Project Manager

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as an equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor

About the project:

The Project Manager will be responsible for in country planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the BHA funded project to improve accountability to children and inclusion of adolescent girls with intellectual disabilities in humanitarian action. Managed by Child Protection and Women’s Protection and Empowerment sectors within the Violence Prevention and Response Unit in HQ, and in coordination with the Child Protection and Education (CPE) team, the project aims to foster a more inclusive humanitarian system and architecture that allows girls and boys to meaningfully participate. The goal of the project is a) to identify technical approaches towards accountability to children, develop practical tools to strengthen the capacity of humanitarian actors to integrate accountability to children and participation in their AAP systems and institutionalize client-centered programming b) to learn from adolescent girls with intellectual disabilities about how they want to be included in humanitarian programs and develop training materials for humanitarian actors based on this. This will be done by desk and field-based investigation of enablers and barriers faced by diverse groups of children and youth and adolescent girls with intellectual disabilities, through consultation and co-designing tools and methodologies that will inform the development of a resource package for humanitarian actors

Job Overview/Summary:

The Project Manager will be responsible for project management at country office level. The post reports to the Assistant Child Protection and Education Coordinator and the Women’s Protection and Empowerment Manager, who will provide technical oversight, guidance, and performance review.

The incumbent should have a solid understanding and work experience in humanitarian contexts/refugee responses in country or in the region, ideally with a particular focus on vulnerable and marginalized children and adolescents. Strong skills in protection (emergency + development contexts), community engagement, client responsiveness and training are an asset. The post holder will be guided by the IRC’s child safeguarding protocols at all times. The position holder will be responsible for initiation, implementation, regular progress updates and reporting and closure of the afore-mentioned project. S/he will liaise with senior management and programme colleagues to ensure uptake and ensure cross sector engagement, especially between the CP and WPE teams.

Major responsibilities include:

Project management:

· Steer project at technical and operational levels to ensure timely and high-quality delivery with relevant risk management check points in place.

· Identify, establish, and manage partnerships with child/ youth led organisations providing requisite support in collaboration with partnership unit to formalize partnership with IRC, co-organize 3 workshops, lead the field component of the qualitative study and form a research advisory group.

· Coordinate with the WPE team to support communications with child/youth-led organizations and the self-advocates who will be co-leading the workshops with adolescent girls with intellectual disabilities.

· Take the lead/facilitate on managing logistics, payments, and other details for the WPE staff training, for the formative and validation workshops with adolescent girls and caregivers, and for the online orientation session with IRC Ethiopia staff.

· Take the lead on coordinating and communicating logistics for IRC HQ and Inclusion International staff in-country travel and accommodations in close collaboration with HR/Admin team.

· Provide regular briefings to the Assistant Child Protection and Education Coordinator and WPE Manager to track progress and address challenges and regional/HQ colleagues.

· Facilitate community discussion sessions.

· Design and lead age-appropriate questions and discussions.

· Compile accurate data and document lessons learned for continuous improvement.

· Collaborate with finance team to monitor financial performance and identify saving options and manage financial risks (under/overspending).

· Adhere to the project plan to complete the project activities.

· Conduct regular project review meetings, provide updates to stakeholders and address any concerns.

Working relationships:

· Maintain open and professional relationships with team members: Promote a strong team spirit and provide regular office wide communication periodic reports, updates to the HQ, inputs to donor reports and other communication as required; participate in scheduled and ad hoc meetings online and onsite.

· Support technical and operational capacity of partner organizations including child/ youth led organizations.

· Ensure awareness raising, visibility and advocacy for the project.

Coordination and representation:

· Conduct regular field visits and convene meetings in line with the planned workshops and activities to support planning and implementation across both workstreams and report on the same.

· Develop workplans for and work in close collaboration with partner organisations.

· Lead and participate in project meetings and represent the programme with internal and external audiences.

· Liaise with focal points across Child Protection and Education, WPE and Client responsiveness for technical inputs.

Program Development:

· Manage progress of activities and milestones as per country level workplan.

· Serve as key focal point for child/ youth led organizations.

· Support refinement of research design, development of tools and adaptation.

· Organize and co lead workshops for children and youth together with the HQ office.

· Coordinate and support field missions conducted by HQ.

· Compile narrative and financial reports as per schedule.

· Disseminate evidence and findings to enhance country programming across sectors.

Safeguarding Responsibilities:

· Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC [team/office].

· Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.

Professional Standards:

· All IRC staff members are required to comply with the IRC Way Standards of Professional Conduct, IRC Country Employment Policies, and the IRC Child Safeguarding Policy.

Qualifications

Educational Requirements:

· Minimum 4 years of experience with a Technical degree in development studies/ social sciences specializing in social work, and community development or 3 years of postgraduate with significant working experience.

Preferred Experience & skills:

· At least 4 years of experience in implementing child protection and participation initiatives, field-based assessments and working with local organisations in humanitarian/early recovery contexts.

· Experience in use of participatory training and assessment methods.

· Demonstrated understanding of working with children in line with principles of do no harm.

· Personal qualities: Team player, ability to communicate with a wide range of audiences, flexible, able to handle pressure well.

· Shows a high level of respect for all individuals, including persons with different kinds of disabilities.

· Technical expertise in child participation and accountability to affected populations (particularly children).

· Expertise in working with and for persons and or children with disabilities and organizations of people with disabilities.

· Previous experience in qualitative research, assessment, and data analysis is an asset.

· A very high degree of autonomy, an ability to organize work and work well with a diverse team.

· Use of computer tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

· Ability to communicate and develop good relationships with communities and community organizations, using a participatory approach.

· Physical and psychological ability to work under pressure,

· The employee must be flexible and able to respond to the requirements and instructions of his or her supervisor for the needs of the department.

· Willingness to travel to IRC project areas.

· Creative, solution oriented and adaptable

· Strong analytical, presentation, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

· Able to handle pressure well and work independently with initiative as well as with a team.

Language Skills:

• Fluency in English and other local languages advantages