🇸🇱 Job Vacancy @ Christian Aid – Project Manager

Project Manager (SPO level) – Local Engagement for Accountability and Development (LEAD) 

Role Profile

LocationFreetown, Sierra Leone Department International Reports to (Job Title) Thematic Health Advisor Salary Band E Matrix manager (if applicable) Click here to enter text. Competency level 2 Role definition

Role purpose

The Programme Manager will lead the coordination and implementation of the Local Engagement for Accountability and Development (LEAD) project activities in five districts (Kailahun, Kono, PortLoko, Pujehun, Western Area) in Sierra Leone. The post holder will be based in Freetown with frequent travels to Pujehun and Kailahun to monitor and support partners’ work in target communities.




The role will be responsible for planning and guiding implementation and completing quarterly plans and reports. This role will also manage the compliance with safeguarding and accountability requirements and providing technical backstopping to partners across the five districts. The role will also require interface with donors and other key stakeholders at national and district levels.

The role requires a self-motivated, dynamic, and innovative person with extensive knowledge in civic engagement, local governance and accountability, gender and civil society capacity building.

Key outcomes

• Programme Management and Delivery

1. Ensure the effective planning and implementation of the project to achieve the desired outcomes of the project
2. Coordinate the implementation of the project with partners and key stakeholders.
3. Ensure effective engagement and support with partners to deliver according to their plans.
4. Review partner plans and budget forecasts to ensure accuracy timely and quality implementation.
5. Monitor and support partners in their planning and implementation.

• Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

1. Work with the MEL Specialist to finalize the MEL Plan for the project and ensure implementation all through the project.
2. Support the MEL Specialist to coordinate learning and review sessions with partners and stakeholders as stated in the project plan.
3. Support learning events involving project participants and stakeholders.
4. Facilitate outcome harvesting, using the excel-based tool, to ensure that project outputs and impact are captured and recorded on an ongoing basis.
5. Lead on annual review/learning sessions to review impact, strategies and approaches for sustained programme impact.
6. Consolidate and share quarterly reports with output/impact case studies and annual reports to the Project Director for review and onward submission to the donor

• Communications, Networking and Coordination

1. Build relationships with partners and ensure effective communication on project implementation and learning.
2. Ensure that key national and district stakeholders are involved in project planning and delivery at all stages and are providing the required support for success.
3. Share information with key stakeholders as would be necessary to ensure that project is fully engaging with all relevant stakeholders.
4. Attend/participate in relevant coordination meetings at national and district levels.
5. Seek opportunities for collaboration/partnerships to expand or scale key impactful interventions of the project based on results and learning.

• Reporting

1. Produce timely and quality quarterly reports with case studies (photos and short videos) to the Project Director for review and subsequent submission to the donor
2. Produce timely and quality annual reports to the Project Director for review and subsequent submission to Christian Aid Sierra Leone to contribute to the annual country report.
3. Produce quality reports from review and learning sessions with clear recommendations or action points for improvement.

• Safeguarding and Accountability

1. Ensure partners carry out community accountability assessment (CAA) in all target communities across the five districts and submit report to CASL Project Director
2. Ensure that communities are aware about safeguarding and how they can report concerns on project implementation.
3. Ensure that complaints and feedback mechanisms are in place in all 20 communities and project participants are aware of their rights and entitlements.
4. Ensure that project participants are protected against abuse and exploitation as a result of their participation in the project.

Role agility

Surge capacity for emergency responses –  No

In order to respond to ever changing demands within the environment, Christian Aid operates within an agile framework (both in workforce and operational) that requires from all employees, a high level of responsiveness and adaptiveness to processes and structures, making flexibility and a project based working approach the norm. To sustain this system, managers may/will agree further details of specific tasks and duties as part of the performance agreement. Any reasonable duty may be assigned that is consistent with the nature of the job and its level of responsibility, and employees may be required to change the focus of their role and to support emerging areas of work from time to time.

Role context

Role requirementsRelationships

External. Alongside the MEL Specialist, Project  Director and Finance Manager, the role has a critical and ongoing engagement with partners and other relevant stake holders at regional/district level.

Internal The role sits within the programme team, and will demand frequent and ongoing engagement with other Programme staff in the Sierra Leone Country Programme and wider organisation

Decision making

Budgetary/savings responsibility  No

Analytical skills

Ability to analyze and scan the operating context and collaborate with colleagues and partners to design interventions that respond to and fit with the context, and which will maximize CA’s impact. Ability to analyze stakeholders, power holders and the partnership portfolio and then make programming recommendations. Ability to develop succinct reports and communications materials for sharing with stakeholders.

Developing self and others

Ability to regularly create space for learning in the team through planning of team and partner reviews. Investment in 1-2-1s and performance management. Ability to inspire team members to strive for excellence, providing programming and self-development advice and support.

Role related checks

Police/Child protection clearance Standard  Counter terrorism screening Required

Person specificationApplied skills/knowledge and expertise

Essential

• Strong experience managing USAID programs/projects in Sierra Leone or in Africa.
• Degree or equivalent in Social Work or Development Studies or Gender Studies.
• Significant experience of working with groups and local partners, and of providing partner support and capacity building
• Strong relationships/networks within the civil society/local governance community in Sierra Leone, especially within the NGO sector.
• Significant experience leading project proposal writing
• Understanding of gender and inclusion-sensitive programming
• Hands-on experience of monitoring and supporting community-based development programmes.
• Considerable understanding and experience of safeguarding policy and procedures
• Excellent report writing, communication (written and verbal) skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of and experience in working with partnerships, including civic space, local governance and acountability
• Excellent analytical skills
• Knowledge of and experience of USAID regulations
• Ability to network effectively, with the ability to develop a wide range of relevant contacts
• Comfortable working within a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural team

Digital/IT competencies required

DATE CREATED10/02/2022

Further details of specific tasks and duties will be agreed with the line manager as part of the performance agreement. Any reasonable duty may be assigned that is consistent with the nature of the job and its level of responsibility.

This role profile is not prescriptive; it merely outlines the key behaviours the role-holder requires to be successful in the role; the key behaviours and responsibilities are subject to change. Any changes will be made in consultation with the role-holder.

You will be expected to abide by the Code of Conduct, policies and procedures within Christian Aid which may be updated from time to time.

You must empathize with the aims, beliefs and values of Christian Aid as it seeks to work on relief, development and advocacy for poverty eradication.

How to apply 

For more information on application procedures, visit Christian Aid website (christianaid.org/jobs) and follow the steps to apply online.  Please note: Hard copies of application will not be accepted. 

Please forward any queries you have regarding this vacancy on email to sierra-leone-info@christian-aid.org

Closing date for application is 28th October 2022.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Successful candidates will be given a provisional offer. Contracting into role will be conditional on Christian Aid SL being awarded the contract.

Only shortlist applicants would be contacted for an interview.