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 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.

Purpose Of The Position:

This role exists to effectively and efficiently manage and deliver the ‘Obligation to Protect and Empower Girls’ (OPEG) project in Sudan. The incumbent coordinates the project technical teams and has overall responsibility for the project’s management including development of detailed plans, budget allocation, and delivery of the project within budget, scope and on time.

DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

The Project Manager reports to the Deputy Country Director – Programmes and line manages five staff. The Manager stewards project resources and a budget of (Euro 3,7 million ), over a period of 2 years, and possible extension for a final 2 years. The incumbent works closely with the Technical Leads in programmes, M&E and Influencing to collaborate on policy and technical aspect of the project and ensure alignment with the country strategy. The position interacts regularly and monthly with operational support teams to implement the project effectively and efficiently at the Programme Area level.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Project Planning:

• Lead annual reviews of the project proposal, budget, targets, and performance indicators to ensure plans are realistic

• Develop detailed implementation and M&E plans and enforce adherence in order to track progress

• Ensure resource availability and allocation (with regard to staff time and donor funding disbursed)

• Review the plans regularly to ensure they are still feasible, and track subsequent approved amendments

2. Project Implementation

• Coordinate activities and resources for the smooth implementation of the project
• Deliver the project on time, and within scope and budget working with project staff and support teams.
• Ensure project management procedures are implemented from project start-up to closure
• Ensure budget control, adequate phasing and utilisation.
• Monitor and manage changes in the project scope, schedule and costs to ensure there are no overruns.
• Manage compliance with donor rules and avoid over/under-expenditure
• Manage project-related security matters and keep all concerned promptly informed about the status of project security during the project period
• Implement project visibility and communication activities in accordance with donor and Plan communication and visibility policies
• Manage the partnership agreements with the local implementing partners.
• Lead the process of project modification/reprogramming in coordination of all concerned stakeholders, donors and the National Office (NO).

3. Project Management Committee (PMC) & Stakeholder Management:

• Establish and lead the PMC, including chairing its meetings
• Manage communication norms and share project achievements, best practices or models
• Manage information flows among project consortia stakeholders
• Manage relationships with technical teams, government representatives, and implementing partners, the donor, and the development community
• Ensure the PMC provides operational guidance to the project
• Ensure the project aligns to and is well coordinated with the relevant country programmes
• Drive priorities setting with project stakeholders and ensure buy-in of project deliverables
• Liaise with the Project Steering Committee, and ensure reporting and priority recommendation
• Manage implementation issues timely, and record and escalate to the PSC as needed
• Represent Plan on project-related matters and attend all relevant coordination forums and events
• Liaise with Government authorities, etc. on matters related to the project.

4. Project Monitoring and Reporting

• Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation
• Regularly visit intervention areas to observe progress, with a focus on ensuring quality
• Set up mechanisms to collect data & information
• Regularly review & track the project progress against milestones and take corrective action
• Measure project performance using relevant tools, systems and techniques
• Prepare progress reports in accordance with the results framework and donor requirements, and contribute to internal quarterly and annual global management project reporting
• Review project financial reports and provide necessary feedback
• Ensure quality monitoring data collection from the field and timely compilation
• Support the collection and accurate reporting of impact, working with the MERL Manager

5. Staff Management

• Supervise project staff directly reporting to the position
• Assist in the recruitment of project staff where there are vacancies
• Manage performance and conduct appraisals and reviews
• Provide coaching & mentoring
• Support staff development: develop plans for capacity-building of the project team

6. Safeguarding and Gender Equality and Inclusion:

• Ensure that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding of 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. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan
• International’s Code of Conduct, their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures
• Demonstrate gender transformative programming and activities in the project
• Support mainstreaming of crosscutters when relevant

7. Risk management and safeguarding:

• Ensure that internal and external risks to the project and, by extension, to the organisation are carefully mapped, monitored and managed
• Ensure that the organisation’s safeguarding policies and procedures are operationalised and adhered to within the project
• Ensure that timely and appropriate action is taken and, when necessary, concerns are escalated to the appropriate level in the organisation.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

Internally

• DCD-Programmes – High level of communication to report, seek approvals, sharing reports and views to strengthen the program areas and to ensure continues support for the program quality and compliance with Plan policies
• Technical Leads – High level of communication to get support and to understand the policies, programme approaches and contribution to country strategy targets.
• Program Areas Managers (PAMs)- Medium level of communication and coordination for implementation of project activities at field level and provision of overall management guidance and support.
• Area Finance Coordinator: Medium level of communication for supporting the partners capacity building plan especially with financial management.
• Other departmental heads and M&E – Daily communication for better integration gender and child protection, and demonstration of lasting impact across project activities
• Program Manager and technical advisors at SNO

Externally

• Implementing Partners – high level of communication with implementing partners to understand their process and progress on implementation of the SCYPP and provide the required support
• Donor – the Embassy of Sweden
• Government Officials Technical ministries, local authorities, and other related entities
• Relevant civil society actors/ CSOs
• Local communities and direct and indirect project beneficiaries

Technical Expertise

• Bachelor’s degree related to Development Studies, Social Work, Child Rights, or Gender Equality
• Minimum 7 years experience in project management at the field level and in a similar position, with a track record of success and achieving results
• Technical experience in gender equality and norms change, state accountability/ advocacy, participation and SRHR and conflict sensitivity.
• Good understanding of child protection and system strengthening.
• Proven work experience as a project manager in the development or humanitarian not-for-profit sector.
• Good skills and experience in people management, coaching and team building.
• Good skills and experience in handling programs with youth participation, engagement and Civil Society strengthening.
• A proven record of effective management of and commitment to agreed M&E indicators
• Proven experience as a team player and demonstrably cooperative with members of other teams
• Previous experience with an international development and /or humanitarian NGO is a critical advantage.
• Proven experience in managing complex and sensitive relationships and partnerships

Skills

• Proven ability to work creatively, innovatively and effectively with limited direct supervision
• Solid project management skills, budgeting and analysis, and managing people
• Working effectively with others
• Ability to influence and liaise effectively with key stakeholders, such as local government authorities, UN representatives, etc
• Fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English
• Knowledgeable in the Sudan context
• Ability to work in a challenging, post-conflict complex environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organisational skills, time management and attention to details
• Comfortable managing multiple tasks, works well under pressure, and has problem-solving capacities
• Significant experience in supporting capacity-building events.
• Track record of delivering project goals within deadlines and budgets across in NGOs
• Demonstrable track record of effectively building external and internal relationships at community and governmental levels to realise project goals
• Stakeholder management and negotiation skills
• Liaise and dialogue with governmental donors
• Strong analytical skills

Knowledge

• A sound understanding of development issues relating to changing entrenched cultural norm
• Demonstrated knowledge of gender transformative programming and influencing in complex environments (security, conflict, drought-affected etc.)
• Good understanding of community emergency issues, with experience or ability to work directly with local NGOs or communities
• Good understanding of development project management and governance and related methodologies and tools
• Knowledge of managing government grants, such as DFID, SIDA, and EU.
• Strong supervisory abilities, and demonstrated capacity to coordinate with the relevant actors
• Computer literacy, with high proficiency in the use of standard office software applications (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint)

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

• This requires frequent travel to different sub-office to monitor and supervise Child Protection Activities and program
• LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN High level: Frequent interaction with children as the key person to deal with violence and concerns facing children and investigate the feedback information in Plan International Sudan operations.

***NOTE***

This Job Is For National Sudanese Only

Location: Sudan

Type of Role: Program

Reports to: Deputy Country Director

Grade: D2

Closing Date: 14 / 3 / 2024

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.