Project Manager - ECHO at Save The Children

Background

• Save the Children is seeking a Project Manager for its proposed 12-month ECHO funded program in Borno, Nigeria to provide support to internally displaced and host community households in Borno State.
• In order to facilitate access to food for vulnerable displaced and host community households lacking access to agricultural lands, or with otherwise constrained income earning opportunities and reduced market access, while at the same time supporting existing food vendors, SC will target households with unconditional food voucher transfers, protection and nutrition support.
• The Project Manager (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, and ensure quality of the project.
• He/she will also ensure effective financial and operational management of the project.
• Working closely with the  AOM , Humanitarian Project Manager, Head of Food Security and Livelihoods, and the Food Security and Livelihoods Coordinator:
  • Administer the development and successful implementation of work plans and oversee the creation of reports and other deliverables to ECHO in a timely and accurate manner.
  • Oversee and support implementation through a local partner, including the supervision of proper targeting, identification, registration, and monitoring of beneficiary lists to prevent overlap with other humanitarian programs in the intervention zone.
  • Quality technical leadership and advice to the local partner around the design, implementation and monitoring of project work at state and community levels.
  • Coordinate closely with other humanitarian actors and UN agencies carrying food vouchers, and food distributions for geographic mapping and to ensure program activities are in line with national and humanitarian food security priorities.
  • 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 ECHO regulations.
  • Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) team to develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation plans and to capture learning opportunities around the effectiveness of voucher-based programming, and in particular, the use of e-vouchers.
  • Ensure regular monitoring of the market prices and generation of monthly market assessment reports.
  • Work with the logistics team in the identification and selection of vendors to participate in program activities
  • Ensure that all vendors 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
  • Maintain close contact with the service providers facilitating the food assistance program and ensuring timely replenishment of beneficiary accounts as well as tracking beneficiary transactions.
  • Ensure compliance with all grant, ECHO 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.

Othe Roles Include
Personnel and Administration:

• Supervise emergency field based 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.
• Promote accountability, communicating expectations and providing constructive feedback through regular performance reviews.
• 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; ensure logistics/administrative staff provides sufficient and timely support to programs and programmatic staff, and that data collection processes are standardized and applied by all field staff.

Representation and Leadership:

• Represent Save the Children in humanitarian coordination fora within the State as and when required.
• Maintain good working relationships with officials and other humanitarian actors, particularly those within the relevant government agencies (State Emergency Management Agency), ACF, IOM, and UN agencies.
• Represent SC and maintain good working relationships among the international and local NGO community, among community leadership structures and community-based organizations, and with visiting donor teams and other key contacts. Keep abreast of NGO, government, and donor initiatives relevant to SC’s work.
• Maintain focus on SC program principles.
• Encourage teamwork, openness, and honesty among State staff and between SC and its partners.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Where security permits, the PM will make regular visits to field sites, to monitor and oversee project implementation and offer advice.
• 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:

• Education: MA / MSc level (or equivalent field experience) in Agriculture, Rural Development, Development Studies and other relevant qualifications
• Extensive experience of working within a senior management role within a complex country programme in an emergency response or fragile state
• Previous experience of managing programme teams in large-scale first phase emergency response is essential
• Experience of M&E and beneficiary accountability systems in large complex programmes
• Experience of developing and negotiating successful partnerships with institutional donors
• Proven ability to influence change at an operational and strategic level
• 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.
• 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:

• Fluent in English