Planning Officer

Job purpose

To support institutional planning, budgeting, performance management, monitoring, evaluation and reporting in order to enhance achievement of the Institute’s strategic objectives and mandate.

Key duties and responsibilities

1. Support the preparation, review, consolidation and implementation of the Institute’s Strategic Plan, Master Plan, annual work plans, departmental plans, Budget Framework Papers, performance contracts and implementation schedules.
2. Coordinate planning inputs from academic, technical, administrative, research, innovation, consultancy, infrastructure and support departments to ensure institutional priorities are reflected in plans, budgets and resource allocation processes.
3. Align institutional outputs, activities, performance indicators, cost centres, budget lines and work plans with Government planning frameworks, IFMIS requirements, approved policies and national development priorities.
4. Monitor implementation of the Strategic Plan, Master Plan, annual work plans, departmental commitments, approved budgets, programmes and projects, and prepare periodic progress reports.
5. Support the preparation of quarterly, semi-annual and annual performance reports, including analysis of physical and financial performance, achievement of outputs and targets, variances and corrective actions.
6. Develop, maintain and update institutional performance dashboards, monitoring tools, planning databases, statistics and reporting systems to support evidence-based decision-making.
7. Provide technical support to Management and departments in results-based management, logical framework development, key performance indicator formulation, risk analysis, forecasting, performance measurement, and gender and equity-responsive planning and budgeting.
8. Participate in programme and project planning, appraisal, feasibility assessment, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and performance reviews for Government-funded, donor-supported, partner-funded and internally generated initiatives.
9. Prepare briefing papers, analytical reports, performance dashboards, concept notes, presentations and other planning documents for Management, the Governing Council, Government agencies, development partners and other stakeholders.
10. Maintain accurate records of strategic plans, annual work plans, budgets, performance reports, monitoring reports, minutes, submissions and accountability documents, and perform any other planning, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, research or institutional performance management duties assigned by the Supervisor.

Minimum qualifications and professional requirements

• An honours bachelor’s degree in Economics, Statistics, Quantitative Economics, Development Studies, Project Planning and Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Monitoring and Evaluation, ICT-related planning or a closely related field from a recognised institution is essential.
• Postgraduate training in Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Project Planning and Management, Public Sector Management, Statistics or Data Analytics is desirable.
• Training in IFMIS planning and budgeting modules, programme-based budgeting, results-based management, financial modelling and valuation analysis, business intelligence, data analytics, gender and equity budgeting or public investment management is an added advantage.
• Strong computer literacy, including spreadsheets, data analysis tools, dashboards and report writing applications, is desirable.

Experience requirements

• At least three (3) years of relevant experience in planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, performance reporting or project planning is essential.
• Experience in a public institution, tertiary education institution, TVET setting, Government-funded programme, digital transformation project or donor-funded programme is an added advantage.
• Practical exposure to IFMIS, programme-based budgeting, Government planning systems or performance reporting platforms will be an added advantage.

Core competencies

Technical competencies

• Strong analytical, planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, and data management skills.
• Ability to translate institutional mandate and strategic objectives into measurable outputs, activities, performance indicators and budgets.
• Attention to detail and ability to analyse financial and non-financial performance information.
• Sound understanding of Government planning frameworks, gender and equity-responsive planning, inclusive service delivery and accountability requirements.

Behavioural competencies

• Good time management and ability to work under pressure to meet reporting and implementation deadlines.
• Commitment to integrity, professionalism, ethical conduct, equal opportunity and disability inclusion.
• Results orientation with a strong commitment to quality, accuracy and continuous improvement.

Leadership competencies

• Ability to coordinate across departments, build consensus and drive implementation of agreed actions.
• Excellent report writing, presentation, stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Ability to influence decision-making through evidence-based analysis and performance reporting.

Expected immediate deliverables

• IFMIS-aligned work plan and budget mapping for relevant UICT units.
• Updated performance indicators and reporting templates for IFMIS-era accountability.
• Quarterly performance reporting schedule and data collection framework.
• Briefing note on planning risks and capacity gaps affecting IFMIS implementation.
• Institutional Performance Dashboard.
• Annual Performance Report.
• Strategic Plan Implementation Status Report.