Position Summary

The Project Manager will manage the Food Security and Inclusive Access to Resources for Conflict-Sensitive Market Development (FARM) project. The project has been designed to support the Dutch Government’s overall Strategic Plan for the Great Lakes Region through a Mercy Corps/SFCG consortium proposing to contribute to stability in North Kivu by improving food security through a peacebuilding lens. FARM’s theory of change assumes that building a more efficient, inclusive and resilient market-based environment, with a focus on addressing related community, governance and economic-based grievances, will result in improved livelihoods for at-risk populations; and therefore in greater community resilience and fewer incentives to engage in violent conflict. The project began in May 2017 and the inception period has been completed. The project is now in the implementation phase and will run until March 2021.

The Project Manager is ultimately responsible for project strategy, coordination, relation and collaboration with consortium partner, planning, financial management, management of the team, implementation, communications, monitoring and compliance to internal and donor policies, procedures and requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Roles and responsibilities include:
Key area 1: Project strategy and coordination

• Maintain regular communication with the consortium lead and ensure excellent coordination of project activities;
• Provide strategic guidance to the consortium lead on evolving and emerging conflict dynamics that may impact on the overall FARM strategy;
• Represent Search with the donor, partners, government representatives and other stakeholders as requested by the consortium and/or supervisor;
• Engage regularly civil society groups, local authorities, security forces and other stakeholders in the intervention zones to ensure their active participation and constructive collaboration in planning and implementation;
• Ensuring coordination and collaboration with other key actors, including other Dutch-funded and ISSSS aligned programming in the zone.

Key area 2: Project planning and implementation

• Ensure planning is conducted in a timely manner on an annual, quarterly and monthly basis;
• Ensure project activities are implemented according to the approved plan and accepted Common Ground methodologies and principles;
• Accompany the project team and other Search teams in the design and rollout of implementation tools;
• Provide guidance and training to project team and other stakeholders in the Common Ground Approach, mediation or other conflict-related thematics as required;
• Ensure excellent coordination with other departments of Search DRC (program, logistics, admin/finance) to ensure all relevant staff are informed of project needs;
• Identify and resolve, in consultation with Goma Head of Office, any delays or other challenges to implementation.

Key area 3: Monitoring, learning, and evaluation

• Produce quarterly program updates, success stories, briefs, and other communication material as required and share with the regional team for publication;
• Organize quarterly project review meetings, in coordination with the M&E team, to review progress against planning, adapt strategy and share learning;
• Produce timely, high quality, results-oriented reports, in collaboration with the regional program manager, DME and project team

Key area 4: Compliance and financial management

• Ensure program implementation is aligned with contractual agreements, policies, and procedures;
• Ensure excellent budget management through accurate planning, forecasting, spending, and regular budget analysis;
• Work with the country finance team and HQ finance to ensure timely preparation and submission of accurate financial reports for the project;
• Ensure budget is analyzed on a monthly basis and any necessary actions required are taken to ensure controlled and compliant spending

Key area 5: Team management

• Oversee the day-to-day management of FARM project staff;
• Ensure timely recruitment and orientation of new project staff;
• Manage staff performance through regular appraisals, performance reviews and clear benchmarks.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

Qualifications

You meet the following qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, international relations, conflict resolution or other related fields

Desired experience:

• Five (5) years of work experience, of which three (3) should be in a management position on projects related to conflict resolution, international development, agriculture or related field

• Knowledge/experience in Africa, especially countries in conflict. Knowledge/experience in eastern DRC preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Written and oral proficiency in English and French
• Excellent writing skills
• Excellent financial management skills
• Proven experience in representation with a variety of audiences
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work well under pressure with strong attention to details
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills

This position will close on March 22nd, 2020.