Project Manager: WH-CARD Project

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation is an independent development organization based in Switzerland and it has been operating for the last 65 years worldwide. HELVETAS is registered in Ethiopia as foreign organization with the Agency for Civil Society Organization to operate in the areas of Rural Infrastructure, Natural Resource Management, Support to CSO and Local Governments, Skill Development & Education and Emergency Response. See also. www.helvetas.org.

Overall Targets

The position holder will be responsible for efficient and effective management of the CARD project team. Supports and supervises the implementation of the Wag-Hemra Climate Adaptation and Rural Development (WH-CARD). Strengthens and supports the project team in realizing the objectives and assuming the full-fledged implementation role in the Project. Coordinates project implementation with a broad coalition of governmental and non-governmental actors and ensures thematic networking and contribution to institutional learning and knowledge management at zonal as well as regional level.

Main Tasks 

• Assumes responsibility for efficient and effective staff management, including financial, administrative, human resources and partnerships management in compliance with the HELVETAS Policy Manuals, rules and regulations and the directives of the CSA.
• Ensures economic and efficient utilization of all project resources, high standard of compliance to the terms and conditions of the WH-CARD project that HELVETAs has signed with the Development Fund (DF).
• Control spending and make timely budget realignment request for budget lines which are likely to over-spend as per the grant agreement.
• Effectively coordinates and supervises project implementation along project cycle management, i.e. (annual) planning, implementation/monitoring, and reporting.
• Reports regularly and timely to the Program Directorate on operational and financial related matters of the project.  
• Steers, coaches and supports the project staff to ensure project implementation in line with objectives and donor requirements
• Ensures effective monitoring, using the appropriate indicators and timeline
• Controls budget and contractual requirements in consultation with local partners.
• Exchanges with a broad coalition of actors involved in project implementation at Wag-Hemra Zone, Woreda and Kebele/community levels
• Facilitates and supports the creation of learning partnerships with local partners and institutions (Government, civil society, research and private sector) and in diversifying the partnership to civil society organizations and the private sector.
• Engages in technology development and the dissemination of best practices.
• Actively engages in zonal and regional knowledge sharing and policy dialogue.

Responsibilities

• Assumes management responsibility for the project staff.
• Adapts the strategic orientation of the HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Ethiopia Country Program Strategy 2019-2024 in project cycle management.
• Facilitates and supports effective involvement of HELVETAS Ethiopia PD staff as well as donor – DF staff during regular backstopping project visits and review missions.
• Ensures economic and efficient utilization of financial and material project resources; is responsible for budgeting, finance and administrative, human resources and partnerships management; promotes gender and social equity and downward social accountability, and teamwork.
• Opposes corruption in all its forms.
• Provides technical direction and advice to ensure that the project activities are designed and implemented in line with the strategies, processes and procedures as laid down in the Project Document.
• Prepares timely bi-annual and annual project progress reports in collaboration with the assigned MEAL staff.
• Participates in project related meetings of project partners.
• Ensures equal access of beneficiaries by gender, religion, political affiliation or social group to capacity building, resources, and benefits, and promotes self-reliance as part of a watershed and community-based development approaches.
• Facilitates, guides, backstops, and supports HELVETAS staff in Wag-Hemra.
• Manages and coordinates the local team of employees, consultants, and GO and NGO partners involved in project implementation.
• Ensures that the project is implemented in partnership with the government, community institutions, civil society, and the private sector.
• Actively engages in technology development and the dissemination of best practices in consultation and collaboration with the project staff and partners, notably research.
• Actively promotes and contributes to resilience information and knowledge sharing in organizational and regional networks and participates in policy 

Qualification and Experience 

• MSc. in Rural Development, NRM or related field of study 
• Training and/or certificate in NRM, Project Cycle Management and Gender. 
• At least 5 years of experience working for International Organizations in NRM project management role. 
• Sound knowledge in Project Cycle Management including outcome-based M&E systems. 
• Proven track record in conceptualizing, piloting and implementing projects/programs in multi stakeholder and watershed and community-based development approach in the domains of NRM. 
• Track record in policy dialogue with government and external support agencies. 
• Proven record in facilitating knowledge sharing.
• Strong motivator and mentor/coach.
• Excellent, conceptual, visionary and programmatic competencies.
• Good reporting and writing skills.
• Result-oriented personality meeting deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and intercultural competencies and sensitivity. 
• Good practice in Microsoft Office Products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint; Outlook) and other appropriate information technologies.