Project Manager

WHO ARE WE?

We Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home. The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

ABOUT THE JOB

The Project Manager for the Water Emergency Relief Project (WERP) will be responsible for coordination and oversight of a World Bank-funded multimillion and multi-location Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project implemented in close coordination with the Agha Khan Foundation (AKF). The Project Manager will represent the main point of contact between DRC, AKF and the other actors within the consortium and she/he will provide high-level supervision of the assignment, including project planning, follow-up, quality assurance and contingency planning. Ultimately, the Project Manager will be responsible for ensuring timely achievement of activities and spending targets, in line with sectorial standards, DRC and the WERP consortium’s guidelines.

This role has a country focus and ensures compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines within the Water Emergency Relief Project across the country. The role provides general support in coordination across the different area offices (Herat and Nimroz Provinces) and between the area offices and DRC country Office in Kabul. It provides general oversight on project’s activities, procurements, spending, and timely and high-quality fulfilment of donor commitments. Moreover, the role will act as the grant focal point and oversees the administrative requirements, donor reporting and monitoring and implementation of project in line with donor guidelines.

Finally, the Project Manager is required to possess sufficient technical skills and experience in WASH to be able to oversee the implementation of the project’s activities on the ground and ensure that sector’s standards are adhered to, in close coordination with the Shelter and Infrastructure Unit in Kabul and the WERP Project Implementation Unit. The Project Manager will also be required to represent DRC in sub-national WASH Cluster meetings and in the technical working groups established by the World Bank and linked to WERP. In addition to specific platforms established to guide the implementation of WERP, these working groups will also include the Afghanistan Water Platform (AWAP).

Responsibilities:

