Project Manager

Job Overview/Summary:  

The Project Manager will mainly be responsible for overall project management including the management and support to the partners implementing in Pishin and Kila Saifullah – the two project districts of Balochistan province. This position is expected to oversee the timely and quality delivery of integrated program – Health, Protection, Economic Recovery and Development (ERD)/ Livelihoods and Social Cohesion – interventions. The position is to further ensure close coordination with the technical team, partners, and relevant government agencies at field levels so that key stakeholders remain informed. The position is based in Quetta and will be reporting directly to the Head of Office, Balochistan. S/he must have experience of managing projects in a leadership role with integrated programming with focus areas of livelihoods/TVET, youth programming and social cohesion.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Management and Quality Implementation:

• Ensure the smooth and timely implementation of project activities and budget spending as agreed in the proposal, log frame, budget and work plan in all the project sites. 
• Monitor budget allocations and expenditures to ensure sound management and compliance with IRC and donors’ financial requirements and policies.
• Provide technical guidance, oversight and support to the partners in day-to-day implementation of program interventions. 
• Conduct regular output level and process monitoring of project activities and ensure the outcome monitoring is carried out by the MEAL team.
• Ensure regular support to partner teams at the district and IRC teams at provincial and country office levels.
• Support the teams in strengthening of community structure ensuring referral and exchange of ideas and identification of areas requiring joint interventions in collaboration with other stakeholders.
• Effectively lead the situation monitoring and contextual updates to update the senior management on changing scenarios for immediate response and changes in program approach/design.
• Lead the Economic Recovery, TVET and Social Cohesion activities and represent the team in relevant working groups/Coordination forums and key stakeholders.
• Ensure project goal and objectives complement the IRC Program Framework and ensure implementation follows core programming principles.
• Ensure project data and reports are submitted within due dates to concerned departments.

Support to Partner organizations:

• Develop and lead the project’s operationalizing and management plans and support the partners in the implementation districts, organize periodic reviews to reflect on progress and support leadership in managing budgets and delivering against the targets.
• Identify the areas of technical support and organize training for partner staff with the support of the Technical Team.
• Provide guidance and technical support to partner teams for effective project management
• Ensure all prerequisites are taken care of as per auditory requirements and the highest transparency is maintained across the sections in day-to-day project implementation a.
• Ensure project quality through extensive engagement with technical leadership in identifying capacity gaps and capacity building of partners on protection approaches, protection monitoring - tools and concepts, referral and case management.
• Extensive field visits to support implementation teams.
• Organize regular review and follow-up meetings with partners for the quality delivery and reporting of project interventions as per agreed timelines and budget.
•    Support in organizing and facilitating Project Cycle Meetings

Representation and Coordination:

• Coordinate and collaborate closely with relevant government authorities, other NGOs and other stakeholders for the smooth implementation of the protection program.
• Represent the team at various platforms and coordinate activities with relevant players as required
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders, including community leaders, NGOs, UN agencies, and community-based organizations.

Grant Management and Reporting:

• Ensure preparation and timely submission of high-quality internal and external reports. Ensure technical quality by incorporating respective thematic lead’s review before submission to supervisor and country office.
• Ensure that project data is uploaded on MIS and referred to in routine updates and reports. 
• Oversee all budget expenditures and ensure compliance with donor and IRC guidelines.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:  Head of Office, Balochistan

Supervises: Project Officer;

Work closely with: Program Coordinator and Technical and MEAL teams , Thematic Technical units Partnership unit.

Job Requirements:

Education: Master’s degree in social sciences, Business or other relevant fields  

Work Experience: 

• At least 5 years of project implementation experience with a minimum of 3 years of experience in managing projects through partners in a development context with a focus on Livelihoods/ TVET, economic empowerment, and Youth Programming as well as cross-cutting areas like protection, gender and inclusion, M&E
• Demonstrated coordination, and relationship-building skills with partners for implementation through partners.
• Strong networking skills with a proven track record of maintaining high-level coordination and extensive engagement with government and donor representatives
• Significant knowledge of international humanitarian systems, institutions and donors, and of procedures, accountability frameworks and best practices in international development management.
• Substantial experience and knowledge of effective financial and budgetary control and managing partners' grants.
• Solid project management skills related to organizational development projects and international, cross-functional teams with a proven history of delivering results and managing partners.

Languages: Must be fluent in Urdu and English languages. Knowledge of local languages is considered an asset.  

Travel: Willingness and capacity to work and travel to project field areas

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong communication and analytical skills
• Proficient in qualitative analysis and documenting them into high-quality analytical reports
• Computer skills including MS- Office, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks; proven self-initiative and problem-solving abilities;
• Good Report writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Familiarity with the context and working environment, local culture, and relevant government policies and procedures

Gender Equality and Diversity:

IRC recognizes that gender equality is fundamental to the achievement of our organizational mission. As such, IRC is committed to the promotion of gender equality in all aspects of our operations and programs. Our organizational policies, procedures and actions demonstrate this commitment. Women, minorities, persons with disability (PWD) and transgender candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

The IRC Core Values and Commitments.

• The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons.
• IRC is committed to ensuring that IRC staff is suitable to work with children and have the knowledge s/he needs to uphold and abide by the IRC’s Child Safeguarding Policy.
• Level of interaction with children: Less frequent direct contact with children
• IRC recognizes that gender equality is fundamental to the achievement of our organizational mission. As such, IRC is committed to the promotion of gender equality in all aspects of our operations and programs. Our organizational policies, procedures and actions demonstrate this commitment.

Women candidates and differently abled persons are highly encouraged to apply.