Project manager, DIPECHO VII

I. The position

The Project Manager (PM) is responsible for the overall management and successful delivery of the seventh DIPECHO (Disaster Preparedness of the The European Commission's Humanitarian aid and Civil Protection Directorate General) project in GBAO, Tajikistan. The primary responsibilities of the PM include planning and implementing the project as approved by the donor. Key responsibilities include: project planning; creating and leading a high performance team; managing the project activities to plan; community relations; financial resource monitoring and control, administration and human resource management.

II. Duties and responsibilities

Project Management

1) Creates and executes project work plans and revises as appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements in consultation with the Senior Program officer.
2) Identifies resources needed and assigns individual responsibilities.
3) Manages day-to-day operational aspects of the project and scope.
4) Reviews plan and deliverables prepared by team before implementation.
5) Effectively applies FOCUS policies and procedures and enforces project standards.
6) Reviews project planning and progress with the Senior Program Officer (SPO) and monthly with EO
7) Attends all management meetings, participates in discussion and decision-making.
8) Conducts meeting with project staff to address the project issues and barriers and find appropriate solutions.
9) Ensures project documents are complete, current, and stored appropriately..
10) Work with field program coordinator and officers to ensure general activities of the programs are maintained, implemented and all requirements are met.

Monitoring and Liaison:

1) Maintains good relationship with government officials, NGOs, UN and communities stakeholders in the regions.
2) Communicates with the government officials on any issue that may affect the work of the project.
3) Effectively communicates relevant project information to superiors.
4) Monitors and evaluates the project implementation process, prepare periodic progress report to the SPO, EO and or Donors as required.
5) Conducts site visits to monitor the project implementation status and address any inconsistencies noticed between project implementation and goals.
6) Ensures that accurate records of the project activities are being maintained and that all necessary data for reporting purposes is being continually collected.

Financial / Accounting:

1) Manages project budget from preparing monthly forecasts to monitoring and control.
2) Reviews monthly project budget with Executive Officer (EO), Finance officer, and Senior Program Officer and provides variance explanations.
3) Ensures timely, accurate invoicing, and monitors project expenditures.
4) Works with Finance staff to ensure the project monthly payroll, bills, cash receipts and petty cash objectives are met.

Other Activities:

1) Acts as mentor and coach for the team to build local capacity
2) Defines staffing needs and hires, supervises and terminates personnel in accordance with identified needs and FOCUS HR policies
3) Recommends and proposes appropriate training development courses for staff to effectively carry out their duties and enhance their competence.
4) Any other duties as assigned by SPO or EO.

Job Requirements:

III. Qualifications and expertise

• University degree in a relevant field is required.
• At least 3 years experience in managing a major project in a humanitarian organization or in the relevant field.
• Ability to write and communicate in a clear and concise manner, including writing donor reports, conveying information to the management, etc.
• Fluency in written and oral English is essential; preference will be given to candidates who speak national languages.
• Ability to work with donors, village communities as well as government officials at all level
• Ability to manage conflict and apply sound judgment to resolve issues.
• Proven ability to plan, establish priorities and execute to plan
• Computer skills including proficiency in MS Office, internet and project management software.