Project Manager/Team Leader

Job Description

The IRC has been operating in South Sudan since 1989. Our programs have provided critical Health, Nutrition, Protection and Rule of Law, Child Protection, Education and Economic Wellbeing (EWB) services in eleven field sites, covering five of the ten states and one administrative area. With two offices in Northern Bahr el Ghazal- NBeG (Aweil East and South), five offices in Unity State (Bentiu, Koch, Mayendit, Ganyliel and Nyal), one in the Ruweng Administrative Area (Jamjang) covering operations in the Ajuong Thok and Pamir Refugee Camps and the host community, one office in Rumbek town covering the whole of Lakes, one office in Maban covering the refugee response and one field office in Central Equatoria (Juba)-urban programming together with the Country office.

Job Overview

This position is a member of the Project Management Unit and supports the implementation of the project across the 10 states and 2 administrative areas of South Sudan. The Project Manager/Team Leader will be based at the IRC Juba Office and work with partners across the states. The Project Manager/Team Leader oversees and leads the project team in day-to-day project implementation, supports stakeholder engagement, and contributes to partnership management. The Project Manager is responsible for managing and supervising the delivery of project milestones, in accordance with workplans, managing sub grants as well as ensuring grant compliance according to donor requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Management:

• Coordinate with the ERD Coordinator and OCA Project team and Women Led Organization (WLO) in the implementation of project activities in the 10 states and 2 administrative areas of South Sudan

• Provide leadership and guidance to the project staff in the implementation of program activities, ensuring that all relevant policies and procedures are applied.

• Act as a strong liaison between project team and other departments (supply chain, Logistics, HR, admin & finance etc.) to ensure collaborative processes move smoothly and swiftly.

• Ensure that all interventions are implemented in a timely and professional manner, according to established objectives, goals and indicators and in line with donor requirements and client needs.

• Supervise and guide project teams and WLO in the development, implementation, and monitoring of work plans, ensuring that activities reflect the commitments IRC made to the donor and the communities.

• Identify partners for skills building and apprenticeships for clients and liaise with supply chain, safety and security and finance in signing service agreements.

• Coordinate and support the sub-grantees to ensure smooth project implementation.

Budget management:

• Work closely with the National Finance Manager in tracking the project expenses.

• Ensure all program activities are delivered within acceptable budget thresholds.

• Contribute to the development of spending plans and track them against actual spending.

• Lead and coordinate the iteration, revision, and realignment of the project budget annually.

• Actively participate in Project Management Meetings and ensure resulting actions are followed up'

Monitoring & Evaluation:

• In collaboration with the Senior MEAL officer and oversight of MEAL Coordinator, select and implement appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems, analyzing results to ensure and enhance program effectiveness and quality.

• Take the lead in ensuring the project staff consistently uses M&E data in programming and decision-making.

• Support the selection, set-up, and implementation of client feedback mechanisms and ensure that client feedback received is actioned appropriately.

• Support coordination of field monitoring visits and provide feedback/troubleshooting support on M&E.

• Organize annual and quarterly partner coordination and review meetings.

Reporting and fundraising:

• Working closely with the Grants and Partnership Manager, participated in developing and timely submission of Donor reports, including reporting against the logical framework.

• Participate in the iteration of the program design and respond to new funding opportunities,

• Lead and coordinate the project budget's iteration, revision, and realignment annually.

Coordination & Representation:

• In coordination with the ERD Coordinator, OCA team, and Communication Officer, establish contacts with relevant international/local NGOs and line ministries to support the project.

• Regularly attend coordination meetings in Juba and in the field.

• Organize and facilitate field visits for stakeholders, including Donor, Government Ministry

• Coordinate government line ministry to ensure active engagement and participation of project supervisory committee and grant and TA committee in the project.

• Attend regular Donor meetings as requested for representation.

• Coordinate with the MEAL team to share lessons learned on project implementation.

Partner Management:

• In coordination with the ERD Coordinator and OCA team, managed relationships with local partners, including women-led organizations, financial service providers, and private training centres.

• Coordinate with the ERD Coordinator and Program partnership teams to identify and nurture partnerships to support program implementation.

• Facilitate the signing of collaborative agreements with private sectors.

• Identify donors, government, and private sectors that will complement Donor funding and support project sustainability through partnership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in international relations, economics, social science, human rights, urban planning or a related field required.

• Minimum of Six years of professional experience in economics or related programming, applying technical expertise in livelihoods and economic recovery.

• Experience in organizing and planning multi-stakeholder consultations/meetings/workshops.

• Experience implementing large and complex, multi-partner, multi-year international economic recovery and development projects.

• Exceptional project management skills, including developing and tracking work plans, budgets, and risk management plans.

• Strong relationship management skills and a sound understanding of major actors in the humanitarian and development space in South Sudan

• Demonstrated ability to critically assess programmatic data and translate this into recommendations for actionable course corrections and design improvement.

• Professional fluency in written and spoken English.

• Highly motivated, possesses a strong sense of integrity and a positive attitude

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: ERD Coordinator

Position directly supervises: Seed Lab Manager, Senior MEAL Officer, Communication Officer, Finance Manager

Indirect Reporting: OCA Team

Security: Security level orange. Juba remains volatile. Although the possibilities of a crisis cannot be completely ruled out, but indicators of continuing ceasefire are visible. The situation remains tense and unpredictable; concerns include high criminality rate, presence of armed troops, and looting. There is active conflict in many parts of the country and a possibility for further expansion of the conflict and violence into other areas and other states. Due to the deteriorating economic situation in South Sudan (i.e., devaluation of SSP, shortage of fuel, shortage of USD, increasing prices of food and necessities) the local community has developed growing animosity towards the expatriate community in the country.

Living Conditions: The position is based in Juba, South Sudan Capital with frequent travel to the different states of South Sudan and 2 administrative areas.

Qualifications