The Project Manager is expected to effectively manage the project, ensuring quantitative, qualitative, safe, secure, and sustainable implementation aligned with HELVETAS, donor, and government strategies and requirements. Responsibilities include systematic monitoring, documentation, filing, learning, communication, and reporting. Additionally, the Project Manager is expected to contribute to program acquisition and development in the field of vocational skills development, employment, and private sector growth.

Duties and Responsibilities 

Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning  

• Conduct/facilitate field visits (including the mission from Swiss office and the government’s visit) for monitoring and technical support.

• Ensure the project’s progress, achievements, challenges and lessons learned are properly documented and filed (physically and at the designated SharePoint).

• Ensure the project-related learning is deliberately and systematically carried out within the project (staff & partners) and with respective stakeholders. 

• Organize annual learning and planning events. Collaborate with MEAL personnel for these purposes.

• Ensure the project is well communicated internally and externally for learning, accountability, transparency, visibility and marketing (fund acquisition) purposes. 

• Ensure the reports (narrative, finance and all their annexes) are prepared and submitted timely to the Swiss office, donor and respective government entities. 

• Verify (as needed) those financial reports prepared by finance personnel and justify concretely and make necessary adjustments. Ensure the accuracy, reliability, coherence and quality of the reports. Ensure the reports are prepared succinctly with analyzed and useful information.

Program Acquisition and Development 

• Responsible for participating in and contributing to the development of materials (e.g., concept, proposal, strategies, capacity statements, positioning papers) required for the scaling up, replication and sustainability of the project.

• Responsible for contributing to the program/fund acquisition attempts of HELVETAS in the working fields (basic education, vocational skills, private sector development) of SJI.

Job Requirement

• A minimum of bachelor’s degree in social science, Development Study, TVET, Public policy or other related fields of study from a recognized university or college.  

• Master’s degree or post-graduate certificate in relevant fields is advantageous. 

• Minimum 9 years of working experience, in which minimum 4 years of experience as a Project Manager and 3 years of experience in projects working on vocational skills development and employment. 

• Strong experience in designing and managing post-vocational training support and up-/re-skilling the technical (respective professions selected by the trainees), job-hunting (for graduates aiming for wage-employment), business development (for graduates aiming for self-employment) and other soft/life skills of the trainees/graduates.

• Experience of managing vocational projects, which support dual education, on-the-job training, corporate training, is highly desirable.

• Experience of using the Results-Based Financing approach is a plus.

• Strong experience in working with and for partners (from public and private sectors), concerned stakeholders (e.g., Bureau of Finance, Labor and Training, Women Affairs, TVET/poly-technic colleges). Experience in managing and capacitating partners and stakeholders.

• Excellent risk analysis and management skills. Proven experience in adapting and managing the project in volatile contexts and with difficult partners.

• Experience in working with/for civil society organizations, community-based organizations and respective associations and networks (e.g., youth, women). 

• Excellent budgeting, budget monitoring, proposal and budget amendments.

• Capable of guiding and coaching the project staff, partners and consultants by writing necessary Terms of Reference, guidelines and tools (e.g., project implementation guidelines).

• Proven experience in monitoring, learning and capitalization of lessons learned.

• Sound knowledge and understanding of respective legal frameworks and government strategies (e.g., TVET and youth policies, 10-year transformational plan, Ethiopia Resilient Recovery and Reconstruction Plan).

• Proven experience in promoting and mainstreaming Gender and Social Equity aspects (including gender transformation in skills development and employment sector). Be gender and social equity-sensitive in the project and the team.

• Proven experience in promoting and mainstreaming Do-No-Harm principles. Be conflict sensitive. 

• Proven track record in promoting and applying inclusive, participatory, multi-stakeholder approach.

Competencies and Other Requirements  

• Shares and promote HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation value system and development concept.

• Excellent interpersonal and intercultural competencies and sensitivity

• Excellent conceptual, analytical, reporting and writing skills

• Strong motivator, facilitator, coordinator and coach

• Leadership skills including visionary, participatory, inspirational and remote leadership.

• Results-based management skill

• Risks management skill

• Ready to fill gaps where needed/appropriate

• Adaptable

• Team building and management skills

• Has team spirit and is friendly, approachable, persuasive and ready to learn and give constructive feedback

• Negotiation, facilitation, advisory, mediation and mentoring competencies.

• Capable and willing to live, work and travel under difficult and stressful conditions.

How to Apply

• Submit your application letter via email: ETH@helvetas.org