funding support and financing of
projects.
• Develop an annual work plan and budget based upon SW Strategic Plan and 5 Year Action Plan.
• Provide expertise and support to other project managers, construction manager and Manager Major
Projects and instill a Project Management philosophy within the team.
• Oversee and coordinate tender and procurement processes for UWSSSP and other SW Infrastructure
projects. Ensuring full compliance with all donor and SW requirements.
• Possess initiative, strong leader skills, and good verbal communication skills in managing
infrastructure contracts.
• Oversee construction implementation of all UWSSSP other SW Infrastructure projects.
• Work with government departments to facilitate smooth donor funding and government reporting
requirements.
• Effectively manage staff resources to achieve program requirements and deliver design and construction
projects on time and to budget.
• Ensure appropriate safeguards and governance controls are in place, managed and reported as required.
• Regularly review projects status against the program performance criteria and policy requirements.
• Maintain strong relationships with donor organizations and key stakeholders, through the development
and implementation of a stakeholder engagement and management plan.
• Attend and report to project steering committee as required by the Chief Executive Officer of Solomon
Water and Manager Major Projects.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to local staff managing design and construction projects using best
practice project management.
• Provide knowledge transfer to local staff.
• Be part of the Project Management Unit team of Solomon Water.
Stakeholder Management
• The Program Manager will report to the Manager Major Projects.
• In consultation with the Manager Major Projects, develop internal and external stakeholder profiles
and facilitate the formulation of stakeholder engagement strategies as applicable.
• Support the formulation and implementation of the UWSSSP communications plan
• Coordinate internal and external stakeholder engagement and communication, as applicable ensuring
effective timing and interdependency management of communications across the projects.
Quality Assurance
• In consultation with Manager Major Projects and donor partners to ensure the UWSSSP project complies
with audit and review requirements as applicable
• Ensure compliance with SW defined quality standards for program and project management
• Coordinate quality reviews of program and project documentation and deliverables and continuously
identify and improve operational processes relevant to project implementation.
Knowledge Management
• Ensure routine and effective capacity building activities are conducted in order to build the long-
term and sustainable capacity of national personnel.
• Actively interact with Project Managers and Construction Manager to share lessons learnt, identify
risks and issues and contribute to their mitigation and/or resolution in a timely and appropriate manner.
Personnel Management
• Supervise, motivate and develop relevant Solomon Water project team members
• Ensure that behavioral expectations of team members are established
• Ensure performance reviews are conducted in a timely manner
• Ensure project team effectively manages, reports and implements project management processes for the
successful delivery of the project.
• Promote gender equality and gender parity among the Project Management Unit as per SW Gender Action
Plan and donor requirements to achieve gender parity targets for Solomon Water.
Working Conditions
• Work is primarily performed in an office setting based in Honiara, Solomon Islands
• Frequent travel to project sites may be required
• May be required to work extended hours or weekends to meet program/project deadlines
• Contract Duration – 24 months with the option to extend subject to performance.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
• The Program Manager will have a bachelor degree in engineering or related field
• Extensive program / project management experience in major infrastructure development projects.
• Minimum 10 years demonstrated experience in project management for infrastructure projects within the
water, energy or transport sector.
• Strong leadership, communication and management skills
• Strong sense of regulatory requirements and necessary reporting procedures
• High-level organizational skills, including the ability to multitask and prioritize when dealing with
a diverse array of competing demands
• Excellent stakeholder management skills
• Ability to create and execute long-term strategies
• Ability to remain calm in fast-paced, high-pressure environments
• Ability to handle and analyze large volumes of data
• Ability to lead project teams and collaborate with cross functional teams.
• Knowledge of ADB donor procurement and reporting procedures.
• Experience working in small island developing states is an advantage.
Minimum General Experience: 10 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 10 Years
