Programme manager - Disaster risk reduction

Description

Responsible to: Country Director, Tajikistan

Line Management: Project Manager in Kulob, Project Officer Penjakent and Aini, Senior Trainer

Background

Mission East, founded in Denmark in 1991, is an international humanitarian organisation, carrying out relief and development programmes in Eastern Europe and Asia.

Mission East has been working in Tajikistan since 1997. The areas of sector focus include disaster risk reduction, gender, disability and civil society support. The representative office is in Dushanbe, with project offices in Kulob (south), Kalaikhumb (east) and Penjakent. There are approximately 20 support staff, and on average 30 program staff depending on active project portfolios. Mission East has active partnerships with at least 4 local NGOs, and Letters of Agreement/MoU with 4 ministries: Labor and Social Protection, Health and the Committee on Emergency Situations.

Overall responsibility: Manage the DIPECHO project overall and other DRR integrated actions. Oversee day-to-day implementation and direct supervision of 4 persons (a national staff of over 10). Design strategies and work plans and management budget and reporting. Liaises with stakeholders in DRR.

Key tasks and responsibilities

Programme Management

• Revise as necessary initial project work plans and budgets, developing a rational burn rate monitoring approach.
• Supervise effective implementation of disaster preparedness/prevention projects, involving both Mission East staff teams and local partner organisations
• Maintain the Project Workbook (monitoring tool)
• Ensure adequate programme monitoring and reporting, provide reports in accordance with Mission East policies and donor requirements.
• Manage project budget, including oversight on procurement.
• Oversee and advise on DRR mainstreaming in other sectors of intervention (WASH, gender rights, disability rights)
• Lead, review and develop intervention strategy as necessary
• Support identification of new disaster prevention/preparedness projects and project elements in keeping with strategy.
• Assist in preparation of assessments and funding proposals
• Contribute towards ongoing surveillance of emerging socio-economic-political developments and possible emergency situations relevant to

Disaster Preparedness

• Build in cross-cutting issues into activities in a tangible and measurable way.
• Produce monthly, interim and final reports in a professional and finalized form.
• Link with other Mission East DRR managers on policy issues.

Staff Management

• Lead and manage project staff, encouraging effective team work through rational distribution of responsibilities and methods of accountability for performance.
• Direct management of Penjakent and Aini DIPECHO staff and Project Manager (who will provide direct staff management of the Kulob staff)
• Oversee staff development for project staff, including conducting appraisals and staff training/capacity building
• Participate in determination of ongoing / future staff requirements and recruitment processes as required
• Mentor senior national staff in project management – including budget management, procurement and reporting.

Coordination and Representation

• Represent Mission East in external fora as per agreement with the Country Director.
• Maintain regular contact with other INGOs and government officials and participate in coordination fora as required.
• Works closely with the Project Manager, who is responsible for the local and national level authorities to ensure that Mission East’s programmes conform to governmental strategies and the Tajik law.

Security and HSE

• Participate in security planning and security management for field locations
• Oversee awareness and implementation of Mission East policy and procedures in security, health and safety in all locations, including regular risk assessment

Selection Criteria

Qualifications required

• A solid background related to the management of international relief and development projects.
• University degree preferably in geology, geography, engineering or international development.

Experience required

• Solid background in multi-stakeholder Disaster Preparedness and Prevention activities, demonstrating understanding and ability to apply Good Practice.
• Proven experience of senior-level program and staff management in an expatriate setting in a relief/development context. Project monitoring and quality control skills. This must also include significant field experience including management of national staff, evidence of successful assessments and project implementation
• Demonstrated experience in preparing excellent proposals and budgets, budget management, preparing work plans, training staff, and monitoring /evaluation of projects.
• Experience in security planning and management.
• Experience with DIPECHO funded projects would be an advantage
• Previous experience in Tajikistan and Central Asia would be an advantage

Necessary Competencies

• Personnel management skills. An ability to delegate, follow-up and supervise as well as support.
• Budget management experience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to engage effectively with staff, communities and authorities
• Fluency in spoken and written English – to a report writing standard which requires little or no editing.
• Security awareness and management experience relevant to Central Asian context
• Excellent computer skills in Word, Excel, and Outlook. Access (database skills) an advantage
• Sympathy to Mission East Organisational Values