Project Manager (Consultant)

A. About Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

ADPC is an autonomous intergovernmental organization with a vision to reduce disaster and climate risk impacts on communities and countries in Asia and the Pacific by working with governments, development partners, international organizations, NGOs, civil society, private sector, media, and other key stakeholders. Established in 1986 as a technical capacity building center, ADPC has grown and diversified its expertise across social and physical sciences to support sustainable solutions for risk reduction across a broad range of specialist areas. With over 100 staff from 19 different nationalities and a wide range of professional expertise from atmospheric scientists to social scientists with experiences from all levels of engagement typically required for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience (CR) in an effective manner. ADPC has six strategic themes supported by seven departments: ADPC Academy, Risk Governance, Climate Resilience, Urban Resilience, Health Risk Management, Preparedness for Response and Recovery, Geospatial Information. These are supported by Finance, Human Resources and Administration, and Strategic Planning departments. In addition to the departments, ADPC also works on three cross-cutting themes: Gender and Diversity, Poverty and Livelihoods, and Regional and Transboundary Cooperation through permanent working committees. ADPC Strategy 2020 guides the organization in providing comprehensive risk reduction support to countries and communities in Asia and the Pacific. ADPC recognizes the importance of examining the linkages between disaster risk management, poverty reduction, gender equality, sustainability, rights-based approaches, climate change and regional cooperation.

For details please refer to ADPC website at http://www.adpc.net/

B. Background:

ADPC has been implementing a Regional Program on “Urban Resilience to Climate Extremes in Southeast Asia” (URCE). The URCE program, which is supported by Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), aims to build “resilient communities in deltaic and coastal urban areas” and strengthen resilience of urban systems and urban communities to the current and emerging climate extremes, disaster and emergencies that are anticipated in coming years. The program will be implemented in three target cities in Myanmar (Dala Township in Yangon City) and Vietnam (Nam Dinh and My Tho Cities). The program has five outcomes, namely, Improved multi-hazard early warning systems and risk knowledge (Outcome 1), Strengthened urban community readiness and local preparedness (Outcome2), Improved urban sectoral preparedness and emergency response (Outcome 3), Strengthened urban risk governance systems for dealing with emerging climate extremes and emergencies (Outcome 4) and Improved knowledge and awareness on building urban climate resilience for extremes in Asia and the Pacific (Outcome 5). This five-year program has started its implementation in November 2018 and spans up until December 2023.

C. Statement of Intent

The Project Manager will be mainly responsible for implementation of URCE program in Viet Nam in coordination and consultation with Program Directors and technical specialists at the Headquarters of ADPC in Bangkok, Thailand and works closely with Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA), the focal agency assigned by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to implement the URCE program activities in Viet Nam. This position is open for Vietnamese National only and it is based in Hanoi, Viet Nam. It requires travel to project activity sites in Nam Dinh and My Tho as per the agreed travel schedule approved by supervisors.

Note: It is not the intent of this Position Description to cover every aspect of the position requirements, rather to highlight the most important areas of personal and joint responsibility.

D. Required Qualifications and Specification

Education

• Master's degree in disaster/climate risk management, urban planning, environmental science, public health, development, and planning or similar fields;
• A relevant first-level university degree in the above fields with demonstrated capacity with work experience in disaster/climate risk management, urban resilience related subjects may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• Minimum seven years of experience in the field of project management and minimum of five years progressively responsible experience in managing disaster and climate risk management/reduction projects;
• Extensive Experience in networking, coordinating and cooperating with government authorities, local communities and other partners and build strong mutual relationships;
• Practical experience of working in multi-cultural teams and ability to work independently; and
• Experience working with an international organization is an added advantage.

Competencies

• Professional in the field of disaster risk management, urban resilience, climate change adaptation, institutional system, and disaster management system in Viet Nam;
• Experience in research, data requirements, organizing trainings, workshops, and meetings;
• Proven research and analytical work with demonstrated ability to prepare and present comprehensive reports;
• Demonstrated technical competency in conducting technical review of policies, strategies and plans, and developing technical guidelines, tools, training materials, advocacy briefs and knowledge products;
• Strong Networking capacity with government authorities, local communities and other partners and build strong mutual relationships; and
• Sensitivity to cultural differences, ability to adapt to the context and work under pressure.

Personal Qualities:

• Self-motivated, pro-active and takes initiatives;
• Demonstrated ability to plan, and organize work & time independently;
• Verbal and written communication skills in English and Vietnamese are essential;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, team-oriented work style, and experience in working in a multi-cultural environment;
• Strong desires to learn, undertake new challenges, must be a creative problem-solver,and must have self-confidence,
• Willingness to work hard, good sense of humor but with seriousness about the qualityand excellence of work.

Language skills

• Excellent English and Vietnamese communication skills.

E. Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Manager will be responsible for the following duties and responsibilities.

• Ensure the efficient and effective implementation of URCE program in Viet Nam byproviding project management support;
• Liaise with concerned government agencies and other stakeholders to activelyparticipate and guide in implementation of URCE program in Viet Nam;
• Provide technical support to program team in implementation of activities in Viet Nam;
• Represent ADPC as key member of the Program/Project Steering Committee (PSC)and be responsible in preparing and presenting the program/project progress at PSC regular meeting;
• Ensure the quality of meetings, workshops, trainings, forums, conferences, etc.
• Provide inputs to the development of guidelines, tools, training materials,publications, etc.;
• Provide inputs to the program team in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of URCEprogram, evaluation of program impacts and support to conduct mid-term review and prepare M&E reports;
• ● Prepare regular progress reports (quarterly) as specified in the work plan in Viet Nam;
• Ensure quality translation of program related documents and publications from English to Vietnamese and vice-versa;
• Perform any other institutional tasks assigned by the Supervisors.

F. Reporting Relationship:

Project Manager will report to Director of Urban Resilience Department of ADPC and work in close coordination with other Directors, technical specialists and other project team members at the Headquarters of ADPC to carry out different activities under the program. The Project Manager would also coordinate with relevant officials at VNDMA to get necessary guidance to implement URCE program in Viet Nam.