Project Manager – DRC 41 views0 applications

Position Summary

The Project Manager will manage the Food Security and Inclusive Access to Resources for Conflict-Sensitive Market Development (FARM) project. The project has been designed to support the Dutch Government’s overall Strategic Plan for the Great Lakes Region through a Mercy Corps/SFCG consortium proposing to contribute to stability in North Kivu by improving food security through a peace building lens. FARM’s theory of change assumes that building a more efficient, inclusive and resilient market-based environment, with a focus on addressing related community, governance and economic based grievances, will result in improved livelihoods for at risk populations; and therefore in greater community resilience and fewer incentives to engage in violent conflict. The project began in May 2017 and the inception period has been completed. The project is now in the implementation phase and will run until March 2021.

The Project Manager is ultimately responsible for project strategy, coordination, relation and collaboration with consortium partner, planning, financial management, management of the team, implementation, communications, monitoring and compliance to internal and donor policies, procedures and requirements.

Search DRC

SFCG launched activities in the DRC in 2001. Now in 2018 the country program has offices in Kinshasa, Goma, Bukavu, and Kalemie with annual budget of $8MLN USD. SFCG works with partners in all provinces of the country, and has numerous smaller satellite offices throughout the country. Media is a primary tool utilized by all the programs—radio, video, print, and drama. Each program is adapted to the specific local context and conflict, and all apply tools from SFCG’s toolbox.

Key Responsibilities

Roles and responsibilities include:

Key area 1: Project strategy and coordination

• Maintain regular communication with the consortium lead and ensure excellent coordination of project activities;
• Provide strategic guidance to the consortium lead on evolving and emerging conflict dynamics that may impact on the overall FARM strategy;
• Represent Search with donor, partners, government representatives and other stakeholders as requested by the consortium and/or supervisor;
• Engage regularly civil society groups, local authorities, security forces and other stakeholders in the intervention zones to ensure their active participation and constructive collaboration in planning and implementation;
• Ensuring coordination and collaboration with other key actors, including other Dutch-funded and ISSSS aligned programming in the zone.

Key area 2: Project planning and implementation

• Ensure planning is conducted in a timely manner on an annual, quarterly and monthly basis;
• Ensure project activities are implemented according to approved plan and accepted Common Ground methodologies and principles;
• Accompany the project team and other Search teams in the design and rollout of implementation tools;
• Provide guidance and training to project team and other stakeholders in the Common Ground Approach, mediation or other conflict-related thematics as required;
• Ensure excellent coordination with other departments of Search DRC (programme, logistics, admin/finance) to ensure all relevant staff are informed of project needs;
• Identify and resolve, in consultation with Goma Head of Office, any delays or other challenges to implementation.

Key area 3 : Monitoring, learning and evaluation

• Produce quarterly program updates, success stories, briefs, and other communication material as required and share with regional team for publication;
• Organise quarterly project review meetings, in coordination with the M&E team, to review progress against planning, adapt strategy and share learning;
• Produce timely, high quality, results-oriented reports, in collaboration with the regional program manager, DME and project team

Key area 4: Compliance and financial management

• Ensure programme implementation is aligned with contractual agreements, policies and procedures;
• Ensure excellent budget management through accurate planning, forecasting, spending and regular budget analysis;
• Work with country finance team and HQ finance to ensure timely preparation and submission of accurate financial reports for the project;
• Ensure budget is analysed on a monthly basis and any necessary actions required are taken to ensure controlled and compliant spending

Key area 5: Team management

• Oversee the day-to-day management of FARM project staff;
• Ensure timely recruitment and orientation of new project staff;
• Manage staff performance through regular appraisals, performance reviews and clear benchmarks.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

Qualifications

You meet the following qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, international relations, conflict resolution or other related field

Skills

• Written and oral proficiency in English and French
• Excellent writing skills
• Excellent financial management skills
• Proven experience in representation with a variety of audiences
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work well under pressure with strong attention to details
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills

Experience

• Five (5) years of work experience, of which three (3) should be in a management position on projects related to conflict resolution, international development, agriculture or related field
• Knowledge/experience in Africa, especially countries in conflict. Knowledge/experience in eastern DRC preferred

Behavioral Competencies

• Working with People. The ability to respect the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy, listens, supports; consults others and shares information and expertise, builds team spirit and adapts to the team.
• Flexibility. The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities, to tolerate ambiguity, to adapt personal style to different people and situations.
• Drive for Results and Efficiency. The ability to set quality standards, monitor and maintain quality of work, and set goals to achieve continuous improvement.
• Relationship Management.** The ability to manage interactions, to provide service and to support the organization while building an effective internal and external network.
• Consultation.** The ability to provide guidance to organizational stakeholders while applying creative problem-solving to address business needs.
• Communication.** The ability to effectively exchange information with others, to effectively deliver critical information, to gather information and communicate with others.
• Ethical Practice.** The ability to integrate Search vision, mission and core values, integrity and accountability throughout all organizational and business practices.
• Critical Evaluation.** The ability to interpret information to make business decisions and recommendations based on keen analysis, best practices and an understanding of preferred outcomes.
• Developing others. The ability to provide support to enhance performance and professional growth.

This position will close on January 4th, 2019.