Project Manager at Save the Children Nigeria

Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries, including the United States. We aim to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives by improving their health, education and economic opportunities. In times of acute crisis, we mobilize rapid assistance to help children recover from the effects of war, conflict and natural disasters. Each year, we and our partners reach millions of children in communities around the world. Join our dedicated and diverse staff in their work to improve the well-being of children everywhere.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Manager

Location: Borno, Nigeria
Job Type: Full-time
Reports to: Deputy Team Leader North East
Staff directly reporting to this post: Education Officers in the Region

Role Purpose

• Reporting directly to the Deputy Team Leader, the jobholder is responsible and accountable for the overall management and implementation of the NMFA & GIZ projects, new partnership initiation, development and management, programme budgeting, budgetary and financial management, programme and financial reporting, human resources management, and administrative trouble shooting and support within the region.
• Technical programme management and implementation responsibilities include developing project plans, budgets and implementation plans, managing the accomplishment of targeted results and indicators, oversee programme budgets and accounts to ensure adherence to approved budget and work plans, undertaking routine budget monitoring and budget revisions, leading in the definition of M&E plans and indicators, preparing timely and high quality programme and financial reports, and taking initiatives and actions to ensure that programme implementation is in compliance with all Save the Children and donor requirements, rules and regulations.
• In addition the manager will ensure effective representation liaison between Save the Children and other INGOs, CSOs, Local Authorities and visiting donors and stakeholders at the local and regional level to promote extensive participation and complementarity of Save the Children programme and activities.
• The manager is also responsible for providing technical assistance and appropriate monitoring and evaluation in emergency responses.

Dimensions:

• Save the Children supports programs in most parts of the country - 24 Sates in the country including the North East with a current staff complement of approximately 400 staff and current expenditure of approximately 40$ million each year.

Judgement and Decision-Making:

• The jobholder has a middle level of decision-making authority and is authorised to make decisions/take actions on the NMFA & GIZ Project management matters such as work plans, human resource requirements, budget monitoring, capacity building, and financial decision within the budget.
• Strategic and operational decisions require consultation with the Team Leader, Director Programme Operations, Education Technical Advisors, SC members and the Senior Leadership Teams. These also include major, policy/procedural changes, approval of budgets and plans and major disciplinary issues, financial decisions outside budget. Consultations are equally necessary with Partnership Managers and Programme Development Team.

Key Areas of Accountability
Project Planning, Implementation and Management:

• The Project Manager leads the kick off meeting and the end of the project meeting, which is due between 3 - 6 months before the end of the project
• Preparing, managing and regularly updating the project activities work plan, procurement plan and financial plan, ensuring timely and quality implementation in compliance with the defined project design, Country Strategy as well as donor guidelines.
• Collaborate with the Team leader, State and LGAs officials to select the areas of implementation.
• Lead the preparation and implementation of the programme based work plans, M&E indicators in accordance with Save the Children and donor guidelines to ensure and guarantee effective programme activities delivery.
• Monitor and oversee the day to day implementation of the programmes and projects to ensure compliance with the agreed work plans and that programme objectives and targets are being realised in line with the funding proposals.
• Lead the expansion and understanding of Save the Children working principles and approaches (partnerships, child participations, child rights programming etc) throughout the programme and follow up to ensure that these approaches are effectively implemented.
• Ensure that all staff, partners and stakeholders implementing Save the Children projects have clear understanding of Save the Children mission, vision and values, goals, priorities and policies and that these are reflected in programme implementation.
• Conduct regular programme review meetings with the relevant partners and stakeholders to enhance information sharing and improve efficiency and effectiveness of programme implementation and operations.
• Initiate and develop alternative mechanisms for optimal implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation of programme activities.
• Maintain high standard of transparency and accountability in the course of programme implementation while ensuring integrity and timeliness of activities implementation in meeting programme objectives, compliance with donors & Save the Children policies.
• Provision of regular operations and implementation updates on programme progress and challenges to allow for timely interventions and corrective actions by management.
• Ensure the timely reviews and adjustments for the programme operational and implementation plans and budgets as may be required from time to time.

Human Resources Management and Development:

• Provide line management and supervision of all the project staff
• Working together with the Deputy Team Leader and Programme Team to identify learning and development needs of the programme teams and develop specific plans to address the learning needs.
• Support implementation of the Save the Children performance management system, by supporting, supervising and reviewing performance of the NMFA & GIZ Project team through.
• Establishment of clear, measureable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations;
• Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities;
• Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance;
• Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/ work plans
• Capacity building of project officer through trainings, coaching, performance management, implementation as well as in learning and reflection events
• Setting and managing staffing targets, performance and priorities
• Collaborate with Country office technical staff to build the technical capacity of staff that work on the NMFA & GIZ Project through one-on-one coaching, mentoring, observations on performance and deliverables, promotion of strengths and attention to capacity gaps.
• Conduct monthly project management meetings to enable adequate staff support.
• Support the development of an organizational culture that reflects our dual mandate values, promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and frees up our people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our members and donors.

