Project Manager (Breakfree Project – Chipata) Plan International

Organization Background

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian non-governmental organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And its girls who are most affected. Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries. Child protection is key in all that we do.

Working in Zambia since 1996, Plan International Zambia’s development and capacity building programmes focus primarily on Education, Health, Water and Sanitation, Economic Security and Youth Empowerment, including Child Protection and Participation. Plan International Zambia has programme areas (PAs) in; Central, Luapula, and Eastern Provinces including in Lusaka, where the Country Office is located

We are looking for experienced, vibrant and self-starters to fill the following positions:

PROJECT MANAGER X 1 – (BREAKFREE PROJECT- CHIPATA- 2 YEARS CONTRACT)

Position Description

The Project Manager will have the overall responsibility for project implementation and will be responsible for general technical oversight and provide leadership in implementation of the project.  The project is aimed at ensuring that Adolescent girls at risk of Child Marriage (CM) and Teenage Pregnancy (TP) access quality and safe education.  To achieve this, the Project Manager will work in line with Community Development Facilitators (CDFs), Gender Specialist, Monitoring and Evaluation Officers and community volunteers who assists in community mobilization and identification of community needs.

The incumbent will be guided by the Technical Lead – Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in the technical implementation of major activities.  In liaison with the Program Area Manager the incumbent will actively participate in program planning, implementation and reporting at both Eastern Programme Area (PA) and Country Office (CO).

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Implementation

• Providing leadership and guidance to the project team on all activities that will be implemented
• Preparing and conducting quarterly and annual review meetings with stakeholders to review progress of the Project.
• Writing of project narrative reports, case stories, capturing project photos, and review of financial reports.
• Provide regular reports to the Program Area Manager (PAM), Head of Programs and the Country Leadership Team as required and for onward submission to the National Office and the donors.
• Tracking and managing project expenditure and ensuring no over or under-expenditure.
• Facilitate documentation of lessons learnt and best practices of the project.
• Identifying and applying effective measures to realize the rights of the children, their families and communities through the Break Free Project.
• Identifying and applying effective measures to ensure that Adolescent girls at risk of CM/TP access quality and safe education so as to realize their rights through the Break Free Project.

Coordination and Capacity Building

• Providing backstopping support to the Project team for the smooth implementation of the project.
• Identification of capacity building needs of community members including children and youth on the project to ensure informed selection, planning and management of community activities.
• Provide technical advice, backstopping and capacity building to staff, stakeholders, children, community-based organizations and community volunteers.
• Designing and implementing capacity building activities that ensure that children, youths and communities understand the importance of accessing quality and safe education.

Monitoring and Evaluation of Project Activities

• Coordinate the planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of the Break Free Project.
• Ensure constant monitoring of activities to ensure the impact of the project
• Identify and apply effective measures with and for communities to be able to manage their own natural environments for economic gain.
• Ensuring that the project budgets of the Break Free Project are according to the implementation plan
• Ensuring that project innovations are encouraged and implemented
• Ensure learning from other project evaluations or reviews

Networking and Resource Development

• Coordinate effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders at District and community level.
• Establishing in-house networks to enhance integration of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Education, Skills and Opportunity for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship (SOYEE) and Country Office programs.
• Documenting achievements and best practices in SRHR Education and SOYEE for internal and external circulation.
• Participating in SRHR, Comprehensive Sexuality Education and SOYEE related workshops and conferences.

Contribute to gender transformative program development

• All project data collected and analyzed is disaggregated by sex, age and disability.
• Ensure objectives, outcomes and indicators measure gender inequality in project long frame.
• Integrate in all planning, mainstreaming of gender issues in project/proposal designs.

Logistics/Finance/Administration

• Ensure appropriate administrative, financial, logistical Plan systems and procedures are in place, maintained and adhered to so that all support functions are carried out effectively and efficiently.
• Responsible for the preparation of projected expenditures quarterly.
• Overall responsibility of the Break Free Project, financial management in line with approved project proposal.

Qualifications:

• Degree in Education, Social Sciences or other related studies.
• Three (3) years working experience in the field of Education or Community Development.
• Five (5) years’ experience in project management.
• Experience in managing relationships of various stakeholders
• Experience in donor engagement & writing donor reports.

 Competencies:

• Strategic thinking and striving for high performance and improvement.
• Nurturing & developing others.
• Clear and effective communication including facilitation skills.
• Accountability and honesty.
• Problem solving skills.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment
• Team-playing skills.
• Proficient in computer skills.
• Good interpersonal skills.