Kenya: Project Manager- Ending Child Marriage (Based in Kisumu)

Organization: Plan

Country: Kenya

Closing date: 28 Jun 2016

Dimensions of the Role:

The position will be based at the Kisumu Program Unit and the Project Manager will report on a daily basis to the Program Unit Manager based in the Kisumu Office and have a matrix technical and project reporting line to a Program Manager based in the Country Office. S/he will work with a range of teams both internal and external to ensure that the project objectives are met. S/he will ensure that synergies are created between the flagship projects, other Plan projects and County/GoK initiatives. The position holder will ensure that lessons from the projects are effectively documented for learning, advocacy, visibility and profiling of Plan’s work in Kenya. S/he will uphold Plan"s Core Values, promote mission and vision, and programme principals (transparency, gender equity and diversity) to enhance programme impact. In addition s/he will ensure modelling of Plan’s values among all project staff.

Typical Responsibilities – Key End Results of Position:

Key Result Areas:

• Conceptualization, planning and implementation of project activities, oversee project alignment to government requirements, compliance with design methodologies and approaches.

• Budget management; support the design of project budgets, monitor expenditure against approved budget and revisit plans to ensure budget performance is in line with regulations as well as expected deliverables.

• Ensure compliance with donor requirements and regulations.

• Team personnel management ensuring welfare, contract, compliance, performance

• Smooth/ efficient project performance and effective management of and communication with project team.

• Timely preparation and submission of accurate reports related to the project.

• Monitoring progress and quality in concert with M&E team.

• Effective documentation and sharing of project results through case studies, operations research and other M&E initiatives

• Contribute to proposal development and raise additional resources for the expansion of the project

• Manage in a coordinated manner and ensure consolidation of activities and results across all project implementation sites of Kisumu, Homa Bay and Bondo and other sites where relevant.

Work in close collaboration and coordination with:

Internal Contacts:

• Other Plan Project Managers and Program Unit Managers

• Technical Support Team

• Finance, Procurement, and Administration

• Kenya Country Office M&E

• Grants team.

• Communications team

External Contacts:

• County/ Sub County Government, Administrators

• Government Technical Departments/Line Ministries

• Other INGOs, local NGOs, UN agencies and organizations implementing projects in the same geographic areas, program sectors, et.al.

• Implementation communities

Oversee & Coordinate Project Implementation (40%)

• Ensure that interventions are planned and implemented for maximum impact, synergy and cost effectiveness.

• Work with implementing PUs and any sub-grantees effectively monitoring for quality results; by interventions and ensure; compliance with established targets and quality of project outputs & proper management of project database, records, files

• Oversee any contractual partner deliverables and ensure deliverables are met in a timely manner and with high quality.

• Serve as the main point of communication for implementing partners on her/his project

• Submit accurate project reports on time and according to country office and donor regulations.

Manage Project Resources (20%)

• Prepare a breakdown of project budget by interventions

• Monitor expenditures by interventions and ensure compliance with approved budget.

• Review expenditure reports on a monthly basis.

• Ensure timely budget adjustments and revisions in compliance with donor regulations.

• Ensure compliance with country office and donor policies, contracts, and agreements.

Build and maintain stakeholder relations (10%)

• Coordinate with relevant Plan staff in sensitizing county and sub-county level government authorities about project activities, beneficiary selection criteria and policy and procedure of project implementation.

• Ensure that project strategies are robust and shared with all stakeholders.

• Promote effective working relations with county and sub-county stakeholders

• Liaise with donor desk officer and National Office (NO) programme staff (where appropriate)

• Motivate communities and County officials to contribute and participate in implementation of project activities.

• Attend periodic project-related meetings in the area of operations and brief supervisor. Coordinate with other NGOs, UN/donor agencies, and private sector players working within the operational areas to avoid duplication of efforts.

• Coordinate with other project managers and other internal stakeholders on resource allocation/mobilization and information and ensure that appropriate synergies with others are achieved as relates to implementation of multiple projects in the same geographic area.

Human Resources Management (10%)

• Ensure that project staff know their roles and responsibilities.

