Project Officer

Job Purpose:

The Project Officer will be responsible for leading the Social Mobilization component of the project and will be engaged directly in the field planning, implementation, and execution of the PATS project in district Sujawal, Sindh.

The position holder will lead the social mobilization team and will report to the Project Manager. He/she will work closely with the project manager and will provide regular update on how to improve the project progress, achieve and sustain the Open Defecation Free (ODF) status of the targeted villages and schools.

He/she will lead the planning, assessment, and implementation of the PATS tools in the field to achieve the maximum results through effective social mobilization and community engagement strategies.

The ideal candidate would have project management experience in WASH, PATS, CLTS & SLTS. The candidate has managed a large number of teams (physically and remotely) and has excellent experience in UN partnership management.

Essential Responsibilities:

1. Assist project manager to ensures desired project delivery across Penny Appeal (PA) professionally, qualitatively and timely as per detailed implementation plan;
2. Assist project manager to oversee the management, implementation and/or delivery of the project activities;
3. Facilitate the project manager to shares projects’ progress with the Head of Programmes (HoP), and UNICEF as and when required.
4. Understands the unique cultural, social and political dynamics to which projects may be subject and work carefully and collaboratively with relevant stakeholders to ensure projects’ success;
5. Ensure the application of cross-cultural and cross-thematic components in project execution;
6. Embraces the vision and mission for the project and efficiently and effectively manage the project allocated budget and human resources, including effectively managing relationships with Stakeholders/donors;
7. Provide technical support to the project Manager and team during planning and execution;
8. Ensures process and progress of interventions through timely monitoring visits, documents’ review, spot checks and triangulation and report to supervisor if any change in strategy is required;
9. Monitors project expenditures and budgets to the extent of assigned project and share recommendations with PM; 
10. Assist PM to ensure all project procurements are timely initiated and completed with the support of the procurement department.
11. Closely and regularly coordinates with the PM for ensuring that agreed targets are achieved within the stipulated timeframe and standard formatted reports are prepared and forwarded in a timely manner;
12. Ensures adherence to Penny Appeal’s specific programme policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to the extent of project overseen by him/her;
13. Maintains primary oversight of the assigned ongoing project, activities and stakeholders relations;
14. Maintains and enhances existing relations with all stakeholders, partners and concerned governmental departments; 
15. Coordinate with government administration, line departments for inclusion of PA project in Annual Development Plan (ADP) of concerned department;
16. Coordinate and liaise with line departments for effective planning and implementation of PA project;
17. Submits monthly, quarterly reports to the PM, and submit other data and reports as per the need;
18. Stays informed about security, political developments and humanitarian to the extent of project and surrounding areas;
19. Provide assistance to Project Staff through visits, meetings, sessions to orient them on PA working strategies, participatory approach and reporting requirements;
20. Provide support to project staff and stakeholders to ensure effective execution of projects at field level;
21. Performs other duties, in collaboration with the PM, as and when the organization is in the need of assistance;
22. Represent PAPK in periodic meetings of the concerned clusters and networks to discuss work plans and progress of the project.
23. Coordinate and liaise with Stakeholders for effective implementation of PA Project;
24. Ensure compliance and all levels and meet the deadlines. Skipping or missing the deadline are considered negligence and have ZERO Tolerance in the organization.
25. Work with project staff to ensure that child protection and beneficiary safeguarding is being prioritized by the staff in all activities, projects and programmes.
26. Perform any other assignment/duty as assigned by the project manager.

  Qualification:

• a. Postgraduate degree in Social/Management/Development sciences or Public Health Engineering sciences
• b.      Certification/Diploma of Project Management and/or Donor Management
• c.       Any other relevant qualification will be a Plus.

Required Experience:

• a.       Three (3) to Five (5) years of proven experience with National and/or International NGOs
• b.      Five Years plus experience in WASH, PATS, CLTS and SLTS, DRR and development projects.
• c.       Having excellent command over Project Cycle Management (All PCM components with proven experience)
• d.      Having a proven record of Managing large professional, technical and support teams (50 plus staff) with diverse backgrounds.
• e.       Having excellent knowledge of support functions (HR, Procurement, Compliance, M&E and Finance/Budget management).
• f.       Having high-level computer skills (MS Office, Outlook, data management, infographics)
• g.      Having excellent Report writing, case studies, project briefs, and infographic skills.
• h.      Having excellent knowledge of Beneficiaries and programme participants Safeguarding.
• i.        Awareness of UNICEF operational policies and procedures desired
• j.        Experience of working at UNICEF project is added advantage.

Travel Requirement:

The job requires approximately 60 % to 80 % to travel to carry out assigned responsibilities within the coverage area (District Sujawal). Traveling to field areas is a significant responsibility organization’s candidate must be willing and able to travel.