Project Coordinator - NORAD at Save The Children

Role Purpose

• Reporting to the Project Manager, the Senior Officer coordinates the implementation of DFiD EiE Foundation for the Future project in Yobe.
• The EiE Senior Officer provides both operations and technical assistance and oversight on all aspects relating to NORAD in Eastern/ Karamoja Region.
• The job holder provides overall programmatic and operational coordination and management including; planning, implementation, capacity enhancement, monitoring/ evaluation and reporting both internally (within SCI) and externally (for/with partners).

Key Areas of Accountability
Project Coordination & Management:

• Oversee the coordination and implementation of the NORAD project across the Region in line with the design of the project and donor requirements.
• Establish, maintain and strengthen linkages in the management and implementation of NORAD Project.
• Create and sustain positive working relationships with the partners and other stakeholders.
• Plan and coordinate national, and district level engagements with partners and key stakeholders.
• Monitor and ensure timely and quality reports are submitted as per the reporting requirements.
• Working closely with Technical Thematic Specialists & MEAL to ensure quality program delivery, documentation and reporting of progress.

Operational Planning:

• Provide national level lead in planning, development of detailed implementation plans, phased budgets, implementation, monitoring, documentation and reporting for NORAD project.
• Overseeing the implementation and budget performance in line with the project plans and budgets.
• Effectively support the project staff and partners in developing annual plans, in line with NORAD Project design and Save the Children International planning guidelines.
• Support staff and partners to ensure that NORAD Project implementation are to the desired standards and on time.
• Provide guidance to the partners through the planning processes to develop plans that are cost effective and in line with NORAD Project funding.

Finance and Budget Management:

• Manage the Project budget in coordination with Regional Area Manager and Field Finance Manager.
• Overseeing the budget performance to ensure that project implementation is on course as per the detailed implementation plans and phased budgets.
• Support the Project implementation teams with budget monitoring and reporting.
• Ensure that the budget monitoring reports are responded to in time and with accurate information.
• Working closely with NORAD Project teams, to ensure that partners are well guided, supported and their capacity built in sound financial management procedures.

Partner Development and Management:

• Participate in partner’s capacity assessment and identify capacity building needs for the NORAD Project partners.
• Develop with the partner’s detailed implementation/work plans and phased budgets.
• Provide capacity building and support in implementation by partners.
• Monitor and follow up the implementation of the agreed work plan and budget to ensure that the program objectives are being realized in accordance to the program and partnership agreement and take the necessary actions for any identified deviations.
• Undertaking partners’ capacity assessment in order to identify capacity gaps and areas of support that the partners will require for effective implementation of the project.
• Undertake visits to the partners on both programmatic and operational support.
• Ensure timely, accurate and high quality financial and programmatic reporting by the partners and take corrective actions for any non compliance by the partners.

Program and Financial Reporting:

• Responsible and accountable for the preparation of timely and high quality progress and end of project narrative and financial reports which are in accordance to the donor reporting schedule and formats.
• Review all program financial reports ensuring that donor guidelines have been followed and high standard met, prior to submission to management.
• Organize and facilitate quarterly follow ups and progress review meetings to address key performance issues from the reports.
• Overall Budget Vs Actual expenditure analysis and variance explanations.

Internal and external engagements:

• Ensuring that the program experience is represented and given recognition at stakeholder meetings, workshops, donor, networks and any other engagements.
• Develop and maintain regular channels of communication with partners and key stakeholders at district level.

MEAL:

• Effectively manage project design and study processes which include assessments, baseline and evaluation studies, putting in place a functional ATT.
• Ensure that the project has quality bench marks.
• Collecting and managing complaints and feedback in close coordination with MEAL team and Project Officers.
• Ensure regular monitoring of project results, documentation of project case studies, lessons learnt, significant changes and best practices and coordinating learning and reflection meetings/sessions
• Ensure an effective programs/ projects monitoring and evaluation systems is in place.
• Monitor programs/ projects activities to ensure quality, timeliness and adherence to both Country Office and international Save the Children policies and procedures.

Technical Oversight:

• In liaison with Technical Specialists and Field teams provide guidance and support to project team, partners and stakeholders.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of a Bachelors' Degree in Humanities. Experience in managing integrated programmes across different thematic areas such as education, child protection, child rights governance or disaster risk reduction is a must.
• At least 5 years of accrued working experience in program implementation with a minimum of 3 years in a management level position in an international NGO and those applying partnership approaches is desirable.
• Experience in strategic thinking and planning skills, be able to set priorities, prepare manageable plans and to evaluate progress.
• Experience of working with local partners and District Local Government in Child Rights Governance, Health, Nutrition, Education, or Child Protection is an added advantage.
• Strong analytical skills and strategic planning abilities.
• Ability to establish and maintain conducive collegial relations and perform effectively as a member of a team.
• Willingness to travel and work in hard-to-reach areas, occasionally under strenuous conditions.
• Computer literacy and excellent documentation skills are a must.
• Availability and willingness to work extra hours during times of humanitarian responses.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Ability to intervene with crisis management or troubleshooting as necessary.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Excellent time management and planning capacity.
• Availability and willingness to work extra hours during times of humanitarian responses.