Job Vacancy @ Concern Worldwide – SLCRP Manager

– Port Loko Area Coordinator; PL & Freetown finance, system and HR staff;

– Programme Coordinators (Education, Health, Emergency), Programme Director (PD), PDQ Coordinator, Programme Development and Quality unit (Equality and Gender Advisor; Accountability Supervisor and Advocacy and Communications Manager)

-District stakeholders, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) officials, Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, DHMT officials, SUNI/FNS Network, and Paramount Chiefs in target Chiefdoms of Port Loko District and WHH LANN-NCS staff

-Concern Head Office Likelihoods technical people as needed through Livelihoods Programme Coordinator

Overall the role of the Project Manager is to provide strong management and leadership of the project team and partners and successful delivery of the SLRCP aiming to ‘reduce the vulnerability of coastal communities to climate change impacts’ in Port Loko and Kambia Districts. S/He will receive technical support from the Livelihoods Programme Coordinator both on programming and on budget management.

The post will be based in Port Loko District and supporting a national partner in Kambia with participation in Save the Children’s (StC) partnership meetings, as well as government and stakeholder meetings as needed.

The Project Manager will provide effective leadership and management of 2 senior officers, 1 M&E Officer and other project staff and ensure accurate and timely program planning, implementation, budgeting and reporting. S/he will be responsible for the day-to-day management of their line reports, developing project plans and ensuring they are carried out, monitoring expenditure and timely escalation of risks to his/her line manager. S/he will ensure the MEAL and Advocacy plans are properly implemented and provide technical backstopping and capacity building of project team and partners where needed. Approximately 50% of his/her time will be spent in the field carrying out supportive supervision visits. The Project Manager will ensure that close coordination between the project team and other sectors is maintained at all stages of the project, while also maintaining positive relationships with consortium partners, relevant District stakeholders including Ministries and other district development organizations.

Responsibilities:

Project Cycle Management

• Prepare annual Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP), with realistic budget that correspond to approved donor proposal in coordination with Livelihoods Programme Coordinator; and ensure DIP are effectively monitored, managed and updated at least quarterly;

• Prepare annual Procurement Plan that aligns to the budget and DIP; in coordination with Livelihoods Programme Coordinator and Senior Logs Coordinator; and ensure the procurement plan is updated at the same time as the DIP.  are effectively monitored, managed and updated at least quarterly;

• Develop annual project budget including monthly cash flow forecasting; Ensure ToRs are in line with agreed budget; Conduct budget review including reforecasts at least quarterly; Conduct monthly Donor Management Account review with feedback; Submit monthly cash forecasts – in coordination with Livelihoods Programme Coordinator

• Ensure the project is implemented according to agreed annual, quarterly and monthly work plans and budgets; delivers against timeframes, output and outcome targets/objectives;

• Ensure timely project-related procurements, including timely submission of ToR and SRs for project activities (that are in line with agreed budget), purchase of supplies, maintenance and repairs, and related expenses;

• Ensure that all project advances are liquidated properly, in line with Concern policies and procedures, and with required supporting documents

• Provide regular updates on project progress to Livelihoods Programme Coordinator highlighting any areas of variance with suggested corrective actions;

• Provide strong management and technical support to project staff throughout the project cycle, giving constructive feedback and ensuring their plans and activities take on all commitments in the proposal.

• Assist in ensuring all SLCRP staff in the district are familiar with and adhere to all Concern financial and procurement policies and procedures.

Technical

• Lead in facilitating strengthened community structures, coastal governance platforms and Community Adaptation Plans (CAPs)

• Ensure Local/District Development Plans Incorporate Community Adaptation Plans and strengthened national and sub-national governments undertake climate adaptation projects

• Ensure dissemination of knowledge, skills and solutions for climate-resilient health, nutrition and WASH for communities, especially women and children

• Lead in enhancing climate resilience of schools and climate change education in schools

• Lead in climate-resilient farming, fishing and alternative livelihoods secured by communities

• Ensure strengthened climate resilient business models, skills and access to financing and markets for youth and women’s leadership

• Lead in ensuring ecosystems-based adaptation are implemented in communities

• Lead in Monitoring, Evaluation, Advocacy and Learning in coordination with the PDQ team and M&E officer

Networking, advocacy and representation 

• Participate in quarterly partner review meetings with consortium, partners;

• Ensure effective collaboration and build/maintain strong relationships with District Council, District Ministries: MAFS, Ministry of Social Welfare, Ministry of Gender and Youth Affairs, Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, District Health Management Team, District Environmental Protection Officer etc. as well as International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) for successful implementation of the project

• Representing Concern in relevant forums and meetings at district and national level.

