Job Opportunity at Plan International, Project Manager

Location: Katavi, Tanzania

Company: Plan International

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

BACKGROUND

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan has over 80 years’ experience and works in more than 75 countries across the world. We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners.

Plan International has been working in Tanzania since 1991. Our work supports marginalised children and youth, especially adolescent girls, to grow up physically and mentally healthy and ready to shape their future. We create an enabling environment and empower girls to be active drivers of change in realising their rights. We prioritise working with partners, and ensuring all of our work is evidence based

Vijana na Ubora, Malengo na Afya (VUMA) project is an anticipated 7-year Global Affairs Canada (GAC) funded project, aiming at increasing realisation of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for Adolescents Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in all their diversity in Katavi region. The project will increase AGYW’s individual and collective agency by building Sexual Reproductive Health Rights, Sexual Gender Based Violence, Mental Health, infection prevention and control (IPC) and nutrition by empowering them via increased social capital; and by helping them to acquire skills, capacities and increased financial capital. The project will also strengthen the provision of gender and adolescent-responsive and inclusive (GAR&I), integrated and innovative ASRHR and protection services and support for AGYW by building community, school, health facility and governmental capacity, infrastructure, planning and management.

In addition, the project will work with local Women Rights Organizations (WROs), Youth Led Organizations (YLOs), adolescent groups and stakeholders to ensure that gender equality (GE), ASRHR and protection frameworks, policies and services are gender-responsive and evidence-based

ROLE PURPOSE

The project Manager is responsible for the successfully implementation of the VUMA project in region of Katavi in Tanzania and accountable for the achievement of programme activities at the field level. She/he will ensure that the project achieves intended activities for attaining expected results and are implemented in compliance with the donor agreement, Plan International and Government standards. She/he is responsible for ensuring the planned activities are implemented as planned and maintaining the program calendar. Consistent activities budget monitoring, timely working and submission of quality reports to the Program Director and Management of project field staff. She/he will work very closely with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Needs, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and President Office Regional Administration and Local Government including Regional and District authorities  during the execution of the project. She/he is the primary representative of the project at regional and district level and will supervise and support project staffs by ensuring staffs are responsible to implement project interventions as planned and at high standard.  He/she will promote teamwork, trust, mutual respect, and empowers staff to take responsibility.

Dimensions of the Role

• Provides operational and program  support throughout all stages of the VUMA project process and ensures integration, coherence and harmonization of all components in the project design to achieve results as planned
• Continually ensures alignment of the VUMA project with both international and national gender equality and sexual reproductive health (SRH) priorities, plans and competencies
• Identifies and builds strategic networks with other actors to support the region in implementation and monitoring of gender responsive and adolescent-friendly sexual reproductive health quality improvement initiatives in line with the national government policy.
• Provision of SRH technical and programmatic guidance on the implementation of SRH project activities as per the national SRH guidelines and programme policies.
• Actively monitors the project implementation through field visits,  coordinating  monthly project meetings, to jointly assess  project progress, identify bottlenecks and potential risks and work for timely decisions with Project Director to resolve issues
• Coordinate with partners to collect and document best practices, lesson learning for better achievement.
• Working to build the capacity of the Local Government Authorities staff on effective supportive supervision including identify effective approaches and techniques for scaling up project best practices for the sustainability after project closure.
• Ensure an effective monitoring system is in place for achieving prior agreed targets in relation to the project activities and financial expenditures,
• Support project director to Identify and effectively manage all key field related risks during the  project implementation
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of project resources to demonstrate value for money
• Maintain positive relationships and share relevant information with all stakeholders; Partners, donor, government and local partners.
• Presents project achievements on behalf of Plan International Tanzania at professional networking events and meetings, conferences, and other public forums when assigned by Project Director);
• Tracks aspects of project performance; oversees project implementation of approved activities, monitoring of timelines, tracking budgets, and supporting implementing partners’ performance and financial management.
• Resolves issues in project start-up and close-down; manages project backstopping, key field personnel support, consultant agreements; processing of project finance transactions and grant management implementation;
• Ensure quality development of project implementation and financial reports
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding children and young people and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility.
• Performs other project related duties as assigned by the Director of Programmes

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Project Management, Compliance and Leadership

• Identify and proactively address all challenges and potential implementation issues the hinder project performance
• Monitor and supervise the project team to achieve its mandated targets in accordance to project plans.
• Keep Project Director abreast of significant threats, implementation deficiencies and opportunities.
• Coordinate, implementation, monitoring and reporting of VUMA project as prioritized in the project document
• Ensure the Integration of sustainable approaches, gender responsive and inclusion into all project activities as appropriate
• Ensure timely development of high quality both narrative and financial reports for the donor and government as needed.
• Work with project director and Finance manager on project financial analysis, review and oversight of project budgets and financial reporting.
• Work with the Finance Manager to monitor compliance issues and promote timely and solution-oriented follow up and action
• Drive results by ensuring compliance to donor contracts and operational plan is in place for timely and effectively inputs support from the CO to meet project obligations
• Oversee project management for all related project field activities;
• Oversee operational systems and structures to ensure effective administrative and logistics support to the project;
• Lead project team and Implementing partners in the capturing ongoing implementation learning
• Manage and monitor project team to apply results based monitoring and lessons learned to refine activities and implementation.

Strengthen Advocacy efforts and Partnership

• Manage effective partnerships with government’s relevant regional and district representative and strategic networking are established and maintained at regional level  to ensure project sustainability
• Represent VUMA Project in various forums, relevant platforms and technical regional meetings;
• Work closely with Influencing, Communications and Advocacy team in the development of evidence-based advocacy and influence interventions.
• Provide expert-level guidance and direction to the implementing partners on the planning and implementation of project SRH activities based on evidence in support of girl’s right to SRH and Gender.

