Project Officer Non-profit Jobs – Good Neighbors
Job Title: Project Manager – ECW
Organization: Plan International
Duty Station: Uganda
Reports to: Senior Portfolio Manager
About US:
Plan International was founded over 75 years ago and is one of the oldest and largest children’s development organizations (non-profit / INGOs) in the world. We work in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty. Plan’s vision is of a world in which all children realize their full potential in societies that respect people’s rights and dignity. Plan is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations.
Job Summary: The overall responsibility of this position is to provide technical leadership, management and oversight for the Education Can’t Wait Primary Education project in Arua and Yumbe districts. The Education project Manager will be fully responsible for timely and efficient implementation of all the project activities in a bid to contribute to increased enrollment of children, especially girls and marginalized children in the project areas. The Education Project Manager will ensure quality, equity and safety of all children in delivery of Primary education services in the project areas. The Education Project Manager will be responsible for strengthening district, school level, and community structures to collaborate, network, and implement project activities aimed at improving attendance and retention of children, especially girls, improving quality of education delivery and learning environments, and strengthening gender awareness and accountability of community and school- based structures in the targeted Primary schools. Overall, the Education Project Manager will be responsible for the delivery of project results in the context of time, budget, quality, scope, risk and in accordance with Plan International’s values and behaviours, including gender transformative outcomes and Safeguarding of all Children.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Project Set Up and Project Planning
- Define the scope of the project in collaboration with senior management.
- Develop a comprehensive and detailed implementation plan which identifies and sequences the activities needed to successfully complete the project.
- Determine the resources (time, money, equipment, etc.) required to complete the project
- Develop a schedule for project completion that effectively allocates the resources to the activities.
- Review the project schedule with senior management and all other staff that will be affected by the project activities; revise the schedule as required.
- Define/review the project governance structure.
- Launch of the project and define key communication mechanisms with the different stakeholders.
- Determine the objectives and measures upon which the project will be evaluated at its completion
Project Implementation
- Execute the project according to the project plan.
- Liaise with the MER team to develop forms and records to document project activities.
- Set up files to ensure that all project information is appropriately documented and secured.
- Monitor the progress of the project and make adjustments as necessary to ensure the successful completion of the project.
- Establish a communication schedule to update stakeholders including appropriate staff in the organization on the progress of the project,
- Review the quality of the work completed with the project team on a regular basis to ensure that it meets the project standards.
- Ensure that the Programme Quality Policy and Procedures are followed in his/her project.
- Ensure gender equality related action plans are planned, implemented with clear gender transformatory outcomes.
Partnership Management
- Manage the partners implementing the project activities following the Partnership Framework and Guidelines.
- Ensure proper capacity assessment of all partners.
- Ensure all legal documentation is in place before bringing partners on board.
- Support their capacity building process and manage relationship building.
- Ensure that the partners follow all the requirements stipulated by the donor.
Project Monitoring and Evaluation and Control
- Measure the project progress and identify appropriate corrective action in situation where the project’s performance deviates significantly from the plan.
- Write high quality reports to donors following the donor compliance guidelines.
- Follow the communication protocols with donors and the Resource Mobilization team and provide information as outlined in funding agreements.
- Monitor all budgeted project expenditures and cash flow projections and report actual cash flow and variance to senior management on a regular basis.
- Manage all project funds according to established accounting policies and procedures, ensuring value for money and strong accountability.
- Ensure that all financial records for the project are up to date.
- With support from Finance Department, prepare financial reports and supporting documentation for funders as outlined in funding agreements. Ensure consistency between narrative and financial reports.
- Ensure that the project deliverables are on time, within budget and at the required level of quality.
- Evaluate the outcomes of the project as established during the planning phase.
- Optimize the use of the SAP system to manage project outputs, budget, and expenditure and project closure.
- Manage project risks, ensuring they are effectively tracked and reported. Manage audit process and follow up audit action list.
Advocacy, Influencing and Visibility
- Represent Plan International at district level to implement the advocacy activities as stated in the project.
- Support with technical documentation of evidences from the project and write stories of change when required.
- Ensure close technical and operational collaboration and coordination with Government Agencies & WASH Net works
- Ensure that the project is fully aligned with the Advocacy Strategy and the SDG influencing plan.
End of Project Transition and Project Integration
- Implement all the transition activities to ensure proper closure of the project (lessons learned, financial and contractual closure activities, etc.)
- Promote full integration of the project with other initiatives implemented in the same location in close coordination with the Programme Unit Manager.
- Participate and provide valuable input into the technical network meetings.
- Support the Resource Mobilization Unit and the National Programme Manager in developing proposals that may facilitate the continuity of the project.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The applicant for the Plan International Project Manager – ECW job vacancy must hold an advanced university degree in one or more of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Education specifically Primary Education, or a Social Sciences field relevant to international development assistance.
- A minimum of five years of progressively professional work experience in design, implementation and evaluation of Education programmes.
- Previous experience working in international development organization an asset.
- Conversant with government systems and structures especially Ministry of Education and Sports, district local governments, and other line ministries, institutions, departments, and implementing agencies. Should be familiar with MoES Planning and policy formulation, implementation, budgeting, accountability mechanisms, Monitoring and evaluation processes etc.
- Excellent coordination and organization skills. Able to work in a matrix environment and keep track of multiple priorities and adhere to deadlines
- Demonstrated skills and experience in report writing, donor compliance and budget management.
- Ability to Identify and synthesis best practices and lessons learned to promote knowledge management and sustainability.
- Ability to work in hard to reach hard to stay areas and familiar with programming for vulnerable children especially young girls and boys.
- Promotes high performance among project staff and provides vision and direction.
- Establishes effective partnerships with external stakeholders
- Ability to coach and mentor project staff.
- Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills, with ability to work with people from diverse cultures
- Strong computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft software including MS Word processing, Power point presentation, Excel spreadsheets, e-mail and web based research.
- Experience of gender mainstreaming gender equality and inclusion in development programming
- Experience working with Education or Child protection programmes in a humanitarian context.
Skills/Competencies
- Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques. Strong verbal communication skills, including networking, negotiating ability and influencing others.
- Good team building skills with calm and diplomatic personality
- Creativity/Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve operations of the organization and to create new opportunities.
- Strong leadership skills and ability to positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization.
- Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.
- Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details/data/information/activities.
- Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results.
- Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with people from diverse cultures, ability to lead and motivate people to work in teams
- Good understanding and ability to use participatory approaches for involvement of stakeholders and creating program ownership.
- Able to work with children, facilitating child participation and gender equality.
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified candidates should apply online at the link below.
Deadline: 8th March 2019
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