Project Manager

This position is an exciting opportunity to be an integral part of Saferworld’s Sudan team. Reporting to the Programme Manager, you will take the lead in managing a new one-year project in Sudan. The post holder will support the Project Coordinators with all aspects of the project cycle (from inception to close-out).

The Project Manager will be responsible for overseeing the project cycle and play a key role in setting up and supporting the implementation of a project which seeks to support community-led humanitarian, protection and peacebuilding responses in Sudan.

The Project Manager will work closely with existing and new partners to ensure delivery of key project deliverables, establish and maintain good working relations with our partners; link with other teams and related projects across Saferworld to share best practices and lessons learnt.

The post-holder will also establish contacts and engage with national and local stakeholders, whilst managing project budgets and leading on supporting partners on implementation. The role will also require engagement and coordination with UN Clusters and other INGOs implementing relevant programmes, as well as representing the project at regional and national level.

Roles and responsibilities:

Strategy and programme development

• Support Saferworld’s organisational objectives on partnership and solidarity by aligning with partners and priorities, responding to their identified needs, and supporting equitable financial and operational ways of working together.
• Contribute to lesson-learning within the Sudan programme and across the organisation.

Project implementation

• Ensure that all managed projects are delivered on-time, within scope and within approved budgets.
• Support partners to ensure effective and efficient delivery of humanitarian aid, adhering to humanitarian principles and protection standards.
• Manage all project components in accordance with the project proposals.
• Establishing, in collaboration with partner organisations, clear and detailed workplans and monitoring evaluation and learning (MEL) plans.
• Actively assist and contribute to monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) processes, including outcome harvesting, and ensure lessons feed into further project planning and adaptation.
• Based on learning and changes in the context, and reflecting with partner organisations, review and adapt project objectives and activities as projects progress.
• Ensure effective project risk management – support Project Coordinators and partners to identify and mitigate risk related to project implementation and ensure the project risk matrix is regularly updated
• Review changes in the context and support Project Coordinators and partners to remain agile and adaptive where necessary.
• Ensure compliance with Saferworld’s standard operating procedures, including security management, financial management and donor guidelines and protocols, for all direct grant and project implementation components.

Partnership development and relationship management

• Work closely with the Partnerships and Compliance Manager, and existing partners and establish good working relations with new ones.
• Contribute to identification of the capacity gaps and requirements of partners in relation to the project objectives.
• Lead on partner capacity development in liaison with other project team members and support other projects on the Sudan programme in liaison with the Programme Manager.
• Uphold Saferworld’s Partnership Principles and ensure the partnership relationship reflects Saferworld’s partnerships strategy and approach.

Communications and advocacy

• Working with the Sudan Policy, Advocacy and Communications Manager, support advocacy efforts at sub-national, national, regional and international levels
• Represent Saferworld in relevant networks and working groups national and regional level.

Funding, budgets and administration

• Support the identification of funding opportunities and establishment/maintenance of relevant donor relations.
• In liaison with the finance team, and the Partnerships and Compliance Manager ensure timely disbursement of funds to partners and ensure compliance with Saferworld’s financial procedures.
• Manage the project budget and ensure expenses are within the acceptable donor guidelines and Saferworld’s procedures.
• Prepare quality project donor and other reports as necessary.
• As the project budget-holder, monitor project expenditure and manage project budgets.
• Prepare budget forecasts for ongoing project.
• Set-up and oversee clear narrative reporting templates and procedures in line with donor requirements.
• Ensure reporting captures learning and project progress and is not too burdensome for partners.
• Together with the Programme Manager, monitor and mitigate project risks to Saferworld and partner project staff safety and security and contribute to the development and implementation of safety and security policies and procedures.

Key working relationships

• Saferworld Sudan programme team – coordinating and working with staff in Sudan team to ensure projects implemented according to plan.
• Colleagues in the finance team both in country and at HQ – working collaboratively on budgeting, compliance and financial reporting
• Partner organisations and communities – working with partners to review and contextualise project implementation, tools and resources, and provide training and dedicated support and accompaniment as required.
• Sudan Gender Advisor and Senior Gender Advisor in Programme Support and Learning team – regularly engaging with for advice and support
• External stakeholders – regularlyattending relevant working group meetings. Develop good working relationships with national and regional stakeholders as relevant.
• Regional colleagues and relevant London-based staff – contributing to the development of a learning strategy which captures the outcomes of Saferworld’s work;

Scope and accountability

Decision making and limits of authority

The Project Manager is responsible for leading and motivating the project team in collaboration with the Programme Manager. They lead on project design and implementation and ensures continuing relevance to Saferworld’s strategic priorities.

Financial resources

Fully accountable for a project budget – ultimate responsibility lies with the Country Director.

Other resources

Responsible for cross-regional and organisational information sharing and lesson learning resources on gender, peace and security

People management

N/A; potentially some consultancies as agreed with line manager.

Legal, regulatory and compliance responsibility

Ensure compliance with national legislation. Where there is contradiction, seek guidance. Ensure compliance with Saferworld’s and donor financial processes and procedures.

Person specification

Knowledge, qualifications and experience

• A graduate degree in project management, social science, conflict/peace studies, gender studies or a similar discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Proven experience in implementing projects focusing on the triple nexus of humanitarian, development and peacebuilding.
• Experience managing projects in first phase emergency response.
• Strong financial management experience.
• Experience in gender transformation projects.
• Proven experience of managing projects with multiple partners at a community level – preferably in contexts of emergency response, conflict prevention, security and justice and/or peacebuilding.
• Good knowledge and understanding of the local context and sensitivities, including conflict dynamics and actors, key political, social and economic issues and peacebuilding/ conflict prevention measures.
• Demonstrable experience of supporting and/or coordinating multiple partners.
• Demonstrated experience of conducting trainings and workshops.

Skills and abilities

• Excellent written and oral communications skills in English, proficiency in Arabic would be a valuable addition to the role.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with people from all walks of life
• Ability to explain complex ideas in easily accessible ways tailored to different audiences
• Ability to translate technical knowledge and analysis into programmatic and community-level interventions, work plans, activities, reporting, etc.
• Strong analytical skills.
• High level communication skills, including experience of communicating effectively across cultures and with diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing.
• Strong coordination and team-working skills applicable to a remote management context.
• Proven ability to plan and implement programme management systems.
• Ability to work in a non-partisan and neutral manner, particularly in high-stress and highly politicised environments, appreciating gender, cultural and ethnic diversity.

Personal qualities

• Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society organisations, government bodies and officials, and international donors
• Commitment to and compliance with Saferworld’s safeguarding principles
• Commitment to respect and value equality and diversity, and understanding of how this applies to own area of work
• Commitment to own continuing personal and professional development
• Commitment to the vision, mission and values of Saferworld

Other requirements

• Potential occasional travel in the country, region and internationally