Project Manager - Disaster Risk Reduction (ECHO) at COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale

About ECHO

• The European Union through its member states is a leading global donor of humanitarian aid. Through the European Commission's Civil protection Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), the EU helps over 120 million victims of conflict and disasters every year, ECHO provides assistance to the most vulnerable people solely on the basis of humanitarian needs.
• The disaster risk reduction and social safety project is a project that aims to save lives and protect the health and livelihoods of vulnerable people from the impact of climate-related disasters. The project is funded by the European Commission's Civil protection and Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO)

Scope of the Vacancy

• Line managed by the Area Coordinator Northwest with technically supervision of COOPI Nigeria Programme Coordinator and working with the support units and other project teams, the ECHO project manager is responsible for the overall planning, execution and reporting of the ECHO Disaster Risk Reduction project; including the supervision of project team members and dedicated logistics, HR and financial resources as well as the overall functioning of the projects.

Main Responsibilities and Tasks

• Under the direct supervision of the Area Coordinator, the technical supervision of the project coordinator and in collaboration with other project staff, regional administrator, and logistics coordinator, the project manager will perform the following duties:

Project Management:

• Provides overall managerial oversight to the ECHO-funded Disaster Risk Reduction project and support the project implementation team;
• Support effective implementation of the consortium's governance, ensuring clear communication and reporting relationships between COOPI and external partners, including the donor;
• Ensures cross-departmental coordination including consortium partners’ components such as conflict, protection, and early warning systems;
• Works with consortium partners to maintain and update project implementation plan;
• In cooperation and synergy with the project staff,plans and monitors the Disaster Risk Reduction activities’ progress, in compliance with the donor regulations, with donor’s and COOPI’s procedures, and with the specific Project Structure and Reporting Linesdefinition, making use of the financial instruments provided by the organization.
• Prepares all the formal communication and contract modification requests (ex. budget modification) of the project;
• Works closely with Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning head to ensure oversight for all monitoring, evaluation and learning across all activities and implementation.
• Monitors the accuracy and efficiency of activities.
• Puts in place and follows accountabilitybeneficiaries’ feedback mechanism.
• Lead operational planning for the delivery of activities across the project

Admin / Finance and Logistics Aspects:

• In collaboration with the Administrative and the Logistics team, plans and monitor the expenditures in line with the project’s implementation needs.
• Ensures compliance with the fund and timely fulfillment of the project’s reporting requirements.
• In cooperation with the MEAL Program Manager ensure data provided by the team were analyzed and due reports prepared and shared in compliance with the deadlines, donor and the partners regulations.
• Liaises with the logistics/procurement team to ensure the goods purchased for the project are well managed in compliance with COOPI internal and donor policy, support updates of the inventory, and guarantee the respect of the policies and guidelines.

Institutional Relations:

• Represents COOPI with the local / State authorities and partners;
• In collaboration with the Area Coordinator and in synergy with the specific reporting lines of the projects, promotes and manages relations with the local government institutions, NGOs, and other local partners available in the area.

Human Resources:

• In coordination with the administrative team supports in hiring of new staff directly related to the project and conducting staff appraisals;
• Upholds COOPI’s mission and Charter of Values;
• Supervisesand evaluate the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the staff.

Others:

• Ensures safety of staff and beneficiaries and work closely with COOPI Security Manager and Logistic team;
• Works closely with Social Protection expert to drive critical assessment during inception and close-out phases including baseline, endline, market, and value chain assessment, and mapping exercises and project close-out;
• Works closely with the Protection Program team to ensure protection mainstreaming.
• Work closely with project team and Programme Coordinator in capitalization of learning and further development of the project.
• Actively engaged in coordination forums including NW coordination and other state level coordination relevant to the project and in support of COOPI NW strategy.
• Follows and enforces all COOPI codes of conduct and policies (globally and in-country).
• Support the Area Coordinator in further development of COOPI NW Strategy and other program duties as and when necessary.

Networking and Partnerships:

• Establish and maintain collaborative relations with relevant donors, partners, project stakeholders and other organizations
• Provision of technical guidance and oversight to the projects within the areas of operations in establishing preparedness systems, development of standard operating procedures for Forecast Based Financing (FbF) and in establishing and managing of FbF partnerships.

Profile of the Candidate (Education, Training, Competences, Skills)
Education:

• Advanced University Degree in Development Studies, Project Management, Disaster Management or other relevant field.
• Professional training in disaster risk management and or social protection.

Experience:

• At least five (5) years of relevant experience in the field of disaster risk management
• At least 3 years of working for a humanitarian aid organisation
• Experience of planning and managing finances and budgets

Desired Experience:

• 4 years working in INGO managing program implementation in disaster risk reduction and social protection, 2 years of which should be in MEAL, for FSL, WASH and Protection programming

Knowledge, Skills and Languages:

• Strong and highly developed technical skills in disaster risk management international practices
• Self-supporting in computers (word processing, spreadsheets, internet and web-based searching etc.)
• Solid and tested analytical skills
• Operational management and reporting skills
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and networking skills
• Fluently spoken and written in English is required
• Have a knowledge of a local language preferably Hausa.

Competencies and Values:

• Accountability
• National Society Relations
• Teamwork-interpersonal skills
• Integrity and personal conduct
• Professionalism
• Communication Managerial effectiveness
• Initiative and direction
• Flexibility, Patience and adaptability-sensitivity to diversity
• Adhere to COOPI values and abide by the code of conduct and other policies.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.