Program Summary 

Economic opportunities, Leadership, Vocational skills, Training and Empowerment for women In Kassala, Gedaref and Red Sea (ELEVATE) project aims to bolster resilience, economic opportunity, and empowerment in women, thereby decreasing vulnerability to negative social narratives and gender-based threats. To achieve its overall, promote women’s economic engagement, especially in terms of productivity, income and access to markets, promote awareness, advocacy and coordination among civil society, and promote women’s health and safety as a driver for WEE - Women Economic Empowerment.

General Position Summary 

The Project Manager is overall responsible for the day-to-day implementation of program implementation. The Project Manager will work closely both with management and support staff (including finance, administration and program) to ensure the day-to-day activities are implemented according to schedule, budget, and required quality. The Project Manager reports directly to the Team Leader with written and oral activity and budget reports (as defined by the Team Leader). The Project Manager will assist the Team Leader in outlining a strategic plan for the implementation of this program including identifying target areas/projects, methods of operation for effective programming and maximum results

Essential Job Responsibilities 

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• To manage all operations related to the Project according to the work plan, project document and implementation strategy. Troubleshoot, as needed, to prevent disruptions in daily program activities Liaise with Team Leader, as necessary.   
• In close collaboration with the Team Leader and Human Resource Manager build the Project team program staff ensuring that there are fluent communication channels, that the reporting schedule is timely met and that program objectives are achieved.
• Coordinate and share information with the Team Leader to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are being achieved. Troubleshoot reporting and programmatic needs. Advise supervisor on suggested improvements and necessities, as required.
• Design and conduct training community in any areas related to the Project activities for staff, other training, communities, and project beneficiaries.
• Produce written reports on the program activities capturing activities related to women’s economic engagement especially in terms of productivity, income and access to markets, awareness, advocacy and coordination among civil society and women’s health and safety as a driver for WEE - Women Economic Empowerment. Economic in the format provided by the Team Leader. 
• Maintain written correspondence with the Team Leader and other program staff responding to daily program necessities.
• Coordinate closely with the Team Leader, Human Resources Manager, and relevant administrative and finance staff to ensure proper logistics, administration, human resources and transport needs of the program are conducted within MC policy and with the maximum benefit to the program. 
• Work with the Team Leader to forecast expenditure surpluses and deficits to enable adjustments to be made to the program in a timely fashion.
• As security permits, spend a minimum of two weeks a month at the field sites monitoring project implementation and overseeing all project activities.
• Oversee the program filing system for all Project related activities and ensure that information is organized according to the reporting and auditing needs of the program. Ensure required levels of confidentiality. 
• Ensure that all work follows international quality standards and best practices; that all women’s economic engagement-related activities minimize the impact on women in particular face high levels of economic marginalization.
• Ensure that Project fits into the strategic plan and Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment strategy and provide input into the strategic plan. Overall responsible for obtaining any permissions or reporting of the Program activities required by the Government.
• Provide written and oral translation and report writing for program staff, as necessary.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

REPRESENTATION

• Ensure establishment and maintenance of relationships with communities, village councils and local government in the target districts of the area. Travel to Khartoum at least once a month for program meetings.
• Mobilize communities to participate in the design, implementation and maintenance of projects as well as design viable strategies which are both respectful to the local culture and sensitive towards the female population but that are effective in engaging women in the activities of the program.
• Cooperatives are supported to boost market access, new economic opportunities, and employment for women groups
• Ensure close coordination with relevant Community, religious leaders and key community influencers using their influence to foster the breakdown of barriers/attitudes hindering the peaceful reintegration of girls and women affected by GBV.
• Increased access to financial services to support market growth
• Women’s groups have improved knowledge and capacities in monitoring, evaluation, GEWE and WEE
• Increased collaboration with Civil Society organizations and Media Groups to combat Traditional Harmful Practices and other discriminatory Social Norms.
• Increased community-based plans and campaigns to combat traditional harmful practices and another gender discriminatory social norms.
• GBV survivors and “at-risk” women and girls have improved access to response services and actively support the prevention of future abuse and exploitation.

Team Management 

• Assist in the recruitment and training of program staff to ensure staff are of the quality and capacity to ensure the successful implementation of all Program activities. Monitor and advise on staffing needs throughout the program. Ensure evaluations and disciplinary measures are made, as necessary according to MC policy.
• Ensure the close coordination and sharing of information between the various sectors of the program staff including Gender, CSO, community development and program support with regular program meetings and activity plans.
• Provide direct and ongoing supervision and managerial support to all national staff, including women’s economic, awareness, advocacy and coordination among civil society, women’s health and safety as a driver for WEE - Women Economic Empowerment and program support staff.
• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
•  Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

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 policies.

Organizational Learning 

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves. 

Accountability to Beneficiaries 

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically 
  to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility

Project and Gender Officers & Project Assistance

Knowledge and Experience 

• This position requires a Bachelor's or master’s degree in Gender, women’s economic empowerment, Community Development, and Economic or Social Science. 
• 7-12 years of experience focused on managing a gender portfolio or management of development Programs involving rural communities to promote sustainable development. 
• Experience in project management related to managing a gender portfolio, protection and community mobilization.
• Experience working with women’s movements, and civil society and familiarity with women's rights organizations.
• Administrative capacity and planning skills to manage a large team of the national staff of multiple sectors. 
• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing. 
• Effectively coordinate with the district, provincial and national authorities the program activities ensuring that there are synergies built with the national policies. Keep authorities abreast of the progress of the program. 
• Extensive travel to program areas is required. 
• This position requires an excellent command of Arabic and English. 
• This post requires a high computer literacy with full knowledge of office applications. 
• Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.
• Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in humanitarian response preferred.

Success Factors 

The ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel is required. A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary. A professional standard of program, finance and procurement ethics as well as the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential. The post must be willing to travel to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites.