ERD Project Manager

BACKGROUND:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. The IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. We began work in Ethiopia since 2000 and currently implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

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.

Job Overview:  

IRC is planning to undertake integrated and comprehensive lifesaving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Health, Nutrition, cash assistance, livelihoods support, Protection, and Agriculture response interventions for flood and drought affected IDPs and host communities in Afder and Sitti Zones of Somali region, Ethiopia. In alignment with USAID/BHA’s mission to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and reduce the impact of disasters by helping people in need become more self-reliant, IRC will administer comprehensive multi-sector and multi-site, humanitarian interventions which will allow vulnerable communities reeling from flood, extended drought, recurrent humanitarian, and climatic disasters to recover and regain control of their lives. The main objective of the Economic Recovery and Market Systems (ERMS): Increase access to food, disposable income and facilitate livelihood protection and early recovery for drought and flood affected households. To be achieved by enabling meeting basic needs through engaging in paid temporary work to restore key community and natural assets, and facilities affected by the flood, and allow households to generate temporary income while restoring livelihoods during emergencies, further reducing reliance humanitarian assistance and use of negative coping mechanisms.

Major Responsibilities:

Responsible for the overall program budget management

Key Areas of Accountability

• With support from the IRC Economic recovery development unit, the ERD program manager shall: Represent the field office with partners, government officials, UN agencies, Donors, and other NGO staff at field base level as appropriate.
• Represents IRC towards relevant partners.
•  Leads the implementation of projects activities with internal staff, line offices, the donor and the community and project reporting.
•  Budget management: follow up and coordinate the project plan verses accomplishment.
• The program requires technical knowledge and experience of resilience and livelihoods program.

Accountability

• Reports to Jijiga Filed Office Coordinator
• Supervises Livelihood program officer(s)

Provide leadership in livelihoods recovery and resilience programming.

• Follows that communities, government agencies (regional, zonal line offices) and civil society organizations are adequately involved in project activities.
• Ensure that IRC is adequately represented in formal coordination activities including clusters, livelihood working group meetings informally recognized by partners including local NGOs, INGOs and UN
•  Close engagement for the adequate inclusion and development of implementing partners towards the independent execution of program activities.
• Host and manage donor visits effectively to contribute for accurate planning, implementation, and reporting.
•  Ensure partners are familiar with the requirements of a program hard-working on building community resilience.
•  Provide regular support and technical advice to partners, communities, and staff in relation to the implementation of livelihoods recovery at project site level.
•  Coordinate the establishment of effective work and supply plans or partners.
• Manage budget and follow partners are regularly supervised for good financial management.
• Ensure that an effective monitoring and evaluation system is in place to measure resilience.
• Take required action to ensure timely implementation of activities where it is vital.
• Supervise that all activities are critical to community needs and gender issues, promote the full and equal participation of women in all aspects and ensure that the Program is an opportunity for peace making, not community division.
• Lead coordination with support departments such as supply chain, HR, and finance.
• Provide strong narrative reporting and financial accounting in donor and internal reports.
• Conduct ongoing monitoring and assessments and provide clear analysis of the context.

Integrity:

• Honest encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates the highest levels of integrity.

Equal Opportunities:

• The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the IRC Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Overall:

• Working for the best of your ability and demonstrate high levels of dedication to IRC and our vision, mission, and values to ensure the objectives of your role and the country programs are met.
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of all IRC resources in order to keep costs low and ensure safety in the workplace. 

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

Educational Requirements:

• BA/BSc or MA/MSc degree in Social Science fields, International Development, Agriculture, Economics, Disaster risk management or related relevant field of studies

Preferred experience & skills:

• 4 years of proven experience with the first degree and 3 years of experience for post graduates.
• At least 1 year of managerial experience.
• NGO experience is a plus.
• Proven leadership skills
• Project management experience
• Proposal and report writing skills.
• Effective communication internally and externally towards government and NGOs, donors, etc...
• Leadership capacity in management of field teams: Team building, ability to develop a common vision, maintain morale and acceptable behavior at base level.
• Substantive knowledge and experience of sustainable livelihoods and resilience programs management.
• Proven track record of effective management: planning, monitoring, budget oversight, logistics, leadership, particularly in unstable environment.
• Demonstrated experience of integrating gender, protection, and diversity into emergency response programs.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time.
• Strong analytic problem-solving skills
• Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.

 Language Skills: Proficient spoken and written English is mandatory and the local language (Somali language) is advantageous.

How To Apply

Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply only through the below IRC On-line recruitment website: 

IRC Career Site: - https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/job/req51882/ERD-Project-Manager

Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

• Name of the position you have applied for
• Date of application
• Summary of your qualifications and experience
• Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job
• Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address
• Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees.

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.

Professional Standards: 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.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances.