Project Manager/Project Coordinator

(Internal and External)

Organizational Background

Project Summary

The USAID-funded Highland Resilience Activity (HRA) - will contribute to the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) 5s Big Push initiative and has the overarching goal of strengthening resilience among vulnerable households in Ethiopias Highlands, resulting in 120,000 PSNP households reaching the graduation threshold. HRA will support these households in moving above the graduation threshold and to where they no longer require social safety net programming for household food security and have the capabilities and assets to withstand regular and predictable shocks. The Activity will achieve this goal by directly supporting households in increasing their on-farm, off-farm, and employment incomes while facilitating improvements in the market systems required to increase demand for goods and services in PSNP communities. HRA is a five-year program that starts in January 2024.

Job Summary

Under the direction and management support from the HUNDEE management and Project focal/Manger, the HUNDEE-HRA Project Coordinator/Manager is responsible for the overall planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the Oromia region, HUNDEE-HRA project including targeted woredas under West and East Harerghe Zones. They ensure all project initiatives are implemented to achieve maximum impact as per program and project objectives while remaining on schedule and budget. The HUNDEE HRA project Coordinator directly manages zonal and woreda field-level program team, finance, and operation teams. S/he will work with the implementing partner, doner organization, field level technical team and stakeholders to ensure that HRA project objectives are implemented effectively through each objective. Their close working relationships with all technical units ensure program activities are carried out according to the highest standards and remain responsive and appropriate to the local context. The coordinator facilitates partnerships with other implementing partners and the private sector at Regional, Zonal and woreda level to ensure complementarity with existing activities, while ensuring the alignment of HRA implementation in line with the programs overall approach. S/he maintains close coordination with the government offices, and PSNP program participants. to ensure implementation quality and accountability. S/he is also accountable for effective monitoring and evaluation of Regional, Zonal and woreda level push interventions and ensures timely and quality delivery of quarterly and annual project reports and documents the impact of HRA activities. Her/his close working relationships with all technical units ensure program activities are carried out according to the highest standards and remain responsive and appropriate to the local context.

Job Responsibilities

Program Management

• Manage the program planning, implementation and follow up as per the project goal and donor requirement.
• Follow HUNDEE Program Management Minimum Standards, Gender Policy, child policy and other organization rule/regulation. Ensure the participation, benefit and do not harm the target community.
• Monitor and evaluate the program outcomes and impacts using organization & program MEL systems and tools and ensure alignment with organization standards and donor requirements.
• Manage the program budget and financial resources in a transparent and efficient and accountable manner, and report on the program progress and challenges regularly.
• Coordinate and collaborate with the technical and operational support teams both HUNDEE Program team, consortium and Mercy Corps project team to ensure integration and synergy among the program components.
• Participate, coordinate and lead in relevant technical working groups, cluster meetings, and coordination forums with other actors in the sector.
• Regularly plan and conduct program performance review against program implementation with budget expenditure among government stakeholders, consortium and program lead organization.
• The program performance to assess progress, adjust plans, and learn lessons for the region.
• Engage with the private sector, government, civil society, and communities as partners in the program implementation.
• Provide supportive supervision to field sites regularly to monitor the program activities and provide feedback and support to the field staff.
• Manage and supervise the program teams across various locations and ensure high-quality program delivery, compliance, and accountability at regional level.

Team Management

• The project Coordinator expected to build strong, qualified and effect project team at regional, zonal and woreda level, that have a capacity to deliver project requirement as per the required standard and project goal.
• Build effective relationships with relevant program teams based on mutual trust and collaboration.
• Assist team members with information, tools, and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Increased commitment to Gender Equality Diversity and Social inclusion.
• Encourages team leadership with regular management meetings, promoting a participatory approach and proactive problem-solving.
• Establish regular staff performance evaluation system, feedback mechanism, develop personal development plan and provide mentoring, coaching and supportive supervision.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• The project Coordinator responsible to established well designed MEL system and tools, that track project progress and document learning at different level of implementation.
• Regularly track and follow to program learning systems and strengthen the effort to document the impact of HRA activities.
• Conduct and lead regular project planning on the implantation, monitoring and evaluation of the program activity.
• Facilitate compressive supportive supervision, monitoring, evaluation and follow up of program progress against project goal in collaboration with lead organization, consortium team and stakeholders at different project implementation level.
• Closely works with the Regional M&E & technical team to continuously monitor, ensure implementation quality, and support an accountability system in the field.
• Ensure the project performance indicators achievement, targets and approach are being met, by implementing activities in accordance with the agreed work plans and timelines, and report discrepancies and changes to project focal person at organization level and as well as to lead organization.
• Establish and lead team learning opportunities platform from similar projects in the region, especially project implementation area.

Finance, Administration, Logistics and Procurement

• Closely work with organization finance team, in budget development, spending, and forecasting.
• Lead and responsible for project budget planning, utilization monitoring and reporting as per HUNDEE financial policy and donor requirement.
• The coordinator responsible to lead and administrate project finance, logistic, human resource and other resource as per organization policy, procedure and donor compliance.
• Ensure timely revision of project procurement plans and review procurement status regularly to closely monitor and accelerate procurement processes when needed.
• Conduct regularly follow up and resource audit, documentation, recording, and reporting for project resource utilization against organization policy, procedure and donor requirement.
• Follow, monitor and approve the procurement of materials required from the project against organization policy and donor regulation.

Compliance Management

• Established compliance monitoring system and develop tool against organization policy and donor requirement.
• Ensure compliance with donor (USAID), lead Organization (Mercy Corps) and HUNDEE regulations related to program implementation, project resource utilization, procurement and reporting.
• Partnership and Representation
• Liaise with regional-level local government officials, partners and civil society organizations, local religious leaders, and other stakeholders to ensure support for and acceptance of HUNDEE HRA program.
• Maintain close working relationships with donors, lead organization (Mercy Corps), partners, Consortium, government stakeholders and similar program in the region.
• Represent HRA at regional level on government and non-government coordination meetings.
• Ensure timeliness of government reporting as per government guidelines and HRA partner directives at regional level.
• Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

HUNDEE- HRA project team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, and other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility

Team members working on HUNDEE- HRA project at HUNDEE project coordination office, Zonal and woreda level directly including Technical Specialists & officers, MEL Officer, finance officer, Zonal & woreda Coordinators, and other project staffs.

• BSc/BA or MSc/ MA degree in Sociology, Social Works, Developmental Studies, Business Administration/Management, Leadership, Agriculture, Economics, Public Health, or other Social Science from recognized universities or colleges.

• Minimum of 10/8 years proven work experience, of which 8/6 in a supervisory/managerial /project coordination position respectively, NGO experience with strong exposure to USAID funded projects (i.e. PSNP Program) is preferable,
• At least 6 years in a middle or senior-level management position
• Previous experience managing complex project or consortiums an added advantage.
• Excellent communicator in English with demonstrated excellent report writing and speaking skills, knowledge of local languages - Afaan Oromo (greatly advantageous).
• Demonstrated critical thinking, problem-solving, and relationship management skills.
• Six years experience managing teams, strategic planning, and implementing programs.
• Proven experience developing effective and diverse teams in dynamic contexts.
• Experience or working in the Oromia region with strong contextual knowledge of cultures, especially Harerghe Community.
• Ability and willingness to travel to areas with fragile security situations.
• Skill and Personal Qualities RequiredExcellent leadership, communication, interpersonal and report writing skills, technical competence and ability to manage complex working environment;
• Proven knowledge of working with Microsoft packages, and ability to prepare various reports in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and etc.
• Language AbilityProficiency in Afaan Oromo, Amharic and English languages is mandatory