• Serve as a key focal person for arranging support for all project visitors to the district.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting 

• Collaborate with consortium partners in the organisation/implementation of  mid-term and final evaluation and other assessments –  highlight areas of the adaptation of SLCRP to Port Loko and Kambia context;

• Ensure that project activities are continuously monitored and evaluated according to project MEAL plan, including accuracy of data collection by SLCRP MEAL officer and project staff; and use of project learnings to improve programming;

• Ensure up-to-date database of all activities on a quarterly basis by MEAL Officer;

• With support from the PDQ team ensure that all collected data are analysed according to logical framework of the project;

• Ensure high quality, timely monthly reports are compiled for submission to StC – for internal management purposes and donor reporting

• Input into the  annual report including case studies as per guidelines;

• Prepare draft of input for Concern annual report with line manager

Human Resources  

• Line manages the Senior Officers and MEAL Officer, contributing to their capacity building and career development through technical support and on-the-job training and coaching, including a thorough induction at the start of their contract;

• Ensure that all staff are aware of and comply with all of Concern’s Policies and procedures and are updated of any changes;

• Monitor and review performance of your staff and hold them accountable for executing their job as per the agreed job description and performance objectives; give corrective feedback where required and take decisive action in the case of poor performance – seeking help and guidance from the seeking help and guidance from the your Line Manager where appropriate; conducting regular Performance Development Reviews; setting SMART objectives as per Concern guidelines and identifying areas of staff development needs;

• Conduct regular supportive supervision in the operational areas;

• Ensure that work within the team(s) is planned and organised in a way which will meet the organisation’s needs in the most cost-effective manner possible; ensuring that team members are given appropriate workloads and are working efficiently and as a team.

• Lead/support in recruitment of staff as needed.

Other 

• Actively participate in collective exercises such as preparation or updates of Preparing for Effective Emergency Response (PEER) plan, Security Management Plan (SMP); proposal development and other Concern initiatives;

• Promote and protect the reputation of Concern in external settings, ensuring the organization’s experience and expertise is well communicated and consistently presented, and that we are seen as a professional organization;

• Ensure the efficient and transparent use of all Concern’s resources in order to maximize the benefit to the targeted communities;

• Promote accountability and ensure compliance with Concern’s Code of Conduct and Associated Policies (Programme Participants Protection Policy, Child Safeguarding Policy, Anti-trafficking Policy), Anti-Fraud Policy and Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS), including the complaint and response mechanism (CRM), to ensure maximum protection of programme participants and the efficient and transparent use of Concern’s resources;

• Promote Equality, especially gender, and Concerns other cross cutting themes (Environment and climate adaption, Protection, DRR and Partnership), within the organization and across programmes, in line with Concern’s Equality Policy and, and ensures targeting and project implementation is informed by How Concern Understands Extreme Poverty (HCUEP);

• Undertake other related duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Management Team or by your Line Manager.

• Degree in Agriculture, Agro Economics or Natural Resources Management, International Development, Social Sciences or other related field or accepted equivalent professional experience.

• At least 5 years of relevant programme management experience.

• Experience in planning and management of programs in Sierra Leone, experience in implementing/managing Livelihoods/Climate programmes.

• Experience of managing consortia projects and working with national partners.

• Demonstrated experience in line management and building cohesive high performing teams.

• Excellent writing and presentation skills (in English) (World, Excel, PowerPoint …).

• Ability to organize and plan effectively;

• Strong budget and financial management skills;

• Excellent skills in representation and communication and the ability to  communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences at community and senior levels

• Proven influencing and negotiating skills with internal and external audiences, experience working in partnership with Government stakeholders would be an advantage.

• Initiative and ability to work with minimal supervision; ability to work both as part of a team & independently;

• Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity

Desirable

• Experience in any of the following: system strengthening, climate smart and adaptive approaches, nutrition, natural resource managing, environment, equity, Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS)

• Experience in working with district sector offices (such as, welfare, gender and equality, agriculture, education health …), local NGOs, INGOs and private sector;

• Proposal development;

• Strong spoken skills in Temne and Krio

Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work or volunteer with vulnerable adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Subsequently, working or volunteering with Concern is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.