Project Manager – Resilience At Concern Worldwide

This is a 12 month unaccompanied role based in Bagasola, Chad with a salary of Grade 3 (€39,911 – €44,346).

We would like you to start as soon as possible.

This position reports directly to the Lake Area Coordinator. This position supervises: Assistants to the Project Manager, Supervisors, Monitoring Engineers.

The DECILAC (Développement Concerté et Intégré dans la Province du Lac) project is a 4-year project implemented by Concern Worldwide and local partners, and is funded by the German government. It aims at the inclusive development and long-term strengthening of profitable economic activities for the communities of Lake Chad. The project places the authorities and the different communities at the heart of the implementation and decisions affecting them so that the action is adapted, sustainable, established and recognised (more details on the project will be shared during the interview).

Purpose

The Project Manager will be in charge of the overall coordination of the project as well as the management of relations with partners at field level. The Project Manager will report directly to the Area Coordinator on all programmatic aspects and will maintain strong technical collaboration with the Technical Advisors at headquarters and the Programme Director based in N’Djamena who will provide technical advice and guidance. The Project Manager will be assisted by two project assistants, one specialised in entrepreneurship and value chain and the other in local development/environment. These two assistants will be in charge of the technical and quality monitoring of the activities implemented with the support of supervisors who will be under their supervision. The assistants will ensure the technical leadership of the consortium partners while the supervisors will support them in the field monitoring of the activities and partners. The Project Manager will also have the support of a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) officer for the monitoring and accountability activities of the project, shared with other Concern projects in the Lake.

Description of the tasks

Programme management

• Plan and supervise the implementation of all programme activities in accordance with the country strategic plan, the project proposal, CONCERN’s procedures and quality standards and the donor’s requirements;
• Oversee the integration of the different cross-cutting approaches of the programme (Gender, Conflict, Protection) as well as the WASH component into the programme activities;
• Conduct weekly supervisory field visits and ensure that clear action points are identified and implemented;
• Evaluate the relevance of the activities carried out, the effectiveness of the interventions and their appropriateness in the light of the changing context and the needs of the populations;
• Propose reorientations of the programme according to the evolution of the context and the indicators;
• Work with the MEAL Officer to ensure that the monitoring and evaluation system provides appropriate and adequate information in relation to the results framework, learning and timely decision making, including the development and monitoring of database management and updating of monitoring and evaluation tools;
• Ensure the preparation of monthly programme activity reports as well as quarterly/semi-annual and annual reports in accordance with agreed deadlines;
• To support the production of quality and timely donor reports.
• Ensure that lessons learned are documented and used by the whole team and define a plan for capitalisation of the programme.
• Participate in donor and partner visits and implement any agreed recommendations from these visits
• Follow-up and coordination with programme partners and all other actors involved in the implementation.

Human resources management

• Contribute to the team recruitment process and its induction, target setting, evaluation.
• Ensure that each supervised team member fully understands the results expected of them and is aware of the success criteria relevant to their work.
• Ensuring that work is planned and organised in a way that meets the needs of the organisation in the most cost-effective way; ensuring that team members have an appropriate workload and are working efficiently.
• Ensure that project staff have updated PDRs (Performance Development Reviews) and work with human resources to implement capacity building plans.

Security

• Ensure that the team under his/her supervision carries out its work in accordance with Concern’s safety standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the safety management plan (SMP).
• Assist the Area Coordinator in the security analysis by sharing important security information gathered during fieldwork.
• Participate in the revision of the SOP and SMP as necessary and other safety related tasks as required.

Representation

• Ensure effective networking and coordination with relevant project stakeholders, such as local government authorities, other NGOs and organisations, and UN agencies operating in the sector at field level.
• Implementing rigorous budget planning and monitoring its effectiveness with the area coordinator and the finance team
• Follow up the supply plan with the support teams;
• Report any suspected or actual financial or logistical irregularities to the area coordinator and country management.
• Working closely with key regional and departmental public sectors
• Participate in the Technical Working Groups, namely the Food Security, Health and Nutrition, WASH, CCCM and Protection sub-clusters

Finance, administration, logistics

• Monitor and manage programme expenditure and budgets, ensuring that resources are used optimally and that expenditure complies with Concern’s financial procedures and donor requirements;
• Ensure the preparation and transmission of the cash flow in accordance with the agreed deadline and contribute to the revision of the management account;
• In collaboration with the logistics department of the base, ensure the logistic management of the programme (definition and follow-up of orders, anticipation and planning of needs, quality control and stock management);
• Organise the planning of movements in the field in consultation with the Base Manager and the Area Coordinator.

Transparency, accountability :

• Adhere to the standards of conduct outlined in the Code of Conduct (CoC) and associated policies: the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Safeguarding Children Policy and the Anti-Trafficking Policy;
• In line with Concern Worldwide’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), actively promote meaningful community participation at all stages of the project cycle (planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation) and ensure that a complaints response mechanism is in place and operational;
• In coordination with the Area Coordinator, MEAL Manager and Accountability Officers, ensure that a functional complaints management mechanism is in place;
• To ensure that the highest standards of accountability and transparency are maintained within the organisation, and particularly within programmes, in order to preserve Concern’s reputation.

Other:

In addition to the tasks and responsibilities mentioned above, the Project Manager may be required to

• Temporary change of duty station as required by the programme for job coverage when necessary.
• Participate in organised training and workshops identified by the line manager.
• Actively participate in collective exercises such as the preparation or updates of the Effective Emergency Response Preparedness (EERP) plan, the Security Management Plan (SMP) and other initiatives.
• Participate in Concern’s emergency humanitarian response at the request of the line manager.
• Perform any other relevant and reasonable tasks as requested by the line manager or the Country Director.

Qualifications, experience and skills required

Essential:

• A minimum of a five-year degree in international project management, land use planning, civil engineering, agricultural sciences, development economics, agroforestry or any other equivalent degree.
• At least 3 years experience working abroad in management positions in development programmes focused on poverty reduction through strengthening rural livelihoods and medium-scale agriculture.
• Experience in procurement and contract management for construction works;
• Ability to write reports and technical documents.
• Experience in project implementation, urban planning, strengthening governance with state structures
• Proven experience in conducting diagnostics/baseline studies, feasibility studies, and collaborative planning.
• Experience of working in consortium projects and programmes
• Experience of working in volatile security environments
• Very good knowledge of French and basic knowledge of English

Desirable:

• Proven experiences on food security approaches, natural resource management and climate change adaptation programmes
• Experience in initiating community-based income-generating activities
• Proven experience in coaching teams and monitoring/guiding village communities;
• Experience in multi-stakeholder coordination (NGOs, state technical services)