Project Manager At Save the Children

The Opportunity – Project Manager

Post location: West Bank- Ramallah with frequent travel to Gaza

Contract Duration: 34 Months

Primary: To provide project leadership and strategic and technical oversight to a EUR 3.6 million livelihoods project.

The Project Manager is responsible for the overall project management cycle including: providing strategic direction and leadership to project partners; leading, reviewing and amending annual plans, budgets and other project tools in line with SCI’s Project Management Methodology; leading risk assessments and implementation of effective mitigations and contingency plans; and developing quality donor reports. The Project Manager will also ensure timely resource mobilization and utilization through close oversight of project partners, ensuring compliance with Save the Children International (SCI) and donor policies and regulations.
Secondary: Strategic donor and partner engagement, functional support to Director of Programme Operations and leadership of minor projects as required
The Project Manager will lead on strategic engagement with the EU and other relevant donors and INGOs. The post holder may be asked to take on additional minor projects and support the Director of Programme Operations in the development and implementation of continuous improvement tools and initiatives.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Director of Programme Operations
Staff reporting to this post: N/A

Role Dimensions:

Indirect: Project partner focal points, Gaza Programme Manager and MEAL staff
Budget Responsibilities: Up to $1.2m per year
Role Dimensions: The post holder will operate within a matrix management structure with dotted line management to SCI’s Gaza team and implementing partners. They will hold a key oversight role and be accountable for the quality delivery of their assigned projects on time, within budget, and with compliance. This includes coordination, support and oversight of progress and performance of all implementing partners. In addition, the post holder will be expected to support strategic engagement with EU donors and build relationships with other NGOs.
The oPt Country Office (CO) operates in a highly complex context with multi-member interest. The CO has an annual budget of around $17m, and approximately 75 staff.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
A- Project Partners and Strategy
• Develop and maintain effective partnerships and oversight of deliverables with the project members, including relevant line ministries and implementing partners. Standardize and institutionalize project communication and governance protocols among stakeholders and partners, including the project Board and management team
• Represent the project to host government, donor and community, as relevant and delegated by the Senior Management Team and Gaza Field Office Manager.
• Monitor and manage the risk environment, ensuring mitigations and contingencies are developed, communicated and implemented as approved.

B- Project Planning and Monitoring
• In line with Save the Children’s Project Management Methodology, lead the project and partners through the annual implementation plan development process, ensuring compliance with the project design, scope of work (SoW), budget and quality standards. Produce donor level annual plans, reports and budgets
• Coordinate the project intervention and activities according to the plan and ensure effective and timely delivery of programme activities. Administer and facilitate the contractual aspects with partners and SCI departments ensure compliance and effective business relations.
• Lead development and regular joint reviews of the Detailed Implementation Plan, Phased Budget, Procurement Plan, MEAL plan and HR Plan.
• Ensure the project MEAL plan is resourced and implemented and serves to inform decision-making processes
• Conduct monthly progress reviews for the project activities with the partners and project team, ensuring progress is achieved as planned, challenges mapped and communicated upwards, and actions identified and implemented
• Produce quality reports including, internal briefs, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports and ensure compliance with the reporting deadlines and quality
• Ensure programme assets and resources are well managed according to SCI and donor policies and regulations with support from SCI related departments.

C- Partnership Capacity Building and Training
• Follow up and provide needed support to ensure identified capacities, gaps/areas and opportunities for partners as identified in the pre-award assessment. Ensuring capacity development and performance is improvement
• Monitor issues that arise through the life of the project, and communicate needs for resources and actions to fill any new gaps
• Provide feedback on partners’ capacity issues/performance to field and country office management
• Review the financial audits and consult with the finance team for feedback and issues.

D- Staff and Self-Development, Staff Leadership.
• Ensure effective engagement, learning and adoption of Save the Children HR, procurement and project management systems.
• Successfully complete all SCI essential trainings and learning schemes.

E- Advocacy, Communication and Material Production
• Ensure advocacy and communication plans are consistent with the country office strategy through effective collaboration with Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications & Media (ACCM) team.
• Ensure management and oversight protocols are agreed and implemented with ACCM for relevant project components.
• Working closely with ACCM team to capture lessons learned, success stories, evidence to inform policy and material production.

F- Emergency Response and Preparedness:
• Contribute to the Country Office (CO) Emergency Preparedness Plan and response strategy development processes, implementing preparedness actions as assigned.
• Maintain close communication with the donor and implementing partners on emerging risks, contingency plans and pre-approval of project adaptations, ensuring the project remains agile and flexible to the changing context.
• In case of an emergency, be ready and prepared to be assigned new role(s) and work outside the normal work modality.

G- Strategic Engagement
• Work with CO management and Save the Children Italy to develop and review engagement plans for strategic donors.
• In coordination with CO management and SC Italy, represent SCI and support on engagement with strategic donors, positioning SCI for future funding.
• Proactively engage with Italian NGOs in Palestine and participate in the Italian platform of Italian NGOs meetings, building sustainable relationships around common organisational values and strategic goals.

In order to be successful you will bring/have:

QUALIFICATIONS
• Master’s degree or equivalent work experience in international development, humanitarian aid, human rights, or other related field.
**EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essentials **
• Fluency in written and spoken Italian & English.
• At least 7 years of work with INGOs in humanitarian/development contexts, with minimum three years’ experience in Project Management.
• Ability to travel between West Bank and Gaza.
• Knowledge and experience in the following thematic area: Protection, Education and Economic development.
• Previous experience managing multi-million, multi-year projects.
• Proven track record of successfully managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience representing organisations in discussions with strategic donors.
• Accomplished level in key competencies; delivering results, networking and influencing and collaborative approaches.
• Excellent Microsoft Office applications skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Commitment to Save the Children values and Child Safeguarding.
Desirable
• Written and spoken Arabic is an advantage.
• Previous experience working in volatile operating environments.
• Understanding of conflict sensitivity and protection challenges specific to the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. This role is offered on the basis of national and / OR International terms and conditions.

We support inclusion; and women and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply
The Organisation

Save the Children works in development and humanitarian contexts with children and partners to help families, communities, and governments identify and use innovations to ensure all children survive, learn and are protected.

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realize the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.
We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:
• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated
We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.