Project Manager (for Philippines National only) At Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion

About the project:

Humanity & Inclusion will implement an 18-month project for the Prevention, Early Identification, Referral and Interventions for Developmental Delays and Disabilities in Early Childhood (PEIRIDDDEC), through a funding support from UNICEF and in partnership with Plan International Philippines.

The project contributes to the achievement of key output indicators of the Early Childhood Education and Health and Nutrition Outputs of the Government of the Philippines – UNICEF 8^th Country Programme for Children: (1) The health system at national and in select provinces are strengthened to accelerate equitable access to high impact interventions for reducing preventable newborn deaths, early childhood illnesses and disability; and (2) Government authorities have improved capacity to deliver inclusive, gender responsive, equitable and quality early childhood education. Specifically, the project seeks to equip the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) providers at the barangay and municipal/city level with knowledge and skills on prevention, early identification, referral, and intervention at their level and maximize the access to and improve the quality of existing programs and services for ECCD clients.

Line Manager: Operations Manager

Duty Station: Makati City, with frequent work travel to Zamboanga del Norte, Samar, Northern Samar, Cagayan de Oro City, and Valenzuela City

Mission (Stakes of the position):

The Project Manager contributes to the implementation of the mandate and the 10-year strategy of Humanity & Inclusion. He/she ensures optimal quality and impact of the project implemented by means of a delegation system with appropriate control mechanisms. With all HI managers, and through paradigm changes, he/she shares responsibility for the sound management and effective functioning of the global organization.

Duration: 2 months (possibility of contract extension depending on project needs)**

Mission 1: Management

• Manager as a role model: embody HI’s values on a daily basis, and be a role model.
• Manager as a coach for meaning: understand the strategy, make it explicit, translate it into operational objectives for his or her team, lead the necessary changes.
• Operational manager: organise the operational management of his or her team, structure the work around identified processes, steer performance and facilitate the resolution of problems.
• First HR & Coach: contribute to the development of his or her staff, creating the conditions for their commitment, professionalism and attachment to HI. Ensure compliance with the code of conduct and institutional policies, the mindset and expected individual and collective behaviour.

Mission 2: Strategy and steering

Contribute to the development of the programme’s operational strategy

• Contribute to programme or country operational strategy (StratOp).
• Draft new project proposals for the continuity or expansion of the project.
• Contribute to the drafting of new proposals for new opportunities, if necessary.

Mission 3: Operational implementation

Responsibility 1: Ensure the implementation of the project, in line with the logical framework and allocated budget

• Steer the project’s intervention strategy and put forward adjustments if the objectives change or if it is likely that they will not be met.
• Ensure that activities and the associated resources are planned, and implement the action plan.
• Ensure that activities are implemented in line with the project proposal and the allocated budget.
• Ensure project reporting, internally and externally.
• Undertake expenditure and manage the project activity-specific budget lines.
• Prepare and manage partnerships with the project implementation partners.
• Guarantee the proper archiving of information.

Responsibility 2: Ensure that project implementation complies with the existing frameworks

• Ensure the proper implementation and follow-up of institutional policies (specifically PME, PSEAH and Age-Gender-Disability policies) and the other HI internal standards.
• Ensure compliance with the terms of the project proposal and the rules applied by the project funding body/bodies.
• Ensure compliance with global technical standards and norms by communicating and by involving the technical specialists and advisors with expertise in the project themes.

Responsibility 3: Ensure project monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning

• Ensure project monitoring, specifically activity progress indicators and the expected outcomes.
• Develop and implement the project evaluation plan.
• Ensure that the project is accountable to the local stakeholders.
• Ensure project learning, taking into account lessons learned from similar previous projects, following the recommendations made throughout the project (from evaluations, support missions, audits, etc.), and capitalising on the acquired knowledge.

Responsibility 4: Ensure project data management

• Ensure that the appropriate data collection and management tools are in place on the project, in line with global standards.
• Ensure that data related to the project is collected and compiled in the project database.
• Carry out regular checks and makes any necessary corrections to the activity database.

Responsibility 5: Coordinate the teams involved in the project

• Facilitate coordination meetings between his/her direct team and the support services located in the area when necessary.
• Ensure that his/her team and the support teams (shared and technical services, in particular) work well together in order to facilitate the implementation of the project in the country.
• Facilitate the project steering committee.

Responsibility 6: Contribute to external project communication

• Contribute to HI’s external influence by taking part in networks, when required.
• Communicate about the project to partners, authorities and stakeholders when relevant.

Mission 4: Emergency Preparedness and Response

• Lead the emergency preparedness actions in his/her department and, in the event of an emergency, reorganize the priorities of his/her team according to the humanitarian priority, in order to ensure a quick and efficient response by HI.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree (Master’s Degree is an advantage) on any of the following: Family Life and Child Development, Inclusive Education, Social Work, Community Development, Physical therapy, Occupational Therapy, or any related Health or Social Sciences courses
• At least 4 years professional experience working in the field of Early Childhood Care and Development or Education, at least 3 years in community organizing, community-based rehabilitation, and/or preschool teaching/administration, and at least 2 years of experience as a project manager
• Proven expertise and understanding of the early childhood care and development context in the Philippines
• Highly proficient skills in technical writing and designing early education interventions
• Excellent in spoken and written English and Filipino, and knowledge of dialects spoken in Northern Samar, Cagayan de Oro City, or Zamboanga del Norte
• Proficient in using computer programs and online collaboration and training tools
• Experience working with an INGO/NGO is an advantage
• Willingness to travel frequently to project areas

Interpersonal Skills :

• Working as part of a team/network, cooperating
• Respect for the opinion and enhancement of the skills of others with a view to shared action
• Giving and receiving constructive feedback; discussing with multi- disciplinary teams, working as part of a network and collaborating
• Empathy; showing interest in what each person is experiencing and feeling, putting oneself in the other person’s shoes, listening to his/her needs, being accepting rather than judgmental
• Resilience to stress and uncertainty
• Pragmatism, capacity to adapt with agility