PlayMatters Project Manager 654 views

The Organization

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Project Manager will be responsible to effectively sub-lead a team of professionals and deliver high quality programming and results for the PMs project in Gambella, Afar and Benishangul Gumuz regions. He/She will be responsible and ultimately accountable for Legos PMs project’s quality EIE and ECCD programming and results achievement, stakeholder and partner relations, including government relations and deliverables related to policy advocacy, project scale up and sustainability. The PMs Project Manager will have specific sub-lead role managing the Project Managers located at Gambella, Afar and Benishangul Gumuz regions.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

Project Leadership and Management: Sub-lead high quality and results-oriented program planning, implementation and reporting in compliance with donor and government agreements. Therefore, a strong understanding of project cycle management, results-based management and managing complex grants is essential.

Expected Outcomes:

• In collaboration with the PMs Project lead, overall technical responsibility for the development and implementation of the LEGO PMs project
• Ensures management systems and processes consistent with program quality needs
• Develop steps and procedures in the planning and implementation of the project
• In collaboration with the PMs Project lead, ensure compliance tools and frameworks are designed, implemented and maintained ensuring the project is consistently ready for audit
• In collaboration with the Grants and Finance Manager as well as the PMs Project Lead, ensure expenditure is monitored monthly to confirm spending is on track and forecasts are duly updated based on project needs and in compliance with donor regulations
• Quality programmatic and financial reports are prepared on time and in line with Plan International and donor standards
• Effective monitoring and evaluation system, tools and processes are developed for measuring the results of the project, and project data is collected, and validated by and shared with relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure regular monitoring of target achievements, proactively lead the development of necessary modifications based on identified needs, and escalate them to the Project Lead.
• Follow and coordinate the formulation of donor-specific and Plan-specific reporting schedules. Take the lead in drafting these reports for review and submission by the Project Lead.
• Take charge of delivering outcomes related to Outcome III of the project, concentrating on advocacy, strengthening integration, scale-up, and sustainability in policy and systems within the major areas of the PlayMatters project.
• Ensure program strategies in gender equality and women’s empowerment are responsive to the context, implemented consistently across all project activities, and adhere to best practices in the sector.

Synergy, Communication and Coordination: Foster and maintain productive and professional relationships with and between all project stakeholders, particularly with government bodies.

Expected Outcomes:

• Provide strategic oversight over Plan International Ethiopia and partner activities through open communication, agreement on roles and responsibilities, and joint planning and review sessions
• In collaboration with the PMs Project lead, as well as the PMs Advocacy Advisor, foster strong coordination and collaboration with government bodies through open and transparent communication, participation and joint decision-making, and respect for their agency and technical expertise
• In collaboration with the technical leads, ensure best practices and lessons learned are documented, shared, and integrated into programming
• Work with program staff and technical advisors to identify the technical support needs of the project and ensure this support is provided

Team Leadership: Sub-lead and manage a team of professionals to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity and teamwork.

Expected Outcomes:

• Oversee and assist Program Area-level Project Managers in effectively managing project deliverables with a focus on results.
• Ensure that roles, responsibilities, and expectations are clearly communicated and understood by the entire project team, and tasks are delegated appropriately.
• Effectively manage deadlines, urging team members to deliver assignments in a timely and high-quality manner.
• Conduct regular internal planning meetings with managers and the project team. Document minutes with action points, provide consistent direction and guidance, and actively participate in other project-specific and organizational meetings led by Project Managers.
• In collaboration with the PMs Project lead, ensure team members are mentored and coached to achieve their full potential and results of the project
• Ensure that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant implementation standards and guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct, their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Frequently update project plans and facilitate the allocation of resources and budget to ensure the team’s timely and high-quality involvement in the implementation of activities.

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI)

• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Ensures that staff under his/her supervision are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day to day work.
• Ensures that Plan Ethiopia contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications/ experience Essential:

• Academic Qualification BA/MA in Education or other related social science fields
• Proven experience (minimum 7 years) in leading international projects – preferably education project – that delivered high quality programming and gender transformative results, preferably in an Emergency setting
• Experience in complex emergencies or post-conflict settings, with experience working in a difficult security environment

Qualifications/ experience Desirable:

• Working knowledge of Child Protection and Education in Emergencies programming
• Progressive experience working for INGOs in senior level management positions
• Proven experience in directly managing a diverse team including technical and finance staff ensuring high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity and teamwork
• Familiarity with LEGO Foundation guidelines and requirements
• Knowledge of the Minimum Standards (MS for EiE; MS for CP in Humanitarian Action; Inter-Agency Guideline on Mental Health & Psycho-social Support) and experience in active participation on key coordination forums
• Experience leading cross-functional and remote teams to deliver results
• Ability to fully function in English (verbal and written) in essential. All donor reports, deliverables and communication will be in English
• Proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications (e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, database, internet)

Behaviours

• Passion for feminist principles, mission driven work and personal values aligned with Plan International
• Commitment to working transparently and with integrity
• Inclusive and empowering approach to leadership and project management
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills, natural ability to manage diverse opinions and agendas, finding win-win solutions in a respectful manner
• Demonstrated creativity and willingness to innovate
• Flexible and adaptable work style to respond to an evolving context
• Proven leadership, inter-personal and cross-cultural skills, and ability to build and motivate teams
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize and meet deadlines

Languages required:

• Fluency in English language is essential
• In addition to Amharic other local Knowledge of Local Languages is a desirable

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

We create a climate of trust inside and outside the organisation by being open, honest and transparent. We hold ourselves and others to account for the decisions we make and for our impact on others, while doing what we say we will do.

We strive for lasting impact

We strive to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls. We challenge ourselves to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative.

We work well together

We succeed by working effectively with others, inside and outside the organisation, including our sponsors and donors. We actively support our colleagues, helping them to achieve their goals. We come together to create and implement solutions in our teams, across Plan International, with children, girls, young people, communities and our partners.

We are inclusive and empowering

We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge inequality in our programmes and our workplace. We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential.