Job Title: Livelihood Project Manager

Sector: Economic Recovery & Livelihood

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Adama, Ethiopia

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. IRC has been working in Ethiopia since 1999 and is implementing integrated, community-managed programs aimed at improving the quality of lives and recover of livelihood of disaster-affected population’s through promoting individual participation, strengthening institutions and emergency response.

Project Background:

IRC is planning to implement European union funded project entitled “Leather Initiative for Sustainable Employment Creation (LISEC) in Ethiopia-Green jobs, Green tanneries. The overall objective of the action is to create greater economic and decent employment opportunities, especially for young men and women through the development of the social cohesion in Modjo leather city. LISEC’s intervention logic is to contribute to the reduction of irregular migration from Ethiopia by creating greater economic and decent employment opportunities for young men and women through the development of Modjo Leather. One of the sectors identified in the Ethiopian’s Growth and Transformation Plan II (GTP II) as having the potential to boost the growth of the economy. As such, this project proposes a new vision towards inclusive and sustainable industrial development that protects the environment and supports social inclusion. In order to achieve the main project goal, LISEC has been structured following a comprehensive approach with three main components aiming at: Strengthening social cohesion by supporting local economic and social development initiatives, especially for women and youth living in Modjo area; and enhancing industrial and labor relations in the MLC.

Job Summary:

The project manager provides an overall leadership and coordination support for the planning, implementation of the project and staff management field level. In coordination with the Adama teams and consortium partners, he/she will provide coordination, technical and admin support to field staff for quality and timely implementation of the project. This position is based in Adama with frequent travel to Modjo, needs to work in close collaboration with government (municipality, EPA, private sector (tanneries/LLP sector) and CBO. S/he is expected to lead team at field level (project officers) to implement effectively the project at file level and will report to IRC Adama Senior Field Manager and technically to Economic Recovery and Development Coordinator and Community Wellbeing Initiative Coordinator based in Addis.

Key Job Responsibilities:

Team management and leadership:

·         Supervises the management of program staff for LISEC project (social cohesion part) adhered to program goals and work plans and aligned with donor and GoE regulations.

·         Ensures the development of key leadership, management, financial and administrative skills of direct reports as relevant to increase their capacity and ensure overall quality of program actions and impact.

·         Ensures program teams (livelihood team and Community Wellbeing Initiative team) in Adama /Modjo in -project operational areas are adhering to procedures and policies (compliance).

·         Completes all IRC performance management activities including: performance planning, monitoring, and annual performance appraisals for direct reports

·         Ensures gender related manuals, strategies and guidelines are available and utilized by program staffs to ensure gender sensitivity and equity in the context.

·         Work closely with Adama field office operation team (Supply chain, finance, HR/ Admin, MEAL team, Senior Filed manager) and other program managers and build strong team spirit.

·         Project planning and implementation

·         Ensures that project (LISEC) team develops realistic and strategically focused implementation plans, and are supported by individual operation plans of the field office program staff.

·         Develop detailed implementation plans for the project, and works closely to ensure the completeness and adequacy of Details Implementation Plans.

·         Prepare annual plan for fund, spending, procurement and human resources management.

·         Monitors the implementation of program and documents progress on program objectives and areas for correction, and ensures that appropriate follow-up actions are taken.

·         Ensures the project are timely and appropriately implemented monitored, analyzed and reported through monitoring and evaluation system.Program implementation

·         Ensures that the program interventions are implemented according to the program guidelines/policy, agreed upon plans and signed agreements

·         Regularly visit program implementation sites –work with field teams/government counterparts/ consortium members to assess and identify technical assistance needs and cater support from the ERD team at Addis

·         Work/influence private sectors to develop/implement organized CSR to improve social cohesion

·         Demonstrate coordination plat form to build social cohesion among tanneries/communities and local government

·         Follow up and Strengthen the capacity of OSS centers/PES in order to provide decent employment for youth

·         Support the teams to effectively implement project activities such as youth leadership program, VSLA promotion and combating gender based violence (GBV)

·         Support the implementation of GBV response and prevention activities planned in the project.

·         Ensures that appropriate technical, administrative and financial support is provided by the respective IRC units to improve the capacity of the program team/field offices.

·         Ensure that program is implemented in an efficient manner, within the approved budget framework and make sure that burnt rate is up to the encouraged level.

·         Ensure timely Budget Performance analysis and take vital corrective measures.

·         Ensure the project cycle meetings (POM, PRM, PCM) are heled as per the PC meeting guide line and follow up the proper implementation of the action points outlined in the Project cycle meetings.

·         In collaboration with other relevant body, play the leading role in preparing, reviewing and signing of government MOUs and other project amendments.

·         Ensure the project budgets are properly utilized for the intended purpose as per the donor, IRC, and government rules and regulations in proper time and do regular analyses of the project progress and take corrective measures for any deviations by discussing with all concerned bodies.

Monitoring evaluation and coordination

·         Coordinates with LISEC consortium partners planning and monitoring activities at the project, and participate in the coordination platform.

·         Ensures monitoring data is collected and used in a timely manner to ensure critical sequencing and implementation of activities and ability to adapt interventions and timing as appropriate.

·         Ensures M&E information is used to identify gaps and to develop timely strategies to advance accomplishment of the program.

·         Establishes and maintains formal and informal communication mechanisms with GoE relevant departments/units, community Partners and other partners particularly in relation to the project. This includes participating in the relevant sector working groups and consortium meeting

·         Actively participates in Program Coordinating Committee and Technical Working Group to ensure that new information, innovations and lessons are shared and capitalized on.

·         Ensures that reports are prepared and submitted to concerned parties, counterparts and relevant consortium coordinator on time and in a professional manner.

·         Participates in the documentation and dissemination of lessons learned.

·         Closely work with the Adama and Addis based MEAL team to ensure the gender equality and inclusions are maintained in the project and client responsive mechanisms were designed and implemented.

·         Work closely with MEAL team to ensure the project monitoring indicator matrix was developed and regularly updated, shared and uploaded to box.

Reporting and documentations

·         Compile project projects, monthly, quarterly and annual reports and submit to the concerned bodies including consortium coordinator

·         Regularly reviewing projects budget and share recommendations

·         Takes additional assignments as provided by supervisor

·         Provided weekly updates, Monthly Management and quarterly CHSA reports of the specific program for Adama Senior Field Manager.

 Execute any other assignments given by the supervisor.

Qualifications

·         BA/MA Degree in Economics, Rural Development, Project Management or other related development studies.

·         5 years of proven experience with the BSc Degree or 4 years of relevant experience for MSc degree.

·         At least 1 year of Management experience. NGO experience is a plus.

·         Proven experience project planning and management.

Skills Required:

·         Good command of English, Afaan Oromo, and Amharic languages

·         Ability to use computer (basic Application system systems).

·         Proven ability at multi-tasking, time management, and flexibility, particularly in a multi-cultural environment & knowledge and understanding of project cycle required

·         Innovative and creative problem solver; extensive travel in a remote environment required

·         Ability to analyze information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically.

·         Strong grant/ budget management and analytical skill

·         Personal specification:

·         Ability to work under pressure, long work hours, and high workload

·         Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual

·         Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills

·         Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

Female applicants are encouraged to apply!