Project Manager - WFP BFSP at Save The Children

Job Summary

• Save the Children is seeking a Project Manager (PM) for its 6-month WFP funded program in Maiduguri, Nigeria (and surrounding LGAs) to provide blanket nutritional support to internally displaced and host community children ages 06 – 59 months, as well as Pregnant/Lactating Women (PLW) in Borno State.
• The program’s goal is to minimize adverse effects on vulnerable displaced and host community individuals within the target population who lack access to agricultural lands, or who have otherwise constrained income earning opportunities and reduced market access as a result of the on-going conflict.
• SC will support program beneficiaries with a mix of Ready-to-Use-Supplementary food (PlumpySup) for children and CSB/fortified vegetable oil for PLW.
• The PM will be based in Maiduguri and work under the supervision of the Area Operations Manager to provide technical and operational guidance, support monitoring and evaluation, oversee commodity pipelines, transportation and distribution, as well as manage project risk and ensure overall quality of the project.
• He/she will also be responsible for effective financial and operational management of the project.

Key Roles

• Provide daily managerial oversight and support to SC and partner teams in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating WFP-funded BFSP activities in Borno State.
• Work closely with the AOM, Director/Deputy Director of Humanitarian Operations, and the AO technical leads for Food Security and Livelihoods and Nutrition to ensure overall project success.
• Ensure that efficient systems are in place to support all aspects of project activity, including financial and grant management, project monitoring and evaluation, and sub grant management, and that they support the effective use of project resources in compliance with WFP regulations.
• Provide quality technical leadership and advice to the local partner around the implementation and monitoring of project work.
• Administer the development and successful implementation of work plans and oversee the creation of reports and other deliverables for WFP in a timely and accurate manner.
• Oversee SC project team and support implementation through a local partner, to ensure proper targeting, identification, registration, and monitoring of beneficiary lists.
• Oversee the establishment and functionality of Food Distribution Committees and ensure that all FDCs working on the program are abreast with and respect all SCI rules/regulations pertaining to the program as well respect the rights and privileges of beneficiaries.
• Work with the community to ensure that the BSFP/nutrition program is responding to identified needs and have full participation of the community in our program area.
• Liaise and work with target community to ensure accountability and best use of project resources.
• Work with SC Logistics team to supervise the performance of transportation vendors and ensure adherence to delivery contract terms.
• Coordinate with SC Logistics team, the Commodity Accountant and Warehouse staff to confirm effective commodity management practices in terms of receiving, storing, distributing and tracking all food products.
• Undertake regular (weekly) field visits to review BFSP and build field staff and implementing partner’s capacity in quality assurance.
• Monitor the capacity building and community mobilization activities, sessions for quality assurance and prepare reports with recommendations for continuous quality improvement in collaboration with MEAL team.
• Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) team to implement the prescribed monitoring and evaluation plan and to capture learning opportunities for BSFP, especially the integration of RUSF and standard commodities.
• Ensure compliance with all grant, WFP and government provisions, and timely fulfilment of all project programmatic reporting requirements.
• Oversee timely expenditure of approved budgets, avoiding both under spending and overspending on grant line items.

Other Roles
Personnel and Administration:

• Supervise BSFP project staff: conduct performance evaluations, identify staff skills development needs and assist the AOM to meet these needs
• Provide management support to staff as needed, and maintain office policy of respect and communication between supervisors and subordinates.
• See that all staff are aware of and understand SC policies and procedures; take appropriate disciplinary measures as needed.
• Responsible for the timely recruitment, orientation, and training of new staff as needed.
• Ensure all administrative procedures are followed, such as those regarding vehicle use and procurement.
• Maintain focus on SC program principles.
• Encourage teamwork, openness, and honesty among State staff and between SC and its partners.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Support program assessments, evaluations and other reviews required in the program.
• Contribute to situation/response analysis and development of food security and livelihoods strategy documents and sector response plans ensuring integration with other sectors.
• Coordinate with the MEAL team the timely development of periodic evidence-based project impact reports, captured through Post Distribution Monitoring and ensuring that lessons learnt and best practices are factored into project implementation.
• Contribute to the development and deployment of project-specific assessment/survey tools and templates

Qualifications and Experience
Essential:

• Extensive experience of working within a senior management role within a complex country programme in an emergency response or fragile state
• Education: MA / MSc level (or equivalent field experience) in Nutrition, Food Security, Rural Development, Humanitarian/Development Studies and other relevant area of study
• Experience working in a conflict or insecure environment
• Ability to write high quality reports, press releases, persuasive letters etc.
• Experience of M&E and beneficiary accountability systems in large complex programmes
• Effective networking skills and ability to coordinate with different stakeholders;
• Experience of working in partnerships with local NGOs/CBOs;
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• A high level of written and spoken English
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Detail-oriented and excellent at multi-tasks, able to work with short deadlines and performs well under intense pressure;
• Good command of MS Office;
• Fluency in written and spoken English in addition to local languages;
• Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. In particular, a good understanding of the SC mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support.

Desirable:

• Understanding of general commodity accounting principles;
• Experience overseeing distribution of food commodities including post-distribution monitoring (PDM);
• Fluent in Hausa