Information Management

• Lead and collaborate with project staff to translate project learning and results into accessible technical products for global and country stakeholders.
• Coordinate and facilitate the documentation of best practices and lessons learned in VUMA project, to influence policy formation, deepen capacity, and foster partnerships;
• Work with project team to develop summative reporting documents for the project for advocacy and promotion of Girls right for SRH;
• Build and maintain relationships with partners at the region to enhance their support in the project.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of Safeguarding policies.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Ensure compliance to COVID-19 and other outbreaks safety measures

Compliance to Global Polices

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEIP) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring Plan and Partner’s staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures

Communications and Working Relationships:

Internal:

This position works closely with Program Director

External:

• This position works closely with the Project staff team from all implementing partners organizations (High)
• Tanzanian Ministry of Health, Ministry of Community Development, Gender Women and  special Groups, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and President Office Regional Administration and Local Government

Key relationships

• Plan International Canada
• CO
• Functional networks within Plan

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Required experience and Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in public health, education, social science, international development, gender or related area is required.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive managerial experience in program, financial and human resources management, networking, knowledge management and advocacy of large international development projects
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in leading SRHR large donor funded programs (funded by GAC will be an added advantage)
• Experience and ability to provide leadership and direction to the multi-disciplinary staff and implementing partners;
• Familiarity with challenges facing girls accessing  gender responsive SRH and emerging priorities
• Considerable knowledge of SRHR/ Maternal health and Gender and Inclusion agenda
• Demonstrated experience with the preparation of technical reports, budgets, plans of action, and management of staff
• Experience working with children and adolescents and an ability to apply safeguarding, ethics, and ‘do no harm’ principles
• Proven capacity to work effectively with community-based organizations, government officials at district, regional and national levels, and with Government donor agencies.
• Demonstrable experience in advocacy, especially around gender equality and adolescent girls’ rights related issues.
• A thorough understanding of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and other human rights instruments.
• A thorough understanding of the various tools and techniques for gender transformative approaches in a project cycle including gender analysis (Marker), budgeting, monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience with adaptive management and effective feedback loops to ensure the use of data in strategic and programmatic decision-making;
• Experience in implementation of adolescent  Sexual Reproductive health Project in Tanzania
• Experience in providing virtual support or willingness to learn effective virtual facilitation and support skills;
• Ability to make sound work judgments under difficult conditions, and to become technically effective with minimal level of attention from supervisors.

Essential

Knowledge

• Demonstrated knowledge in results based ASRH/gender transformative programming in a socio-cultural and politically challenging environment
• Good knowledge of children’s rights and specifically girls related issues in  SRHR and Gender
• Knowledge in Local Government Authorities systems
• Full fluency in written and spoken English and Kiswahili
• Good knowledge in risk management analysis, monitoring and control and to ensures the execution of risk response plans, and evaluates their effectiveness
• Practical knowledge in performance management, visual management and work within a matrix management structure
• Knowledge on Government  SRHR related policies,  guidelines and Strategies
• Knowledge of problem solving of complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in
• Knowledge of gender analysis and assessments, including approaches, methods, and frameworks;
• Demonstrated knowledge in leading gender-transformative ASRHR strategy to guide large program delivery
• Knowledge in leading a diverse team and in context of multiple stakeholders with complex relationships
• Demonstrated knowledge to successfully manage, monitor and evaluate project activities with rigorous timelines and deliverables

Skills

• Outstanding analytical and writing skills, with demonstrated ability to write quality technical reports
• Proficient computer skills and use of relevant Microsoft software; MSWord, Excel, Power Point
• Strong interpersonal skills with substantial experience in managing multidisciplinary and multicultural team
• Fluent spoken and written English and Kiswahili
• Reasonable skills in navigating complex donor requirements and ensure compliance and understanding of value for money programming.
• Dynamic, organizational, innovative and creative skills
• Strong partners’ management and budget monitoring skills,
• Exceptional skills in team-building and collaboration as well as experience in coaching or mentoring others in project implementation
• Excellent report writing, analytical, and communication skills, including presentation skills

Behaviours

• Hardworking with capacity to work independently with minimum supervision
• Demonstrates honesty, integrity, as well as openness and transparent personality.
• Working towards achieving a team goal
• Demonstrates respect for all groups of people in the community and culturally sensitive
• Persuasive and able to work with different cultural settings
• Motivated, energetic and strives to develop and support others
• Result oriented, flexible  and a team player
• Working for the best interest of the organization Adolescents and children
• Appreciate of child rights and gender equality
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
• Decisive evidence-based decision-making skills;

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience with GAC’s results-based management tools, and reporting processes is an added advantage.
• Data-driven, detail-oriented, self-starter with excellent analytic skills
• Strong program management, presentation, team-building and interpersonal skills
• Advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to Adolescence girls’ development and a values-driven work environment.
• Working in a high-pressure deadline-driven environment with professionalism
• Ability to multitask and work under pressure with minimal supervision
• Experience with rights based approaches in project development and implementation.
• Experience in civil society capacity building and partnership development
• Experience managing staff, including demonstrated experience in staff training, coaching and mentoring.
• Experience in leading project start-ups and close-downs;
• Experience of establishing and using monitoring and evaluation systems to demonstrate accountability upwards and downwards in the delivery of projects.
• Commitment to understanding of Plan International values and principles
• Creativity skills in gender programming and advocacy that influence policy change

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

Physical Environment

Working environment will include both typical office environment and field environment

The position requires regular field travels, at least 50% of the work time

Level of contact with children

Mid contact: Occasional interaction with children during field visit

Location: Katavi

Reports to: Project Director

Grade: D2

The deadline for submitting the application is 13 February 2022.

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