Project Officer 82 views1 application

Job Profile 

Job title: Project Officer

Duty station: Addis Ababa, with frequent travel within Ethiopia.

Type of employment: One year with the possibility of extension

Reports to: Education, Project Manager

2. Short Description of the company 

Shayashone (SYS) is an organization that specializes in agriculture and agri-business services; recently it has expanded its portfolio to the educational sector. SYS has reached over 5 million farmers with its products and services in Ethiopia and neighboring countries working in partnership with local, international, and governmental organizations. The organization has managed hundreds of successful projects over the last 10 years. It has trained over 7000 agriculture extension workers and organized agriculture technology demonstrations in over 10,000 villages across Ethiopia. Our Hermetic storage technology (PICS) bags are widely regarded as the most successful technology penetration over the last 10 years.

3. About the e-SHE Project 

Shayashone in partnership with the Ministry of Education of the FDRE (MoE), Arizona State University, and Mastercard Foundation is implementing a project titled ‘Strengthening Higher Education System through Utilization of Digital Technology.’ The project aims to enhance the quality, accessibility, and affordability of higher education by launching a digital Learning Management System across public universities in Ethiopia.

The project has four key components.

1. Building appropriate infrastructure (resource centers) integrated with the more extensive ICT system of the 50 public universities.
2. Adopting and rolling a digital learning and education platform developed by ASU (OpenEdx).
3. Building capacities of 100 system administrators, 35,000 instructors, and 800,000 studentsin management, content development, and utilization of the envisaged learning management system.
4. Supporting institutionalization and scale-up of e-learning for higher education and beyondby designing appropriate national policies and strategies.

The ultimate target of the project is to enhance or equip young graduates with the skills needed for employment and entrepreneurship in an equitable and cost-effective manner.

4. Short Description of the Position 

The Project Officer is responsible for coordinating projects, organizing events and workshops, and exploring opportunities for partnership and collaboration. S/He will assist the e-SHE project team in planning, coordinating, and following up on university campaigns and outreaches. The candidate is expected to work closely with the project staff and SYS team to identify and propose potential project expansion areas and regularly scan, document, and communicate new calls related to digital education. The ideal candidate will have strong project management skills, event planning experience, and the ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

5. Duties and Responsibilities 

A. Project Coordination 

• Participate in overall project planning and develop work plans with the project team.
• Assist in the smooth implementation and tracking of a harmonized project plan.
• Coordinate regular (monthly, quarterly, and yearly) project progress follow-up meetings.
• Assist the project manager in developing and/ or adopting various projectmanagement tools and frameworks that could enhance reporting and monitoring standards.
• Undertake other program administration tasks as and when necessary.

B. Event and Workshop 

• Prepare and participate in periodic meetings.
• Support the Project Manager in the budget breakdown for every workshop, University visit, and event.
• Organize different project events (internal and external); arrange conference logistics; prepare and follow-up invitations.
• Responsible for registration and recording during events, including audio-visual.  Responsible for developing event reports or minutes for circulation or follow-up.
• Develop an appropriate action log from different meetings and events and ensureproper follow-up.

C. Communication and Reporting 

• Responsible for developing appropriate communication and relationships with relevant stakeholders.
• Responsible for creating synergy and alignment of this project with other initiatives within the company.
• Compile relevant data and documents for the project.
• Participate in monthly, quarterly, and annual project reporting.
• Coordinate with project teams in the documentation of projects’ achievements.

6 Competencies 

A. General Competencies

• Excellent communication and writing skills.
• Outstanding skills in planning, organizing, and reporting.
• Strong analytical and critical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
• Champions in fostering partnership and stakeholder relationships.
• Ability to perform under stress with minimal supervision and able to handle multiple tasksat a time in a calm and organized manner.
• Hands-on and proactive approach.

B. Technical Competencies 

• Proven track record in project planning, monitoring, and reporting.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint packages.
• Understanding budgeting and payment processes.
• Experience working in Agile project management environments.
• Familiarity with contract management and procurement processes
• Sound understanding of working practices in PLC.