1. Coordination and Representation
2. General Programming & Operations
   • Set up coordination structure between the different area offices and between the area offices and the country office (both support services and programme teams) to ensure effective follow-up on project’s implementation, including the operationalization of efficient reporting structures to ensure progress on activities and spending are in line with agreed upon workplans and donor commitments (e.g. review and input on budget controls, follow up on spending, development and updating of realistic forecasts and procurement plans, etc.).
   • Ensure consistent implementation across the different area offices and coherent programming between the different actors of the WERP consortium, ensuring close coordination with the Project Implementation Unit led by AKF.
   • Ensure timely and effective coordination with the Project Implementation Unit and other actors within the WERP consortium, including through attendance and active participation to relevant coordination groups.
   • Ensure appropriate coordination with government authorities together with the compliance team and area managers.
   • Ensure appropriate donor and stakeholder representation, including through regular donor engagement and representation in relevant coordination structures.
   • Ensure active participation and representation in the sub-national WASH and other Cluster meetings as well as technical working groups set up to guide the implementation of WERP or established by the World Bank and relevant to WERP; attendance to meetings shall always be followed up by the internal circulation of meeting minutes to ensure effective information sharing among relevant colleagues.
   • Act as a grant focal point, including through the provision of timely inputs and updates in project opening and closure meetings, grant review meetings and all other relevant fora and address any challenges to SMT and sector leads, as raised by the area teams.
   • Ensure efficient and effective program implementation as per agreed workplan and budget and in line with DRC and the donor guidelines, including through regular follow up with WERP project team, programme and support service teams in the areas and country office, and with the other programme teams to ensure integrated and coherent programme implementation as per DRC strategy
   • Lead on the development and regular updating of workplans, budget forecasts and spending follow-ups, procurement plans and timely and effective escalation of challenges and issues to promote their resolutions and course-correction, as relevant
   • Lead on the preparation of high quality and timely donor reports as per agreed reporting schedule and ad-hoc reports requested by the donor and the WERP Project implementation unit
   • Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual reports to relevant authorities as per need
   • In close coordination with DRC and WERP Procurement staff, ensure that all project procurements adhere to the World Bank’s criteria and processes and are planned and completed in a timely and compliant manner, including escalation of challenges to the Head of Support Services when needed
   • In close coordination with DRC and WERP Finance staff, ensure that all project-related spending adhere to the World Bank’s criteria and processes and that all expenditures are booked correctly on the project’s budget
   • In close coordination with DRC HR, ensure that all project-related recruitments are planned and completed in a timely manner and according to agreed processes and standards
   • In close coordination with the Sector Coordinators and when requested by the WERP Project Implementation Unit, lead on the development of relevant assessments and the drafting of reports for internal and external circulation
   • In close coordination with the MEAL team and the WERP Project Implementation Unit, support the development of project-level monitoring and evaluation framework and tools, follow up on meeting necessary targets for data collection, coordination with external consultants (if required) and support with the analysis and interpretation of monitoring data and lessons learnt
3. Project development
4. Technical Oversight
5. Technical Line Management and Capacity-Building
6. Other
   • Provides technical inputs and support to sectoral technical leads on the development of relevant project proposals, when required
   • Assist area managers and project managers in developing project plans and budgets for activities
   • In close coordination with the Shelter and Infrastructure Unit in Country office and the WERP Project Implementation Unit, provide technical oversight to project implementation, ensuring adherence to WASH sector and national standards, including through ensuring that the selection of WASH activities is in line with the scope of the project and agreed selection criteria, conducting an initial review of technical documents prior to submission to the Shelter and Infrastructure Unit in Kabul and the WERP Project Implementation Unit, and ensuring that all activities (including both those led by contractors and those implemented by DRC staff) are implemented according to DRC and WERP standards
   • Development of harmonized job descriptions and structures for all project-related positions
   • Participate in the recruitment of project-related staff
   • Provide effective performance management of all staff under her/his supervision, including through timely completion of probation and performance review processes with a focus on DRC core competencies and while ensuring adherence to DRC PSEAH policy and while maintaining a strong focus on staff-centred support and wellbeing
   • Identify technical gaps and support capacity building of all staff under her/his supervision
   • Working closely with the WERP Project Implementation Unit and relevant colleagues in programme and support to ensure that all project-related staff receive the required capacity building and technical support to be able to effectively fulfil their job description, including through attendance to project-specific trainings
   • Raise any issues of non-compliance and assure compliance with DRC standards and procedures
   • Coordinate with Comms/Advocacy for success story content, communication tools, etc.
   • Any other duties as agreed with line manager

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in this role you must have:

Experience and technical competencies:

• At least 7 years of experience with NGOs/INGOs, including at least 4 years in project management and coordination roles
• Strong WASH experience, including technical competencies required to provide the required technical oversight to project implementation
• Experience with the implementation of World Bank-funded projects and with World Bank processes
• Experience with representation and communication, as well as donor engagement and reporting
• Experience with the management of large teams and with capacity building, including in settings with remote technical management
• Strong technical experience in development and roll out of SOPs
• Strong report-writing skills
• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with senior representatives of INGO and Government structures and to represent the project with the donor and at national level fora.
• Proven experience of financial management and donor compliance processes.
• Knowledge of the key tools used by donor agencies, such as logical frameworks, results chains, results-based management and financial administration systems.

Education/qualifications:

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in civil or structural engineering or other relevant fields

Languages:

• English (fluent)
• Dari/Pasho (desirable)

We Offer:

• Designation of Duty Station: Herat with frequent travel to the Kandahar area office and Kabul country office
• DRC has Flexible working hours for Females staff as per DRC Policy.
• 13th month’s salary Will be paid by end of each month with salary.
• Top-up credit card as per office regulations.
• 1+1 Health Insurance will be provided by DRC.
• Eid Bonus.
• DRC provide Transport allowance/ Transportation Facilities for female and people with disability.
• DRC Provides kindergarten/ Day Care allowance for max 2 children – Applicable to female mothers.
• Per diem allowance for employee and her Mahram – Applicable for female
• Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the DRC salary scale.