Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation 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 is girls who are most affected.

Purpose

Based in Kilifi, the Nia project is funded by the Gates’ Foundation.  This is a two (2) year program that is part of a larger study in which three different schoolbased menstrual and reproductive health interventions will be implemented among adolescent girls in Kilifi, Kenya.

The main purpose of the Project Manager is to oversee the implementation of the interventions in Kilifi.  The incumbent will ensure effective implementation, personnel management, resource management, monitoring & evaluation, associated stakeholder and partner relationship management including coordinating external technical support/expertise as required and timely and quality reporting.  Designing and development of complementary or new funding proposals is expected.

The Project Manager must be familiar with donor guidelines.  S/he will have managed project budgets and have worked with partners, including interventions that are part of a rigorous research study.  The Project Manager must be familiar with Kilifi or the Coastal region.

Dimensions of the Role:

 

The Project Manager will report to the Programme Manager.  S/he supervises two (2) Project Officers and has oversight of all other contributing staff on this project. S/he will uphold Plan Core Values, promote mission and vision, programme principals (transparency, gender equity and diversity), to enhance programme impact.    Ensure modelling of Plan’s values among all project staff.

 

Typical Responsibilities – Key End Results of Position:

 

Key Result Areas:

 

Planning and implementation of project activities in compliance with design methodologies and approaches and oversees programme alignment to government requirements.  Monitoring progress and quality in concert with M&E team and consortium partners.

 

• Project and budget management; monitors expenditure against approved budget and revisits plans to ensure budget performance is in-line with regulations as well as expected deliverables.
• Ensures compliance with donor rules and regulations.
• Ensures implementation of Nia program is in line with the research protocols.
• Team personnel management and coordination with programme unit staff to ensure effective performance and compliance.
• Timely preparation and submission of accurate reports.
• Smooth/efficient project performance and effective management of and communication with project team.
• Provide timely feedback to the management team on a monthly basis for effective budget management and updated plans to fast track activities where necessary.
• Work in close collaboration and coordination with Zana Africa and other Nia program partners.

 

Oversee & Coordinate Project Implementation (40%)

             

• Ensure that the school-based interventions are planned and implemented for maximum impact, synergy and cost effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with established targets and quality of project outputs.
• Ensure proper management of project database, records, and files.
• Ensure implementation is in line with the research design prescribed by overall the Nia program consortium.
• Oversee any contractual partner deliverables and ensure deliverables are met in timely manner and with high quality.
• Serve as the main point of communication for the NIA programme at Plan International.
• Submit accurate project reports on time according to plan internal and donor regulations.
• Maintain regular contact with consortium partners working on the NIA program.
• Attend relevant cluster coordination meetings including meetings.

 

Manage Project Resources (20%)

             

• Prepare a breakdown/s of project budget by interventions and activities.
• Monitor expenditures by interventions and ensure compliance with approved budget.           Review expenditure reports on a monthly basis.
• Ensure timely budget adjustments and revisions in compliance with donor regulations.
• Ensure compliance with Plan International and donor policies, contracts, and agreements.
• Take advantage of the other Plan International Kilifi programmes and exploit opportunities for

synergies without jeopardizing the research design.

 

Build and maintain stakeholder relations (10%)

             

• Create awareness on project design and research outcomes with relevant Plan staff, and ensure that they sensitize county and sub-county level government authorities about project activities, beneficiary selection criteria and policy and procedure of project implementation. Take advantage of Plan Kenya’s relations with Government institutions and leverage these to promote NIA project.
• Ensure that project strategies are timely shared with all stakeholders.
• Promote effective working relations with county and sub-county stakeholders.
• Sensitize communities and local government officials to support the implementation of project activities. Attend periodical project-related meetings in the area of operations.
• Coordinate with other project managers and other internal stakeholders on resource allocation/mobilization and information and ensure that appropriate synergies with others are achieved as it relates to implementation of multiple projects in the same sub-counties.

 

Human Resources Management (10%)

             

• Ensure that project staff know and execute on their roles and responsibilities well.
• Communicate/share work plans with all players.
• Conduct staff performance appraisals regularly.
• Coach and mentor direct reports to enhance their skills for current and higher positions.
• Conduct training for project staff in overall project objectives, implementation strategy, reporting system and internal controls, inter alia.
• Ensure that staff welfare issues are communicated through appropriate HR and management structures.
• Handle grievances and participate in disciplinary hearings as relevant.

 

Design, Monitoring & Evaluation and Reporting (20%)

 

• Consolidate project reports and analyse outputs and aggregate as appropriate.
• Review and analyse monitoring and evaluation data and recommend adjustments to design as needed.
• Ensure that approved reports are disseminated among stakeholders.
• Work with the project staff to ensure utilization of all the recommendations from project reports/field visits.
• Support design of new programmes based on evidence from project, context in the area of implementation and/or technical expertise.
• Liaise with program team to ensure learning is available to the wider organization and outside as relevant.
• Work with the project team and communication manager to document project activities for improved documentation/knowledge management.

 

Knowledge, Skills, Behaviours, and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives: 

 

Academic Qualifications and experience

 

• Advanced degree in social sciences; education or public health post graduate qualifications in a relevant professional discipline desirable.
• 7 years relevant experience in Community Development/Child Protection/Education/Financial Education/Gender, experienced in working with adolescence girls in a rural coastal setting with minimum of 4 years at a supervisorial/managerial level.
• Experience in working with adolescents and schools is preferred.
• Experience in working on interventions that were part of rigorous research studies desirable.

 

Knowledge

 

• Thorough knowledge of programming processes, systems and principles, and the ability to provide leadership and support to staff working at community level.
• Sound understanding of integrated development issues and critical analysis of child poverty.
• Knowledge of development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and implications to community development.
• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic planning processes.  Demonstrated capacity to implement an action research project.

 

Leadership Attitudes and Behaviours

 

• Supports learning in diverse teams.
• Positively promotes team effort and high performance by all staff through shared successes.
• Acts with high degree of integrity and professionalism.
• Relates to people in a friendly, open manner and engenders trust from other staff.
• Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behaviour.
• Dynamic, highly motivated and balances future vision with practical delivery.
• Can reach out and influence large groups of people.
• Remains calm and positive under pressure and in difficult situations.
• Promotes innovation and learning.
• Pleasant and polite attitude at all times; ability to reflect professional standards.
• Ability to act as part of multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team.

Values

Commitment to Plan International Kenya’s values.

Physical Environment and Demands:

Ability to spend 40% of the time in the field.

Level of Contact with Children:

Medium:        Frequent interaction with children