Senior Program Manager

This position is open to Indian nationals only.

About Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

ADPC is an autonomous international 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 with experiences from all levels of engagement typically required for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience (CR) in an effective manner. ADPC is a competent regional resource center and has seven thematic departments: Preparedness for Response and Recovery, Risk Governance, Climate Resilience, Urban Resilience, Health Risk Management, Geospatial Information, and ADPC Academy. These are supported by Finance, Human Resources and Administration, and Strategic Planning departments. ADPC works on three cross-cutting themes: Gender and Diversity, Poverty and Livelihoods, and Regional and Transboundary Cooperation through permanent working committees. 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. ADPC, through its programs, support the implementation of national, regional and global frameworks including Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (SFDRR), the Paris Agreement for Climate Change, the New Urban Agenda, the recommendations and priorities of World Humanitarian Summit (WHS), etc.

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

Department Introduction

The Preparedness for Response and Recovery (PRR) Department of ADPC focuses on enhancing the preparedness, response management capacities of governments, response organizations, volunteers, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, communities, and other traditional and non-traditional actors of the Disaster Risk Management Ecosystem. It also strives to strengthen the capacity of institutions and at-risk communities for faster and efficient disaster recovery. The department works with the above-stated actors to ensure that the regional, national, sub-national, and local disaster preparedness, response, and recovery frameworks and implementation plans are in place well before disaster strikes.

In partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), ADPC is providing technical support to the Government of Bihar (GoB), India, in the implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) activities identified in the Bihar DRR Roadmap (2015-2030) in key government departments, and in strengthening emergency preparedness and management functions of the GoB for COVID-19. These efforts are primarily targeted at the Disaster Management Department (DMD), Department of Agriculture (DoA) and Department of Health (DoH), Government of Bihar to strengthening Emergency Operations Centers for Multi-Hazard Response, enhancing Early Warning Systems, facilitating DRM mainstreaming initiatives, strengthening stakeholders’ capacities for response through risk communication and awareness, and to enhanced South-South Learning & Knowledge Exchange for disaster preparedness and response.

ADPC is currently looking for a suitable candidate for the position of Program Manager to be based at Disaster Management Department (DMD), Government of Bihar. The Program Manager will join a dynamic team of ADPC professionals based in India while working closely with the ADPC Headquarters experts in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Statement of Intent

The Program Lead, PROSPER will be responsible for leading the implementation of the Program for Strengthening Preparedness for Emergency Response and Recovery in India (PROSPER-India) and COVID-19 support project and ensuring strong leadership of the Program Team through meticulous planning, review, and timely follow up of critical deliverables with the government partners.

Core responsibility areas include strategic planning, program design, and implementation, program support operations, Government & partner relations and coordination, finance and budget compliance, administration, monitoring and evaluation, staff supervision and consultant management, and program development. He/she will ensure that programs meet stated objectives, are in line with ADPC’s strategy, meet the needs of beneficiaries, and are implemented to the highest standards, on time, and within budget. The Program Manager will build and maintain a close, collaborative and responsive relationship and frequent communications with the PRR Director and assigned Program Leads as direct supervisors based in ADPC Head Office. This position is open only to Indian nationals.

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

Required Qualifications

Education

• MSc in Disaster Management, Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Public Health, Social Science, natural science and natural resource management, or any other related fields with working experience in the India and Asia-Pacific region is essential. Ph.D. in a related field would be an added advantage.

Work Experience

• At least 10 years of proven experience in project management and implementation.
• Familiarity and at least 5 years of experience in working with the state and national government agencies.
• Previous experience in working with Humanitarian NGOs or international organizations in similar programs.
• Knowledge of working ethics of national or state government agencies, International NGOs, National NGOs, private organizations, and international organizations would prove to be an added advantage.

Personal Qualities

• Self-motivated, proactive, and takes initiative.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and organize work & time independently.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, team-oriented work style, and experience in working in a multicultural environment.
• Strong networking capacity and understanding of humanitarian and development nexus at local and regional levels.
• Strong desire to learn, undertake new challenges, must be creative problem-solver and must have self-confidence, willingness to work hard, good sense of humor but with seriousness about the quality and excellence of work.

Languages

• English is the working language of ADPC. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Verbal and written communication skills in Hindi are essential. Knowledge of another language is an advantage.

General Requirements

• Operate within all ADPC Guidelines & Procedures/ Policies.

Operate within specific program needs.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the focal person level for coordination with Government of Bihar and relevant national-level agencies, ADPC head office, BMGF office in Bihar, and other stakeholder agencies in the state and at National level.
• Manage and lead day-to-day local activities of ADPC program/project and supervision of staff and consultants based in Bihar, India.

• Provide leadership to all the technical specialists, consultants,      and program components at the strategic level for their timely implementation and relevance based on the complex and emerging needs.
• Represent ADPC for all upscaling of activities as required by the program in India, including at the National level.
• Coordinate with Program Leads/Project managers in ADPC HQ in implementing the project activities on a regular basis.
• Provide technical resource inputs in program activities such as the establishment of DRM resource center, enhancing Emergency Operation Centers, End-to-End Early Warning System, capacity building and training, DRM innovation challenge, and mainstreaming initiatives in agriculture, health, and other sectors departments in Bihar.
• Lead and manage program component on information and knowledge management & sharing and taking it forward at the national and international level.
• Coordinate with other members of the ADPC project team in India and HQ, and provide necessary support in implementation and promote synergies with other PRR flagship programs, and leverage support.
• Conduct program monitoring and evaluation activities, contribute to achieving all expected results and develop M&E reports.
• Lead and manage regular stakeholder coordination meetings such as Program Advisory Committee meetings and Technical Working Group meetings.
• Prepare and submit progress reports, donor reports, and all other reports required to ADPC HQ.
• Assist in increasing the program outreach through the development of new programs, engagement in advocacy, assistance in fund mobilization at the country level.
• Amplify cross-learning and lessons learned with other programs of PRR.

Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Director, PRR.

Competencies

PRR Department Functional Competencies:

• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Results Orientation
• Analytical Problem-Solving Skills
• Adaptability

PRR Supervisory Competencies:

• Leadership
• Empowerment

Reporting Relationship

In performing the duties and responsibilities indicated above, the Program Lead will work under the overall guidance of the assigned Sub-thematic Lead/s and the Director, Preparedness for Response and Recovery Department of ADPC. The Program Lead will also report to the Principal Secretary, Disaster Management Department, Government of Bihar, and work closely with the assigned Project/Program Managers in ADPC HQ.

Contract Duration

The contract duration will be for one year initially with a possibility of extension based on the performance and technical requirements of the position.

Selection Method

A staff member will be selected in accordance with ADPC’s recruitment and/or capacity assessment process.

How to apply

This position is open to Indian nationals only.

Interested Candidates can submit the completed ADPC application form (downloadable from www.adpc.net), resume, copy of degrees/certificate(s) together with a cover letter to: adpcjobs@adpc.net within 30 September 2021, Bangkok time.

Female candidates are especially encouraged to apply.

ADPC encourages diversity in its workplace and supports an inclusive work environment.