• Communicate/share work plans with all players.

• Conduct staff performance appraisals regularly.

• Coach and mentor direct reports to enhance their skills for current and higher positions.

• Conduct training for project staff in overall project objectives, implementation strategy, reporting system and internal controls inter alia.

• Ensure that staff welfare issues are communicated through appropriate HR and management structures as well as back to/with staff.

Design, Monitoring & Evaluation and Reporting (15%)

• Establish proper data collection, consolidation and reporting mechanisms at county and sub county level.

• Consolidate project reports and analyse outputs.

• Review and analyse monitoring and evaluation data and recommend adjustments to design as needed.

• Ensure that approved reports are disseminated among stakeholders.

• Support design of new programmes based on evidence from project context in the area of implementation and/or technical expertise.

Documentation and Profiling (5%)

• Liaise with relevant teams (Programs/Communications) to ensure learning is available to the wider organization and outside as relevant (including development of case studies, documentaries, stories for Plan’s etc.)

• Regular documentation of project outcomes and development of articles for internal and external publications

Specific Factors

Decision Making

The incumbent makes both programmed and non-programmed decisions that include.

· Decide on resource allocation within approved budget parameters.

· Decide on project priorities within approved project work plan.

· Decide on what skills are required to execute project stages within approved project proposal.

· Decide on schedule for internal project field visits/monitoring visits; locations for donor and stakeholder visits with appropriate approvals.

Pressure of Work

· Regularly makes decisions on relationship, personnel and resource management.

· Pressures related to high targets, complex programming environment and necessity of high quality deliverables exist.

· Seasonality and other environmental conditions may at times affect work pressure and need to be mitigated.

Consequences of error

· The Project Manager needs to be aware that significant mismanagement exposes Plan to reputational risk as well as potential financial risk if resources are not used wisely.

· Similarly, poor personnel management practices can lead to staff dissatisfaction and adversely affect performance. All staff take personal responsibility in cases of such lapses

Knowledge, Skills, Behaviours, and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

Educational Qualification & Experience

• Degree in management related issues; community development or other equivalent plus post graduate qualifications desirable in a relevant professional discipline.

• 7 years relevant experience in community development/child protection/education/gender work with minimum of 4 years at a supervisory/ managerial level.

Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge of programming processes, systems and principles, and the ability to provide leadership and support to staff working at community level.

• Sound understanding of integrated development issues and critical analysis of gendered issues in Kenya.

• Knowledge of development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and implications to community development.

• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic planning processes.

Skills Specific to the Post

• Analytical and conceptual skills

• Good Interpersonal / Communication skills

• Report writing skills

• Good Leadership skills

• Teamwork and Cooperation

• Motivation and Innovation

• Relevant computer skills

• Budget management

• Risk management

• Monitoring and Evaluation skills

• Negotiation skills

Competencies

Believe in the potential of all people to succeed if given the right support and willingness to multitask. Ability to perform under stress, innovative, build relationships, coach and mentor, facilitate change, develop teams, initiate action, strategic decision making, planning and organizing. Lead through vision and mission and a personal commitment to children’s development and protection.

Leadership Attitudes and Behaviours

• Supports learning in diverse teams

• Positively promotes team effort and high performance by all staff through shared successes

• Acts with high degree of integrity and professionalism

• Relates to people in a friendly, open manner and engenders trust from other staff

• Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behaviour

• Dynamic, highly motivated and balances future vision with practical delivery

• Can reach out and influence large groups of people

• Remains calm and positive under pressure and in difficult situations

• Promotes innovation and learning

• Pleasant and polite attitude at all times; ability to reflect professional standards

• Ability to act as part of multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team.

Values

Commitment to Plan International Kenya’s values:

Physical Environment and Demands: Ability to travel 40% of the time.

Level of Contact with Children:

Medium contact: Occasional interaction with children

The position will be based in the Country Office with frequent travel to the Program Units. Level of contact with children will be occasional.

How to apply:

To access the full job description, please visit http://plan-international-kenya.org/jobs/ and make an online application. The closing date of applications is 28th June 2016 .**