Project Manager

Job Overview/Summary:  

The Project Manager will mainly be responsible for overall project management including the management and support to the teams in Nowshera and Haripur – the two project districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. This position is expected to oversee the timely and quality delivery of integrated program – Health, Protection, Economic Recovery and Development (ERD)/ Livelihoods and Social Cohesion – interventions. The position is to further ensure close coordination with the technical team, and relevant government agencies at the Provincial level so that key stakeholders remain informed. The position is based in Peshawar and will be reporting directly to the Head of Office, KP. S/he must have experience of managing projects in a leadership role with integrated programming with focus areas of livelihoods/TVET, youth programming, and social cohesion.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Management and Quality Implementation:

• Ensure the smooth and timely implementation of project activities and budget spending as agreed in the proposal, log frame, budget and work plan in all the project sites. 
• Monitor budget allocations and expenditures to ensure sound management and compliance with IRC and donors’ financial requirements and policies.
• Provide technical guidance, oversight, and support to the district teams in the day-to-day implementation of program interventions. 
• Conduct regular output level and process monitoring of project activities and ensure the outcome monitoring is carried out by the MEAL team.
• Ensure regular support to IRC teams at the district, Provincial, and country office levels.
• Support the teams in strengthening of community structure ensuring referral and exchange of ideas and identification of areas requiring joint interventions in collaboration with other stakeholders.
• Effectively lead the situation monitoring and contextual updates to update the senior management on changing scenarios for immediate response and changes in program approach/design.
• Lead the Economic Recovery, TVET, and Social Cohesion activities and represent the team in relevant working groups.
• Ensure project goals and objectives complement the IRC Program Framework and ensure implementation follows core programming principles.

Operational Management:

• Develop and lead project’s operationalizing and management plans in the implementation districts, organize periodic reviews to reflect on progress and support leadership in managing budgets and delivering against the targets.
• Ensure IRC’s relevant Policies and Procedures (e.g. HR Handbook, Finance Manual etc.) are fully complied by Project staff.
• Oversee all field operations in the implementation districts, including but not limited to recruitment, personnel administration, local procurement, contractor relations, office facilities and equipment management, fleet and transport, staff safety and security, asset and inventory control, IT, fund management and field office cost management and ensure all prerequisites are taken care as per auditory requirements.

Staff Management and Leadership:

• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions including staff development plans.
• Provide guidance and technical support to teams for effective project management
• Identify the areas of technical support and organize training for project staff with the support of the Technical Team.
• Ensure project quality through extensive engagement with technical leadership in identifying capacity gaps and capacity building of the program implementation team on protection approaches, protection monitoring - tools and concepts, referral, and case management.
• Extensive field visits to support implementation teams.
• Organize regular review and follow-up meetings for the quality delivery and reporting of project interventions as per agreed timelines and budget
• Support in organizing and facilitating Project Cycle Meetings
• Ensure program/staff adherence to the IRC Way, ‘principles of professional conduct’ and humanitarian principles.

 Representation and Coordination:

• Represent the team at various platforms and coordinate activities with relevant players as required
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders, including community leaders, NGOs, UN agencies and community-based organizations.
• Coordinate and collaborate closely with relevant government authorities, other NGOs and other stakeholders for the smooth implementation of the protection program

Grant Management and Reporting:

• Ensure preparation and timely submission of high-quality internal and external reports. Ensure technical quality by incorporating respective thematic lead’s review before submission to supervisor and country office.
• Ensure that project data is uploaded on MIS and referred to in routine updates and reports. 
• Oversee all budget expenditures and ensure compliance with donor and IRC guideline

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to Head of Office, KP

Technical reporting to Project /Program Coordinator, country office.

Supervises:  Quality Assurance Manager, Protection Manager, District Managers, Project Officer etc

Work closely with Program Coordinator and Technical and MEAL teams, Thematic Technical units

Job Requirements:

Education: Master’s degree in social sciences, Business or other relevant fields  

Work Experience: 

• At least 5 years of project implementation experience with a minimum of 3 years of experience in managing projects in a development context with a focus on Livelihoods/ TVET, economic empowerment, and Youth Programming as well as cross-cutting areas like protection, gender, and inclusion, M&E through self-implementation.
• A proven successful experience of oversight management of supply chain, security, administration, and finance departments at the field level
• Strong networking skills with a proven track record of maintaining high-level coordination and extensive engagement with high-profile government and donor representatives
• Significant knowledge of international humanitarian systems, institutions, and donors, and of procedures, accountability frameworks, and best practices in international development management.
• Substantial experience and knowledge of effective financial and budgetary control and managing grants from major institutional donors
• Solid project management skills related to organizational development projects and international, cross-functional teams with a proven history of delivering results and managing large teams.

Languages: Must be fluent in Urdu and English languages. Knowledge of local languages is considered an asset.  

Travel: Willingness and capacity to work and travel to project field areas

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong communication and analytical skills
• Proficient in qualitative analysis and documenting them into high-quality analytical reports
• Computer skills including MS- Office, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks; proven self-initiative and problem-solving abilities;
• Good Report writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Familiarity with the context and working environment, local culture, and relevant government policies and procedures

Gender Equality and Diversity:

IRC recognizes that gender equality is fundamental to the achievement of our organizational mission. As such, IRC is committed to the promotion of gender equality in all aspects of our operations and programs. Our organizational policies, procedures, and actions demonstrate this commitment. Women, minorities, persons with disability (PWD), and transgender candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

The IRC Core Values and Commitments.

• The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation, and Combating Trafficking in Persons.
• IRC is committed to ensuring that IRC staff is suitable to work with children and have the knowledge they need to uphold and abide by the IRC’s Child Safeguarding Policy.
• Level of interaction with children: Less frequent direct contact with children
• IRC recognizes that gender equality is fundamental to the achievement of our organizational mission. As such, IRC is committed to the promotion of gender equality in all aspects of our operations and programs. Our organizational policies, procedures, and actions demonstrate this commitment.

Women candidates and differently abled persons are highly encouraged to apply.