Partnership Development:

• In close collaboration with members of the regional team, provide technical capacity building to partners in the EiE, early recovery, accountability, systems and any other areas of a strategic nature, and support Senior Officers to ensure effective and efficient supervision and monitoring of partners’ implementation of the NMFA & GIZ Project and budgets.
• Work with regional technical managers to provide support to Save the Children International partners in planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and documentation.
• Participate in partner’s capacity assessment to identify and recommend capacity building needs for the partner
• Provide technical capacity building and support , in implementation and ensure quality control by partners in the NMFA & GIZ Project
• Recommend strategic partnership in NMFA & GIZ Project areas for consideration by partnership management teams.
• Support partners in linking, networking with other institutions at regional and levels as well as support partners in developing funding proposals to create synergies and enhance sustainability of NMFA & GIZ project goals.
• Support partners to develop their competence and capacity in fundraising
• Conduct monthly partner meetings and participate in quarterly partnership monitoring. Develop with the partners detailed work plans and budgets to cover and implement a selected programme.
• Monthly monitor and follow up the implementation of the agreed work plan and budget to ensure that the programme objectives are being realized in accordance to the programme and partnership agreement and take the necessary actions for any identified deviations; ensure that partner reports and accountabilities are submitted monthly.
• Participate in partner’s capacity assessment to identify potential partners to work with in different areas and share the information with the Line Manager.
• Monthly provide technical capacity building and support, in implementation and ensure quality control by partners during project implementation
• Support partners in linking, networking with other institutions at regional levels as well as support partners in developing funding proposals in collaboration with the project Coordinators
• Monitor monthly partner programme and budget performance and ensure monthly submission of narrative and financial reports by partners as well as 80% budget utilisation.
• Monthly monitor project implementation with the partners and ensure that implementation,
• Support partners in linking, networking with other stakeholders at LGA and Statel level as well as build partner capacity in resource mobilization
• Bi-annually identify institutional capacity building needs for partners and build/ link them to support to strengthen their capacity to address children’s and youth’s issues.

Resource Mobilization:

• Working in collaboration with the Education and other Technical Specialists, engage actively on the review process for the education concept notes, position papers, and proposals.
• Support the process of information gathering and analysis necessary for the development of specific project concept notes and proposals.

Financial Management:

• Have responsibility for project budget control and monitoring to ensure adequate accountability and budget utilization in accordance donor requirements and approved work plans, strategic objectives and Save the Children finance policy and procedures.
• Overseeing the specific budget performance for NMFA & GIZ Project to ensure that project implementation is on course and timely as per the work plans. Ensure a monthly budget expenditure of at least 96%.
• Annual planning and budgeting for the project in line with the planning and budgeting guidelines and timelines
• Development of programme and project budgets including the cash transfer plans to guarantee availability of funds for programme implementation at all levels.
• Responsible for monitoring and revising as necessary project budgets and ensuring that funds are used optimally and accounted for in accordance to the funding contracts and agreements.
• Undertaking monthly budget monitoring in order to ensure accuracy of financial reports, manage budget variances, explain variances and propose measures for managing the variances.
• On quarterly basis, review all programme budgets to ensure that budgets are revised and rephrase timely and spent within donors budgets and expenditure guidelines and no-cost extensions/cost extensions are timely requested for.
• Ensure that all financial policies and regulations relating to cash flow management, expenditure controls, cash management, accounting information, advances management as put in place for the management and control of funds are followed by the staff and partners in implementing the different programme activities.
• Support partners and staff in making decisions regarding budget allocations and utilizations and alerting management to any financial mismanagement which may arise in the course of programme implementation.
• Monitor and manage over or under spending in a timely manner in line with standards
• Submit accurate financial reports to the donor on a quarterly, semi-annual and annual basis
• Working with finance team and line manager to ensure timely accountability and accurate financial reporting for the NMFA & GIZ Project as per SCI policy and donor requirements.
• Ensure that all budget adjustments are in line with the donor requirements and SC members are informed and approve budgetary changes.
• Develop realistic, detailed plans, budget and proposals with consultation of the community members, children and other key stakeholders.

