Project Manager (Just Future)

About the job

The Project Manager for Just Future project will be responsible for the overall implementation of the project at all levels, from the coordination of consortium work to the community, National, and International Levels. S/he will develop strong partnerships with consortium partners, the security and justice network and successfully complete project objectives in Afghanistan, working with multiple stakeholders ranging from donors and clients to partners and beneficiaries.

Responsibilities

Under the overall direction of the deputy/Country Director, and in accordance with Cordaid policies, procedures and practices, the Project Manager will lead his/her teams in developing and managing relevant and innovative approaches to work on priorities of Just Future project within Afghanistan. S/he will closely work with operations colleagues to ensure efficient and effective support to project development, implementation and closure while maintaining strong internal controls. S/he would also closely monitor and facilitate the evaluation of results and impacts in close coordination with Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (PMEAL) colleagues and facilitate shared programme learning.

Provide Leadership and Oversight

• Support Country Level Just Future Afghanistan (JFA) strategies and plans to make a positive difference to the lives of people, paying special attention to gender equality and youth.
• In close collaboration with consortium partners, develop and implement an effective strategy and associated plans for building and implementing the project, including setting clear objectives, realistic timelines, cost recovery budgets and KPIs with SMART results to measure outputs and results.
• In close collaboration with the team, GO technical experts and other colleagues lead the implementation of the project with a focus on quality, impact and timely reporting.
• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships through active networking, advocacy and effective communication of Cordaid relevant competencies and track record;
• Ensure effective communication of project results - outputs, outcomes and impacts in quantifiable and qualitative terms in the form of reports, assessments, and success stories;
• Provide strategic and technical guidance on key components of the project to consortium partners and beyond to foster good practices and ensure that minimum standards are met.
• Maintain effective coordination with consortium partners, other Programmes, CSOs and with Field team to enable support for project implementation at all levels.
• Maintain effective coordination with the PMEAL Cordaid and M&E teams of all partners to ensure timely and correct measurement of results and facilitate learning towards continuous improvements in the design and delivery of projects.

Build effective coordination within Just Future project:

• Build well-functioning project teams in Cordaid and support partners in their team-building work by offer mentoring support;
• Establish/strengthen effective proactive communication and coordination with Cordaid Ips and Consortium partners by promoting southern leadership and localisation agenda;
• Organize regular coordination meeting with partners including thematic technical working group meetings, Steering Committee meetings and ad-hoc technical meetings. Properly document meetings including decisions, follow-up actions and reporting;
• Utilize data and analysis to build and finetune a responsive project action plan that effectively enhances project objectives;
• Ensure timely information on progress and results is available by compiling, organizing, analyzing, monitoring, and preparing data for situational, context analysis reports, fact sheets, briefing notes, and other communications products, including other IEC materials;
• Undertake regular field visits to gather information on results related to Just Future project activities including organization of joint field visits with project partners;
• Develop and maintain appropriate, regular, transparent and supportive communication structures with the assigned project staff, sector experts and other key stakeholders.
• Maintain strong coordination and proactive information sharing with the Cordaid GO Just Future team including with the international Steering Committee;

Manager Just Future:

• Ensure quality project management compliance with scope, time and budgets, adhering to project management policies, procedures and practices according to agreed standards and requirements.
• Supervise and support local partners in developing monitoring and capacity-building tools that enable quality, and integrity in the delivery of projects.
• Ensure effective risk management of projects, consortium and implementing partners.
• Decide, plan and organize internal meetings, teleconferences etc. to ensure regular communication with colleagues, clients, partners and other counterparts.
• Report through agreed lines on progress through specific reports.
• Plan and ensure timely audit reports, narrative & financial reports and payments.
• Ensure the development of a results framework that includes the design and registration of KPI’s with (output, outcome, impact) results measured against targets that are entered into DevResult.
• File the risk log, upload it in Cordaid’s CPA, and monitor risks.
• Plan, recruit and develop skilled personnel/technical experts to ensure optimum performance and encourage the formation of diverse teams in terms of gender and other diversity indicators.
• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of both women and men and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.
• Plan and conduct lessons learned sessions (and register results in Cordaid’s CPA and DevResults).
• Arranged administrative closure of the project in all systems.

Contribute to Knowledge Management and Innovation

• Contribute to the development and introduction of innovation to ensure Cordaid is continually incorporating best practice approaches in Country Office operations and Just Future global operations.
• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for corporate development planning and knowledge building and, contribute to relevant Communities of Experts and Communities of Practice accordingly.
• At the request of the Programmes/Country Director and in collaboration with the Operations Director, plan, implement and organize strategic capacity building of project staff, partners and other stakeholders.

Undertake other duties as may be assigned by the Supervisor

The successful delivery of results by the Project Manager JF directly impacts the performance of programs implemented by Cordaid as well as its reputation as an effective partner in achieving positive results that lead to flourishing communities in fragile settings.

Requirements