Programme monitoring and reporting:

• Facilitate effective monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning, documentation and reporting in line with agreed project targets and standards:
• Establish functioning project level M&E system and utilization of the information from the M&E database;
• Up-date the beneficiary database monthly or quarterly
• Develop project quality benchmarks and ensure that the issues in the MEAL Action Tracker are implemented
• Establish and ensure a functional accountability platforms for information sharing and feedback.
• Manage project information, documentation processes, and ensure effective communication of the program/project results.
• Provide monthly reports (progress against planned activities, expense against estimated budget, etc) of project activities to the Regional Team leader as per agreed schedule.
• Prepare semi-annual and annual reports of project activities (progress against delivery of outputs and achievement of outcomes, etc) to the donors, State and country Office as per agreed schedule.
• Ensure appropriate filing and availability of documentation required for internal and external communications, accountability, audits, evaluation purposes and reporting
• Supervise on-going program assessments, evaluation and operational research studies, and take lead in utilizing the recommendations to improve programming.
• Ensure Quality and timely delivery of assessments and plans by field projects.
• Submit quality and timely monthly, bi-annual and annual reports.
• Lead the process of developing project baselines and evaluations ToRs, 3 months before the date of effective implementation.
• Support proper documentation of NMFA & GIZ Project activities conducted case studies, best practices and Compile and submit regular progress reports on the planned implementation activities to Line Manager.
• Ensure appropriate filing and availability of documentation required for internal and external communications, accountability, audits, evaluation purposes and reporting
• Supervise on-going program assessments, evaluation and operational research studies, and take lead in utilizing the recommendations to improve programming.
• Document vital project documents including fund summary, project proposal, M&E plan, monthly, semi-annual and annual reports, reports on activities implemented (approved concept, activity report and attendance lists).

Community Empowerment and Impact:

• Innovatively support children, parents, schools and communities to participate, own and benefit from the project interventions
• Mobilize and facilitate active participation of children, school, parents and leaders to participate in planning, monitoring and implementation of community development initiatives.
• Build the capacity of children, school, parents, communities and leaders to collectively engage local leaders on issues identified.
• Liaise and follow-up on commitments made by leaders on improvement of the youth well being.
• Support functional independent youth advocacy platforms

Communication and Documentation:

• Profile project impact, success stories, most significant change stories, captivating photography
• Document and share best practices and human interest stories
• Manage donor and SC branding and visibility through media visits, sharing reports

Advocacy, Networking and Representation:

• Represent Save the Children externally at Regional, State and LGA levels, Sector Working Groups/meetings, work groups, development forums workshops, and via personal networking.
• Ensuring that the Save the Children programme experience is represented and given recognition at State, LGA and regional meetings and workshops, donor, networks.
• Actively promote and develop advocacy objectives for the NMFA & GIZ Project in consultation with the Advocacy Team, Education TAs and Team Leader.
• Network with other Save the Children International interventions in their areas of operation to improve synergy and holistic approach to child support.
• Ensure that the project activities are integrated and recognized in the States and LGAs of operation.
• Ability to adhere to the SC Child Protection Code of Conduct, Security Guidelines, Chronic Illness Policy and ethical principles.
• Bi-annually and annually submit a State specific project progress report on what has been accomplished; highlighting the achievements and learning areas.
• Annually share with the State and LGAs project plans and activity budgets.
• Represent SCI and network on the EiE working group and Basic, Early Childhood education sub theme both formal and informal education to external stakeholders.

Academic Background, Experience and Person Specifications

• A minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Education, Economics, Social Science or Development studies. Experience in Education and safe and EiE programming will be an added advantage. Postgraduate training/Advanced degree in the related field, Social sciences/social works, or Management is an added advantage
• A minimum of Eight years working experience in Education related program or protection in Nigeria (preferably with an International NGO).
• Experience in managing a budget of at least US$ 700,000
• Experience of working with local partners and State and Local Government in Education, protection and community based services
• Strong monitoring, evaluation and accountability skills
• Strong management of donor communications and visibility.
• Ability to speak local language and directly interact with target group will be an added advantage
• Strong analytical skills and strategic planning abilities.
• Ability to establish and maintain conducive collegial relations and perform effectively as a member of a team.
• Willingness to travel and work in hard-to-reach areas, occasionally under strenuous conditions.
• Computer literacy and excellent documentation skills are a must.
• Availability and willingness to work extra hours during times of humanitarian responses.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Ability to intervene with crisis management or troubleshooting as necessary.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Excellent time management and planning capacity
• Availability and willingness to work extra hours during times of humanitarian responses.

Skills and Behaviors (our Values in Practice)
Accountability:

• Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same.
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency.

Occasional duties:

• Perform any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Contacts
Internal contacts:

• Team leader, Deputy Team Leader and Award/ Partnership Manager,Head of Education - Frequent contact
• Project Coordinators and , Project Officers - Frequent contact
• Education Technical Advisors.- Regular contact

External contacts:

• Consortium members - frequent contact
• Regional and State and LGA Officials - Regular contact
• Other NGOs, CBOs - regular contact
• UN agencies (WFP etc) - regular contact
• Programme donors and partners - occasional contact
• Partner auditors - occasional contact
• Other government officials and agencies - regular contact

Application Closing Date
14th October, 2017.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Due to the urgency to fill this position applications will be assessed as they are received and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Save the Children International reserves the right to change the closing date if necessary.